Caring for Baby

“Wow being born is quite a workout! I should try to breastfeed within an hour of birth but then I may want to sleep a lot for the next 24 hours.”

“I would love to be held skin to skin with you as much as possible, just ask the nurse how to do it safely.”

“Watch me for signs that I am getting interested in eating, like moving my lips and trying to put my hands in my mouth, or when I start to wake up and move my arms and legs.”

“If I’m sleepy, but need to eat, try unwrapping me or changing my diaper. Still sleepy? Keep holding me skin to skin and try again in an hour!”

“Did you know that your body started making milk for me early in your pregnancy? My stomach is very tiny, about the size of a small marble; I don’t need much milk; you have all that I need!”

“If I don’t latch on to your breast in that first 12-24 hours or if I have trouble, could you hand-express some of that “Liquid Gold” that I’ve been hearing about onto my lips or ask the nurse to show you how to feed it to me with a tiny spoon?”

“Even though breastfeeding is ‘natural’ we may need some help and guidance from our nurse; ask for help if I can’t latch on or have our nurse watch to see how we are doing.”

“Once I’ve woken up a bit more, (after the first 24 hours), I am probably going to want to eat often. (I especially like eating at night when you want to sleep!) I should now want to nurse at least 8-12 times in a 24-hour period. Feeding me frequently will help you make more milk for me!”

“If you put me down when I am done feeding, I may soon wake up and want to nurse again. This is not because I am hungry, but because this is comforting.”

“I am excited to meet your family and friends but we need lots of time to get to know each other and you need your sleep too, Mom!”

Baby’s Head

• Soft spots: There are two “soft spots” found one towards the front and one toward the back of the skull
• May be cone shaped
• May have swelling/discoloration from moving through birth canal
• Hair loss is common

Baby’s Eyes

• Color may change by six months of age
• Eyelids may be swollen or often watery
• Some blood on white part is normal and will usually resolve on its own
• Many babies have some discharge from their eyes. Simply wipe with a clean warm cloth.
• It will happen again, especially when the baby wakes from sleeping.

Baby’s Skin

• Newborns are very prone to rashes, most of which are harmless
• Ask the team at the hospital during the newborn period if you notice something on your baby’s skin
• Most infants will develop some “baby acne” between 3- 6 weeks, which will resolve on its own
• Diaper rashes are very common. Keep the area as clean and dry as possible. Make an appointment with your baby’s provider if you are concerned.

Baby’s Ears

• May be soft and floppy
• Will change over time

Baby’s Mouth

• Small blister may appear from feeding; this will disappear when child begins drinking from a cup
• May have white bumps along gum line
• Uncommon to be born with teeth

Hiccups

• Almost all babies will have hiccups for a month or so after birth, most commonly after eating. This is normal.

Sneezing and Stuffy Nose

• Newborns also sneeze a lot to clear out the nose
• This is also normal and doesn’t mean the baby is sick
• Stuffy nose is very common and can be left alone if the baby is comfortable and able to eat and sleep

Hormones

• Both baby girls and baby boys are born with some of their mother’s hormones still in their bodies
• As a result, breasts and genitals may appear swollen. If the breast tissue is bright red or hot to touch or painful, call your baby’s provider for appointment
• Vaginal discharge is normal for baby girls
• Baby boys may have a large scrotum (the pouch that holds the testicles) at birth

Umbilical cord care: Your baby’s umbilical cord will dry up and fall off in 1 to 2 weeks. Keep the area around the cord clean and dry. Fold the diaper below the cord. Check for redness or puss around the cord. Call your baby’s provider if you see these signs.

Bathing: You can bathe your baby after birth. Your nurse can help you with the first bath.

Diaper care: Change your baby’s diaper often to prevent diaper rash. Clean your baby’s bottom with water or baby wipes. Wipe a girl baby from front to back so that stool does not get in her vagina. Use diaper cream for a rash.

Circumcision care: Change your baby’s diaper often. Use warm water to clean the penis. Let the penis dry. Put A+D® ointment on the tip of the penis each time you change the diaper. Expect the tip of the penis to be red. The penis may bleed a little bit.

