If someone asked me to name one miracle that exists on this earth, I would say the miracle of bringing a life onto this earth. I did not know how beautiful it was till I saw my own sister go through the entire process of pregnancy and giving birth to this angel that brought happiness to our lives. Being a parent is the hardest thing to do in this world and I congratulate you on being one. In this hard but wonderful journey of raising a baby we could do with all the help we could get. One reason why I decided to write a book on this topic is that seeing how important it is to take care of small details when you have a new born in your laps, I thought a book like this would really help parents with small problems that may arise with the baby. I know how hard it is when you have a baby and you don’t have your mother around to help you with your questions, I hope my book will help answer those little questions.
In the Baby Care Book you will learn the following:
• The things that a new mother can expect in the days following child birth.
• How to cope with depression that a new mother may feel after giving birth.
• How to breast feed your baby.
• How to bathe your baby properly.
• Reasons why your baby will cry.
• How to get your baby to have a nice night’s sleep.
8
• How To choose a paediatrician for your baby.
• How you can use music to soothe your baby.
• What foods your baby should eat at various stages of his first year.
• What kinds of noises your baby will make (and what they may mean).
• The kinds of movements your baby will make before learning how to walk.
• How to help your baby develop her motor and coordination skills.
• How to help your baby socialise from a very young age.
• The process of teething and the things you can do to make it less painful for your new bundle of joy.
• Important considerations about vaccinations and which ones you should consider getting for your baby.
• Common baby illnesses including colds.
• The different play-things that you can give your child at various stages of her development.
This information product will help you to make the most out of your baby’s first year by giving you some basic guidelines and milestones to measure against. There is so much information out there for new parents that sometimes less information is better. You will have to determine what works best for you and your baby.
9
Chose Pediatrician For Your How To Chooosse A Pediiattrriiciian Forr Yourr Baby
Caring for your child will naturally be one of your biggest concerns. There are more tips on immunization and care in the first year in future chapters, but right now let us talk a little about how you can choose a good paediatrician for your baby. Here is what to look out for when choosing your paediatrician:
• Find a doctor who has a nice personality and communication style. Finding a doctor that is patient and listens to all your concerns is very important. Try and start the search for selecting your paediatrician ahead of your baby’s birth.
• Ensure that that paediatrician’s office has a good staff – remember that your baby will spend time with nurses, medical assistants, and other support staff. When going to the office see how the place is – the atmosphere and way staff dress can be indicators of the type of place it is.
• Does he/she come recommended? One of the best ways of finding a good paediatrician is by talking to someone who has had first hand experience. Do you have close family or friends who have used a good paediatrician?
• The location of the office may also be a factor – we live in busy and stressed times so if time is a factor make sure that the paediatrician’s office is fairly close by.
10
• Ask Questions – this is the only way that you can “feel out” prospective doctors and see if their philosophies closely mirror your own.
- What Expect Mom -- Whatt To Expectt
Your first baby can be a daunting thought – not all the preparation in the world can probably ease the anxiety that can be felt but if it is any help even doctors and paediatricians get overwhelmed when they bring their firstborn home from the hospital.
Before we go onto the topic of caring for your baby we will talk a little bit about what the mother can come to expect the day after labour. First, the mother will probably expect an all-over pain derived from the stresses of labour. The arms and legs are likely to be sore. One point to note is that although aching legs are normal it would be prudent to go to your doctor if you get symptoms of tenderness, warmth or pain in the calves – this can include swollen or red veins. This is important as these symptoms could indicate thrombophlehitis – a condition when veins become inflamed due to blood clots. Pregnant women are more at risk to this condition because the vein walls tend to relax a little during the pregnancy. You can greatly reduce the chances of thrombophlehitis by walking soon after your delivery.
