Caring for a newborn in the first month of life, in the first days of a child: girl, boy. Features of skin care, mucous membranes, navel, diaper rash. Rules

Caring for a baby of any gender is practically no different from each other. Often, in the first month of a baby's life, parents feel confused, especially if this is their first child. However, all fears can be dispelled by arming yourself with knowledge about caring for your baby. Basic information can be obtained from the local pediatrician and nurse who visit the baby after discharge from the maternity hospital. However, the more information about the care of the child, the better. This will make you feel confident in your abilities.

Now let's look at this in more detail.

Mom and baby at home

If the birth was natural and was not associated with any complications, the mother and child will be at home already 3-4 days after it. In case of cesarean section, discharge is scheduled for 5-9 days after birth.

In the first days at home, all the parents' attention should be devoted to the baby. Therefore, it is worth making sure that all household issues are resolved in advance: from thorough general cleaning to cooking. It is important that there are no irritating odors in the apartment and that the optimal temperature is maintained at 21–22 °C.

Having crossed the threshold of the house, you should immediately change the baby’s clothes and, if necessary, change the diaper. Already on the first day you can bathe the child, usually 5-10 minutes are enough for the first water procedures, then this time increases to 20-30 minutes.

Nutrition

The first day - 10 ml per feeding, until the 10th day the volume increases by 10 ml:
First day 10 ml per feeding,
Second day 20 ml,
Third day 30 ml,
Tenth day 100 ml.
From 70 to 100 grams per feeding - up to three months.

Nutritional intake from one week to three months:

Weight: 5 = number of ml per day (2650: 5 = 530 ml per day. 530: 8 feedings = 70 ml)

After feeding, walk in a “column” to burp (also helps with hiccups). If a child drinks water, give it if the body doesn’t need it and won’t drink it.

Features of the development of a newborn child in the first month of life

From the first seconds after birth, the baby begins to actively adapt to life outside the womb. His circulatory system changes significantly, his own immunity is activated, the digestive and endocrine systems are included in their first work, the kidneys begin to function, and the respiratory tract encounters previously unknown microorganisms.

In the first week of life, there is sometimes a slight weight loss associated with the adaptation period. By the second week, a more stable and calm state begins.

During the first month of life, the baby spends most of its time (up to 20 hours a day) sleeping. As a rule, newborns sleep on their backs, with their arms and legs bent and spread apart. Lying on his stomach, the baby may reflexively try to raise and hold his head, and sometimes he succeeds even for a few moments.

In the first thirty days, the baby will gain about 600 grams in weight and grow by about three centimeters . The head circumference also increases noticeably - by 1.5-2 centimeters.

First three months

First three months Newborn baby: what he can do, how much he eats, how much he sleeps, weight gain

Newborn baby - first days

Never in his life will a child develop and change as quickly as in the first month of life. Therefore, the very first days are the most difficult, eventful and important.

Here are a few stages of the first month of life that you can pay attention to: - the first 5 days:

adaptation of the newborn to the environment. Usually adaptation takes place without any deviations, but particularly careful observation will not hurt. Usually, the child spends most of this time in the maternity hospital, where specialists regularly examine him. After discharge with a newborn, it will not be a bad idea to enlist the help of loved ones: daily wet cleaning, which is so necessary for the baby, will be beyond the mother’s strength.

- 10 days after birth:

By this time, the umbilical wound has usually already healed. After discharge from the maternity hospital, the umbilical wound should be treated 2 times a day with a 1-2% solution of brilliant green or chlorophyllipt, and bathe briefly (5-7 minutes) in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate. You should be concerned if there is redness/swelling/discharge from the umbilical ring area, or if the crust does not fall off after 2 weeks.

From 10-12 days of life, the baby should be placed on the tummy several times a day before feeding, increasing the time from 1-3 minutes to 15-20. Not all kids like this activity, but it helps strengthen the muscles of the tummy and neck, and makes it easier to pass gas.

A newborn baby - what can he do?

On days 8-10, the baby tries to raise his head (from a position lying on his stomach), on days 14-15 he turns towards the sound. A smile may appear, yet unconsciously. Movements are still chaotic. The first sounds appear. By the end of the first month of life, the baby will learn to respond to sounds while lying on his stomach, and will begin to lift his head and hold it for several seconds.

In a calm state, the child lies with bent arms and legs. You can gently straighten an arm or leg when changing clothes or treating skin folds without causing pain to your baby. High tone in the muscles of the arms and legs is a completely normal condition for the first months. But if the baby is “squeezed” too tightly, every involuntary movement causes anxiety, this indicates increased muscle tone. Already by 10–14 days, the baby begins to briefly fix his gaze on a bright moving object that enters his field of vision, flinches at a sharp sound and blinks. By the 18th–22nd day, he can already hold his gaze on a stationary object.

Basic Skill

- keeps your figure in sight
Speech skills
- makes incomprehensible sounds: coos, gurgles, wheezes, smacks
Emotions and facial expressions
- indistinct facial movements, is able to capture your emotions

Newborn baby - newborn nutrition

Undoubtedly, the first thing mother and child will have to learn is to eat. Mother's milk has been and will always be the natural food for a newborn.

Recently, doctors have been inclined to regulate milk production by frequently putting the baby to the breast - at his first request. This method has only one drawback: the baby can have up to 12-14 such demands per day, which is very exhausting for the mother.

But the diet is usually established within a few days after birth - the child eats every 2.5 - 3.5 hours,

eating for 15-20 minutes. By the way, it is not worth holding the baby at the breast for more than 25-30 minutes - they drink the bulk of the milk in the first 5-10 minutes, so a long and exhausting meal is not worth it.

