Newborn Baby Care

by Katherine Nagy
(Australia)

Newborn Baby Care? A Learned Skill

Delivering your first child is a stunning experience (to say the least) as well as the beginning of a new time in a woman?s life. Motherhood has its amazing rewards but unfortunately your baby doesn't come with a handbook.

Sleep
Newborn babies usually sleep for sixteen hours in a day or at least that?s what the textbooks say. Some do, some don't. However, you do need to encourage your baby to sleep during the first few months of life. Newborn babies sleep for the most part for about two hours at a time. You need to establish a day/night routine fairly early on so that they get to know the difference. Believe me, it will save a lot of sleepless nights if you are successful with this early.

Exercise
Your newborn baby will benefit from small exercises which you make your baby do. You can gently massage his muscles to facilitate their coordination and this is also a fabulous soothing tool. Lie your baby down on its back and gently move its limbs. You can bend your baby's knees and elbows but with care.

Food
It is necessary that your newborn baby receives a suitable diet during the initial months. There is much debate about whether or not to breastfeed. My advice is do what is right for you, so long as your baby is fed at regular intervals throughout the day your baby will thrive.

Bath
Don't be concerned if your daily ritual with your new child prevents daily baths. While it is good to establish a routine early on, and a bath is certainly soothing, it is not necessary. Always wrap your baby in a soft towel and then dry your baby one limb at a time so that your baby does not feel cold. An after bath tip is to use olive oil on your baby's skin. It is the best moisturizer you'll find. An the best nappy rash deterrent I've found.

Health
Any abnormal change in your child's behavior will be noticed by you first. Constant crying, coughing or sneezing is something that should be seen to by your family doctor. A mother's intuition about her children is rarely wrong. Always consult your doctor immediately if you are concerned about your child's health.

Taking care of your newborn should be the most rewarding thing you've ever done. Never hesitate to ask for help or advice. An experienced mother is always a great source of information. Don't hesitate to ask for help and remember that your community nurse and/or family doctor are there to help.

Katherine Nagy is a mother of two and founder of Awakening for Life - a marketing company in the personal development industry assisting people start their own home business. Take a look at http://www.awakeningforlife.com