Other symptoms of pregnancy include stretch marks (which usually fade a few months after the birth, darkened areas of skin (the linea nigra and aerola are common), and a line running from the belly button to the pubic bone. You
11
may also notice some hair loss about 3 months after birth – this is due to the change in the level of hormones and can be expected to stop within a couple of months after starting. Now that we are aware of a few of the common issues that mothers face immediately after childbirth, lets go on to caring for your new baby.
First Days at Fiirrsstt Dayss att Home
The first few days home from the hospital are important for both baby and parents. As parents you will have gone through n intense birth process that is unlike anything else you have ever experienced. As a new mother you will be drained - both emotionally and physically. The father can often have feelings of being overwhelmed by the huge responsibility he now faces. There probably is not much anyone can say or do to help you to fully prepare for what you are about to experience.
During your first days at home it may be wise to limit the amount of visitors that you welcome into your home because you’ll need a lot of time to recover from the birth process. Other than your immediate family and good friends you might want to ask other friends to wait a week or two before they descend on you with gifts and wanting to hold the new baby.
New mothers will want to pay attention to the way that they feel so that those “baby blues” don’t creep up and surprise you unexpectedly. 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
12
baby. Your hormones will be changing and you likely will be feeling a lack of sleep. It is important to remember that this is natural and to allow yourself a good amount of time to recover from this. If you find yourself feeling more and more depressed it is advised that you should discuss it with your doctor to see if you are suffering from “postpartum depression”. Symptoms of postpartum depression include:
• Overwhelming feelings of sadness and depression accompanied by crying.
• Having little or no energy.
• Feelings of guilt and worthlessness.
• Having no interest in your baby or being overly concerned and worried about your baby.
• Weight gain accompanied with overeating or Weight loss accompanied by not eating.
• Insomnia or oversleeping.
If you do have postpartum depression then there are a few ways that you can try to beat it:
• Try and get as much rest and relaxation as possible. When the baby is asleep use this quiet time to get some rest yourself.
• Be more understanding with yourself and do not put yourself under too much pressure to “get back to normal”. Ensure that
13
your family is aware that you need help with housework and so on.
• Try to limit the time that you spend just alone – keep your mind and body relatively active (for example by taking short pleasant walks).
• 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 as you.
During the first few days at home your family will be adjusting to the additional member of your family. If you have other children at home you may be dealing with feelings of jealousy as the new baby takes centre stage. 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 the understanding and care that you would give to family and friends in your situation.
Breast Feding Brreasstt Feeediingg
It is a myth that bottle-feeds and breast-feeding is equally good. Mother’s milk is the best for proper growth of the child. There are certain nutrients in the mother’s milk that helps the baby fight illnesses while also
14
promoting brain development. As compared to breast fed babies, the formula-fed babies are more prone to illnesses.
Ideally you should start breast feeding the child within 2 hours of its birth, but do not worry if for some reason you are not able to do so - many mothers feed their children after a few days because of some medical reasons and they turn out to be just fine. Apart from milk avoid giving the child any water or pacifier because the child is still learning to breast-feed and things like the bottle nipple and pacifiers can confuse the baby while nursing because milk doesn’t flow as fast as it does through bottles.
Do give the child enough time to breast-feed. Don’t limit the time. It could frustrate the baby. An average of about 10 to 45 minutes can be taken by the baby to completely satisfy itself.
So how should you hold your baby during 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.
What Mother Should Eat During BreastFeding Whatt A Mottherr Shoulld Eatt Durriingg BrreassttFeeediingg
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:
15
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 (10 mcg per day). Your doctor will be able to advise which supplements will be right for you.
In addition to the foods that you should eat above there are certain food types that you should steer clear of at this time. As above you should restrict your intake of oily fish to two portions per week but you should also avoid eating more than one portion of swordfish, marlin or shark per week as these fish contain high levels of mercury. You should also be
16
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. Some doctors believe that it is wise to lay off peanuts during this stage as well – approximately 2% of the population is allergic to peanuts – however your baby may have a higher chance of being allergic if the mother/father/brothers/sisters have problems such as asthma, eczema or hayfever. If you believe your baby may be at risk due to these factors it is worth consulting your doctor.
