How to care for a newborn after birth is indeed a challenging task, especially for first-time parents who may feel overwhelmed and unsure. Here are some tips on how to care for a newborn, so new parents, take a look!
1. Help your baby establish a good routine for eating and sleeping.
Eating and sleeping are the main activities of a baby after birth. Establishing a good routine for eating and sleeping is beneficial for the baby's growth and development. Therefore, parents should help their baby develop good habits and routines. This good habit should gradually form when the baby is 2-3 months old, after which it will be much easier for parents to care for the baby.
The baby's bedtime should be controlled before 9 PM; if the baby is less than 3 months old, the sleep duration should be maintained at 15-16 hours; when the baby is around 3 months old, the daily sleep duration will shorten to 12-13 hours, but it is still much longer than an adult's sleep time. The baby's sleep time is a critical period for rapid growth and development, so a stable sleep routine is very important for the baby. If the baby stays up late, it must be corrected in time, otherwise, it will be very detrimental to the baby's growth and development.
In addition, a stable feeding routine should also be established. It is appropriate for the baby to drink milk every 2-3 hours, and the number of feedings per day should reach 8 to 12 times.
2. Separate bed but not room for more independence.
Many parents still have this question: is it better for the baby to sleep in the same bed or in a separate bed? Although there is nothing wrong with either, experts generally recommend that the baby sleeps in a separate bed but in the same room. This is because when parents and the baby sleep together, getting up to use the bathroom at night can easily wake the baby, affecting the baby's sleep quality. In addition, when parents sleep, they inhale a lot of oxygen and exhale a lot of carbon dioxide, which can easily make the baby breathe in polluted air, which is not good for the baby's health. More seriously, parents are unconscious of their actions when they sleep, and if they accidentally press on the baby, it can be very dangerous, possibly causing the baby to suffocate or even die suddenly, with unimaginable consequences.
Therefore, it is best for parents to sleep in a separate bed from the baby, but they can stay in the same room, so that parents can always pay attention to the baby's behavior. When preparing the baby's crib, do not make it too soft, as it is not good for the baby's bone development. The crib should have safety measures to prevent the baby from falling.
3. Interact and communicate more with the baby.
Although the baby is young, it also needs emotional communication and interaction with parents. The period before the baby is 1 year old is a critical time for establishing emotions with parents and is also an important period for the baby to build a sense of security. If the baby lacks a sense of security during this stage, the baby will also become insecure as they grow up, so parents must pay attention to emotional communication and interaction with the baby. When breastfeeding or bathing the baby, the mother can make more eye contact with the baby or smile, making the baby feel the warmth and care of the family. Touching the baby is also beneficial for making the baby feel happy. In addition, when the baby cries, be sure to care for the baby in time. Do not worry about spoiling the baby; the baby cannot be spoiled by being comforted when crying. Ignoring the baby is not good for the baby's sense of security. As the baby grows, you can play more games with the baby and interact, which is not only beneficial for the baby's brain and body development but also very helpful for the baby's emotional expression.