The volume of milk consumed depends on individual characteristics and needs, but if we talk about average indicators, they are as follows: from 60-80 ml of milk per feeding in the first days of birth to 100-130 ml of milk by the end of the first month (figures are given for 6- 7 meals a day).

If the doctor considers that the newborn does not have enough milk, he will recommend supplementary feeding with a special adapted milk formula.

Newborn - newborn sleep, how much sleep you need

Let us repeat once again - all children are special, some need longer sleep. In the first days of life, newborns sleep 22-23 hours a day, by the end of the first month - 17-20 hours.

Newborn - weight and height

Weight gain in the first month is 600-800 g; in a month the baby grows by almost 3 cm

Newborn - walks, when to start walking

In the summer, you can go out into the air almost from the first days after being discharged from the hospital, gradually increasing the time spent in the fresh air from 15 minutes to 2-2.5 hours.

In winter, you can go outside on the 10th-14th day of a child’s life, provided that the weather is calm and the thermometer shows no lower than -10. You can start with 10-15 minutes, increasing the walking time to 1 hour. In winter, you need to make sure that the child does not freeze - you need overalls with natural wool, a warm blanket or envelope, a warm hat, and an insulated stroller.

Newborn - doctors and vaccinations

Upon discharge from the maternity hospital, all information about you and your baby will go to the children's clinic, which serves the area in which you live

newborn. So the next day, expect guests in the person of a doctor, ideally together with a nurse. They should visit you alternately every day for the first week.

Vaccinations:

hepatitis B - done in the maternity hospital on the first day; tuberculosis (BCG) - done in the maternity hospital for 3-7 days.

Newborn - reasons for concern

It is clear that at first any behavior of the baby causes concern and wariness, but in the following cases you need to consult a doctor as quickly as possible: - the child burps heavily and often; - the child refuses to breastfeed; - the child is unusually agitated or too lethargic; - sudden changes in stool (loose, foamy, rapid - more than 7 times a day); - temperature increase more than 37 degrees; — physiological jaundice does not go away for more than 3 weeks.

Newborn - a note for mom

The first month is the most difficult of all: mother and child, who has just appeared, get used to each other, learn to understand. However, now the baby is growing before our eyes - already 10 days after birth you will see how much he has changed.

Of course, realizing that a mother is completely unprepared for the birth of a baby is not easy. But don’t worry, 99 mothers out of 100 are in exactly the same situation - they have the same confusion from misunderstanding, fatigue from childbirth and several days in the hospital. Very little time will pass and you will perk up, and the now frightening procedures of feeding, changing clothes, bathing, etc. will seem like sheer nonsense!

Baby 1 month: what he can do, how much he sleeps and eats, height and weight indicators

1 month old baby - what can he do?

The first month of your baby’s life has flown by - the most painful and scary. Now the baby is already 1 month old, and he enters the second month with a smile. There was a smile before, but that smile was involuntary - the child reacted to comfortable sensations. At 4-5 weeks, the baby begins to smile “for real” - reacting to your kind words. He tells you: “Mom, I understand you, I feel good with you!”

By this time, the baby can usually hold his head upright for a short time. It can hold your face or a bright toy in the field of vision for a long time, and turns towards the sound source. The first buzz appears, facial expressions become more expressive.

1 month old baby - how much does he eat?

The baby is now actively growing, so the body needs more and more nutrition. By the end of the month, the need for milk can be estimated at 750-800 grams per day (110-150 grams per feeding).

1 month old baby - how long does he sleep?

At the age of 1-2 months, the child sleeps 17-19 hours a day, of which night sleep is about 8 hours 30 minutes, and daytime sleep can be divided into 3-4 times

Baby 1 month - regime, daily routine

This is what the daily routine of a baby aged 1 to 2 months might look like:

Time
Routine
6:00 1st feeding 6:00 - 7:00 Wakeful 7:00 - 9:30 Sleep 9:30 2nd feeding 9:30 - 11:00 Wakeful 11:00 - 13:00 Sleep 13: 00 3rd feeding 13:00 - 14:00 Wakeful 14:00 - 16:30 Sleep 16:30 4th feeding 16:30 - 17:30 Wakeful 17:30 - 19:30 Sleep 19:30 - 20: 30 Wakeful 20:00 5th feeding 20:00 - 21:00 Wakeful 21:00 - 23:30 Sleeping 23:30 6th feeding 23:30 - 6:00 Sleeping

This regime is far from being a guide to the life of mother and baby by the hour, but only an example by which you can imagine what the duration of the sleep and wakefulness phases and breaks between meals can be.

Baby 1 month - height and weight

In the first month the child gained about 600 grams, in the second month you can expect an increase of about 800 grams. In the second month, the child will grow by 3 cm, the average body length of a child aged 1 to 2 months is 55-59 cm.

1 month old baby – doctors and vaccinations

If a child was born in autumn, winter or early spring, in the second month of life the doctor usually prescribes a drug containing vitamin D to prevent rickets. Both the drug and its dose are selected individually, taking into account the nature of the child’s feeding (since most adapted mixtures contain vitamin D). Sometimes the prevention of rickets can be started earlier or, on the contrary, postponed for certain indicators (for gastrointestinal disorders or if the doctor finds the size of the fontanel too small, the increase in head circumference insufficient).

Baby 1 month - developmental activities

Now the most pleasant and dear thing for the baby is the voice of the people around him, and especially his mother. After all, it was exactly what he heard in his tummy. Therefore, talk to him more often - this both calms him down and allows him to learn more about the world around him.

Call him by his name or just an affectionate nickname when you enter the room. Talk about how you feel when you change clothes. By changing the volume of your voice, you can calm him down or attract attention. It is very interesting for the baby to watch the change in timbre - from low to high and vice versa - this can attract his attention for a long time.

Another great activity is massaging your fingers and toes. Massage each finger separately, this will allow the baby to feel his body.