Bathing Batthiingg
Too much bathing may dry the babies skin, so bathe the child 3 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 weeks or so your baby is ready for his first bath. Fill a basin with luke warm water. Undress the baby and gently help him to sit down in the basin while holding him constantly. See to it that her head and upper body is well above the water level. Then gently clean with a damp cloth. You can pour water over his body using a small mug. Shampoo her hair once a week 17
and 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.
Diaper Changing Diiaperr Changgiingg
The things your would need for your baby’s changing are:
Diapers
Diaper changing tables
Mild baby powder
Diaper rash ointments
Cotton balls
Baby wash cloths
Changing pads
Terry cloth towels
Baby wipe warmers.
You can use wither cloth diapers or plastic ones. Usually for newborns cloth diapers should be used.
Lay a fresh diaper on the changing table. Put your baby on the table with her tummy facing you. Then unfasten the soiled diaper and gently pull it out from beneath the baby while slightly raising the baby’s legs.
Clean your baby’s genitals and buttocks gently with baby wipes or cotton balls dipped in luke warm water. Then thoroughly dry up the area. You can apply mild baby cream and cornstarch powder if wanted.
18
Then pull the clean diaper underneath the baby and properly fasten the tabs of the diaper.
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.
is Child Crying? Why iiss My Chiilld Crryiingg??
Your child could be crying because of a number of reasons, the most common of them is hunger. The other reason is indigestion or colic pain. Gripe water is often a good solution for mild colic pain. Usually babies swallow some air while feeding which makes them uncomfortable and therefore they cry. So 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 soiled 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.
19
• 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).
Now that you know a few of the things that can cause your baby to cry let us go on and see how we can give her (and you) a beautiful nights sleep.
Give Your Nice Nights Slep How To Giive Yourr Baby A Niice Niigghttss Slleeep
When a baby is born she does not know what is night and what is day. In case you are reading this book in anticipation of your first child then (as if you didn’t already know) you should expect to be woken up persistently, no matter what the time, for the first few weeks. Partly, this is due to the fact that a baby’s stomach carries a maximum of three to four hours worth of nutrition. Hence every few hours she will be waking up and crying. Without wanting to sound cruel, you should whenever possible try and impose the fact that night is for sleep from very early on – this does not mean letting her cry when she needs attention but doing things in a way that gives her less attention than she would expect in the daytime (e.g. try and keep the lights off for instance.)
You can also try and make her nap a little less in the afternoon time as this will naturally tire her out more during the night time and help her sleep better. 20
Here are some very effective tips on helping your baby sleep far better. Did you know that for a lot of adults with persistent sleep problems stem from the early development years of a child’s life? Hence it is important for your child to associate sleep with a sense of restfulness and peace – and you can help create those conditions. Here are the tips that you can use to induce far better sleep for your baby:
• 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 meet his needs during the night so that he is likely to sleep better.
• Carry your baby more, particularly in the evenings as this keeps him relaxed which is likely to lead to a more restless transition to sleep.
• Remain flexible – if the sleep routine you are trying does not seem to be working then do not be afraid to try something new. Be alert too – where do you notice your baby sleeping well? If there is a “special place” then try and make that her sleeping place.
• Try and ensure your baby has a pleasant day – as odd as it may sound, the more peaceful your baby’s day the greater the chance that your baby will also enjoy a good night’s sleep. Some research shows that babies that are held more during the day sleep better at night – is there any way you can work this into your daily routine?
21
• Depending on the baby, sometimes a warm bath and massage can lull babies into sleep at night. You do need to see if this is right for her as this method can actually make some babies more stimulated. Trial and error is the way to find out.
• A blend of soothing stimuli can help your baby sleep better too. For instance after a warm bath and massage, hugging your baby and then breastfeeding her is very soothing and can help bring the onset of sleep.
