Baby Care - Top Tips You Should Know part 2

Diaper Changing Some Useful Tips

The things your need for your baby’s nappy changing are:

Diapers, Baby powder , Diaper rash ointments , Cotton balls, Baby wash cloths ,Terry cloth towels ,Baby wipes.

Usually for newborns most people use cloth diapers. Most of the babies do get diaper rash at some point; do not be afraid or tense as it is very common in babies and will usually clear up soon. If your baby gets diaper rash on the genitals or on her buttocks or thighs, make sure you change her very often and that every time you do the area is cleansed properly.

Rash cream may be applied where appropriate. It might be good to leave the baby without the diaper as often as possible as this helps in keeping baby’s skin dry and helps heal the rash faster.

Bathing The Child

Too much bathing may be bad for the babies skin, so bathe the child 3-4 times a week and thoroughly clean the diaper area every time you change the baby’s diaper. Sponge baths are recommended for babies in their first 2 weeks. It’s best to clean the baby gently with a damp cloth and mild lukewarm soapy water. While giving a sponge bath the baby can be kept in a towel, exposing only those parts that are being cleansed. Try and avoid using soap on the baby’s face.

After 2-3 weeks or so your baby is ready for his first bath. Fill a basin with luke warm water. See to it that the babys head and upper body is well above the water level. Then gently clean with a damp cloth. You can pour water over its body using a small mug. Shampoo the babys hair once a week.When washing her hair, make sure that the soap doesn’t go into the eyes, but don’t panic if it does - Just clean the baby’s eyes with a clean damp cloth.

Reasons why your baby is crying

Your child could be crying because of a number of reasons, the most common is hunger. The other reason is indigestion or colic pain. After every feed it is good to carry the baby upright and pat on his back gently till it burps. Below are a few more of the common causes of crying and how to deal with them:

• Lack of comfort – a dirty nappy, tight or irritable clothing can cause crying in some babies. Ensure that your baby’s nappy is always clean and discover what clothing is most comfortable for her.
• Sudden temperature changes – some babies may cry when exposed to temperature changes, for example while bathing or having their nappies changed.
• Lack of attention – some babies will cry when they feel the need for reassurance. There is a need here to find the right balance (for example if you cuddle your baby when she cries at the dead of night she may come to expect this night after nights).


The Teething Process

The teething process can be a difficult period for both the baby and the parents. The process starts at different ages depending on each baby but usually by age of 3 most infants have their primary teeth in place. If by one year your baby still has not got his first tooth it would be wise to see your doctor and dentist. Usually there is no set order in which baby teeth appear – again this depends on the individual baby. It is unusual for a child not to get all twenty teeth.

Here are the signs that your baby may be teething:

• Bulging gums – you’ll be able to see the outline of the teeth as they try and push through his gums.
• Nighttime crying and walking.
• More fuss than normal.
• “Clingy" behaviour.
• An increase in the amount of drooling seen.
• Chewing on fingers, teething rings, and other objects.
• Swollen, red, inflamed gums.
• Poor appetite.
• Interrupted sleep.

When babies are going through the teething process they sometimes bring their hands to their mouths – this brings some relief when the gums have pressure applied to them. You can gently massage your baby to reduce the discomfort of teething – clean your fingers and rub the gums firmly – this may be uncomfortable for your baby initially but she will get used to, and appreciate, the massage the more you do it.Give your baby something cool to chew on – this again provides relief for a little time.

Immunize Your Baby

Since immunization was first introduced it has saved hundreds of thousands of children’s lives. The simple procedure involves injecting your baby with vaccines, which protect them against serious, and sometimes fatal, diseases. Most Doctors recommend that babies receive the following vaccinations, but remember that this may change over time so please check with your doctor for the most up to date ones:

• Inactivated polio (IPV)
• Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP)
• Varicella (chickenpox)


By giving your child these vaccines you are protecting her for her whole life against several diseases. Many of the above vaccines protect your baby against diseases that are particularly prevalent in the early years of a child’s life, while some are for diseases that can occur at any time in life.

Babies are born with some degree of pre-determined natural immunity – this is acquired in the womb from the mother’s blood. This immunity is further strengthened during breastfeeding (breast milk is rich in antibodies). Your doctor or health care clinic will notify you when it is time for your baby’s first shot, which generally occurs at three months.

