New Year, New Lifestyle: Caring for a Newborn
Whether by choice or by circumstance, the decision to raise a child requires a willingness to adapt to an entirely new way of life. Newborn babies can seem intimidating, especially if you’re new to it. Here are some basics to remember when handling a baby:
Wash your hands before handling a newborn baby. Newborns are at high risk for infections, so it is necessary that anyone who has your newborn has clean hands. Anyone that is also handling your little one should be caught up on their vaccinations and assist only when needed.
When holding a newborn, it is crucial to support a newborn’s head and neck when holding them. This is because the muscles in their neck are not yet strong enough to support their head on its own. As a result, whenever you pick up a newborn, it’s important to cradle their head with one hand while supporting their bottom with the other.
Be alert to signs of distress! Newborns can only communicate through crying, so if the baby is crying, it will represent that they need something. Make sure to check their diaper, temperature, and see if they are hungry.
A newborn’s sleeping schedule can be made based on a baby’s sleeping patterns or cycles. It is necessary when putting a baby down to rest, place them on their back in a safe crib. Also, avoid the usage of blankets, stuffed animals, or pillows in a crib. Having these items in the crib with the baby can lead to suffocation or death, also known as SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