• What your baby wears during sleep can also be a factor – babies in the early months are known to prefer sleeping slightly tighter (snugly wrapped in a nice baby blanket). If your baby is prone to allergies it may irritate her more during the night – when this is the case remember to use pure cotton sleepwear.
• Try and minimise the chances for physical discomforts. Things such as having a peaceful and quiet environment, ensuring that her diapers are dry and comfortable and making sure that the air is free or irritants are very important.
• 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 with a 50% humidity.
You also need to decide exactly where your baby should be sleeping. Some parents insist that your baby sleep in his own crib in his own room. Still
22
other parents want their baby in their bedroom. Neither is right or wrong and there are advantages to both. If your baby sleeps in her room you will likely get more rest for yourself since you won’t be disturbed by the snufflings and other sleeping noises that newborn babies make. Your baby may wake less often if she is in her own room but this is not always the case. If your baby is sleeping in the same room as you are, you might find it less disturbing and easy to be able to attend to your baby’s needs right there. If you not only have your baby in the same room as you but also in the same bed, you should be aware of some of the dangers of sleeping in the same bed together. Baby experts are completely divided over the issue of sharing the same bed with your baby. You will have to research the safety versus the emotional issues and decide for yourself if you are going to be bringing your baby into bed with you.
You will likely need more sleep than your new baby. New babies most often are not able to sleep through the night until they have at least doubled their weight. This usually happens when your baby is between four and five months old. The following table shows the amount of sleep that babies should be getting. Keep in mind that this is just a guideline and don’t be discouraged if your baby doesn’t fall within the norm.
23
Baby’s Age (Days)
Hours Sleep Per Day (including naps)
1-15 days
16-22
3 weeks
16-18
6 weeks
15-16
4-6 months
14-16
9 months
13-16
1 year
12-15
Once you have decided how you are going to handle where your baby sleeps and just how much sleep the charts say she should have, you will want to think about getting into some sort of a routine whether or not she is going to sleep any better because of it or not. A sleep routine can be a soothing and comforting part of your baby’s night time ritual. It is a way for you and your family to incorporate sleep into the daily routine without it becoming a battle of mind over baby. As your baby grows she will understand that bedtime comes
24
after
In the Baby Care Book you will learn the following:
• The things that a new mother can expect in the days following child birth.
• How to cope with depression that a new mother may feel after giving birth.
• How to breast feed your baby.
• How to bathe your baby properly.
• Reasons why your baby will cry.
• How to get your baby to have a nice night’s sleep.
8
• How To choose a paediatrician for your baby.
• How you can use music to soothe your baby.
• What foods your baby should eat at various stages of his first year.
• What kinds of noises your baby will make (and what they may mean).
• The kinds of movements your baby will make before learning how to walk.
• How to help your baby develop her motor and coordination skills.
• How to help your baby socialise from a very young age.
• The process of teething and the things you can do to make it less painful for your new bundle of joy.
• Important considerations about vaccinations and which ones you should consider getting for your baby.
• Common baby illnesses including colds.
• The different play-things that you can give your child at various stages of her development.
This information product will help you to make the most out of your baby’s first year by giving you some basic guidelines and milestones to measure against. There is so much information out there for new parents that sometimes less information is better. You will have to determine what works best for you and your baby.
9
Chose Pediatrician For Your How To Chooosse A Pediiattrriiciian Forr Yourr Baby
Caring for your child will naturally be one of your biggest concerns. There are more tips on immunization and care in the first year in future chapters, but right now let us talk a little about how you can choose a good paediatrician for your baby. Here is what to look out for when choosing your paediatrician:
• Find a doctor who has a nice personality and communication style. Finding a doctor that is patient and listens to all your concerns is very important. Try and start the search for selecting your paediatrician ahead of your baby’s birth.