Clothing: Dress your baby as warmly as you dress yourself. Put a hat on your baby in cool weather. Do not overdress your baby. Babies can get hot.

Feeding: Learn more about breastfeeding in the breastfeeding section.

Comforting Your Crying Baby

Many new babies have a fussy time each day. Your baby may cry because he or she is tired, hungry, wet, in pain, sick, or just wants to be held. You will learn about your baby’s different cries. Here are some ways to comfort your baby:

• Feed your baby.
• Change your baby’s diaper.
• Wrap or swaddle your baby in a blanket.
• Gently rock your baby in your arms, a chair, or in a swing.
• Walk your baby in a sling, front carrier, or stroller.
• Sing to your baby or repeat a sound like “shhh, shhh, shhh” again and again.

Colic: Some babies have colic, crying hard for many hours. Often you cannot comfort a baby with colic. Most babies cry less after 3 or 4 months. Talk to your provider to learn more about colic and ways to cope with your baby’s crying.

Car Seat Safety

• Newborns need to ride in a rear-facing car seat from the moment they leave and take their first ride home from the hospital and every ride afterwards.
• We want to be sure you know how to safely place your baby in the car seat and that you have enough time to practice and ask questions, as well.
• What if I don’t know how to properly install a car seat?
  • BMC’s Division of Trauma Surgery as well as the Department of Public Safety Office provide free child safety seat installation and inspection. They can assist with demonstrating how to secure children in their seats correctly and how to correctly install seats in the car. Call the public safety supervisor at 617.414.4444 to make an appointment to schedule a car seat installation at BMC.

Keeping Your Baby Safe

• Wash your hands and ask others to wash their hands before holding or touching your baby.
• Use a car seat every time you are in the car.
• Support your baby’s neck.

Siblings

Older children may need extra love when a new baby joins the family. Spend some time alone with your older child each day. Some ways you can do this are to read a book, take a walk, listen, or play with your child.

When to Call Your Baby’s Provider

• You count fewer than 6 wet diapers in 24 hours.
• Your baby looks yellow or tanned.
• Your baby has rectal temperature greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Your baby vomits a whole feeding with force.
• The area around the umbilical cord is red, swollen, and has yellow or green pus.
• Your baby will not eat or has diarrhea.
• Your baby seems more tired or more restless than before.
• Your baby is having a hard time breathing or turns blue.

Circumcision Warning Signs

• Some reasons to call your baby’s provider might be:
• Swelling around the penis o Yellow or green pus
• Bleeding more than the size of a quarter
• Fever greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit
• No wet diaper in 8 hours

Ways Your Support Person Can Help

• Babies need many people to give them love. And mothers need many people to help. Maybe your support person is your partner, the father of the baby, a friend, or a family member. As the support person, you can:
  • Hold, bathe, or change the baby.
  • Take care of the baby while mom takes a nap.
  • Help with housework, cooking, and errands.
  • Help with the other children in the family.
  • Children need lots of love and support when a new baby joins the family.
  • Support the breastfeeding mother: tell her she is doing a good job, get her a snack and a glass of water when she breastfeeds.
  • Go to the baby’s provider visits when you can. Ask questions.
  • Be understanding. Having a new baby can be a stressful and tiring time.

Most babies are seen several times in the first month of life as feeding is established. Your child may need other visits that are not listed above. Your provider will let you know if it is needed.

• 1 week
• 2 weeks
• 1 month
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months
• 15 months
• 18 months
• 30 months
• 36 months

• Put your baby on their back to sleep to help prevent SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
• Put your baby in the crib or bassinet when you are not holding them.
• Do not leave your baby alone on the changing table, couch, or bed. Your baby could roll over and fall.
• Do not put pillows, stuffed animals, or large blankets in your baby’s crib. Your baby could suffocate.

A crying baby can make you feel tense and angry. Do not shake your baby. This can hurt your baby’s head, neck or spine. Put your baby down in the crib if you feel tense and angry. Ask someone to care for your baby while you take a break. Warn others about the danger of shaking a baby.