Articles on baby care

Newborn Baby Care, Guard Against Brain Damage, Support Baby’s Head
By Anne V Agar

I want to stress how important it is to support any baby’s head when lifting and carrying them because it isn’t well known how much damage can be unwittingly inflicted on tiny and helpless infants.

I believe every mother of a newborn is given this advice as soon as she first moves to lift her baby. “Support his/her head”. All mothers realise that for the baby’s sake, they must do this, but the danger is that not everyone in families heeds this advice and it isn’t just uncomfortable for the unsupported baby - It’s very dangerous.

No-one would deliberately risk a baby’s health but many folk don’t know it isn’t just about the baby’s comfort, it’s about possible - and highly likely - brain damage, which can be slight or devastating.

The danger area, or weakness, in a baby is the point where the brain meets the spinal cord. A rocking motion with the head unsupported can cause some damage to the part of the spinal cord that controls breathing.

So a child born completely healthy can be injured in this way without anyone realising. The result is brain damage to some degree and a harder life for the child from thereon.

Obviously colicky babies are at extra risk because they need a lot more lifting and carrying, usually by a parent who is exhausted and exasperated by the hours of crying.

Researchers who examined the brains of children who were thought to have been killed by violent shaking discovered that even mild shaking can cause damage to the nerve fibres that control breathing. The lack of oxygen makes the brain swell and can easily cause some degree of brain damage or even death.

When we speak of brain damaged folk I guess most of us think of brain damage to an extreme degree but it doesn’t always mean a wheelchair and 24 hour care.

Indeed it can be slight enough to just affect a child’s intelligence, reaction speed, co-ordination or indeed anything the brain is wonderfully designed to control, but even this kind of damage is bound to make a big difference to the quality of life the child would then lead.

Rough play with a baby before it can even crawl is extremely dangerous and everyone who is likely to be involved in the care of a new baby needs to be made aware of this. Also they must be advised to take care to always support the newborn’s head when walking with baby in their arms, and the reason explained clearly.

I find it very worrying because on several occasions during my own life I’ve seen people lift a baby without supporting the head and have quickly said “Support its head” and I think of the thousands of babies who had no-one there to help them out with that extremely important advice.

In an effort to keep helpless babies safe we need to have warnings and advice about supporting a baby’s head printed on packs of diapers and baby formula, just as warnings about the dangers to health are printed on packs of cigarettes and tobacco.

Adults make their own choices about risk-taking with their health or are addicted and therefore disregard the warnings, but babies are completely dependent on their carers, so in my opinion it’s very important that all carers, including older siblings, have the dangers of a baby’s head not being supported explained clearly to them.

It is much easier to remember and comply with a rule if we know the reason for that rule.

My aim is to keep babies as safe as possible and ensure that setbacks and any form of distress are avoided, therefore I have also written on the subject of some of the ‘colic cures’, the extremely good, the bad, and the downright dangerous, though not in that order, so that parents can be prepared and capable of eliminating baby colic quickly and safely if the need arises.

[http://www.colic-cure-secrets-revealed.com/index.html]

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Baby Care 101 - How to Choose a Pediatrician
By Sandra B Wilson

Ideally, it is very important that we choose a pediatrician even before giving birth. This will help ensure convenience for your baby’s health needs as soon as he is born.. However, keep in mind that you choose a pediatrician not only for your baby but also for you and your partner. Having a competent and reliable doctor will not only keep your baby in good health, it will also keep you at peace. In this article, we will share with a few tried-and-tested tips to guide you in choosing a pediatrician.

As parents, we only want to choose a pediatrician who is not only knowledgeable and competent but one who is also very accommodating in answering our questions. Observe the following:

- How long has she been in practice?

- What is his educational background?

- Is she board certified?

- Is he naturally fond with kids?

- Is he patient enough in answering all your questions?

It is also very important that you determine your doctor’s availability. Most children get many acute illnesses. It is very important that you find out how available your pediatrician is to be able to check your baby.