2 month old baby - what he can do, development and games, how much he sleeps and eats, height and weight

2 month old baby - what can he do?

By the age of two months, the baby has already become completely accustomed to this life, and now absorbs new emotions and knowledge like a sponge - literally every day he changes, learning something new.

Just yesterday he was watching his mother, lying on his back, and today, laying him on his tummy, you noticed how he raised not only his head, but also his shoulders, and carefully watched your movements.

At about 2.5 months, the baby begins to try to grab bright toys that are interesting to him. He happily pushes, touches, feels, everything that surrounds him. He is no longer interested in lying around doing nothing.

This age is characterized by the so-called “revival” complex, when the baby reacts vividly to the appearance of people he knows and loves - he smiles, begins to walk, and actively wags his arms and legs.

2 month old baby - how much does he eat?

A 2-month-old baby eats about 800-900 ml of milk per day, eating 130-150 grams in one feeding.

The feeding interval gradually increases. At the age of 2 to 3 months, the child usually chooses his own break between feedings of 3.5 hours. The night break can be much longer. Some children who eat formula may even switch to 5 meals a day (with a break of 4 hours).

2 month old baby - how long does he sleep?

At the age of 2-3 months, the child sleeps 16-18 hours a day, of which night sleep is about 8 hours 30 minutes, and daytime sleep can be divided into 3-4 times

Baby 2 months - regime, daily routine

Here is an approximate daily routine for a baby aged 2 to 3 months:

Time
Routine
6:00 1st feeding 6:00 - 7:30 Wakeful 7:30 - 9:30 Sleep 9:30 2nd feeding 9:30 - 11:00 Wakeful 11:00 - 13:00 Sleep 13: 00 3rd feeding 13:00 - 14:30 Wakeful 14:30 - 16:30 Sleep 16:30 4th feeding 16:30 - 17:30 Wakeful 17:30 - 19:30 Sleep 19:30 - 20: 30 Wakeful 20:00 5th feeding 20:00 - 21:30 Wakeful 21:30 - 23:30 Sleeping 23:30 6th feeding 23:30 - 6:00 Sleeping

Baby 2 months - height and weight

By the end of this month, the child will have eaten 800-900 grams and will have grown by 2-2.5 cm. Average body weight and height are 5200-5600 grams and 60-62 cm, respectively.

The size of the head and chest circumferences also increases - the chest circumference gradually “catch up” with the head circumference, although it still remains smaller than the latter.

2 month old baby – doctors and vaccinations

In the third month of life, many children, especially those born in the cold seasons of the year, may experience initial signs of vitamin D deficiency rickets (including children who receive a prophylactic dose of vitamin D). Parents can pay attention to the baby’s increased excitability, sweating, increased urination, and baldness of the back of the head. In this case, a doctor’s consultation is necessary: you may have to increase the dose of vitamin D, change the drug, or change the child’s diet.

After 2 months, some children who did not previously have obvious signs of disorders of the nervous system, but suffered hypoxia (oxygen starvation) in the prenatal period or at birth, may experience neurological disorders: increased excitability, tearfulness, trembling of the hands and chin when screaming, changes in muscle tone - the child resists when trying to spread his legs or arms; when supported under the armpits, he does not rely on the entire foot, but only on the toes. If parents notice such features in their baby, it is necessary to contact a pediatric neurologist. In the third month of life - if the child has not been examined by these doctors earlier - all children also need to consult an orthopedist and an ophthalmologist.

Of course, increased excitability is not always a manifestation of perinatal damage to the nervous system. Often the reason is that in the third month of the child’s life, parents already get used to him, begin to treat the baby more calmly, can disrupt his routine, invite guests, and remember the existence of television. Noisy conversations and loud music significantly excite the child’s immature nervous system and exhaust it. In the room where the child lives, it is advisable to stop watching TV and give preference to melodic, quiet music.

Baby 2 months - educational activities and games

Now the baby's waking time has increased - he is ready to lead an active lifestyle for 1.5 - 2 hours in a row, and the mother can take advantage of this by engaging him with games. Of course, games and activities should be short - up to 25 minutes.

The baby will be happy to watch you finger his fingers, telling a fairy tale about the “white-sided magpie” who “cooked porridge and fed the children.” This is also very useful for developing speech skills.

You can already talk to the child. You tell him “ahu, ahu,” he listens, looks at your moving lips and responds with something like “egh” or “argh.” You “ahu” again, he again “egh”... Here is the dialogue!

The child becomes more and more purposefully interested in sounds. Whether the bell rattles or the phone rings, he concentrates and searches not only with his eyes, but also with a turn of his head: “Where is this from? What is this?"

The child gets great pleasure from the opportunity to swing his arms and legs and hit the hanging toys with them. It is best to take toys that, after hitting them, begin to ring or swing and rotate. Arrange the baby so that he can reach them first with his hands and then with his feet. Attaching a plastic circle with a face on it to the pendant will make the game even more fun.

Before entering your baby's room, call him. He will learn to recognize your voice and will wait for you to appear.

If the child has so far grown up mainly in diapers, now it’s time to change his clothes - he needs rompers when he’s awake. When the room temperature in winter is 21-22°C, there is no need to wear woolen socks over the rompers, although they can be used while walking. Wrapping up your baby causes him to sweat and catch cold easily in drafts. At the room temperature indicated above, you can wear short pants, socks or knee socks while the child is awake. Let him stay with bare knees for 10-15 minutes first, and then for the entire waking period.

A 3 month old baby - what he can do, development and games, how much he sleeps and eats, height and weight

Now you are 3 months old, you have become more mature and are ready to develop further. For a child, the age of 3 months is an important stage, since two global things await us: vaccinations and complementary feeding. However, not all parents agree with both the first and second: the introduction of a new product into the diet begins in most cases later, and the “vaccination” policy of parents also varies. But first things first.

