Parents who are longing for their babies are worried about whether they will be able to properly care for their newborn babies at home when they are discharged from the hospital.
How Should Newborn Care Be?
Although basic newborn care training is given by baby nurses before discharge, taking care of newborn babies at home alone worries mothers. However, the daily care of the newborn is not as difficult as it is thought. Mothers usually get their home newborn care plan in place within a few weeks.
How Should Breastfeeding Order Be?
When mothers come home after giving birth, one of the main concerns of mothers is whether the baby is fed enough or not. The baby's feeding, or in other words, breastfeeding is irregular in the first weeks. Therefore, the baby should be breastfed whenever he wants.
The baby should be held on both breasts for an equal amount of time. If this cannot be achieved, the baby can be fed from a different breast alternately.
The sucking time of the baby may differ. However, the longer the sucking time, the fatter the milk coming from the breast, which makes the baby feel full for a longer period of time.
Newborns can suck 10 to 12 times a day. It is normal for babies to want to breastfeed at night for the first 6 months, and the baby should be breastfed at night as well.
The baby does not need water as long as he is fed only with breast milk. Therefore, during the first six months, the baby does not need to be given water or any other food other than breast milk.
The first poop of newly born babies is a substance defined as green-black meconium. Cleaning of meconium can be done with cotton and water, or it can be done under the tap with water at the appropriate temperature.
In the first months, the baby can poop 6 to 8 times a day. Since the baby is fed with breast milk, his poop is soft, even runny. Although the baby's poop is a greenish color in the first weeks, it turns golden yellow in the following months. After about two months, the baby defecates only 2-3 times a day.
It urinates 6 to 8 times a day. The baby's diaper should be changed frequently. Especially in the pre-feeding period, the baby's gold t It is recommended to be clean. When the baby's bottom is dirty, he often feels uneasy and cries to show this to his parents.
Since babies' skin is extremely sensitive, the bottom of the baby should be cleaned with wet cotton. When it is very dirty, it may be more practical to do the cleaning by washing. Not changing a wet or dirty diaper for 3-4 hours may cause rash on the baby's skin. In such cases, natural olive oil or diaper rash cream can be used.
While cleaning the bottom of baby girls, wiping should be done from front to back.
The diaper should not be too tight or too loose while the baby is diapered again.
How to Care for the Navel of a Newborn Baby?
Before leaving the hospital, the physician should examine the baby's belly button. Informs the family in detail about how to take care of them. But in the excitement of the moment, how to care can be forgotten.
The navel and around the navel must remain clean and dry. Every day, 1-2 times a day, the bottom of the umbilical cord should be cleaned as recommended by the physician. The belly button should be left out of the gland.
The belly falls off on its own within 1-2 weeks. When it falls, bleeding may occur in the form of leakage.
How to Trim Newborn Baby's Nails?
The fingernails of newborn babies grow very quickly. Baby's nails are usually long at birth. The baby, who cannot control his own movements yet, may hurt himself with his nails during this period. Therefore, it is recommended to cut fingernails once a week and toenails once a month.
Although babies' nails are already soft, they become softer after bathing. Therefore, nail care can be done after a bath. In addition, the baby is comfortable and relaxed during breastfeeding. Baby's nails can also be cut while breastfeeding or sleeping.
Nails are easier to cut with nail clippers specially designed for babies. Fingernails should be rounded and toenails should be cut straight. Thus, problems such as ingrown nails do not occur on the baby's feet.
How to Wash a Newborn Baby?
The baby does not need to be washed every day. After a diaper change, good local cleaning is sufficient.
As long as the navel is kept dry, it is okay to bathe the baby until the navel falls off. However, wetting the navel delays the fall of the navel. Therefore, it is not recommended to bathe the baby until the navel drops.
