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Articles 0-12 months
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Baby's Basic Needs
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Baby's Basic Needs
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Concerned about how to care for your new baby? Not to worry! Follow the common-sense wisdom of motherhood for these first few hectic, but exhilarating, months. Take a deep breath, exhale, and enjoy!
Welcome home! You’re just back from the hospital, and you’re probably feeling a rush of emotions: contentment, excitement, happiness, anticipation, and... just a little... nervousness. You have a beautiful baby resting in your arms and you’re a new Mommy. But what do you do when your little bundle of joy wakes up, and maybe even cries? How will you know how to make sure you’re doing everything you can to make baby comfortable and happy? Here’s a baby-care primer for the New Mom.
Baby soothers
There’s nothing more heartbreaking to a new mom than the sound of her baby whimpering and crying. What can I do to make my child feel more comfortable and at ease? she wonders. How can I make it stop? Here’s some advice that should put things right again.
Why is my baby crying?
The average two-week-old cries for two and a quarter hours every 24 hours. Crying peaks at six weeks, when the average baby cries for close to three hours a day. Given these numbers, it’s okay if Mom needs to take a break. Others, especially Dad, can tend to the fussing, too.
Why do they cry so much?
We know that newborns come into the world not used to bright lights, varying temperatures, or loud sounds. And, most importantly, newborns never know hunger when attached to the umbilical cord, but feel it every few hours in the outside world (babies need to be fed every two to four hours). So when your infant begins to cry, your first assumption should be that baby is hungry. By the time your child is about four weeks old, you’ll probably be able to recognize the hunger cry as different from I’m sleepy or I just need to let off steam. But for now, offer your breast or a bottle and see if that does the trick. Soon you’ll recognize the wiggles and squirms through which baby is signaling hunger before you hear cries.
What else could make baby cry?
Your little one may be reacting to the excitement, and hustle of this strange new environment — lots of people, noises, shiny bright lights — although some little ones just go to sleep in these circumstances. A baby may also cry about being too hot or too cold. Often new parents make the mistake of dressing baby too warmly, and then swaddle on top of that.
A sweaty head means baby is too layered. Babies older than three months may cry if their clothes are confining or itchy. Finally, babies older than two or three months will sometimes cry for attention and holding.
Comforting Baby
One way to give constant comfort is to “wear” your baby in a sling or baby carrier, so the two of you are always connected. Or sit baby in an infant carrier or bouncer seat, facing you. Even if you’re busy making dinner, working on the computer, or resting, you can hang out with and talk to your baby. Occasionally, figuring out how to comfort baby isn’t easy. For soothing an upset infant who isn’t hungry, the oldest trick in the book is to rock your child in your arms while cooing, shushing, or singing softly. A variation on this is baby dancing, where you hold your child in your arms and dance around the room. Dip baby down, hold baby up, and vary your steps to find one that baby enjoys. Now moms have the luxury of letting an automated baby swing or bouncer seat take over while you offer reassuring words. Make sure to pick one that can move in all directions, just like you do when you rock baby. Sounds also soothe. Experts think babies enjoy static sounds — a washing machine, vacuum cleaner, fan, hair dryer, or running water — because they mimic the body noises baby heard in the womb. Music, including your own singing voice, might also do the trick. It also might help both you and baby to just step outside. Take baby for a ride in the car: the rhythmic motions and humming sounds may calm baby right down. Similarly, the rocking motion of a swing or bouncer with soothing vibrations will also prove to be reassuring. And while some babies are calmed by a warm bath, others cry louder because they dislike the change in temperature when they are undressed and bathed.
By your child’s first birthday, expect a comfort object — a favourite toy or blanket — to always be within baby’s reach. (For children under a year old, don’t place stuffed animals or blankets in the crib.)
Another strategy is to find a product that helps your baby stay asleep once snug in a crib — after all, it’s one thing to fall asleep, and it’s another to stay asleep! Lullaby-playing mobiles and other soothing products can encourage your baby to stay in peaceful slumber, even in the middle of the night.
If you’ve tried everything, and your pediatrician has given your child a clean bill of health, don’t feel guilty about setting your infant in a safe place and letting the screams fly for a few minutes. Stay within your child’s view, and offer comforting words, kisses, and hugs. Most children will eventually fall asleep after a bit of crying.
When It’s Colic
Periodic fussiness at the end of the day is to be expected from every baby. But when that crying reaches three hours a day for three days or more per week, experts say a baby has colic. This incessant crying can be a challenge for even the most experienced parent. Experts believe that colic has something to do with babies’ supersensitivity — possibly due to their immature nervous systems or an overly reactive intestinal tract producing a lot of gas. A few infants with colic may be reacting to milk protein, and changing to an extensively hydrolyzed protein-based formula is a way to bring some relief.
A few other techniques:
• Carry baby during the day, when the crying isn’t as bad. Research shows that doing so will make early evening crying spells shorter.
• Try burping your baby during and after each feeding. Gently rub or pat baby’s back.
• Infant massage can help a baby expel gas, as can holding baby stomach down along your arm, with legs and arms dangling.
Getting Dressed
Wondering how to dress your newborn? Remember comfort is key!
More advice:
• The best way to determine what a baby should wear is to dress your child in one more layer of clothing than you’re wearing yourself. This usually means an undershirt, a diaper, pajamas, and receiving blanket. When the temperature is above 22°C, only one layer is needed.
• Touch your baby’s skin often: If baby’s hands feel cold, add a layer; if they’re hot and sweaty, subtract one.
• If a newborn is premature or has little body fat, your baby may need additional layers for warmth.
• Newborns with little hair often need caps at night. Your baby’s skin may be sensitive to chemicals present in new clothing, and to soap and detergent left on clothes after you do the laundry. To avoid this problem: Wash all new clothes and linens before each use.
• Do your newborn’s wash separately from you own household laundry.
• Use a gentle, baby safe detergent, and double-rinse all new clothes.
Diapering Know-How
As a newborn, your baby will go through an average of eight diapers a day. That number does go down over the next couple of years, but you’ll still change approximately 40 diapers every week until your baby is one year old! To get you started, here’s a handy list of what you’ll need:
• A changing area (for instance: a table; the top of a waist-high dresser; or a simple water absorbent changing pad to be placed anywhere)
• A plastic changing mat to put on top of a changing surface
• Washcloths and wipes for cleaning baby
• Cotton balls for cleaning or applying moisturizer
• Warm water
• Baby oil or hypoallergenic lotion to use with cotton balls
• Plenty of clean diapers (always have an extra pack on hand)
• Ointment or petroleum jelly for treating diaper rash
• A change of baby clothes (in case of soiling)
• A diaper pail with a secure lid for dirty diapers
• A laundry bag or hamper with a lid for dirty washcloths
Safety Changes
As your baby grows, diaper changes will get a bit trickier. By 4 months baby wants to roll over; by 8 months baby wants to crawl away; and by the time your child is a toddler, expect loud protests when it’s time for a change.
With all of this fussing and rolling around, you’ll need to be on your toes when you’re changing baby’s diaper. Be quick and safe. For security’s sake, keep a hand on your child at all times. Use toys or storytelling for distraction, or hang a colourful poster with lots of intricate detail by the changing table. Keep diapers and wiping cloths handy in all parts of the house. And praise your child for cooperating!
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