• Ensure that that paediatrician’s office has a good staff – remember that your baby will spend time with nurses, medical assistants, and other support staff. When going to the office see how the place is – the atmosphere and way staff dress can be indicators of the type of place it is.
• Does he/she come recommended? One of the best ways of finding a good paediatrician is by talking to someone who has had first hand experience. Do you have close family or friends who have used a good paediatrician?
• The location of the office may also be a factor – we live in busy and stressed times so if time is a factor make sure that the paediatrician’s office is fairly close by.
10
• Ask Questions – this is the only way that you can “feel out” prospective doctors and see if their philosophies closely mirror your own.
- What Expect Mom -- Whatt To Expectt
Your first baby can be a daunting thought – not all the preparation in the world can probably ease the anxiety that can be felt but if it is any help even doctors and paediatricians get overwhelmed when they bring their firstborn home from the hospital.
Before we go onto the topic of caring for your baby we will talk a little bit about what the mother can come to expect the day after labour. First, the mother will probably expect an all-over pain derived from the stresses of labour. The arms and legs are likely to be sore. One point to note is that although aching legs are normal it would be prudent to go to your doctor if you get symptoms of tenderness, warmth or pain in the calves – this can include swollen or red veins. This is important as these symptoms could indicate thrombophlehitis – a condition when veins become inflamed due to blood clots. Pregnant women are more at risk to this condition because the vein walls tend to relax a little during the pregnancy. You can greatly reduce the chances of thrombophlehitis by walking soon after your delivery.
Other symptoms of pregnancy include stretch marks (which usually fade a few months after the birth, darkened areas of skin (the linea nigra and aerola are common), and a line running from the belly button to the pubic bone. You
11
may also notice some hair loss about 3 months after birth – this is due to the change in the level of hormones and can be expected to stop within a couple of months after starting. Now that we are aware of a few of the common issues that mothers face immediately after childbirth, lets go on to caring for your new baby.
First Days at Fiirrsstt Dayss att Home
The first few days home from the hospital are important for both baby and parents. As parents you will have gone through n intense birth process that is unlike anything else you have ever experienced. As a new mother you will be drained - both emotionally and physically. The father can often have feelings of being overwhelmed by the huge responsibility he now faces. There probably is not much anyone can say or do to help you to fully prepare for what you are about to experience.
During your first days at home it may be wise to limit the amount of visitors that you welcome into your home because you’ll need a lot of time to recover from the birth process. Other than your immediate family and good friends you might want to ask other friends to wait a week or two before they descend on you with gifts and wanting to hold the new baby.
New mothers will want to pay attention to the way that they feel so that those “baby blues” don’t creep up and surprise you unexpectedly. 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
12
baby. Your hormones will be changing and you likely will be feeling a lack of sleep. It is important to remember that this is natural and to allow yourself a good amount of time to recover from this. If you find yourself feeling more and more depressed it is advised that you should discuss it with your doctor to see if you are suffering from “postpartum depression”. Symptoms of postpartum depression include:
• Overwhelming feelings of sadness and depression accompanied by crying.
• Having little or no energy.
• Feelings of guilt and worthlessness.
• Having no interest in your baby or being overly concerned and worried about your baby.
• Weight gain accompanied with overeating or Weight loss accompanied by not eating.
• Insomnia or oversleeping.
If you do have postpartum depression then there are a few ways that you can try to beat it:
• Try and get as much rest and relaxation as possible. When the baby is asleep use this quiet time to get some rest yourself.
• Be more understanding with yourself and do not put yourself under too much pressure to “get back to normal”. Ensure that
13
your family is aware that you need help with housework and so on.
• Try to limit the time that you spend just alone – keep your mind and body relatively active (for example by taking short pleasant walks).
• 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 as you.
During the first few days at home your family will be adjusting to the additional member of your family. If you have other children at home you may be dealing with feelings of jealousy as the new baby takes centre stage. 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 the understanding and care that you would give to family and friends in your situation.