It is more appropriate to take the baby's first bath 1 day after the navel falls. In the first month, 2-3 sponge baths a week are enough to keep the newborn clean. Babies who like to take a bath can be washed every day, while babies who do not like bathing should be washed twice a week. Babies relax during bathing. Therefore, it is not recommended for the baby to be hungry or full before bathing. The bath can preferably be done before bedtime. The ambient temperature during the bath should be 25 degrees. The temperature of the water can be adjusted by immersing the inside of the parent's arm in water.
How to Do Newborn Eye Care?
Newborn's eye care should be done with warm boiled water. The mother should first wash her hands with soapy water and dry them. A piece of clean water stored in a lidded jar is taken to cotton and the excess water is squeezed out. Eyelashes and eyelashes are wiped without pressing from the inner part of the eye to the outer part. The same procedure is applied to the other eye with another piece of cotton. The cotton used for each eye should be separate in order to prevent infection from passing between the eyes. Especially when you wake up in the morning, the burrs that accumulate at night should be cleaned in this way.
How to Do Newborn Oral Care?
Oral care is done with boiled and warm water. A clean piece of cheesecloth dipped in clean water is wrapped around two fingers. The oral mucosa of the baby, including the palate, is wiped. If there is thrush, carbonated water is prepared and daily cleaning is done with carbonated water.
How to Care for Newborn Skin?
Newborn babies' skin is very sensitive. For this reason, it is best to avoid using perfumed products (detergent, softener, etc.), even for babies. If baby oil or cream is used after each bath, the skin cannot sweat enough and rash-like rashes may occur. It is helpful to use a moisturizer when the baby's skin is dry. Bathing more than 2-3 times a week until the first year of age causes the loss of natural and protective oils in the skin of babies.
It takes about 3 months for the baby's biorhythm to form. In the first weeks, babies may sleep more often during the day. Total sleep time during the day is between 12 and 16 hours. After the 3rd month, the baby, who is full and well cared for, sleeps better and longer, mostly at night. After 6 months, the baby can be put to sleep alone in his own room. Bathing the baby before sleeping at night helps him sleep more comfortably and comfortably.
What is Newborn Gas Pain?
Gas problem occurs in a week until the baby is 4 months old. It can manifest itself as crying spells that last up to 3 hours a day for 3 days. Although the first months are difficult, it is a good prognosis in terms of spontaneous recovery. High-pitched crying may be accompanied by pulling one's feet to one's stomach, straining, increased abdominal distension, hearing bowel sounds, vomiting, constipation, or frequent pooping. The baby may be relieved after pooping, but sometimes this is not effective. It usually shuts down on its own after 2-3 hours. In general, gas complaints disappear at the end of the 4th month. Herbal teas and herbal-based carminative drugs are generally useless and not recommended for this problem. Bathing and then massaging the baby's belly and body during gassing greatly relaxes the baby.
How to Do Baby Massage?
Baby massage improves the emotional bond between mother and baby. and it is a powerful way of communication that enables more rapprochement. Massage is an enjoyable activity that calms and relaxes the baby and positively affects his/her physical and spiritual development. Massage initiates a series of events in the body with tactile stimulation. It provides incredible relief for babies who have gas and defecation problems. It increases the secretion of insulin, which accelerates development by increasing the absorption of food. It also strengthens the immune system. It relaxes the heart, respiratory and digestive system by activating the circulation.
How to Care for Newborn Twins?
A few important tips for twin baby care:
- Make your twins' routines such as feeding, going to sleep, bathing in sync. For example, breastfeeding one baby and putting the other to sleep. Crying spells may prevent your other baby from sucking well when you try to cuddle. Give up the idea of sleeping in a quiet environment. Get used to sleeping with each other's sounds.
- You don't need to buy two of the first period toys. For example, try buying a baby cradle and a swing, as their interest quickly disperses.
- Try to stay calm. You will experience a difficult period for several years. But think later. Feel free to ask for support for yourself.
- Make your home life more practical. Don't forget to make time for yourself to relax every day.
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