Who is newborn baby

Drink at least eight glasses of liquids a day. Depending on your age, metabolism and activity level, your calorie needs will likely be 2, to 2, daily. The good news: Breastfeeding moms tend to lose 1 to 4 pounds a month even with the added calories. Some women cannot breastfeed; others need to supplement with formula occasionally. Commercial formulas are largely the same—the U.

Food and Drug Administration regulates formulas to ensure they're safe and contain the most important nutrients. Ask your pediatrician if she recommends a formula with added iron, DHA, or other nutrients. Your choice of powder, liquid, or concentrate primarily boils down to issues of cost and convenience. Fear of an allergic reaction makes some parents reluctant to give their babies milk-based formula brands, but only 3 percent to 4 percent of infants have a true milk allergy.

Surprisingly, soy formula may not be a good alternative for babies with a milk allergy because those babies may also have an intolerance to soy protein. However, soy-based formula is a good choice for parents who don't want their babies to eat animal products. Hypoallergenic formulas break down milk proteins so that they're more easily digested. It's disconcerting to see a newborn with a red, blotchy face, but baby acne is a common and harmless condition. Some babies have a yellowish discharge or crusting in the eye or on the lid, which is usually caused by a blocked tear duct.

This condition can last several months. Many newborns develop a scaly scalp condition called cradle cap. It typically disappears in the first few months. Care tip: Wash your baby's hair with a gentle baby shampoo no more than three times a week and gently brush out the scales daily using a baby hairbrush or soft toothbrush. Care tip: Gently unclog nostrils with an infant-sized nasal bulb syringe or try the trauma-minimizing Nosefrida nosefrida. To loosen mucus, insert saline solution with an eyedropper before suctioning.

Care tip: Use baby nail clippers or blunt-nosed scissors. Clip after his bath when nails are soft, or when he's asleep and his fingers are relaxed. Some babies develop red, itchy patches called eczema or atopic dermatitis—an inheritable skin condition. Care tip: Limit baths to 10 minutes, and use a mild, fragrance-free soap and lukewarm water; liberally apply hypoallergenic skin cream immediately afterward.

Stick to cotton clothing. Too much moisture plus sensitive skin can equal diaper rash for many babies. Care tip: Change diapers frequently. Rinse your baby's bottom with water during each change and blot dry.

Avoid using wipes; they may irritate skin. Barrier creams, such as petroleum jelly or white zinc oxide, may help. Care tip: Avoid covering the cord area with a diaper and stick to sponge baths until the stump detaches. Care tip: Gently clean the genital area with warm water daily. Use petroleum jelly to protect the site and prevent the penis from sticking to a diaper.

Newborns' legs are bowed out and the feet are turned in, which is no surprise, given their previous cramped living quarters. Care tip: Don't worry about it—your baby's legs and feet will straighten in anywhere from six to 18 months.

Sleep Close to Baby Being close to his mother regulates a baby's heart rate, immune system , and stress levels and makes breastfeeding easier, says James McKenna, Ph.

It may also be linked to a decreased risk of sudden infant death syndrome SIDS. A bedside or freestanding but nearby bassinet is a good option. Various experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, advise parents not to sleep with their babies because of the danger of suffocation. Day vs. Night "Encourage him to switch," says Jodi Mindell, Ph. Be boring. Make sure he gets bright light in the morning, and keep him as busy as you can during the day.

Make noise. Play with him. Bedtime Rituals "Sleep time should be consistent," Mindell says. Rocking baby "If you are doing this and your baby is sleeping all night, don't worry," says Jennifer Waldburger, L. Relatives and friends often want to help too. Even if you disagree on certain things, don't dismiss their experience. But if you don't feel up to having guests or you have other concerns, don't feel guilty about placing restrictions on visitors.

If you haven't spent a lot of time around newborns, their fragility may be intimidating. Here are a few basics to remember:. Bonding , probably one of the most pleasurable parts of infant care, happens during the sensitive time in the first hours and days after birth when parents make a deep connection with their infant.

Physical closeness can promote an emotional connection. For infants, the attachment contributes to their emotional growth, which also affects their development in other areas, such as physical growth. Another way to think of bonding is "falling in love" with your baby. Children thrive from having a parent or other adult in their life who loves them unconditionally. Begin bonding by cradling your baby and gently stroking him or her in different patterns.

