Preparing for a newborn baby can be a daunting task even for seasoned parents, let alone first timers. It's hard to decide what baby care items you really need and whose advice is best to follow. What our parents and grandparents did may not coincide with the recommended procedures for babies today. One of the main differences you'll find is the recommendation for placing baby on his or her back when putting to sleep. SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, is a serious threat that should never be taken lightly. Not only must you always remember to put your baby on his back to sleep, but you must ALWAYS make sure that grandparents, great-grandparents and any caregiver knows this as well. You can never take it for granted that they automatically know that "back is best".
Newborn babies will spend the majority of their time sleeping and eating. For this reason, it is important that you help them to be safe while doing both. When sleeping your baby should be in a crib without any blankets, stuffed animals or toys. The mattress should be firm and should be covered with a tight fitting crib sheet. It's important to never over dress your baby or to prop baby up on pillows, etc. There are wearable blankets that you can put on your baby to keep him warm. Just be sure that it is not oversized.
Some first time parents are tempted to allow their baby to sleep in their beds or in car seats or bouncer seats, baby swings, etc. Beds are especially dangerous because of the potential for suffocation with pillows, blankets, the mattress itself or even you. Car seats, bouncer seats and swings have been known to cause damage to baby's spine and to cause SIDS related deaths because the immature airway is easily blocked off when baby slumps down in the seat. For this reason it's also extremely important to never leave your baby unattended in any baby swing, bouncer seat or car seat, ever.
In the first few days, you'll want to keep the nasal aspiration bulb that you received from the hospital wherever your baby is. If you can keep more than one around the house, that's even better. Often times the first day or two your baby will try to expel mucus and might be unable to do so his or herself. When that happens, you'll need to use the aspirator bulb to get the mucus out of the baby's mouth or throat. Be sure that you know how to do this before you leave the hospital. Do not assume that you will not need to use the bulb. Always keep the bulb beside the baby when he or she is in their car seat, swing, bouncer seat or crib. Wherever the baby goes, the bulb should go too. It's also good to keep an extra on the diaper changing table and in your diaper bag. Be sure that any caregiver also knows how to use the bulb.
Bathing a newborn is not usually recommended for a few days. Check with your baby's pediatrician to see when he or she recommends that you begin. Usually a little bit of warm water on a wash cloth is enough, especially in the first few weeks. You will not want to get the umbilical cord stump wet. Also be sure that you never leave a baby in or near water unattended. You should be within arms reach always. To care for the umbilical stump, use a Q-Tip dipped in alcohol and swab around the stump at every diaper change. Follow your baby's pediatrician's advice here as well.
You'll want to make sure that any visitors are not sick and that everyone washes their hands before holding or touching your baby. Illnesses such as RSV and the flu are especially dangerous for newborns with immature immune systems.
Also, never leave children or pets around a newborn baby even if you think you can trust them, not even for a second.
You'll want to keep an eye out, especially in the first several days for a yellowish tint in your baby's skin. If you notice anything like that, report it to your baby's pediatrician right away. It could indicate jaundice which can be easily remedied if caught early enough. Left untreated, jaundice can cause permanent damage to your baby's brain and even death. Also be sure to promptly report to your child's doctor any feeding problems, noisy or trouble breathing, and/or a fever over.
