The baby's hygiene at home should be performed carefully, especially in the belly button area, where the umbilical stump is still present. The stump should be properly cleaned with a cotton swab and 70% alcohol, and always kept dry to help it fall off faster. This procedure should be done with every diaper change. Ears, nose, and eyes must be cleaned with cotton swabs designed for babies or with the help of gauze. All the little folds and creases should be gently cleaned, including behind the ears.

Babies require special care and their only way of communicating is through crying. Through crying they let you know something is wrong, whether it's a dirty diaper, hunger, discomfort, colic, or being overly agitated. In the first days, visits will be frequent but should be brief so as not to agitate the baby. People with colds, sneezing, or coughing should postpone visiting until they have fully recovered. When picking up the baby, hands must be washed and people should not kiss the baby, since their skin is still very delicate and may become irritated. Bowel movements: it is natural for babies to poop after every feeding, especially in the first weeks. Some may have greater difficulty and can go up to two days without a bowel movement, which is more common in babies fed formula.

A baby grows quickly and so does their development. As the months go by, your baby will begin to discover the world and will start grabbing objects that catch their eye, especially those that move. The next milestone will be turning over and sitting up, and once they become confident in their movements, they'll start crawling. At this stage, parents must be extra careful, removing all dangerous objects from the baby's reach, including cleaning products. Electrical outlets should be covered and breakable objects should be kept out of sight. This is a phase of discovery and they will touch, open, spread, and even climb on everything they can. The next step is learning to stand up. They will climb and hold onto furniture, moving from one to another, and this may go on for months until they feel fully confident to let go. Some manage to walk as early as 9 or 10 months, but the vast majority take their first confident steps from 12 months onward.

Once they begin to walk, a whole new world and new challenges begin. Now no one can hold them back and they go wherever they want. Cabinets and drawers become objects of curiosity and everything attracts their attention during this phase. Leaving a box of attractive toys within reach is a way to keep them entertained and avoid household accidents.

Photo: Paul-W