Essential Newborn Care Tips: What To Know Before Your Baby’s Arrival
18 Jun 2018 | 7 min Read
Sudeshna Chakravarti
Author | 799 Articles
With your due date fast approaching, you probably cannot wait to finally hold your little one in your arms. While the excitement of becoming parents remains at an all-time high during this time, oftentimes, you cannot help but be buried in clouds of anxious thoughts about childbirth and newborn care. And with the special day coming nearer, you may wonder if you are well-equipped to take care of your newborn.
Well, this situation is commonly experienced by most parents, especially the ones who are taking on this role for the very first time. While you eventually learn to navigate the parenting journey alone, what can better help you is being aware of the basics of newborn care, so that you can spend every moment worry-free after your little one’s arrival.
To make things easier for you, we have compiled a list of useful tips on newborn care and essential baby care items (baby wipes, diaper rash cream) that are a must-have to help you ease into the parenting role without having any moments of self-doubt and panic.
All You Need To Know About Newborn Care
Breastfeeding Basics
While breastfeeding is a natural process, some new mums may find this experience difficult. Keep the following strategies in mind to make nursing easier and ensure adequate nourishment for your little one.
Make Sure To Nurse Your Baby Within An Hour Of Delivery
According to a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine, breastfeeding goes smoother for women who nurse their babies within the first hour of their birth. It also helps provide the newborn colostrum—which contains essential immunity-boosting ingredients to safeguard your little one’s health.
Hence, try to breastfeed your baby within an hour of their birth, and if you face difficulty in nursing, don’t hesitate to seek help from the lactation consultants at the hospital.
Ensure That Your Munchkin Latches Properly
Your baby needs to have a deep latch to ensure that they are getting enough milk, and to prevent aches or soreness in your nipples. Before putting them on your breast, position your newborn on their side so that their belly is right up against yours. This will help your munchkin to have a secure latch on your nipple and drink sufficient milk for their healthy development.
Keep A Steriliser And Breast Pump Handy
If you cannot breastfeed your baby due to a particular reason, such as breast soreness or engorgement, then you will have to look at alternative measures and express milk using a breast pump. This will help you express milk at your convenience, and feed your munchkin worry-free without having to scream in pain.
Also, invest in a good quality steriliser to keep your little one’s feeding bottles, soothers, and pacifiers squeaky clean and germ-free.
Diapering Needs
Let us tell you, your baby will need a lot of diaper changes during the first few days or months of their life, and that might make the task of diaper changing a bit daunting for you. But fret not, as with the right diaper-changing essentials, you will become a pro at it in no time.
Diaper
A diaper is one of the most crucial newborn care items that you will need after your baby’s arrival. To avoid frequent diaper changes, make sure to opt for super-absorbent and comfortable diapers for your baby. Also, always purchase chemical and toxin-free diapers to prevent any kind of irritation or rashes in your baby’s bottoms.
Diaper Rash Cream
Since your baby’s bottoms are always in contact with diapers, rashes are seemingly unavoidable. Hence, you must invest in a good-quality diaper rash cream formulated with organic shea butter and zinc oxide that creates a protective shield on your baby’s skin and keeps it dry and moisturised to prevent diaper rashes and allergies.
Bamboo Water Wipes
Instead of using chemical wipes to clean your baby’s bottom, use bamboo water wipes formulated with plant-based and natural ingredients. For instance, BabyChakra’s bamboo water wipes are a perfect fit for your newborn care needs. It contains a nourishing blend of botanical ingredients like bamboo water, bamboo fibre, almond oil, and aloe vera that soothe and hydrate your baby’s skin and provide moisturisation to prevent irritation and itching.
Additionally, the water wipes contain vitamin E, geranium oil, and jasmine oil, which exhibit antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory properties and work exceptionally well in relaxing your little one’s skin and providing relief from dryness and irritated skin.
The best part about these baby wipes is that they are free of polyester, phenoxyethanol, and artificial fragrances, and are ideal for your baby’s sensitive skin.
Apart from using them during diaper changes, you can also use bamboo water wipes for cleaning your baby’s hands and feet and to keep their pacifiers and soothers germ-free.
Baby Care From Head To Toe
Your baby’s skin and scalp will continue to develop within the first year of their life. Hence, you need to be extra careful with the products you opt for to prevent any kind of rashes or irritation.
Newborn Body And Face Care
Massage your baby’s body regularly to aid the development of strong and healthy bones. You can opt for a nourishing baby massage oil formulated with 100% organic ingredients like avocado oil, moringa oil, and almond oil that offer ultimate moisturisation and protect your little one’s skin against irritants and environmental pollutants.
For cleaning your baby’s body, you can consider purchasing a moisturising baby wash, blended with plant-based ingredients like pumpkin seed oil, strawberry oil, and moringa seed oil that remove impurities from your little one’s skin and also treat skin concerns like dryness and eczema.
Newborn Scalp Care
To help keep your little one’s scalp dandruff-free and avoid concerns like cradle cap, you need to pay crucial attention to oiling. Give your munchkin a scalp massage with organic coconut oil at least three times a week. This will promote blood circulation in their scalp, promote healthy hair growth, and also keep dandruff flakes away.
You may also use a natural strengthening baby shampoo to clean and nourish your baby’s scalp after oiling. Make sure the baby shampoo is plant-based and contains botanical ingredients like hibiscus oil and curry leaf oil that stimulate your baby’s hair follicles and promote strong hair growth.
You may still feel anxious about your parenting days ahead, but keeping these newborn care tips in mind can help you a great deal and allow you to cherish your early days with your munchkin worry-free. Additionally, being well-versed with these tips can help ensure your baby’s safety, health, and wellness.
Featured image: Freepik.com
A
Suggestions offered by doctors on BabyChakra are of advisory nature i.e., for educational and informational purposes only. Content posted on, created for, or compiled by BabyChakra is not intended or designed to replace your doctor's independent judgment about any symptom, condition, or the appropriateness or risks of a procedure or treatment for a given person.