3 month old baby - what can he do?

The child grows up before our eyes: he already reacts vividly to sounds, recognizes his mother and rejoices at her every appearance. Now he is generally much more interested in communicating with adults. When communicating, the baby smiles and sometimes even laughs. Tries to pronounce vowel sounds (similar to the sounds “a”, “y”, “u”).

At 8-12 weeks, conscious grasping of the desired toy appears. Before this, there is only a “natural” grip that allows you to hold on to your mother.

The hands have become more dexterous - while feeding, the baby now holds the mother’s breast (or bottle). The legs are stronger, the child rests confidently on solid support.

At 10-12 weeks, active children try to roll over from their back to their stomach. Lying on his stomach, the baby rests on his forearms and easily holds his head for several minutes.

By the end of 3 months, the child begins to be attracted to his own arms, fingers and legs, he looks at them with curiosity.

3 month old baby - how much does he eat?

By the end of this month of the child’s life, the total volume of food increases to 1 liter per day (including juice and fruit puree) and remains this way almost until the end of the 1st year of life.

Typically, the pediatrician recommends introducing fruit juice into the diet of most children at the beginning of this month, but it is better to do this a few days after the first vaccination. Usually the first juice is apple juice (depending on the season - from fresh green or yellow apples, or clarified juice from a bottle - special canned food for babies). The juice is administered after feeding or between feedings (if the child is prone to regurgitation), starting with 2-3 drops and increased to 2-3 teaspoons over a month, first mixing the juice with a small amount of boiled water.

At 3.5 months, you can try introducing fruit puree (in the same volumes as juice, according to the same scheme).

Thus, a set of products (about 1 liter of milk, juice 15-30 ml and fruit puree 15-30) is divided into six meals.

3 month old baby - how long does he sleep?

At 3-4 months, the child sleeps about 15 hours a day, of which night sleep is about 10 hours, and daytime sleep is divided into 3 times

3 month old baby - regime, daily routine

Here is an approximate daily routine for a baby aged 3 to 4 months:

Time
Routine
6:00 1st feeding (milk) 6:00 - 7:30 Wakeful 7:30 - 9:30 Sleep 9:30 2nd feeding (milk, juice) 9:30 - 11:00 Wakeful 11: 00 - 13:00 Sleep 13:00 3rd feeding (milk, puree) 13:00 - 14:30 Wake 14:30 - 16:30 Sleep 16:30 4th feeding (milk, juice) 16:30 - 18:00 Wakeful 18:00 - 19:30 Sleep 19:30 - 20:30 Wakeful 20:00 5th feeding (milk, puree) 20:00 - 21:30 Wakeful 21:30 - 23:30 Sleep 23: 30 6th feeding (milk, puree) 23:30 - 6:00 Sleep

Child 3 months - height and weight

The weight gain this month will be about 750 grams and his weight will be about 6 kg, height - 62-65 cm.

3 month old child – doctors and vaccinations

This month, babies are vaccinated against whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus and polio. Here are some tips on how to prepare for vaccination: - if possible, do not change your diet, sleep and wakefulness; — do not introduce new foods into your diet (you can do this a week and a half after vaccination); - the day before the vaccination and on the day of the vaccination itself, the child is not bathed; — before vaccination (at home and directly in the doctor’s office), the child’s temperature is measured; — in the evening on the day of vaccination, the temperature is measured (if it rises or becomes lethargic, be sure to contact your doctor).

Child 3 months - educational activities and games

The time has come for children's lounge chairs and swings. Right now, kids are looking at the surrounding space with great curiosity from different angles. Chaise lounges and children's swings provide them with just such an opportunity - sit the baby down (you need to sit him reclining, the design usually allows this) for a short time, he will look at his mother. If you have pets, draw your baby's attention to them.

Another mother’s helper is the playpen. The baby is usually interested in being in it - he can move freely there, and, grasping the toys hanging around the perimeter, turn over.

To help your baby quickly learn different sounds, you can play bees with him - tell him a fairy tale or a funny story about bees that fly and collect honey. Babies really like the buzzing sounds, they begin to roar more.

Those who have not yet learned to roll over can be helped by playing with the child. With your hands under his shoulders, rock him from side to side to a funny song. When he is lying on his side, you can give him the opportunity to roll over on his own

What you shouldn’t be afraid of: typical baby behavior

A newborn appears so fragile and helpless that inexperienced parents may panic for no reason. But we must take into account that nature has endowed the baby with innate reflexes, each of which provides important information about his condition:

Search reflex - one of the most common and famous. If you touch the baby's cheek, he will open his mouth and begin to look for food, turning his head towards the stimulus.
Sucking reflex. If you put a finger in your baby’s mouth, he will immediately begin to suck it, thus trying to satisfy his hunger.
Grasping reflex. If you place an object on the baby's palm, he squeezes it forcefully with his fingers. Moreover, sometimes the grip is so strong that the baby can be slightly lifted.
Fright reflex. When the baby feels a loss of support or hears a frightening sound, he reflexively spreads his arms to the sides, spreads his fingers and fixes his legs in an extended state. This continues for a few seconds, after which the baby relaxes his body. The same reflex sometimes manifests itself in a situation where the child’s neck and head are in an uncomfortable position (it may seem to him that he is falling).

Caring for a newborn in the first month takes a lot of time and effort, so you shouldn’t waste it on empty worries. In addition to the listed reflexes, crying is also normal, which is not always caused by serious problems. At this stage of a child’s life, this is the only way to communicate with parents and the outside world.

Basic principles of hygiene

When caring for a newborn, you should be guided by generally accepted principles that make life easier for the baby and parents:

maintain cleanliness of the child’s body and surrounding area;
carry out daily hygiene care;
change clothes and bedding in the crib every day;
wash children's clothes with a special detergent;
reduce the number of things that accumulate dust in the children's room.

