Taking Care of Newborns

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As a mom of two I can tell you, taking care of a newborn baby is not always as easy as the experts on baby care claim. Every baby is different and it takes some time for you as a new mother to learn to understand your baby.

By the time you come home with your newborn baby you have probably already bought the basics. Baby stuff can be very expensive. For a complete newborn checklist click here.

The first weeks the only thing your baby will do is eat, sleep and cry.

Newborns cry because that is the only way they can tell you they are unhappy. They may be hungry, tired, have colic (abdominal pain) or just need their diaper changed.

Newborn crying.

But sometimes babies cry a lot. Taking care of newborns that cry more than usual can be very exhausting for mom especially when this happens during the night and she doesn’t get enough sleep.

Taking care of newborns.

It is heartbreaking and upsetting to hear your newborn crying all the time.

The hormonal changes in a your body, sitting on swollen, painful stitches and lack of sleep can make you very emotional, tense and nervous.

You can expect these “baby blues” about three days after your baby is born. Crying for no reason and being edgy is normal and part of being a new mom.

If these feelings continue for more than a week consult your midwife or doctor. Postpartum depression occurs in 10% of all new mothers. If you feel you can not cope or are afraid you may harm your baby seek help right away.

 

Common health problems in newborns.

New moms are always worried about baby’s health. Common problems occuring in the first weeks of baby's life are:

Jaundice

Jaundice in infants affects most babies and is usually harmless and will disappear in a week or two.What are the symptoms of jaundice with too high bilirubin levels and what is the treatment for kernicterus. See our page about Jaundice in infant.

 

Colic

Are you looking for baby colic cures? At this moment there is no fixed colic treatment yet. Every baby responds different to different treatments. Here are some colic treatments that may help your baby. Baby colic cures and tips for desperate and sleep deprived moms.

 

Thrush in newborns

What causes thrush in a newborn baby? First of all baby’s immune system is not well developed yet therefore making him or her more susceptible to the thrush fungus. Is thrus contagious if you are breastfeeding? Read more about what causes thrush in newborns?

What is the best natural cure for thrush depends on how bad baby’s thrush is. Apart from treatments with anti-fungal creams mild cases can be treated with a simple thrush home remedy. Yeast can not thrive in an acidic environment like vinegar. See more home remedies for thrush on our page the best natural cure for thrush in newborns.

 

Constipation

What are the best infant constipation remedies? Switching to another baby formula may be effective. Some mothers belief wrongly that the iron in the formula causes their baby's constipation. Read more in our article about infant constipation remedies and how to relief constipation in newborn babies.

Diarrhea

 

Diarrhea in babies is an increase in the frequency and looseness of the bowel movements. Breastfeeding mothers know that it is quit normal for their babies to have lots of soft stools a day. But how many stools a day is normal?

With diarrhea in babies there is always the possibility of dehydration when baby looses too much fluid. Learn more about diarrhea in babies and the best cure for infant diarrhea?

Infant Congestion

Infant congestion often causes distress for mother and baby. Avoid giving any kind of decongestants or other over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to children younger than four. Learn about the Safest Nasal Congestion Remedies for Babies

 

Infant Milk Allergies

Fortunately most infants have no problems ingesting cow’s milk. But about 2 to 3% of all babies have an allergy to one or more proteins in cow’s milk. Click here to learn more about symptoms and treatment of infant milk allergies.

 

Newborn weight gain.

Most newborns loose weight during the first week but at two weeks they are usually back up to their birth weight. How much weight a baby gains each month depends on more than just baby’s diet. An Infant weight chart consists of a series of curves that compare an infants measurements with those of other children in the same age group. There are different charts for boys and girls because their growth pattern is different.

Taking care of newborns with skin conditions.

Baby has very delicate skin and is more prone to certain skin conditions.
Click on the following links and read how you can cope with common baby skin rashes like cradle cap, diaper rash, baby eczema, baby acne and baby sunburn.

Taking care of newborns is challenging but also very rewarding.
Appreciate the moments with your newborn because little babies grow fast.

 

 

More books about taking care of newborns in our bookstore.

Connect with other parents and stay on top of your baby's development with the free Baby Tracker app for your android.

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Recommended DVD about taking care of newborns.

 

The Happiest Baby on the Block - The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Baby Sleep Longer (DVD)

 A truly amazing DVD about techniques on how to comfort your newborn baby. The five S's : Swaddling, Side or Stomach position, Shushing, Swinging and Sucking are proved successful techniques to sooth fussy and colicky infants.

After watching this DVD you can also read Dr. Karp’s book The Happiest Baby on the Block that apart from what we see in the DVD also has many useful tips on baby care.

 

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The information on this page is given as a reference guide and is not a substitute for professional medical help.

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