How to Care for a Newborn: 8 Things New Parents Should Know
Not sure how to care for a newborn? Eight steps cover the umbilical cord, eyes, skin, scalp, hair, nose, ears and the baby's bottom, step by step.
Newborn baby care is a task that is tricky at first and easy once you get the hang of it. For experienced parents, looking after a newborn is not hard. For first-time parents, though, it is natural to feel a little confused about caring for their beloved baby. Here is how to care for a newborn, step by step:
Contents
1. Caring for the Umbilical Cord
The umbilical cord is the part of a baby's body you should put first in newborn care. Be very careful with the cord to avoid the risk of infection. If it gets wet during a bath, dry it right away with a sterile cotton swab or sterile gauze. Do not apply any medicine or herbal mixture to the cord, to prevent irritation or infection. In general, the cord stump falls off completely 1 to 4 weeks after birth. Only after it has fallen off can you use baby oil to clean any dirt around the navel.
2. Caring for the Baby's Eyes
Clean your baby's eyes with sterile cotton moistened with boiled water. Wipe from the inside corner outward so any dirt in the eye is cleared away completely. Use a separate sterile cotton ball for each eye and do not swap them.
3. Caring for the Baby's Skin
A newborn does not need frequent baths, so the skin does not dry out easily. Bathe the baby at least once a day with a washcloth dampened in warm water. After that, you can bathe the baby in a tub with baby soap.
Keep the baby's skin moisturized with a safe baby care product. You should also control the temperature of the baby's room to prevent heat rash.
4. Caring for the Scalp
The next step in newborn care is to clear the scalp of crust (cradle cap), which forms from a buildup of dust and sweat. To clean it, apply baby oil and leave it on the scalp for a few minutes. Then wipe with a soft cotton swab and follow with a wash.
5. Caring for the Baby's Hair
You can wash your baby's hair at least twice a week. Use a baby shampoo that does not sting the eyes. Wet the hair slowly with water and apply just enough shampoo. Rub it gently through the hair until it lathers, then rinse with water until the hair is completely clean.
6. Caring for the Baby's Nose
The nose does not really need special care. You only need to wipe the outside of the nose when you see fluid or dirt coming out. If the baby has a cold and trouble breathing, you can use a clean baby nasal aspirator to suction mucus from inside the nose.
7. Caring for the Ears
Simply put a few drops of baby oil into the ear canal, and the dirt inside will work its way out by itself. To clean the outer ear, use clean cotton coated with baby oil.
8. The Baby's Bottom
To prevent irritation on the baby's bottom, keep it dry so it does not stay damp. You should also choose diapers that are truly safe to use.
That is how to care for a newborn baby. You can use Mitu Baby products to make newborn care easier. To keep the scalp and navel clean, you can use Mitu Baby Oil. You can also bathe your baby with Mitu Baby Milk Bath.