Having dealt with the basic issues of how to care for newborn children, all that remains is to enjoy every day of growing up and developing your baby.

How to properly wash your eyes

The natural eye flushing mechanism, in which tears moisten the mucous membranes, remains poorly developed until approximately two months of age. Soft cotton pads or swabs work well for cleaning baby's eyes.

Apply a cotton swab dipped in warm water from the outer edge of the eye to the inner edge, trying not to make reverse movements. A new, clean swab is needed for each eye.

Since the baby’s immunity has not yet formed, his eyes are also practically defenseless against negative environmental factors. In the first weeks of life, it is quite possible to experience minor discharge, which usually does not indicate any health problems.

In this case, it is recommended to wash the eyes with the following means:

weak tea brewing;
a weak solution of potassium permanganate (used only as a last resort);
furatsilin solution.

Pediatricians most often recommend using furatsilin for rinsing, since this product is the safest for the baby.

To prepare the solution, dissolve a thoroughly crushed tablet in 100 ml of water at human body temperature, wait about an hour until the drug is completely dissolved, and then strain.

You can store the finished product for two weeks in the refrigerator, in a dark container, and before use, be sure to warm it up to body temperature.

To wash your baby's eyes, you need to dip a sterile bandage or cotton pad in a warm solution of furatsilin, and then carefully rub it over the mucous membrane of the eye.

As in the case of washing with plain water, you should rinse from the outer corner of the eye to the inner corner so as not to infect the healthy area of the mucous membrane. A new, clean swab is used for each eye.

Depending on the complexity of the situation and the doctor’s recommendations, eye treatment with furatsilin is performed 2-3 times a day.

How to properly care for your nose

If your baby constantly has dry crusts in his nose, or is often stuffy, this is a direct sign of an unfavorable indoor climate. You can adjust it using a humidifier and changing the heating level.

The ideal recommended indoor microclimate for a newborn implies an air humidity of 60-70% and a temperature of 21–22 °C. But even in such conditions, mucus accumulates in the baby’s nose, which he does not yet know how to blow out on his own. Therefore, it is impossible to do without periodic washings.

To rinse the baby's nose, use saline or sea water, which can be purchased at a pharmacy, as well as a cotton swab. Using cotton swabs is more convenient, but more dangerous: the baby can jerk his head and get injured. To begin with, you should drop a couple of drops of sea or warm boiled water into your nose, and then clean each nostril with light twisting movements.

This is not a very pleasant procedure for the child, so it should be done as needed.

How to properly wash your ears

Earwax is a natural mechanism that removes dust and bacteria from the environment from the outer ear. In order to maintain the care of a newborn in the first month, it is important to clean the outer ear 2-3 times a week, affecting only visible areas.

If a lump of wax appears on the inside of the ear, you can put the baby on this side of the head on a warm diaper after water procedures. Moisture and heat will soften the sulfur so that it can be removed carefully.

It is undesirable for water to get into the baby's ears during bathing, as this leads to unpleasant sensations. But there is no need to worry if this does happen: the water will easily come out if you lay the baby on its side.

Nuances of feeding

Feeding a baby with breasts or formula in the first month of his life sometimes confuses mothers, and this primarily concerns the regimen. There is no consensus on the question of how often to feed a child. Most are inclined to believe that feeding should be done on demand - as soon as the baby gets hungry. It is not difficult to understand that a baby wants to eat: he signals by crying, smacking his lips or sucking his fist.

Infants are fed approximately once every 2–3 hours. When breastfeeding, it is advisable to place the baby on each breast for 10–15 minutes. Formula-fed babies are given about 60–90 ml of formula at each feeding. Each child’s body is individual, so the one-time volume may be slightly less or more than normal. Formula feeding allows you to accurately determine how much your baby is eating. With a natural diet, determining the sufficiency of food is a little more difficult. If the baby is calm, stools several times a day, about 6 wet diapers are changed per day, the child sleeps well and gains weight - everything is fine.

During the consultation, the doctor will explain how to care for your newborn after eating. Basic rules: lift vertically to allow excess air to escape, monitor the absence of thrush on the tongue and gums, keep the breasts and accessories used for feeding clean.

How to properly care for your belly button

After the baby is born, the remainder of the umbilical cord gradually dries up and falls off after a few days. In its place an open wound appears, which gradually heals over the first month of life.

To protect your baby's belly button, you need to follow these recommendations:

Wipe this area thoroughly every time you change a diaper, not allowing moisture to accumulate;
provide air access so that the remainder of the umbilical cord dries faster (it is better to fix the diaper clasp under the navel);
give preference to natural materials of clothing for the baby, allowing the skin to breathe;
if yellowish crusts appear on the wound, remove them to avoid the development of infection;
If swelling or redness appears in the navel area, consult a specialist.

How to put a baby to sleep?

If the child is healthy, then it is not necessary to create special conditions for him to sleep. It is not necessary to maintain absolute silence and ensure darkness during the daytime siesta. It is only necessary to eliminate the interference that will really interfere with the newborn:

Hunger;
Excessive heat or cold;
Uncomfortable position;
Clothing that constricts the body or rubs the skin.

The temperature should be no more than 22 degrees. A sufficient level of humidity is important. If your baby cannot sleep, you can use:

A pacifier;
Swaddling;
A bath with herbs that promote calm (mint, lavender);
Ventilation of the room.

It is necessary to monitor the child's sleepiness. When it appears, you should not carry out hygienic procedures, but just put the baby to sleep.

How to care for your genitals

Proper care of a newborn in the first month necessarily includes careful hygiene of the genitals. Not only the health of the baby, but also reproductive ability in the future depends on this.

