Caring for a newborn and a toddler is probably the most exhausting task you'll ever undertake, but it's also one of the most rewarding. The time you spend with your new baby and toddler should be the stuff of lifelong memories, if you're not too...
Caring for a newborn infant can be both simple and overwhelming at the same time. Caring for a newborn only requires fulfilling his basic needs, which include nourishment, warmth, cleanliness, entertainment and affection. Learning what your baby's...
Immediately after birth, your newborn's umbilical cord was cut and tied, forming his bellybutton. This cut umbilical cord requires care and frequent cleaning to prevent infection while it heals. One the cord stump falls off, which generally occurs...
Bringing your newborn home from the hospital is both a joyful and nerve-wracking experience. For the first 28 days after birth, an infant is considered a newborn. During this time, you will continue to bond with your baby, adjust to your new...
Having a baby changes your life in many different ways. Having twins adds an extra challenge as you adapt to caring for two newborn babies at one time. You will face difficulties related to dividing your time between two children as well as...
A newborn's skin is fragile and thin and needs gentle care. Although some people think that constant application of lotions, ointments and creams prevents rashes, an infant's skin is sensitive to the chemicals in many products, says pediatrician...
Some of your newborn's red blood cells retire and are processed in your child's liver every day. The process creates bilirubin, a byproduct your newborn's liver typically flushes from her body through her stools. Liver underdevelopment, damage...
The majority of American women having babies will be attended by a trained midwife, physician or nurse whether they deliver at a hospital, home or birth center. A few women have their babies in unplanned circumstances, however, and you should know...
Although a newborn does not have teeth showing at birth, newborn oral care is important to maintain clean and healthy gums. By the age of three years, almost 20 percent of children have tooth decay, which can lead to pain and the need for...
Many first-time parents feel anxiety when considering life with a newborn, a normal reaction since they are treading water in uncharted territory. Infants require basic care during the first few days of life, including feeding and hygiene, and one...
For nine months, you've prepared for the day you bring your baby home. You've shopped for clothes and furniture. You searched baby books to find the perfect name. After all this time, the nursery is finally stocked, the layette is complete, and...
Newborn babies are completely dependent on their parents. Caring for newborns includes providing them with proper nutrition, a safe place to sleep as well as quality time and attention. The first year of your baby’s life is a time of rapid...
With many new parents having to work, go to school or take care of other time-consuming tasks, the need to put newborns in day care is becoming more commonplace. While child care may seem to be a practical solution to parents’...
Newborns, babies within their first month of life, are both a challenge and a joy to care for. As new little humans, they are experiencing everything in their environment for the first time and are completely dependent on their parents for...
As a baby develops in the womb, a waxy substance known as vernix coats his skin. Secreted by the baby’s oil glands, vernix protects against amniotic fluid. A baby born prematurely or within 40 weeks still has remnants of vernix, which will...
The arrival of a new baby brings excitement and happiness, which parents will inevitably want to share with their friends and family. Thanks to Internet access and a little creativity, parents have an abundance of choices these days which extend...
A C-section gives you much to adjust to in your life. While you recover from major surgery, you will be caring for a newborn. It may be a while before your life and your body feel normal. Wait until your obstetric caregiver gives you clearance to...
Returning to your prepregnancy weight can take a year, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Flattening your stomach will involve both losing fat and restrengthening your abdominals. A combination of healthy eating, aerobic...
A circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin from the penis. Attitudes about circumcision vary among cultures and religions traditions; however, because it is not considered medically necessary as of 2011, circumcision is deemed an...
The key to taking care of infants and children is to identify, understand, and then meet their needs. A child's needs are different depending on her age, health and personality. Planned Parenthood points out that there is a hierarchy of six basics...
If you suffer from a loss of libido after giving birth, you are not alone. A depressed libido is normal following childbirth. Once your doctor has cleared you for having sex, usually about six weeks postpartum, you can make a few lifestyle changes...
Sweat, dirt, bacteria and lint from your clothing can accumulate in your belly button and cause an unpleasant odor. Newborn babies' umbilical cord stumps often give off a slight odor during the first few weeks of life as their belly buttons heal...
The umbilical cord plug, or stump, is the short piece of umbilical cord that remains after the cord is clamped and cut after birth. This plug contains no pain-sensitive nerves, according to the Mayo Clinic, but the area around the plug can become...
Given that the average woman can gain 22 to 28 pounds during her pregnancy, you are probably wondering about how to get back to your pre-pregnancy shape following childbirth. While getting your flat belly back will take some time, it is important...
Adjusting to life with a newborn baby is an overwhelming and tiring experience. Mothers need a support system in place for encouragement and advice after the baby arrives. Caring for a newborn is a learning experience for everyone, and a new...
As you approach the end of your pregnancy you may feel as if you have been pregnant for a long time. Some women experience the delivery of a postterm infant, or a baby that is born after 42 weeks of gestation, says Karla L. Luxner, author of...
According to "Maternal-Child Nursing," newborns typically sleep 15 to 19 hours per day in three- to six-hour blocks. If your schedule requires that you be free to function in the mornings without the responsibility of constantly caring for your...
Breast milk provides the perfect balance of nutrition for your baby for her first eight months, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Experts at Ohio State University Medical Center state that your baby is receiving a sufficient...
After giving birth, a woman's hormones shift. This shift, combined with the demands of caring for a newborn, causes many women to get the "baby blues." According to the American Pregnancy Association, 50 percent to 75 percent of new mothers...
Postpartum depression refers to the clinical depression that can occur in women after childbirth. Learn more about post partum depression, including symptoms and treatments, in this health video.