Breast Feding Brreasstt Feeediingg
It is a myth that bottle-feeds and breast-feeding is equally good. Mother’s milk is the best for proper growth of the child. There are certain nutrients in the mother’s milk that helps the baby fight illnesses while also
14
promoting brain development. As compared to breast fed babies, the formula-fed babies are more prone to illnesses.
Ideally you should start breast feeding the child within 2 hours of its birth, but do not worry if for some reason you are not able to do so - many mothers feed their children after a few days because of some medical reasons and they turn out to be just fine. Apart from milk avoid giving the child any water or pacifier because the child is still learning to breast-feed and things like the bottle nipple and pacifiers can confuse the baby while nursing because milk doesn’t flow as fast as it does through bottles.
Do give the child enough time to breast-feed. Don’t limit the time. It could frustrate the baby. An average of about 10 to 45 minutes can be taken by the baby to completely satisfy itself.
So how should you hold your baby during 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.
What Mother Should Eat During BreastFeding Whatt A Mottherr Shoulld Eatt Durriingg BrreassttFeeediingg
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:
15
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 (10 mcg per day). Your doctor will be able to advise which supplements will be right for you.
In addition to the foods that you should eat above there are certain food types that you should steer clear of at this time. As above you should restrict your intake of oily fish to two portions per week but you should also avoid eating more than one portion of swordfish, marlin or shark per week as these fish contain high levels of mercury. You should also be
16
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. Some doctors believe that it is wise to lay off peanuts during this stage as well – approximately 2% of the population is allergic to peanuts – however your baby may have a higher chance of being allergic if the mother/father/brothers/sisters have problems such as asthma, eczema or hayfever. If you believe your baby may be at risk due to these factors it is worth consulting your doctor.
Bathing Batthiingg
Too much bathing may dry the babies skin, so bathe the child 3 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 weeks or so your baby is ready for his first bath. Fill a basin with luke warm water. Undress the baby and gently help him to sit down in the basin while holding him constantly. See to it that her head and upper body is well above the water level. Then gently clean with a damp cloth. You can pour water over his body using a small mug. Shampoo her hair once a week 17
and 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.
Diaper Changing Diiaperr Changgiingg
The things your would need for your baby’s changing are:
Diapers
Diaper changing tables
Mild baby powder
Diaper rash ointments
Cotton balls
Baby wash cloths
Changing pads
Terry cloth towels
Baby wipe warmers.
You can use wither cloth diapers or plastic ones. Usually for newborns cloth diapers should be used.
Lay a fresh diaper on the changing table. Put your baby on the table with her tummy facing you. Then unfasten the soiled diaper and gently pull it out from beneath the baby while slightly raising the baby’s legs.
Clean your baby’s genitals and buttocks gently with baby wipes or cotton balls dipped in luke warm water. Then thoroughly dry up the area. You can apply mild baby cream and cornstarch powder if wanted.
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Then pull the clean diaper underneath the baby and properly fasten the tabs of the diaper.
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.
is Child Crying? Why iiss My Chiilld Crryiingg??
Your child could be crying because of a number of reasons, the most common of them is hunger. The other reason is indigestion or colic pain. Gripe water is often a good solution for mild colic pain. Usually babies swallow some air while feeding which makes them uncomfortable and therefore they cry. So 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 soiled 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.
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• 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).
Now that you know a few of the things that can cause your baby to cry let us go on and see how we can give her (and you) a beautiful nights sleep.
Give Your Nice Nights Slep How To Giive Yourr Baby A Niice Niigghttss Slleeep
When a baby is born she does not know what is night and what is day. In case you are reading this book in anticipation of your first child then (as if you didn’t already know) you should expect to be woken up persistently, no matter what the time, for the first few weeks. Partly, this is due to the fact that a baby’s stomach carries a maximum of three to four hours worth of nutrition. Hence every few hours she will be waking up and crying. Without wanting to sound cruel, you should whenever possible try and impose the fact that night is for sleep from very early on – this does not mean letting her cry when she needs attention but doing things in a way that gives her less attention than she would expect in the daytime (e.g. try and keep the lights off for instance.)
