Taking care of your baby is probably the most important thing going through your head right now if you are a new parent. Here are a few parenting tips to make sure your baby gets the needed attention and care.
1. Make sure that you feed your baby right. Deciding on whether you should breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby greatly depends on your personal decision and what your physician recommends. However, it has been shown that breastfeeding is still the best way to nourish newborn babies. Lots of benefits can be obtained through breastfeeding. Some medical studies have determined that breastfed infants have less hypersensitivity later in life compared with those who were raised with bottle feeding. This is mainly because the mother's milk is known to contain natural enzymes and antibodies that can help fortify the baby's immunity against infirmities. Aside from this, some doctors also believed that breast milk is responsible for superior intellect as he/she grows and becomes fully developed.
2. Practical sleep aid tips for infants. Sleep is crucial for babies because it has a direct effect on the child's mental and physical growth. Newborn babies sleep for up to 17 and 18 hours a day. Parents should understand that babies sleep cycle could be pretty erratic. You may notice for a few weeks, your baby's sleep may only last from approximately 30 minutes to 3 hours, and this can vary throughout a 24 period. But by the sixth week, you should see some signs of improvement as your baby's sleep pattern becomes more structured. Newborns show signs of sleepiness by crying or rubbing their eyes. Newborns should be put down to sleep as soon as they feel sleepy. If you are not getting much sleep at night it may be a good idea to sleep when your baby does during the day if possible.
3. Cleaning your newborn. You do not need to give your newborn a bath every day. Giving them a bath three times a week should be good enough. Give your baby a sponge bath. Do not bathe your baby in a tub until the umbilical cord falls off in order to avoid infection.
4. Maintaining your baby's optimal skin care. Newborn babies have smooth and delicate skin. For this reason, it is necessary that you use products that are especially made for babies. But before buying any baby product, it is best to consult your pediatrician. Most babies develop rashes from time to time and this is perfectly normal. However, if your baby seems irritated by a rash or has a fever, you should immediately seek advice from your baby's doctor.
5. Medicine. The doctor may prescribe your baby medication. You need to slow down and read the instructions carefully. Ask the doctor to write the instructions down if you have trouble remembering them. You need to make sure that the dose you give your baby is exactly right. There is no room for error. You might want to start your baby off with a very small dose to make sure there is no adverse reaction first.
The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only and is not meant in any way to replace advice given by health care professionals.
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