Top 10 Tips on How to Care for a Newborn Baby

The period from birth to 28 days is called a newborn , which is a critical period for newborns. Many physiological structures and organs of newborns are not fully developed, so they must be carefully cared for. In this article you will know,How to care for a newborn baby.

Table of Contents

1. Newborn living environment

The baby has just left the mother’s body and cannot adapt to the external environment. It is easy to suffer from hypothermia and cold-induced injuries. At this time, you should use all possible ways to keep the baby warm and keep the baby in an environment between 21℃ and 24℃. The baby’s room should be quiet, clean and sunny.

2. Care for newborns

Newborns have delicate skin and poor physical condition, so you should be gentle when touching them and wash your hands carefully before touching them. Newborn utensils should be clean and sterile, and clothes and diapers should be made of soft, absorbent and breathable cotton fabrics. The baby should also pay attention to hygiene. Bathe the baby regularly and change clothes frequently to avoid diaper rash or red buttocks. Wash the baby’s butt with warm water every time after pooping to prevent dirt from contaminating the external genitalia.

3. Breastfeeding of newborns (How to care for a newborn baby)

Newborns are generally breastfed, which contains protein, fat, sugar, calcium, phosphorus, vitamins, endocrine hormones, and immune antibodies. Breastfeeding is simple, hygienic, and time-saving. Breastfeeding can also promote the intellectual development of the baby and promote the contraction and recovery of the mother’s uterus after delivery. When the baby reaches 4-6 months, some complementary foods can be added appropriately.

4. Regular check-ups (How to care for a newborn baby)

When the baby is one month old, go to a nearby hospital for regular check-ups to check the baby’s development, whether there are any heart abnormalities, whether the motor function is developing normally, how the intelligence is developing, and whether the psychological and mental aspects are normal.

No matter how much preparation you make in advance, once the baby is born, you will still find many problems, leaving parents at a loss as to what to do.

Early prevention and treatment of common baby diseases

1. Normal body temperature of children with fever: rectal temperature: 36.2-38℃, oral temperature: 36-77.4℃.

If a child has a high fever (above 39°C), you should consider whether he or she has: upper respiratory tract infection, intestinal infection (dysentery), meningitis, poliomyelitis, Japanese encephalitis, malaria, sepsis, etc.

If a child has a low fever (about 38°C), you should consider whether it is tuberculosis, chronic infection (such as tonsillitis, sinusitis, otitis media, etc.), chronic pyelonephritis, and functional low fever (such as summer fever). If the above conditions are found, the child should be sent to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment immediately.

2. The causes of abdominal pain inside the abdomen should be considered: intestinal ascariasis, biliary ascariasis, enteritis, dysentery, acute appendicitis, intussusception, etc. The causes outside the abdomen should be considered: pneumonia, myocarditis, measles, rheumatism, kidney disease.

3. Influenza symptoms: high fever, nasal congestion, headache, cough. Physical symptoms: pharyngeal congestion and edema, conjunctival congestion. Treatment: Take some cold medicine as required by the doctor, and go to the hospital for treatment if the condition is serious.

4. Mild diarrhea in children: less than 10 diarrheas a day, yellow or green stools, occasional vomiting. Physical symptoms: good skin elasticity, good spirits. Treatment: oral rehydration, warm water with appropriate amount of salt and sodium bicarbonate, take orally several times, drink as much as the diarrhea a day, and take corresponding antidiarrheal drugs.

Severe cases: abdominal cramps more than 20 times a day, watery stools, vomiting more than 10 times a day. Physical symptoms: poor skin elasticity, poor spirit, dark circles around lips, deep and rapid breathing. Because the disease progresses quickly in children, it is best to send them to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment, whether it is a mild or severe case, to avoid delaying the disease.

5. Symptoms of rickets caused by vitamin D deficiency: frequent crying, sweating, easy waking up, and hair falling out.

Signs:

Square head, delayed closure of fontanelle (normal at 1.5 years old), delayed teething (should have two teeth at 6 months), beaded ribs , O-shaped or X-shaped legs. Prevention: Vitamin D supplementation starting from 1 month, 400 IU per day. Premature and low birth weight infants can be supplemented starting from 2 weeks, and 800 IU per month for the first 3 months.

Treatment (How to care for a newborn baby)

① Vitamin D 400,000-600,000 units intramuscular injection once, repeat once after two months. ② Concentrated A and D preparations: 10-40 drops orally daily. ③ Calcium gluconate 1-3 grams orally daily. ④ Spend more time in the sun, which is often called “sunbathing”. But avoid sunburn.

6. Iron deficiency anemia Symptoms: pale skin, mucous membranes and nail beds, fatigue, and inactivity. Blood tests: blood routine shows decreased hemoglobin and red blood cell count. Treatment: Remove the cause and supplement iron.

Caring for a baby requires patience and carefulness. The healthier the baby is, the more at ease the parents will be.