Patient education: Caring for your newborn (The Basics)

How will I know how to care for my newborn? — "Newborn" is what a baby is called for the first 4 weeks of life. In the hospital, the doctors and nurses will help you learn how to care for your newborn. They will answer your questions and make sure that you know what to do when you go home. Some hospitals offer a class on newborn care.

This article has general tips for caring for a healthy newborn. Babies that were born premature, or "preterm," often need other special care.

How does a healthy newborn act? — In the days and weeks after birth, your baby will probably:

●Keep their body curled up, the way they were inside of the uterus

●Sleep a lot

●Need to be fed at least every few hours

What should I know about caring for my newborn? — People make different choices about how to care for their baby. But there are some things that everyone should do for safety reasons. These include:

●Handling the baby – When picking up or holding your newborn, support their body, especially their head and neck. Be gentle, and never shake a baby. When you put your baby down, make sure that they are in a safe place such as a crib, cradle, or bassinet.

●Sleep – Always put your baby on their back on a flat surface to sleep. They should sleep in a crib, cradle, or bassinet without any pillows, blankets, or other objects in it (figure 1). The mattress should be firm, not soft. If you want your baby to sleep near you, put the crib or bassinet near your bed (figure 2).

●Temperature – Dress your newborn in clothing that will keep them from getting too hot or too cold. If their hands or feet feel cold, cover them with mittens or socks.

●Travel – If you have a car, make sure that you have an infant car seat that has not expired and is installed correctly. It's also important to make sure that the car seat straps are at the right height and that your baby is securely buckled in.

If you need to travel anywhere with your newborn, bring supplies with you so that you are prepared. This includes diapers, wipes, extra clothes, and formula if you use it.

●Preventing the spread of germs – Anyone who holds or touches your newborn should wash their hands first. This will help protect them from infections while their immune system is still developing.

You will also need to learn the basics of:

●Feeding – Feed your newborn when they show signs of being hungry. Signs include waking up from sleep, moving their head around, or sucking on their hands, lips, or tongue. Most newborns need to eat about 8 to 12 times a day. Burp your newborn gently after each feed.

●Diapering – Check your newborn's diaper often, and change it when it is wet or dirty. This will help prevent diaper rash. When you change your baby:

•Wash your hands before and after.

•Always lay them on a flat, stable surface.

•Never leave the baby alone.

•Use baby wipes or a wet cloth to gently clean their skin.

•Use diaper cream or ointment if their skin is irritated.

•Make sure that the diaper is the right size and is not too tight.

If your newborn was circumcised, follow all instructions on how to care for the area as it heals.

●Caring for the umbilical cord – There will be a "stump" where the umbilical cord was cut. It will dry up and fall off on its own, usually within a week or 2 after birth.

While the stump is still attached, keep it clean and dry. It can help to fold the front of the diaper down so it does not cover the stump. Do not pull on the stump. Do not put anything on it, like rubbing alcohol or ointment.

●Bathing – Newborns do not need to be bathed every day. You can give sponge baths until the umbilical cord stump falls off. For a sponge bath, keep your baby covered with a towel to stay warm. Uncover 1 part of their body at a time, and use a washcloth and warm (not hot) water to clean them.

If possible, have another caregiver help you when you bathe your newborn. Never leave a baby alone in or near water.

●Soothing and comforting – When your newborn cries, they might be hungry or need a diaper change. But it's also normal for babies to cry for no obvious reason. To soothe your baby, you can try:

•Holding or rocking them

•Putting them in a baby carrier or wrap that you wear

•Swaddling them (figure 3)

•Making a "shushing" sound or using a white noise machine

•Putting them in a car seat and going for a drive

How do I care for myself? — Taking care of a newborn is a lot of work. It's normal to be tired during this time. You can take care of yourself by:

●Resting and sleeping when you can

●Eating healthy foods and drinking plenty of water

●Having other people help when possible

When should I call the doctor? — Call for advice right away if your baby:

●Is not eating normally

●Is unusually sleepy or hard to wake

●Has severe or worsening jaundice (when the skin or white part of the eye turns yellow)

●Seems to be working harder than normal to breathe

●Turns blue in the face, skin, lips, fingernails, or toenails

●Has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher

●Does not have a wet diaper for 8 hours or longer

●Spits up a lot

●Has blood in their diaper

●Cries for longer than 2 hours without stopping

●Has redness or oozing around the umbilical cord stump

Call the doctor if your baby's umbilical cord stump does not fall off after 3 weeks.

You should also call for help if you are struggling to take care of or feed your baby.

More on this topic

Patient education: Newborn appearance (The Basics)
Patient education: Deciding to breastfeed (The Basics)
Patient education: Common breastfeeding problems (The Basics)
Patient education: Pumping and storing breast milk (The Basics)
Patient education: Colic (The Basics)
Patient education: Fever in babies younger than 3 months (The Basics)
Patient education: Jaundice in babies (The Basics)
Patient education: Depression during and after pregnancy (The Basics)

Patient education: Breastfeeding guide (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Deciding to breastfeed (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Common breastfeeding problems (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Pumping breast milk (Beyond the Basics)