This baby care manual is for first-time moms as well as those who are starting over after some time since having a newborn. We’ve already covered how to trim nails, how to dress your baby, and also the best sleeping position for babies. Now, it’s time to talk about two more baby care topics: the ears and head at bedtime, and also burping after feedings. These precious tips can really help when you’re unsure how to care for a newborn. Let’s get started!
Baby Care – Burping
I think all women already know that babies should burp after feeding, but do you know why they need to burp? When babies are feeding, whether on the breast or bottle, they always swallow some air. This air can make babies uncomfortable and even cause colic1. But did you know that babies don’t always burp? When babies nurse at the breast, they tend to swallow less air. That’s because the fit between the nipple and the baby’s mouth is perfect, so the chances of swallowing air are minimal. Since caring for a baby is not something many moms are already experts at, it’s normal to get worried if the baby doesn’t burp, or feel uncertain about letting them sleep if you’re not sure whether they burped2.
To help a baby burp, simply support them upright against your shoulder or even sitting on your lap and gently pat them on the back to help release the air. But how can you tell if your baby burped after several minutes of patting their back? Sometimes mom doesn’t hear or feel the burp—in this case, it’s ideal to keep the baby in a more elevated position, like nearly sitting in a baby seat, on your lap, or in a car seat. Usually, the biggest issue when the baby doesn’t burp is the dreaded colic, which can appear if the air is still in the baby’s stomach. So, learn more about how to care for colic here.
Baby Care – Ears and Head
Few moms remember this detail during pregnancy, and when the baby is born, grandmothers or aunts will often warn new moms about the importance of the baby’s position so the ears and head don’t get squished. Did you know that because of fragile cartilage, a baby’s ears can become bent, misshapen, or even stick out? This may depend on how the baby is positioned during sleep and if they lie in the same position all the time, which is why I included this tip in the basic baby care manual3.
It’s important to make sure the baby’s ears are adjusted before laying them in the crib or bassinet. If the baby is lying down with folded-over ears, the cartilage can become misshaped over time. It’s also important to switch sides when the baby sleeps, sometimes on the right side and sometimes on the left side, so you don’t “flatten” your baby’s head and cause one-sided flattening. Have you ever seen a baby who only sleeps on their back? Their head gets flat at the back—and the same thing can happen on the sides too.
I hope you enjoyed these baby care tips. See you next time.
See also: Basic Guide on How to Care for Your Baby – Hiccups and Sleeping Position
Photo: Bridget Coila