The first meeting - When you meet the pediatrician for the first time, it is highly advised that you come to the meeting with a list of questions on hand. Do not only prepare yourself to listen to responses. Instead, it is also very important that you pay attention to how you feel about your interaction with your doctor. Are you comfortable enough to ask questions?

Telephone calls - How long does it take to get through a phone call? Do they set aside enough time to answer queries on phone? How do they handle emergency and routine calls? Keep in mind that if the doctor answers the phone call himself, then it is most likely that he will not have enough time to see his patients.

The office or the clinic - Look around you. Is the surroundings clean? Do they use state-of-the-art facilities? Is everybody organized? Do they use electronic filing?

Ask the doctor about health care questions - One way to find out about the doctor’s practice and ethics is by asking him health care questions. What is his opinion about circumcision? Does he encourage breastfeeding or bottle-feeding? What are his suggestions about immunization?

Go to the interview as a family - Sometimes, it helps if you bring your partner or your mom with you. It is important that both you and your companion feel the sense of interaction. In cases wherein you’re interviewing your doctor after giving birth, bringing your baby along with you will be helpful. It is important that you see how he interacts with your child and how your comfortable your child is with him during the check-up.

Your choice of pediatrician is not permanent. You may choose to leave him and find another doctor when you feel unsatisfied with your child’s care. Keep these tips in mind and choose a pediatrician who will gibe high importance and affection to your little one. This does not only help ensure good health to your child, it also keeps you at peace all the time.

You can find helpful information about how to choose a pediatrician and everything you need to know about why should you choose a pediatrician at Aha! Baby.

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Newborn Baby Care Tips
By Arturo F. Laclady

Giving birth is a beautiful experience as well as the beginning of a new era in a mother’s life. Motherhood certainly has it’s rewards but often first-time mothers need a bit of advice regarding the proper care of their newborn baby.

Sleep

Newborn babies sleep on average, sixteen hours in a day. The newborn sleeps in blocks of time of about two hours at a time. The newborn’s nervous system is developing after birth and you can rest assured that by the age of three months or so, he or she will begin to sleep for longer periods at a time and will by that age, be sleeping a good six hours straight at night. Be sure to allow your newborn to sleep when he or she wants to sleep.

Exercise

Your newborn baby can benefit from you doing some ‘baby exercises’ with him or her as well as gently massaging the baby’s muscles. Exercising a newborn baby can help the development of muscle coordination and control and can assist in developing muscle strength. Lay your baby on his back and simply move his limbs gently. You can bend his legs at the knees and gently bend his arms at the elbows. This provides a wonderful bonding experience for you both in addition to the benefits to the baby’s muscular development.

Feeding

It is vital that your newborn receive the proper diet during the first few months of life and beyond. Newborn babies can either be breast fed or fed a baby formula from a bottle. The choice is up to each new mother. A newborn baby should be fed every few hours throughout the day. Your baby will certainly let you know when he or she is hungry by being fussy or crying.

Bathing

Newborn babies should not be bathed every day as it can dry their tender skin. A sponge bath is really the best option in the very beginning as it is more gentle and is less likely to upset your baby. Be sure to clean the creases in the baby’s skin and the diaper area well. Keep your baby wrapped in a soft towel and clean one part of the baby’s body at a time so that the baby does not get chilled.

Caring for your newborn should be a pleasure. Do not hesitate to ask other mothers for advice. An experienced mother is a great resource for new parents. Also, if you are a new mother and could use some tips of how to care for your new child there is much information through your family doctor.

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Baby Care Tips For You And For Baby
By Erin Costello

What baby care tips are essential for you and your newborn??

The mother of a baby is the busiest person on earth, and these baby care tips are designed to put a little order and routine back into your day to day routine. In no time at all, these baby care tips will become second nature for you and your baby helping you to get back to a somewhat ‘normal’ life.

