He is finally here! Tiny, adorable, and fragile in your arms. The responsibility of taking care of a newborn is quite a task. You can never be too careful while feeding, bathing, holding him, or even putting him to sleep.
We have put together a list of ten things that you should never do to babies, which will come in handy for all our new parents, to ensure your new arrival is safe and sound.
#1. Ask people to NOT kiss your newborn
“I don’t care if you call me overprotective. Just don’t kiss my baby” says Claire Henderson, whose newborn daughter Brooke was kissed on the mouth -- and then spent five days in the hospital after getting the herpes virus from a well-meaning visitor with a cold sore.
During the initial few weeks of your baby’s life, any kind of contact with bacteria and viruses can cause serious problems and unwanted illness. Wait till their immune system is a lot more bolstered up before you introduce them to the world at large.
#2. Don’t leave dirty diapers on too long
You may not love changing diapers (well who does) but dirty deed is mandatory. The tiny little bodies of newborns excrete and urinate more frequently than when they're a bit older (say, 6 months). So change nappies often.
Keep checking on your baby’s diaper at regular intervals to make sure there is no discomfort to them or a change needed.
This helps in preventing diaper rash, and also diseases.
#3. Don’t offer a pacifier too early
Don’t rely on the pacifier to keep your crying infant calm. Your baby was born with a natural instinct to suck, but sucking on a pacifier too early can create confusions with their feeding and breastfeeding schedules.
Your baby is used to your body heat, your heartbeat and your scent-- and breastfeeding is a comfortable experience for your newborn. Let that be.
Hold off the pacifier for the first few weeks, so that your baby won’t start to prefer pacifiers over the nipple.
Read: The Pacifier vs. The Thumb: A guide for parents
#4. Don’t change how things function around at your house
Those curtains need not always be shut or the TV muted when your little one is napping. The sooner your baby gets used to the noise of the day, the better he will sleep. Let him get used to the daily routine of things.
#5. Don’t over-layer the baby
You might always feel that your little bundle of joy is cold, but don’t overdo the layering. It’s true that little babies can't regulate their temperature yet, but excess clothing can cause fever and dehydration if you aren’t careful and you overdress him.
Dress your newborn in layers so you can easily add or remove clothes to keep the temperature just right.
#6. Don’t skip an appointment
Rain or scorching heat, dawn or dusk, be sure to take your little one to the doctor if there are any problems. Always schedule your appointments regularly, and don’t skip visits. Getting a doctor’s professional advice is always better than just worrying and thinking that your infant’s problem is no big deal.
#7. Don’t shake the baby
Shaking the baby in different directions seems like the solution to stop him from crying. But it can cause serious harm. Tami Revering learned this tragically when she shook her best friend's baby so hard that the baby became permanently disabled.
#8. Beware of camera flash
People around might want to snapchat, Facebook or Instagram photos of your baby, but establish this as a ground rule- No phone or camera flashes near him.
#9. Avoid distractions while feeding.
Feeding time is extremely important and the child's attention must be on the food, not toys!
#10. Say no to sprays, strong perfumes.
Yes, they can give your child allergies!
Though there is no one-size-fits-all rule when it comes to taking care of your little bundle of joy, these are some pointers you should follow. Remember that every baby is different.
Have you faced any of these awkward situations? Share with us below!
Republished with permission from: theIndusparent
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