Due to their structure, the genital organs of girls are more sensitive to external irritants and are more often exposed to various infections. Newborns have a very delicate and vulnerable mucous membrane, which is easily damaged, so it requires regular and careful care.

In the first days after birth, a light gray or cream-colored coating is present on the girl’s labia. This is absolutely normal, but if it is abundant, it is better to remove it to avoid the development of pathogens.

Since this plaque has a dense texture, it requires a delicate approach to remove it. It is better to do this in several approaches, using cotton swabs soaked in warm boiled water.

It is necessary to wash the girl with running water every time the diaper is changed, and it is not allowed to use wet wipes for this. It is advisable to rinse the girl’s genitals towards the anus. After washing, the genitals are blotted dry with a towel and then moisturized with baby cream.

Boys should be washed as often as girls, that is, with every diaper change. But this can be done in any direction; it is only contraindicated to wash boys in the pelvis after defecation, so as not to cause infection of the genital organs. After washing, it is important to wait until the skin is completely dry.

It is not recommended to use any detergents or potassium permanganate when washing babies in the first year of life, so as not to deprive the skin of its protective glycolipid mantle.

Gentle treatment of the umbilical wound

Caring for a newborn upon returning home from the hospital involves treating the umbilical wound. It heals in about 2 weeks. Every morning, in addition to standard hygiene procedures, you need to pay attention to the navel. It is not recommended to use cotton swabs and pads for treatment to avoid cotton fibers getting into the wound.

A changing table or other reliable surface is covered with an absorbent disposable diaper and the baby is placed on it with his tummy up. Using a pipette with a rounded tip, drop 2 drops of hydrogen peroxide onto the navel and allow the peroxide to dry. Until the umbilical wound has healed, instead of bathing, hygienic care for the baby comes down to wiping the child with warm water. The room should have a comfortable temperature, without drafts.

If the wound does not heal in due time, purulent discharge is noticeable under the crust, and there is redness around it, you need a doctor. Cleaning a festering wound on your own is dangerous: there is a risk of additional infection.

Contact with fresh air ensures rapid healing of the wound, so air baths, the use of diapers with a recess for the navel, and free swaddling during the day are encouraged. Thanks to proper care of the newborn, the navel will quickly heal, and the skin will be clean and healthy.

Proper skin care

In the first month of life, a baby’s skin is thin and fragile; it is just beginning to adapt to the environment. Therefore, it is not surprising that its surface can dry out and peel. You can cope with this problem with the help of special baby oils and creams that moisturize the skin without causing allergic reactions.

The skin of the buttocks and groin requires special care, as it is constantly in contact with a wet diaper. Therefore, it is very important to change used diapers or diapers on time and regularly. In the first month of life, the baby can get them dirty 6-8 times a day.

Caring for a newborn in the first month does not allow the use of ordinary soap and shampoos and gels familiar to adults . You should purchase special baby soap that does not contain so much alkali and contains softening additives.

In cases where there is no water at hand, you can use special wipes to cleanse the baby’s skin. A baby cream is applied to clean skin to protect against irritation and accumulation of excess moisture.

Recommendations for caring for a child in the first month of life

Hygiene is the most important part of baby care. It is not at all necessary to ensure complete sterility, but a number of procedures must be carried out regularly.

Swaddling

The need for swaddling is not as clear-cut as it used to be. At the moment, many mothers refuse this procedure, simply dressing the baby in bodysuits and slips. There is no need to be afraid of myths that a child will have crooked legs, because these are just prejudices. Sometimes the swaddling procedure simply cannot be performed. For example, you should not swaddle a child with impaired muscle tone of the limbs. However, there are indications for swaddling:

Weak body of the baby;
The child was born prematurely.

In this case, the procedure promotes sounder sleep and eliminates anxiety due to colic.

Changing the diaper

A high-quality diaper meets the following requirements:

Leak protection;
Air access to the skin;
Good fit;
Absorbent panties do not chafe the skin;
Ability to absorb large volumes of liquid;
Does not provoke allergies.

You should not swaddle a child with impaired muscle tone of the limbs.

The skin under the diapers should be similar to the skin outside the diapers. That is, clean, without redness. If a rash or redness occurs, you can use the following recommendations:

Wear diapers less often to ensure oxygen access to the skin;
Purchase special diaper creams;
Change the brand of diapers;
Buy phytodiapers that promote good air circulation and prevent the proliferation of microbes.

Diapers need to be replaced every 3-4 hours, even if they are clean. After the old diaper is removed, the new one can be put on only after 15-20 minutes. This will allow the integument to “breathe” and also helps normalize the temperature in the genital area. The benefits and harms of diapers for boys is the topic of another article.

How to cut your nails

In the first month of life, the baby’s movements are not yet coordinated, and he can accidentally injure himself with small but sharp nails. Therefore, it is important to cut them on time.

Moreover, the child definitely needs his own, individual manicure set, which includes nail clippers, scissors and a file. This kit can be purchased in children's stores, and it is much more convenient and safer to use than adult tools.

It is best to cut your nails after swimming, after wiping your manicure tools with medical alcohol. Toenails are cut in a straight line, and fingernails are rounded. The main problem is that the baby's fragile legs and arms are in almost continuous motion.

You can deal with this by following simple tips:

you can cut your baby’s nails while he sleeps, when he is as relaxed as possible;
it is convenient to perform a manicure when the baby is lying on his stomach: this slightly hampers his movements;
If it is difficult to complete the procedure alone, then together it will be much easier.

If your child's skin is accidentally damaged by scissors or tweezers, there is no need to panic. It is enough to stop the bleeding with sterile cotton wool, and then treat the wound site with a healing ointment.