Please read my Blog for more health information. http://stay-informed.blogspot.com/

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Baby care .. Top tips you should know!

At Home With The BABY- part 1

It is normal to feel a bit out of sorts and sad for the first couple of weeks after giving birth. Your body is going through some major physical changes after the birth of your baby. Your hormones will be changing and you likely will be feeling tired. Some of the things you will experience include

• Insomnia and oversleeping.
• Feelings of sadness and depression accompanied by crying.
• Feelings of guilt and worthlessness.
• Having no interest in your baby or being overly concerned about it.
• Weight gain or Weight loss accompanied by not eating.
• Get professional help if the depression seems to be ongoing.
• Discuss with other mothers their experiences after birth.
You may find that your friends and family members also went through the same issues.In order to avoid problems of jealousy.Make sure that you include your other children in the day-to-day activities that are part of the new baby’s routine. Remember that you are trying to adjust to some huge changes in your life so allow yourself some time to adjust.

How To Find A Good Pediatrician For Your Baby

•Find a doctor that is patient and listens to all your concerns, this is very important. Try and find a pediatrician ahead of your baby’s birth.
• One of the best ways of finding a good pediatrician is by talking to someone who has had first hand experience. Do you have close family or friends who have used a good pediatrician?
• Ask Questions – this is the only way that you can “sus out” prospective doctors and see if their ideals closely mirror your own.

Sleeptime For Your Baby

You should expect to be woken up persistently, no matter what the time, for the first few weeks try and impose the fact that night is for sleep from very early on. Here are some very effective tips on helping your baby sleep far better.

• Carry your baby as much as possible, particularly in the evenings as this keeps him relaxed.
• Remain flexible – if the sleep routine you are trying does not seem to be working then do not be afraid to try something new.
• The room temperature can also have a significant impact on your baby’s sleep. Apart from ensuring that the bed is suitably warm the best temperature for sleep is 70 degrees approx.
• When your baby naps in the day time use a well lit area – this will help keep the naps shorter and may encourage him to sleep better at nights.
• Feed your baby more during the day – this will help him sleep better during the night.


Breast Feeding How To

It is a myth that bottle-feeds and breast-feeding are equally good. Mother’s milk is the best for the proper growth of the child. There are certain nutrients in the mother’s milk that helps the baby fight illnesses while also promoting brain development. Formula-fed babies are more prone to illnesses.

Ideally you should start breast feeding the child within 6 hours of its birth, but do not worry if for some reason you are not able to do this.

Do give the child enough time to breast-feed. Don’t limit the time. It could irritate the baby. An average of about 10 to 35 minutes can be taken by the baby to completely satisfy itself.

So how should you hold your baby while breast feeding. The answer to this is that see to it that the gums of the baby are on top of the areola because there is a chance of nipples becoming sore if the baby just chews on the nipple instead of taking in the areola. You can hold the baby in a cuddling position and feed it or you can lie on your side placing your baby facing you. Usually when the baby has had enough milk it will let go of the nipple on its own, but the baby takes usually half an hour on each side.

Best Food To Eat During Breastfeeding

It is very important for a breastfeeding mother to have a healthy and balanced diet. A variety of foods are required during this period including:

• Foods such as wholemeal bread, vegetables, pulses, cereals and pastas will provide fibre – women occasionally experience bowel problems after childbirth and an intake of fibre on a daily basis will help with this.
• Proteins such as lean meat, fish, eggs and poultry.
• Try and get two portions of fish per week (including some oily fish). Do not exceed 2 portions of oily fish per week.
• Get lots of vegetables and fruits – try and have an intake of 5 portions a day of fruit and veg. • For additional energy try and take in starch rich foods such as bread, pasta, potatoes, pulses and rice – this will provide a good source of energy.
• Dairies such as cheese, milk and yoghurt are an excellent source of calcium and should be included in a breast feeding mother’s diet.
• Some doctors advise taking vitamin supplements such as Vitamin D Your doctor will be able to advise which supplements will be right for you.

You should also be careful with your intake of caffeine and alcohol. It is true that some breast feeding babies react to the foods that their mother has consumed.

To be continued

Please read my Blog for more health information. http://stay-informed.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Mar