Congrats and welcome to parenthood. It is a joy and also a responsibility. Know how to take care of your little one with a background of scientific evidence.
The following are the basic concepts of newborn care:
- Maintain the warmth of the baby
- Exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6 months
- Provide a clean & healthy environment
- Know the danger signs and seek help as soon as possible
- Vaccination on time
How to Know If My Baby Is Maintaining Adequate Warmth?
- Feet & palms should be mild rose-pink in colour. Never blue or pale.
- The warmth of the feet (felt by using the back surface of your hand) should be the same as the warmth of the abdomen skin.
How to Maintain Warmth?
- Swaddle babies (up to 3 months of age) either with a cotton cloth or with a swaddle bed.
- Air conditioning can be used. Set the temperature above 25 degrees.
- Use 100% cotton clothes, and long sleeves to cover limbs (preferably buttonless), that will not make the baby too warm or cold.
How to Provide a Healthy Environment for My Baby at Home?
- Try to wet mop the floor, instead of dry dusting.
- Avoid smoke entry into the baby’s room (kitchen/tobacco/mosquito coil).
- Use mosquito nets to protect the baby from mosquito-borne diseases.
- Restrict pets into the baby area.
- Advise visitors not to handle the baby without washing their hands.
- Wash baby clothes and sun-dry regularly.
When Can I Give a Bath to My Baby?
- Babies of weight > 2.5 kg can be given a regular bath after 24 hours of birth.
- Traditionally, paediatricians used to advise for sponge baths till the umbilical cord falls (usually happens at 5-10 days of life) and thereafter to start a routine regular bath. But there is no strict rule.
- For pre-term babies, it is better to give a sponge bath until they attain 2.5 kg.
- Regular baths can be given daily in summer and once in 2-3 days in winter.
How to Give a Bath and What Precautions Should I Take?
- Regular bath can be given either in a tub or in a traditional Indian way (keeping the baby in between stretched legs while sitting).
- Lukewarm water (37 degrees C) should be used.
- Cleansers should be preferred over soap. Look for baby cleansers with neutral pH or slightly acidic pH which have mild or no fragrance.
- Duration of Bath: Restrict to 5-10 minutes.
- Pat-dry from head to toe. Make sure the umbilical area is kept dry.
Can I Give My Baby a Regular Head Bath?
- Twice a week or whenever necessary.
- Baby shampoo (with the same features like as cleansers) that is non-irritant to the eyes. There are products available in the market which work both as cleansers & shampoos.
- No sambrani/camphor on hair after bath.
Should I Use Any Baby Cream After Bathing? Emollients/Moisturizers/Oil?
- They enhance skin barrier function, and hydration and help maintain warmth.
- Apply any baby moisturiser twice daily to keep skin hydrated.
- Vegetable oils (coconut oil) can be used if not able to afford moisturiser.
Should I Give My Baby an Oil Massage?
- Promotes circulation, growth, weight gain and sleep.
- In summer, give an oil massage before bath and in winter, give it after bath.
- Make sure the massager has trimmed nails and is not wearing ornaments that can injure the baby.
Any Specific Care to Be Given to the Umbilical Cord?
- It falls at 5-10 days.
- Clean daily with lukewarm water/wet cotton and keep it dry.
- No need to apply anything to it.
- If using a diaper, fold it down so that it doesn’t touch the umbilical cord.
How Should I Take Care of My Baby’s Eyes?
- Clean eyes daily with cotton soaked in lukewarm water.
- Please don’t apply kajal.
- Cut the nails and keep them short to prevent self-injury.
Clean baby’s eyes with a piece of cotton soaked in warm water, clean from inward to outward.
Cloth Nappy or Diaper? How to Take Care of My Baby’s Diaper Area?
- Cloth nappies should be preferred over diapers.
- Diapers can also be used while taking the baby outside the home.
- Change diaper/cloth frequently, every 3-4 hours. Don’t allow it to soak.
- Keep the area clean and dry.
- Use a soft cotton cloth with water or soaked cotton to clean the soiled area and then pat dry. Never rub over the skin.
- Can apply coconut oil over the area after cleaning.
- In case diapers are used, barrier creams containing zinc oxide and petrolatum-based preparation can be used.
Where Should I Make My Baby Sleep?
(Bed vs Cradle vs Traditional Thooli)
- Cradles provide a soothing and comfortable sleep as they can be swayed, but cradles’ usage is not advised after the baby sits up at around 6 months.
- Traditional thooli/Baby hammock (made of cotton saree/dhoti) can be used, knowing the risks & benefits. It has proven benefits of initiating a soothing comfortable sleep as it sways and promotes the development of a round head shape. But there is a risk of suffocation when left unattended and fall (after 5 months of age when they roll over).
- After babies have gone into deep sleep in the hammocks/cradles, they can be shifted to beds.
- Baby cots with bed and side railings, depending on their size can be used till they become 2 years.
- At night, you can make the baby sleep in the bed along with you, as it will be easy to nurse frequently. But be careful that you do not sleep over the baby. Readymade baby pillows or traditional baby pillows made of dried yellow mustard or rai seeds mould the head and prevent it from becoming flat at the back.
Are Any Other Medicines/Supplements Needed for the Baby?
- Vitamin D: We recommend vitamin D drops (400 IU/ml) 1 ml once daily up to 1 year of age.
Sunlight Exposure: 10-15 minutes daily, 5 days a week helps the baby’s skin produce vitamin D naturally.
Dr D Sivaraman
Consultant Paediatrician and Critical Care Specialist
Kauvery Hospital Chennai