You can also try and make her nap a little less in the afternoon time as this will naturally tire her out more during the night time and help her sleep better. 20
Here are some very effective tips on helping your baby sleep far better. Did you know that for a lot of adults with persistent sleep problems stem from the early development years of a child’s life? Hence it is important for your child to associate sleep with a sense of restfulness and peace – and you can help create those conditions. Here are the tips that you can use to induce far better sleep for your baby:
• 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 meet his needs during the night so that he is likely to sleep better.
• Carry your baby more, particularly in the evenings as this keeps him relaxed which is likely to lead to a more restless transition to sleep.
• Remain flexible – if the sleep routine you are trying does not seem to be working then do not be afraid to try something new. Be alert too – where do you notice your baby sleeping well? If there is a “special place” then try and make that her sleeping place.
• Try and ensure your baby has a pleasant day – as odd as it may sound, the more peaceful your baby’s day the greater the chance that your baby will also enjoy a good night’s sleep. Some research shows that babies that are held more during the day sleep better at night – is there any way you can work this into your daily routine?
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• Depending on the baby, sometimes a warm bath and massage can lull babies into sleep at night. You do need to see if this is right for her as this method can actually make some babies more stimulated. Trial and error is the way to find out.
• A blend of soothing stimuli can help your baby sleep better too. For instance after a warm bath and massage, hugging your baby and then breastfeeding her is very soothing and can help bring the onset of sleep.
• What your baby wears during sleep can also be a factor – babies in the early months are known to prefer sleeping slightly tighter (snugly wrapped in a nice baby blanket). If your baby is prone to allergies it may irritate her more during the night – when this is the case remember to use pure cotton sleepwear.
• Try and minimise the chances for physical discomforts. Things such as having a peaceful and quiet environment, ensuring that her diapers are dry and comfortable and making sure that the air is free or irritants are very important.
• 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 with a 50% humidity.
You also need to decide exactly where your baby should be sleeping. Some parents insist that your baby sleep in his own crib in his own room. Still
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other parents want their baby in their bedroom. Neither is right or wrong and there are advantages to both. If your baby sleeps in her room you will likely get more rest for yourself since you won’t be disturbed by the snufflings and other sleeping noises that newborn babies make. Your baby may wake less often if she is in her own room but this is not always the case. If your baby is sleeping in the same room as you are, you might find it less disturbing and easy to be able to attend to your baby’s needs right there. If you not only have your baby in the same room as you but also in the same bed, you should be aware of some of the dangers of sleeping in the same bed together. Baby experts are completely divided over the issue of sharing the same bed with your baby. You will have to research the safety versus the emotional issues and decide for yourself if you are going to be bringing your baby into bed with you.
You will likely need more sleep than your new baby. New babies most often are not able to sleep through the night until they have at least doubled their weight. This usually happens when your baby is between four and five months old. The following table shows the amount of sleep that babies should be getting. Keep in mind that this is just a guideline and don’t be discouraged if your baby doesn’t fall within the norm.
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Baby’s Age (Days)
Hours Sleep Per Day (including naps)
1-15 days
16-22
3 weeks
16-18
6 weeks
15-16
4-6 months
14-16
9 months
13-16
1 year
12-15
Once you have decided how you are going to handle where your baby sleeps and just how much sleep the charts say she should have, you will want to think about getting into some sort of a routine whether or not she is going to sleep any better because of it or not. A sleep routine can be a soothing and comforting part of your baby’s night time ritual. It is a way for you and your family to incorporate sleep into the daily routine without it becoming a battle of mind over baby. As your baby grows she will understand that bedtime comes
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after
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