By KidsDirect Editorial Team

Taking Care of Your Newborn

 

Feeding Your Newborn

Hold, cuddle, talk to, sing to and rock your baby as much as you can. A lot of your infant’s development depends on his or her interaction with you. Every touch stimulates the baby’s brain. Always check your baby when he or she seems uncomfortable, to make sure the infant is not too hot, too cold, hungry, wet or needs to burp. Give your child the benefit of the doubt and do not worry about “spoiling.” Try to spend time nurturing your baby when the infant is quiet, happy and alert, instead of waiting for him or her to cry and fuss for attention. Make sure that your baby gets adequate rest. Take the phone off the hook and nap when the baby naps. Encourage dad and other family members to help care for the infant. Keep in contact with friends and relatives. Go for a daily walk with the baby for fresh air.

Skin to skin contact is worth building into your routine too, not just in the hospital right after birth, but at home in the weeks that follow. Holding your baby bare chested against your own skin helps regulate their heart rate and body temperature and is one of the simplest ways to bond, and it works just as well for dads and other caregivers as it does for moms. Crying is going to happen no matter how attentive you are, and it usually peaks somewhere around six to eight weeks before easing off, so if you’ve checked the basics and your baby is still fussy, it’s not a sign you’re doing something wrong. If you ever feel overwhelmed by the crying, it’s always okay to set your baby down safely in the crib for a few minutes and step away to collect yourself. Taking care of yourself is part of taking care of your newborn, so don’t hesitate to ask for help, lean on your support system, and give yourself the same grace you’re giving your baby.

Infants, birth to age 1, need

• protection from physical danger
• proper nutrition and health care
• adults with whom to form attachments and who provide a secure environment
• adults who can understand and respond to their signals
• things to look at, touch, hear, smell, and taste
• opportunities to explore the world
• appropriate language stimulation