Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility
Youth

Newborn Infant Child Care Basics

Having a baby is a joy for every family. When a baby is born, new pleasant chores appear. Those parents who have a second or third baby consider themselves already experienced. Caring for an infant is a very relevant topic for new parents. With the birth of their first child, mothers have a question: ho to take care of an infant child? And this is normal because every mother wants her child to be healthy and happy. It is important for parents to understand that a newborn baby will require absolute attention. According to YMCA, daycare for a baby includes many factors.

Correct baby feeding

In the first months of a newborn’s life, nutrition is the main concern. The best and healthiest dish for the infant is breast milk. Many mothers worry if they can breastfeed correctly. In most cases, this is taught in the hospital. But if breastfeeding fails for various reasons, you will have to switch to artificial feeding with various mixtures.

Today, the choice of baby food is so rich that many mothers are lost in the choice. Here a pediatrician can come to the rescue. The doctor will individually advise which mixture is best for your baby.

Despite the fact that the child is not even a year old, the dry mixture should be purchased taking into account the baby’s small age. The age range for baby food is subdivided into the following periods: 0 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months, 6 to 12 months.

Starting from 3 months, complementary foods are introduced for the child in the form of vegetable purees. YMCA Mount Laurel NJ also recommends adding porridge to the diet.

Infant sleep

Despite its tiny age, the baby already has its own responsibilities – to eat, sleep and grow. Caring for a child up to one year old involves the creation of comfortable conditions for rest.

The bed should be made of natural materials, preferably wood. The bottom of the crib should not be covered. Ensure sufficient air circulation to ventilate the mattress. The best is the coconut mattress.

A baby in a crib does not need a pillow. Bed linen should be cotton. Depending on the season and the temperature in the room, the blanket should be either light cotton or padding polyester.

Hygiene for the newborn baby

Everyone knows that cleanliness is the guarantee of health. This rule is valid from the first days of life. A clean body does not cause irritation, and thanks to this, the child cries less often.

It is necessary to change the diaper on time. Do not allow the baby to wear a diaper for more than three hours. YMCA child care canter recommends using zinc oxide creams or special powders can reduce irritation on the skin. If a diaper rash appears on the skin, you need to consult a doctor who will recommend special means.

You’d better wash clothes for an infant by hand with baby soap. If washing is done in a machine, then you should choose a powder with a mark of 0+ and does not contain phosphates.

Newborn wardrobe

It would seem that the baby in the first months of life does not need any clothes at all. However, diapers and rompers are already the first wardrobes of a baby. When choosing a wardrobe for an infant, you need to take into account several points.

All things that come into contact with the child’s body must be made of natural fabrics that allow the skin to breathe. All seams on clothes and caps must be made outward. There should be as little as possible of any buttons and ties.

Babies do not have the same body heat exchange as adults. When going for a walk, the baby should wear one layer of clothing more than adults (depending on the weather conditions).

The care and love shown by the parents in the first year of life will allow parents to raise and educate a healthy and talented child.