I always hear people say, “how nice it would be if a baby came with a manual!” It’s true, so how about a basic manual on how to care for a newborn baby? Do you know how to change a baby’s clothes? What to do when they hiccup? These are simple things that can really keep new moms awake at night, so this series can be very helpful when you need it at home. They may seem obvious, but we have to remember there are many moms who panic because they’ve never taken care of a newborn before. How to care for a baby… how about we start with simple things like dressing and trimming the baby’s nails? So let’s go!
How to Care for a Baby – Dressing the Baby
Okay, they really give a good lesson at the maternity hospital, but even so, some moms still have doubts about how to care for a baby. But even with a lot of experience, I would still get mixed up with newborns, so I learned to take off and put on baby clothes in a way that is foolproof and doesn’t risk hurting them. Do you know how to dress a newborn? A newborn needs special attention when being dressed, because they’re so delicate and dressing them can seem like an impossible mission if you’re afraid of hurting your baby. The real care when dressing them is with their tiny fingers and toes, so they don’t get bent. To do this, bunch up the sleeves by turning them inside out and gently pull the baby’s hand through by the wrist, like shown in the video below.
Doing this makes it easier and you don’t risk leaving the baby’s finger behind when putting on the sleeve. Do the same thing for the feet with socks to make sure no toe is left out. When it comes to the head, try to stretch out the head opening with your hands so it doesn’t squeeze and make the baby uncomfortable. To make things easier at bath time and when changing the baby, you should set aside all the pieces you will use before you start changing the baby.
Clothes with buttons down the front, like rompers and some bodysuits, are easier. Avoid clothes with buttons on the back, as they can make dressing the baby even harder. Also avoid clothes with ribbons near the baby’s neck, like the traditional layette shirt, as they can pose a strangulation risk. I think taking clothes off is much easier, but it still requires care to avoid hurting your baby. Be careful when pulling clothes over the baby’s head and also be careful when removing sleeves so you don’t twist the baby’s arm.
How to Care for a Baby – Trimming Nails
Many moms like using baby scissors, and there are specialized scissors with rounded tips that can help with trimming nails. Personally, I really like to use a nail clipper—it’s more precise, but you should use whatever works best for you. There are also clippers with magnifying glasses, and you just have to be careful not to “pinch” the tip of the baby’s finger. Try to cut your baby’s nails in a well-lit place and while the baby is sleeping, that way you avoid them pulling their hand away and getting hurt.
A trick I learned when I had a baby was to gently blow on the newborn’s nails. Blow? Yes, their nails are so thin that a gentle blow from mom can break them. While the mom is breastfeeding, she can blow on the baby’s nails one by one. This way, the nail breaks or tears off completely without leaving sharp edges that can hurt the baby, and it’s an excellent solution for such tiny fingers and even tinier nails. Suggestions are always welcome, so don’t forget to leave yours! I hope you enjoyed these tips on how to care for a baby.
See also: How to Bathe a Newborn
Photo: Personal Archive
