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The
first few weeks after the birth are the hardest as a routine has
not yet been established and the baby's needs are unfamiliar to
you.
Baby Massage &
exercise.
Exercise the baby gently. A little exercise is good as it helps
the baby unfurl. He has been so used to being cramped in the womb
that it takes time for his limbs to straighten out.
In different parts of the country different oils are used for massage
- coconut, ghee, castor, mustard oil and olive oil. No one oil is
superior to another. A massage with or without oil is invigorating,
improves circulation, tones up the muscles and promotes mother-baby
bounding
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Massage should be gentle and massage by a dai, as
per tradition, should be discouraged, since they massage
very vigorously and may dislocate a shoulder or so.
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Oil should not be put into the nose as it can lead
to exhalation lipid pneumonia.
- Massage
should be done in sunlight or a warm environment.
Cold or draught should be avoided.
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Cord
Care - The cord normally dies on its own, turning black and
falling off towards the end of the first week or a little later.
Clean the cord and the area around the navel with spirit or after
shave lotion for a few days even after the cord has fallen off.
Never use water to wash the cord or oil ghee or powder on the cord
as these cause infection.
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not use any bandages, cloth binders or dressings to cover
the stump as Cord stumps require exposure to fresh air
to fall off healthily. Bandages or any other covering
encourages local colonization of harmful bacteria which
leads to umbilical infections. |
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Umbilical
Hernia - This is bulging of the navel and is caused by the weakness
of the muscles underneath. It is very common and normally disappears
with time. If you are anxious, check with your paediatrician, but
never resort to bandaging etc as this is extremely unhealthy for
the child.
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In
the initial days do not put the baby to sleep on his
stomach as there is greater likelihood of choking.
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Bathing the baby -
 Many
doctors do not recommend a bath for an infant until the cord has
fallen off & the navel is dry. In such cases a sponge bath
is ideal. But if your doctor recommends a bath then try these
tips:
- Put
the infant on your lap and bathe him. This is safer than putting
him in a tub where you may not be able to prevent him from slipping.
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The room should be warm & without a drought.
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Test the temperature of the water with the elbow to ensure that
it is comfortably luke-warm.
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Arrange all the clothes, the towel etc before hand and close to
you.
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Initially do not use soap on the face.
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Clean the soft areas on the head with a gentle massage and soap.
Dirt on the hair and scalp can cause irritation and infections.
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Never try to clean the insides of the ear with cotton or ear buds
or anything else.
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In
general don't interfere with any part of a new-born
that is not visible from the outside
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Never forcibly pull back the foreskin on the penis of a little
boy.
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Clean the genital area and folds but be sure to dry them thoroughly
as dampness there encourages fungal injection.
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Wipe the baby's tongue with a soft, clean cloth.
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Go easy on the powder.
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Nails - if the nails of a new-born are
not too long, leave them be. However if he is continually scratching
himself (and you) file them gently using a nail file.
- Clean
both the file and the fingers with spirit before filing.
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Never
use scissors or a blade to cut the nails of a new-born.
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Baby Diapers
If its warm weather you can consider leaving the baby naked. Otherwise,
in general, cotton nappies are the best for children, especially
in a hot country like India. If the thought of washing endless piles
of nappies bothers you, you can consider plastic diapers.
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Always buy a reputed and reliable brand of diapers.
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Never leave the diaper on for more than 3-5 hours.
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Periodically, expose the baby's skin to the fresh air.
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Buy only the correct size of the nappy
Baby Teething
A all kinds of illnesses from diarrhoea to vomiting and high fever
are attributed to teething. This is by and large a myth.
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At the
most teething may produce mild fever, irritability and crankiness.
All other symptoms are a natural result of childhood infection
and should be treated immediately.
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- Babies
begin teething from about 6 - 7 months of age. Sometimes itchy
gums may cause a child to go off his feed or have difficulty in
sleeping. Teething is normally accompanied by excessive salivation
and gum rubbing. Or you could be lucky and your baby could teeth
without you're even knowing he had begun.
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if you buy gum teethers try the water filled variety.
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Carrots or bread sticks or rusks are also good for children but
should be given under supervision as they constitute a choking
hazard.
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Refrigerate the teether or the carrots. The cold is soothing for
the gums.
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Massage the gums with clean hands but avoid using medicated lotions
and powders on the gums.
- Finally
remember that babies are much tougher than they look. Countless
babies have survived inept handling over the years - yours will
too. So relax and enjoy your new arrival.
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