Dream

Newborns - 16-18 hours a day;
3 weeks - 15-18 per day;
6 weeks - 15-16 hours a day;
4 months 10-12 hours of night sleep + two short naps during the day, 2 hours each;
6 months 10-11 hours of night sleep + two short naps during the day, 2 hours each;
9-18 months - 10-11 hours of night sleep + 2 short naps during the day, 1-2 hours each.

The child sleeps in turn on each side (put a bolster under the backrest), without a pillow (you can put a book under the mattress for a slight tilt). When he wakes up, he lies on his back, but not after eating.

You can check if your child is cold by touching his nose - if it’s not cold, everything is fine. You can check if it’s hot by sticking your finger in your collar - if you’re not sweating, everything’s fine.

Rules for caring for your baby during the day

Changing a diaper is one of the most important responsibilities of new parents.

This should be done as needed, in the first month - 6-8 times a day. The procedure is quite simple: you need to remove the dirty diaper, clean the baby's skin, carefully lift him and place him on a clean diaper. Velcro should be fastened tightly, but not tightly, so that two fingers fit between the belt and the baby’s body.

In the morning and throughout the day, you need to inspect the baby’s skin folds and wipe them with a cotton swab or napkin soaked in warm boiled water. Then the skin is dried with a soft cloth and lubricated with baby oil or cream.

Often, prickly heat or an allergic rash associated with the use of a diaper appears on the delicate skin of babies. Such problems can be solved with the help of moisturizing and anti-inflammatory creams for babies, and air baths are useful for prevention.

Morning care

A systematic morning toilet in the first days of life includes treating the umbilical wound, changing diapers, and caring for skin and nails. And, of course, one of the vital care rituals is feeding.

Navel treatment: care in the first weeks of life

For healing, the umbilical nodule must dry out; normally, natural drying occurs by the 14-15th day of life. At the same time, frequent use of antiseptics prevents drying. For complete care, treating the wound once a day is enough.

Problems with the navel in a newborn occur in two cases:

when infected with dirt;
with too active use of disinfectants.

To avoid the risk of belly button infection:

make sure that the wound is not tightly covered with a diaper or clothing, and that there is always access to air for drying;
At first, only the parents or the mother alone care for and hug the newborn. After all, the more adults there are, the more diverse microbes there are.

The process of daily care itself includes the following stages:

disinfection with peroxide: you need to drop a few drops from a pipette or blot with a moistened cotton swab. The peroxide will foam until the wound is completely healed;
removing crusts: peroxide soaks the crusts in a few seconds, and then they can be removed with cotton swabs;
then the wound is dried by blotting with a sterile dry cloth;
at the end, the umbilical ring is lubricated with an antiseptic: brilliant green, a solution of potassium permanganate, chlorophyllipt or an alcohol solution of calendula.

Changing diapers

With diapers, parents need to have answers to two main questions: when to change the next “diaper”, and how to do it from the very beginning of the newborn’s life.

When asked “when,” manufacturers answer that their product retains moisture for up to 8 hours. However, it is also necessary to take into account the effect of increased temperature and humidity, which creates conditions for the development of skin irritations. Therefore, pediatricians recommend changing diapers as they are full and at least every 3-4 hours. In the first weeks of life, diapers sometimes have to be changed up to 8 times a day.

If the skin on your buttocks is red, it may be that the room or crib is too hot. Reduce the temperature by 2-3 degrees and observe the skin. To prevent and treat irritations, you can use special protective creams, such as Bepanten, Bubchen, or diaper creams from domestic manufacturers. They can be used for care from the very first weeks of life.

The replacement procedure includes the following steps:

Wash your hands first to avoid getting excess bacteria on your child’s skin;
Prepare everything you need in advance: a new diaper, wet wipes or water, cream, a towel, a clean diaper, a set of spare clothes just in case;
remove the diaper from the newborn lying on his back and put it aside;
Wash the stains with running water or wipe with a napkin. When washed under running water, boys can be washed on both their back and tummy. But the genitals of girls are washed only in a supine position, so that the water is directed from the genitals to the anus;
Pat your skin dry with a soft towel and leave in the air for a few minutes. An air bath is a hardening procedure and a natural preventive remedy for diaper dermatitis;
if you use cream, apply it in a thin layer;
open the diaper and slide the back part under the butt and back of the newborn;
secure with Velcro so that an adult’s finger fits between the diaper and tummy;
straighten the folds around the legs so as not to cause irritation;
After all care procedures, do not forget to wash your hands again with soap.

Washing and bathing

Wash the newborn with cotton pads soaked in boiled water at room temperature. Each eye is wiped with a separate disk, from the outer to the inner edge. Then they wipe the face, ears and skin behind them, the neck. In the first months, all skin folds are wiped with a damp disc.

It is not recommended to bathe newborns, especially in a large shared bathtub, until the umbilical wound heals. Children are wiped with a soft sponge dipped in warm water. And if the baby craps himself or pees, then they wash the contaminated areas under running water, covering the umbilical wound.

After the navel has healed, the rules for bathing are as follows:

Before bathing, wash the bathtub with baking soda or soap and pour boiling water over it;
the newborn is lowered into the bath in a diaper or a special bathing mat is used;
bathing water is poured directly from the tap, sometimes adding a weak solution of potassium permanganate or decoctions of chamomile and string;
The thermometer should show a temperature of about 36-37 degrees. If the baby cries and worries when immersed in the bath, then it is possible that the temperature is uncomfortable for him and needs to be changed;
Baby soap will be sufficient as a detergent; it is used 1-2 times a week;
First, only the legs are dipped into the water and the reaction is observed. If everything is in order, then gradually immerse the entire body in water.

In the first months of his life, you need to bathe your baby every day, and the duration of the procedure is determined by the baby’s reaction: bathing can last as long as he likes. The usual duration is up to 30-40 minutes. They finish the procedure by dousing them with cooler water from a ladle; such hardening care will help you not get sick in the next months of life.

