Baby Care

Comfort

Babies are most comfortable if the room temperature is 70 to 74 degrees. Do not overdress your baby. Wash all new clothing and sheets before using. Clothing should be loose-fitting, lightweight, and soft textured. Babies born during this summer may be taken outside on a nice day after they are weak cold period babies born in winter should be kept indoors for three to four weeks. Avoid crowds. Avoid excessive exposure to the son. Sunscreen is not recommended under six months of age.

Care of the naval cord

The umbilical cord will dry up and drop off by itself leaving a moist spot at about 7 to 10 days of age. Be sure to thoroughly cleanse the top of the cordon around the base of the cord where the cord and the skin meet. Use alcohol and hydrogen peroxide on cotton swabs twice a day until the navel is completely healed. Dress the baby in a short shirt and fold the deep diaper down so that the naval can be exposed to air. A sponge bath, not a tub bath, should be used until four to five days after the cord drops off.

It is common for brownish, dry blood to start coming off the navel after a week or two period this often continues to the end of the third week and does not cause serious problems unless the area is allowed to stay unclean. You should call immediately if bright red blood or yellow drainage is noted. Also, any increasing redness, swelling, red streaks, or foul odor older should be reported.

Care of the circumcision

At first, the circumcision will appear somewhat reddened and swollen. Cleanse it after every diaper change period and place Vaseline-coated gauze over the raw area until healing takes place in five to seven days.

Bathing and skin care

until the navel is healed, sponge babe the baby with mild soap and water. When the navel is completely healed, the baby is ready for a tub bath. Babies do not need to be bathed daily. If the baby’s skin is dry, add a cap full of Domel or Alpha Keri to the bath. The scalp may be cleansed with no tear shampoo. If you note patches of dry scaly areas on the scalp, try baby Johnson shampoo 1-2 times per week and brush the scalp with a soft brush.

Eyes

It is not uncommon for new babies to have some swelling and redness of the eyelids. Sometimes, copious amounts of matter accumulate in the first days of life. At home, you should use a clean cotton ball moistened with warm water and gently bathe the eye from the nose toward the outside corner. Usually, redness, swelling, and pus formation will disappear within a few days. If persistent, call us.

Nose and Ears

Cleanse the outer areas only with a moist cloth or cotton ball. Do not attempt to clean the inside with Q tips. A stuffy nose is common in infancy and is due to normal mucus. Saltwater nose drops and gentle use of a nasal aspirator may be helpful if the nose is very congested. To make saltwater, use 1/4 teaspoon of salt to 1/2 Cup of water.

Nails

Trim as needed with infant-safe nail clippers when baby is asleep.

Mouth

No cleaning is needed. The white patches noted inside the mouth that cannot be wiped off might represent a fungal infection, so call us.

Soft lumps on the head

These are usually collections of blood under the skin of the scout. We call them cephalohematomas. They usually go away in six weeks.

Soft spots fontanelles

One or two soft spots in the middle of the head. They are supposed to be there and they will close anytime from seven months to two years of age.

Breast lumps

This is a result of hormonal stimulation from the mother. It happens in boys and girls and will usually go away after a few months.

vaginal bleeding

All baby girls have a mucoid discharge from the vagina at birth. Some girls will have very mild bleeding from the vagina. This is a normal phenomenon due to hormone change and may continue for up to six weeks.

birthmarks

These are extremely common, blueish discoloration on the buttocks. They happen on 10% of babies. The faint red blotches on the islands, between the eyes, or on the neck are called nevus simplex and usually go away after a few months.

heat rash

Small red bumps usually develop over the neck, chest, and upper back. These are due to the baby’s sweating. Avoid heavy clothing. Do not cover with oil as this will clog skin pores.

Smoking

As you know, smoking is not good for your health, but if you cannot quit smoking, remember not to smoke in the same room as your baby. Studies have shown that babies who live in households where members of the family smoke, have higher incidences of colds bronchitis ear infections, and asthma.

feet

One or both feet may be turning in or out. This is usually due to positioning in the uterus and can persist for several months but can be self-corrected. If we feel that there is a problem we will let you know.

Spitting up

Babies do spit up normally, especially with burping. This is seldom a serious problem and will resolve with time.

metabolic screening

The State of Georgia requires that all babies be tested for PKU and other five genetic diseases. This is done in the hospital. It is very important to repeat the test before 48 hours of age. If the baby was given antibiotics the first report is not satisfactory therefore we recommend repeating this test within 10 days after discharge.

 Safety

1. Never leave the baby alone on a table or any high place where he or she could roll off.
2. Keep small objects like buttons and pins away from the baby’s reach.
3. Always test the bathwater with your elbow or thermometer to make sure it’s not too hot.
4. Do not hold the baby while cooking.
5. Avoid small plastic sheeting that may cover the face and obstruct breathing.
6. Never shake your baby.
7. All medicine, plants, and cleaning agents should be put out of reach of the baby and if possible locked.
8. Give the correct dose of medicine. Double-check with us if there are any questions on the dosage
9. Always use an approved car seat for their age. The car seat should be used from birth until 40 pounds of weight.
10. Remember, during the first four months of age, place the baby on the back or side while sleeping.
11. Have a home smoke detector.
12. The use of walkers can be dangerous.
13. Constant supervision is required.

Illnesses

The following signs or symptoms may indicate the baby is sick:

1. Fever is very unusual to happen in the first few months of life. Actually, most of the babies less than two months of age with infections have hypothermia and subnormal temperatures. If the baby is not overdressed or covered with heavy blankets and has a fever, call immediately. (100.5 + degree temperature is a high temperature for a baby less than 3 months).
2. Vomiting, excessive spit-up (especially projectile), and association with poor feedings may indicate an illness.
3. Sleeping continuously for more than four hours in a daytime and refusing to eat strongly suggests that a baby may be sick.
4. Diarrhea. During the second week of life, most of the babies either on breast milk or formula have blue stools, mistaken many times to be diarrhea. If the baby is eating well and more importantly is urinating well, you don’t need to worry. However, if there is truly diarrhea, the first thing to do is to get some Pedialyte and offer the baby as much as he or she will take. At the same time, you should call us.