Breastfeeding Baby Care

There is, has and always will be a lot of controversy on breastfeeding depending on where you live in the world. In some countries it’s the norm and most people would not bat an eyelid if they saw a mother sit down in a restaurant and start to breastfeed her baby. In other countries such as the UK and the US, surprisingly and quite sadly, breastfeeding is frowned upon by many. I personally breastfed both my children and though I made a point of being discreet, I valued my right to feed my child where, when and how I chose to.

However, I also appreciated the fact that I was lucky to be able to breastfeed as I know many mothers want to but can’t for whatever reason. Even those that choose not to breast feed should not be maligned. The majority of us live in a society where we have a freedom of choice and whatever our feelings or opinions on a matter, we should allow everyone the right to choose what is best for them and their baby.

That said it is common knowledge that there are huge health benefits to breastfeeding for both mom and baby so that’s why this is key to baby care. Baby’s first drink of breast milk is colostrum which is full of antibodies which help babies immune system and is full of fat and protein to help baby put on weight in their first few days. Breastfeeding also helps mom’s uterus to contract more quickly. A weird sensation when it happens but utterly amazing when you think about it.

Then consider the other positives of breastfeeding to baby care. Milk is on tap, ready to go at the right temperature whatever the time of day and if baby emptied one ‘bottle’ or boob, there was another ready and waiting to go. I did co-sleeping with my second baby as I was concerned about waking the house up in the middle of the night for feeds which worked out well for all as most times throughout the night, she would latch on herself and feed without me being barely aware. Baby care doesn’t really get any easier than that.

I did express so that my husband could also be involved and there were times that he did the night feeds with both children so that I could get a complete nights rest.

Bottle Feeding Baby Care

If you are bottle-feeding your baby then make sure that the bottles are well sterilized and clean. There are many makes of bottle sterilizers that are available. There are some that you can put in the microwave and some that will continually sterilize throughout the day so that you always have clean bottles and teats available to go when you need them.

Also consider your formula well. Check the ingredients and look for those that have the friendly bacteria for the gut. Make sure that you buy the formula appropriate for your baby’s age. To rich and it may cause constipation, too thin and lacking in vitamins etc, and your baby may not gain weight as they should.

Baby Sleeping Baby Care

With your first child, you will have probably read numerous books about how to put your baby to bed and have bought a moses basket, then a cot or cot bed. Come your subsequent children, you then realise though nice to have, the most important thing is whether your baby is comfortable, safe and warm or cool enough. My first child went into his own cot bed when he was 3 weeks old as we couldn’t stand anymore of his warthog snoring. He was also in a baby sleeping bag. Our daughter slept with me in our bed until she slept through most of the night before moving to her own bed. Especially as I was breast feeding both, I made sure that I didn’t drink a lot (the odd glass of wine at a weekend is fine), I don’t do drugs, they weren’t too hot or cold and the room was well ventilated. Use your common sense here regarding baby care and use and do what’s best for you.

Clothing Baby Care

Summer clothes should be light cotton ones. When baby is taken out, make sure that his head does not get the direct sun. Make the most of parasols or stroller sun covers. The covers in particular also help against wasps. An important baby care tip to remember for all - sun cream is essential even if your baby is dark skinned. My children are mixed race and even with factor 50, they still tan.

In winter, there may be sweaters, trousers and other woollens. Just bear in mind that if they are in nappies or diapers still, you need quick and easy access to change them especially when you are out and about. Some changing facilities are tiny or cramped and you don’t really want to spend more time there than you should. Remember a change of clothes too. My son was the worst but they both had explosive poos the force of which sent their poo right up their backs and it was far easier to take the whole lot off than to try and clean around it!

Changing Baby Care

Changing of nappies or diapers whether disposable or not should take place regularly. Sometimes babies will let you know in their own particular way but it’s best to get into the habit of checking their bottoms at least every 3 hours. That way you’ll soon get to know baby’s toilet habits and can adjust it accordingly.