Then gently blot the skin with a soft towel. Caring for skin folds after bathing involves treating them with baby oil.

Nail care

Newborn nails grow quite quickly. Therefore, they need to be cut regularly, about 1-2 times a week, with special small scissors with rounded edges. On the feet, the nails are given an even shape, and on the hands, the edges are rounded. Nails should be trimmed when the baby is in a calm, relaxed state.

Some mothers prefer to cut their nails while they sleep.

It is not always possible to round the shape and the baby may scratch himself or his mother with his nails. If this happens, then you can put special anti-scratch mittens on your hands.

Features of evening care

Water procedures need to be carried out daily. It is better to do this at the same time in the evening, but only if the baby is calm.

For swimming you need:

special foam or gel for babies;
comfortable bath;
baby washcloth (can be replaced with soft natural fabric).

You can add weak infusions of herbs or special compositions for bathing babies to the water to achieve a soothing and moisturizing effect. To start swimming, it is recommended to use water at a temperature of 34-37°C, then it can be gradually reduced to 30-32°C.

Optimal water temperature is the key to proper care of newborns in the first month of life

It is better to start the procedure with an air bath, monitoring the optimal temperature in the room. Then you can move on to swimming. The baby's head and neck should be above the water; it is most convenient to support him with your left hand or use a special slide.

You need to bathe your baby from top to bottom, in the following order:

face - from the forehead to the back of the head;
skin behind the ears, neck, chest and sides, arms;
groin area and folds in it;
legs and feet.

After the procedure, the baby should be rinsed with clean water; for this it is most convenient to use a ladle. The first bath can last only 5-8 minutes, by one month it increases to 15 minutes.

The bathed baby is placed on a towel and his head, chest and back are dried with gentle movements, and then all the folds. After the skin has completely dried, you can lubricate the folds with special products and dress the baby in comfortable clothes.

What to buy in advance

To ensure that care is carried out correctly in the first month of a child’s life and development proceeds organically, you need to take care of purchasing cosmetics and accessories in advance. Conventional hygiene products are not suitable; you need ones specially designed for sensitive skin. An excellent example is children's products from HARTMANN®.

When choosing cosmetics, you should not buy everything at once in large quantities, since even the safest product may not be suitable for a particular body. Read carefully the rules for caring for newborns - the baby does not need much at first.

The composition of children's cosmetics is indicated on the packaging. Pay attention to the “suitable for children” label, since such products have been tested for allergenicity, safety and quality of the composition.

So, you will need:

The shampoo gently cleanses sensitive skin, removes impurities, and makes combing easier. A high-quality product does not contain substances that irritate the mucous membranes, so even if the packaging does not indicate “does not sting the eyes,” you do not have to worry about the child’s condition. The smell and packaging at first do not matter to the baby. Only with age will bright bottles begin to attract attention and arouse interest in water procedures. In addition, high-quality baby shampoos do not contain fragrances, so they usually do not have strong aromas.
Baby soap, even though it is called that, cannot be used frequently. It dries out the skin. It is better to use a special cleansing foam or lotion, wiping the skin or adding it to the bath water.
Oil for massage and treatment of sensitive areas of the body is a mandatory element in the list of hygiene products. Natural oils improve tissue trophism, heal microcracks, nourish the skin and create a protective barrier against the effects of urine and sweat. Mineral oil works well to cleanse the scales on a newborn’s head. It is applied for 5 minutes, and then you need to comb your head with a brush with soft bristles and rinse off the oil with warm water. You can't peel off the crusts!
Special lotions and creams are needed when the skin has diaper rash, redness, and rash. Products with zinc are especially good. A good product does not stain clothes, is well absorbed, and the effectiveness is noticeable from the first use. The protective cream and spray oil create a thin film to prevent irritation from urine.
Skin folds can be treated with powder, but do not get carried away so as not to dry out the skin. It is advisable not to use powders with strong scents: they may contain allergens.

The products listed above can be purchased as a package, choosing products from a well-known manufacturer. Bubble bath, wet wipes, oil and shampoo, as well as absorbent diapers, cotton pads and swabs - all this will need to be chosen carefully while the baby is a month or more, up to a year.

What else should parents do in the first month of their baby’s life?

All children are completely different. Some behave very calmly already in the first weeks of life, without causing much trouble to their parents, others do not like to sleep at all and require constant attention to themselves. Therefore, an individual approach is needed.

But there are a few tips that will help any parents find a common language with their baby:

in the first month of life, it is important to help the baby feel as comfortable as possible in a completely new world for him;
despite the fact that he cannot yet answer his parents, you need to talk to him more often, call him by name;
large crowds of people are contraindicated for a newborn, since his immunity is still very weak, so it is better to postpone visits from guests a little;
Tactile sensations are of great importance for the baby, so you should touch him with dry and warm hands;
You should not give up regular walks in the fresh air, they are useful from the first days of life (you should avoid staying outside only in case of bad weather conditions).

Not only daily procedures are of great importance, but also the atmosphere in the house: the child must be protected from any negativity from adults. If new parents devote enough time to caring for their newborn baby in the first month of life, communicating with a new family member will bring incomparable pleasure, despite all the difficulties.

Author: Stanislava (essentia_only)

Article design: Vladimir the Great

Very helpful:

listen to music;
read rhymes, jokes to the baby, coo with him;
touch different fabrics (curtains, clothes);
teach to reach for a toy, then hold it.
from three months - take it by the hands and gently swing it - like a watch (to the sides); like a swing - forward, backward; up down. Learn to roll over onto your tummy using your leg, helping to roll over and back. Give your legs support so that you can learn to push off and crawl. You can sit your child down only after he or she sits down.