Newborn Care & Safety

Becoming a parent is a blessing in numerous ways. Along with all of the beautiful first moments of becoming new parents, there are also challenges, such as keeping your child out of harm's way. If you haven't spent a lot of time around newborns, their fragility may feel overwhelming. Going home with a new born is exciting, but it can be pretty daunting, too. Newborns have many needs, like frequent feedings and many diaper changes. Newborns can have health issues that are different from older children and adults, like diaper rash and cradle cap.

Your newborn baby will go through numerous changes during the first year of their life. You may feel uneasy at first. 

 When you hold your newborn baby, make sure to support their head to avoid any mishap. Although they are stronger than you might think, their neck muscles will remain weak for the first few months of life, so its a must that you be careful with their necks.

 Never quiver your newborn baby. Sometimes your baby’s crying may push you to the limit, and you may feel like shaking your baby out of frustration. However, shaking your baby can really damage their brain or worse. So, never shake your newborn!

 Always shake the bottle well and check the temperature before giving it to your baby. Always avoid heating your newborn baby’s bottle in the microwave. You may think that the bottle is warm to touch, but the formula inside could be much hotter than expected. 

 Prevent falls by always keeping your hand, a pillow or something solid besides your baby at all times. During diaper changes, keep diapers and clothing within easy reach.

 Buy a car seat for your little one that meets national safety standards, whether it is new or used. Make sure it is properly installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions before your baby is discharged from hospital. Your newborn baby may not like being strapped into the car seat at first, but soon they will become accustomed to it.

 Make sure all your newborn baby’s other equipment, including cribs, strollers, carriers, bassinets, change tables, playpens, and toys, meet national safety standards. Second-hand equipment also needs to meet the safety standards.

 Never leave your newborn baby alone, or in the care of a child, when they are in the bathtub. A baby can drown in just 5 cm (two inches) of water! Use a small baby bathtub to bathe your newborn baby, to lessen the chances of them sliding under the surface of the water. Make sure the bathwater is lukewarm, not hot. For safety purposes, avoid asking a babysitter to bathe your newborn baby.

 Do not leave your newborn alone with a pet or by himself/herself.

 Always keep emergency numbers on speed dial, just in case!

These were a couple of important things that should be kept in mind while caring for a new born.