Bathing Baby Care

I hope that I don’t sound too patronising but the best advice here is common sense. Make sure that you have everything that you need BEFORE you start bathing. Have baby’s towel ready on his changing mat, his nappy and night clothes all in place before you start.

Please ensure that the bath water is not too hot and not too cold - 9of or 32c is ideal. It should only be a couple of inches deep if it is in a family bath. At this age baby doesn’t need bubble bath, just gentle no-tears formula soap should suffice.

Ensure that you support baby’s head safely. Once washed and dried, massage a little moisturizing cream into baby’s skin and get him dressed for bed.

Immunisation Baby Care

The baby should be immunized against Small Pox & Measles with BCG within 3 months of its age. The first DPT (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Psertussis, Polio, HIB, Meningitis C) is due within the first 2 months followed by the 2nd and the 3rd one at one month intervals. The MMR vaccination against Measles, Mumps and Rubella should be done within 1 years of age. The boosters should be taken after the baby is 4 years old.

Training and Education Baby Care

Babies learn by watching and listening. Yes I babble baby talk to my two but I also talked sensibly to them like an adult. When getting them dressed I would put their left arm in its sleeve and say to them, ‘let’s put your left arm in your sleeve’. By 18 months both children knew their right from their left, could say things like open door, shut door, roof, bus, sky drink, biscuit etc because I constantly read or pointed things like this out to them. Learning can and at this age, should be fun.

The most important baby care tip of all

The parents should find enough time to spend quality with the baby but also together and by themselves. Find time for baby time, couple time and me time!

Erin Costello was an industry executive but is now a mother of two.

She researches and writes from personal experience as well as on topics and issues that affect women such as breast, ovarian and cervical cancer, pregnancy and baby care, women’s health and beauty, relationships amongst others.

She has had numerous articles syndicated worldwide but writes mainly for WomensTroubles.com

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Baby Care Tips For Your Newborn Baby
By Brooke Schuman

Before I was a mom I had never changed a diaper or had even held

a newborn baby in my life. I never really was the babysitting

type. I had no clue what I was doing, I needed some major help.

So now that I am a mom I would like to share some things that I

have learned that I didn’t know but wished someone would have

told me. Of course the nurses in the hospital showed me what to

do, but I always wished I could have been more prepared. So here

are some baby care tips, to care for your newborn baby.

-A bath two to three times a week is all the baby needs until

he/she can crawl around and get dirty. Of course you will want

to give sponge baths after meals and after diaper changes to

keep the baby clean. Giving baby baths to often can result in

dry irritated skin.

-Don’t ever leave baby alone in the bath for even a second, be

in arms reach of baby at all times. Make sure you have

everything you need with you when you are giving baby a bath so

you don’t need to leave for any reason, the phone, a towel,

shampoo are just a few items that you definitely will need when

giving baby a bath.

-The best way to avoid diaper rash and irritation is to change

the diaper before or after every feeding and as soon as possible

after each bowel movement. Sitting in a dirty diaper for even a

little while causes irritation. Use a diaper rash ointment

after every diaper change to avoid diaper rash.

-Diapers need to fit snugly as to avoid leaks but not so tight

that the diapers can cause skin irritation around the thighs and

stomach areas.

-On boys aim the penis downward as the diaper is being put on.

This minimizes leaks and wet pajamas and undershirts.

-Some babies love to be swaddled others hate it. If your baby

hates to be swaddled let his/her arms out and you can still

comfort your little one but he/she can feel less restricted.

-When picking baby up lift gently, slowly and close to your body

this makes baby feel more secure. Always make sure your arm or

hand is supporting baby’s neck.

-Don’t use cotton swabs to clean out babies ears. Use wash

clothes to clean in and around babies’ ear.

-Shampooing your babies hair only needs to be done two or three

times a week. Unless there is a problem with cradle cap that

requires you to shampoo more. Always put cotton or cover your

babies’ ears with your hands as to minimize the amount of water

that gets in his/her little ears. This can cause ear infections.

Get some sleep and rest when your child is resting.

http://baby.ideas-from.us

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