Newborn Baby Care: How to Safely Care for Your Baby After Delivery

Motherhood and life with newborn babies can be magical and also a bit overwhelming. In those early days, every little moment feels precious, so you must take care of your newborn baby with all the love and patience you have. Many questions may arise in parents’ minds, such as when to feed them, how to provide the best care, when to put them to sleep, and whether to establish a regular sleeping and eating routine.

During your baby’s first month, these top newborn care tips can help you navigate this new chapter: learn how to nurse, soothe, support better sleep, involve your partner, step out with confidence, and protect your mental well-being. Remember, this is a learning phase for both you and your baby. With time and practice, you’ll both settle into a rhythm that works.

Tips to Safely Hold and Handle Your Newborn Baby

• Football Hold: Support the baby’s back on your forearm, head in your arm’s bend, tummy facing you.
• Soft Spots: Handle the baby’s head gently, avoiding pressure on fontanelles.
• After Feeding: Keep the baby upright for 30 minutes to prevent spit-up.
• Wash Hands: Always wash your hands before touching the baby.
• Umbilical Stump: Keep it dry and clean. Don’t cover it with diapers or bandages.
• Lifting: Never lift under the arms. Always support the head and the bottom.
• Soothing: Avoid bouncing. Gently sway while holding securely.
• Passing Baby: Bring the other person close. Support the head and the bottom.
• If You’re Tired: Don’t hold the baby while sleepy. Place them in a safe sleep space.
• Cold Sores: Avoid kissing the baby if you have or have recently had a cold sore.

How to Take Care of a Newborn Baby After Delivery

If you’re feeling unsure about how to care for your newborn during those exciting but often challenging first weeks, you’re not alone. Many new parents have shared the same sentiment. Keep reading to learn the essential basics of how to take care of your newborn baby through these early days.

Visitors

You will probably want to welcome family and friends soon after your baby arrives to enjoy some quality time together as a new family. Make eye contact and talk to your baby. Newborns are often alert and responsive immediately after birth, making it an ideal time to establish a strong bond. Your voice can be especially soothing, as your baby has already grown accustomed to it during pregnancy.

Feeding

Regardless of the method, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind when feeding your infant. The following advice is for the first few weeks of breastfeeding and formula feeding.

• Both breast- and bottle-feeding: Although it may come naturally, nursing might be difficult initially. If you decide to breastfeed, these tactics will be helpful.
• Don’t wait: If possible, attempt to nurse your baby within an hour after delivery, when they are most awake.
• Ask for assistance: Lactation consultants are typically employed by hospitals to provide support. They can assist you in establishing a correct latch and experimenting with various positions.
• On-demand nursing: It will help your body develop a healthy milk supply for your newborn. So permit your baby to nurse whenever they desire. Newborns should breastfeed 8 to 12 times in a 24-hour period, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Find a good latch: A healthy latch ensures that your baby gets adequate milk while also protecting your own nipples from pain. Ask a nurse, paediatrician, or lactation consultant if you’re unsure what this entails.
• Make a nest for nursing: While feeding your child, a comfortable chair, pillows, a footstool, and access to water and food help keep you supported and at ease.
• Consume enough food and liquids: Nursing requires an additional 300–400 calories per day. Additionally, drink eight glasses of water daily, as nursing can cause you to lose fluids.

Expressing Breastfeeding

You may decide to express breast milk in the first few days or longer if your baby has trouble latching, isn’t getting enough colostrum, or if you’re separated due to complications.

Some parents expressed colostrum with a spoon or syringe in the early days. If you plan to breastfeed later, these methods can help avoid nipple confusion.

Additional Pumping Tips

• Choose the best pump for you: Hand expressing can be very efficient when expressing colostrum. But over time, electric or manual hand pumps have become more popular among parents who breastfeed.
• Get assistance: Don’t be afraid to ask the hospital’s breastfeeding consultant for help; they could even set you up with a hospital-grade rental pump.
• Relax: When you feel tense or anxious, your milk ejection reflex can be delayed or blocked. To help you relax, try gazing at your child, watching TV, engaging in guided meditation, or even making a friend-calling call.
• Safely store breast milk: The CDC advises using food-grade containers to keep pumped breast milk. Additionally, you can keep freshly pumped breast milk at room temperature for four hours, in the refrigerator for four days, and in the freezer for six to twelve months. You have two hours to use the leftover milk from feeding if your baby doesn’t finish it.

Infant Poo

In the first few days after birth, your newborn may pass a thick, dark liquid called meconium. This is normal. If you’re breastfeeding, your baby will likely have six to eight soft, yellow-green stools a day, sometimes with seeds, within a few days. For formula-fed babies, expect one or two stools that are thicker, yellow, or tan daily. It’s normal for your baby’s stool color, consistency, and frequency to vary, unless you notice signs of diarrhoea.

Feet and Legs

Newborns often have twisted legs and feet, with a posture that resembles that of the fetus. It is also common for their toes to overlap, and sometimes their nails may appear ingrown, though they are not. There is no need to worry. Your baby’s legs and feet will straighten out between 6 and 18 months.

Naps

Around three months, your baby will begin to develop a routine; however, flexibility remains key until then. While a strict schedule isn’t necessary, having some structure can be helpful for both parents and the baby. By the time your baby is 9 months old, they will likely start taking naps between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. However, avoid forcing a routine on your baby just for convenience.

Crying

Babies often cry a lot, which makes sense since crying is their only way to communicate their needs. However, figuring out why they are crying might require some investigation.

Here are some tips for comforting a crying baby:

• Check the basics: Are they hungry? Wet? Tired? Do they have a gas or a temperature issue?
• Offer comfort: Let them sip from a bottle, your finger, your breast, or a pacifier. (Experts often advise delaying the introduction of a pacifier while breastfeeding until the baby has established a strong nursing routine to prevent nipple confusion.)
• Swaddle safely: Wrap your baby snugly in a blanket with their arms inside to mimic the feeling of the womb. While holding them tightly on their left side or stomach, gently rock them while making soft “shushing” sounds near their ear.
• Try motion: Take your baby for a stroll, drive, or use an infant swing. Babies often find movement soothing.

Most importantly, stay calm. Your baby can sense your stress. Remember, crying is a temporary emotion, and it will pass.

When to Contact a Pediatrician?

A decent rule of thumb is to consult a pediatrician if a newborn develops a fever. For safety’s sake, it’s advisable to call. Low-grade fevers will become less concerning as your child gets older, but the following signs in infants call for immediate medical attention:

• Has a temperature of 100.4°F or more, or 102°F, if the baby is older than 2 months and less than 2 months.
• Demonstrates modifications to their eating habits, such as refusing to nurse.
• Extremely watery or mucusy stools.
• Overly groggy, unresponsive, or sleepy.
• Has a rash anywhere on their body that is red or swollen.
• Has swelling or redness at the base of the umbilical cord.
• Exhibits constipation symptoms, including discomfort (like straining) when moving their bowels.
• has an enlarged stomach or throws up (as opposed to spitting up).

Frequently Asked Questions