How To Take Care Of An Infant

Instructions

• Be calm and confident: The days and even weeks after the birth can be quite complicated and confusing for the new mother. With so much happening around you might be disturbing as well as exciting. It’s important for you to collect your senses and not get carried away by such tremendous changes. With a calm mind and a confident approach you would be able to look after the new life sleeping next to you.
• Feeding Issues: If you decide to breastfeed the baby the initial few attempts will test your time and patience. The regular breast feeding takes about a week to get established. Take help from family or health care providers, if you are new to this routine. Most of the hospitals these days have Lactation Consultants to help with breastfeeding. If you choose to give formula bottle to the baby, make sure the formula is right for her. You should always hold the bottle while feeding and never leave the baby unattended with the bottle.
• Bathing: While giving bath to your infant make sure you have all the stuff ready and close to you. Its not advisable to leave the infant near the tub to get the things back. Keep all the windows and shafts closed to prevent cold air inside. Check the water temperature before starting the bath. Avoid too much use of soap on the baby’s skin. Wipe the baby with a soft cotton cloth and dress her as soon as possible.
• Sleeping: Most of the new mothers deal with the sleep issues initially. It takes 25 weeks to get the sleep cycle regulated after birth. Make sure to burp the child after every feed before you put her to sleep. It’s a good habit to put the baby on her back while sleeping. It reduces the risks of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).The sleep area should be neither too firm nor to soft and it should not have too much of blankets, quilts or soft toys around.
• Diapering: Proper diapering is an art which you can learn with practice. Make sure to lie the baby down on a clean surface before changing the diaper. Clean the diaper area before changing the new cloth or diaper. If the baby gets rashes often, it’s better to change the diaper brand or use a good anti-rash cream. Keep the diaper area dry and powdered.