Both you and your partner can also take the opportunity to be "skin-to-skin," holding your newborn against your own skin while feeding or cradling. Babies, especially premature babies and those with medical problems, may respond to infant massage. Certain types of massage may enhance bonding and help with infant growth and development. Many books and videos cover infant massage — ask your doctor for recommendations. Be careful, however — babies are not as strong as adults, so massage your baby gently.

Babies usually love vocal sounds, such as talking, babbling, singing, and cooing. Your baby will probably also love listening to music. Baby rattles and musical mobiles are other good ways to stimulate your infant's hearing.

If your little one is being fussy, try singing, reciting poetry and nursery rhymes, or reading aloud as you sway or rock your baby gently in a chair. Some babies can be unusually sensitive to touch, light, or sound, and might startle and cry easily, sleep less than expected, or turn their faces away when someone speaks or sings to them. If that's the case with your baby, keep noise and light levels low to moderate.

Swaddling , which works well for some babies during their first few weeks, is another soothing technique first-time parents should learn. Proper swaddling keeps a baby's arms close to the body while allowing for some movement of the legs. Not only does swaddling keep a baby warm, but it seems to give most newborns a sense of security and comfort.

Swaddling also may help limit the startle reflex, which can wake a baby. You'll probably decide before you bring your baby home whether you'll use cloth or disposable diapers. Whichever you use, your little one will dirty diapers about 10 times a day, or about 70 times a week. Before diapering your baby , make sure you have all supplies within reach so you won't have to leave your infant unattended on the changing table. You'll need:.

After each bowel movement or if the diaper is wet, lay your baby on his or her back and remove the dirty diaper. Use the water, cotton balls, and washcloth or the wipes to gently wipe your baby's genital area clean. When removing a boy's diaper, do so carefully because exposure to the air may make him urinate. When wiping a girl, wipe her bottom from front to back to avoid a urinary tract infection UTI.

To prevent or heal a rash, apply ointment. Always remember to wash your hands thoroughly after changing a diaper. Diaper rash is a common concern. Typically the rash is red and bumpy and will go away in a few days with warm baths, some diaper cream, and a little time out of the diaper. Most rashes happen because the baby's skin is sensitive and becomes irritated by the wet or poopy diaper. If the diaper rash continues for more than 3 days or seems to be getting worse, call your doctor — it may be caused by a fungal infection that requires a prescription.

A bath two or three times a week in the first year is fine. More frequent bathing may be drying to the skin. Sponge baths. For a sponge bath, select a safe, flat surface such as a changing table, floor, or counter in a warm room. Fill a sink, if nearby, or bowl with warm not hot! Undress your baby and wrap him or her in a towel. Wipe your infant's eyes with a washcloth or a clean cotton ball dampened with water only, starting with one eye and wiping from the inner corner to the outer corner.

Use a clean corner of the washcloth or another cotton ball to wash the other eye. Clean your baby's nose and ears with the damp washcloth. Then wet the cloth again and, using a little soap, wash his or her face gently and pat it dry.

Next, using baby shampoo, create a lather and gently wash your baby's head and rinse. Using a wet cloth and soap, gently wash the rest of the baby, paying special attention to creases under the arms, behind the ears, around the neck, and in the genital area. Once you have washed those areas, make sure they are dry and then diaper and dress your baby. Tub baths. When your baby is ready for tub baths, the first baths should be gentle and brief. Even shy and sleepy babies take an interest in your voice and face.

A big section of the brain is devoted to understanding and remembering faces, and a large part of our social behaviour is based on how we 'read' other people's faces. Looking into someone's eyes is a necessity for 'falling in love', so show your baby your face and talk to them soothingly right from the start. Don't feel rejected if they turn away; tiny babies often get tired when they interact. Newborns can hear, and have been hearing noises from well before they were born.

Newborns have immature eye muscles and, while they can see particularly at close range , they can't organise the visual images into meaningful shapes. Developmental characteristics include:. Infants in the first eight weeks have no control over their movements and all their physical activity is involuntary or reflex. They move their bodies while they are awake, but they do not yet know how to make each part of their body move, or even that all the bits belong to them.

For the newborn, crying is their only means of communication. It is important to respond to your baby as soon as possible, so they begin to understand that you will be there for them. Characteristics of speech include:. All children are different and develop at different rates, so if your baby doesn't do all the things listed in this article, it may be because they are working on some different area of learning and development.

However, if your baby is very different from other children, or if you are worried about their development or it seems to go backwards, seek the advice of a health professional. Signs that could suggest a developmental problem include:. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Children should always be closely supervised near animals and taught how to behave safely around pets.

You can help your child overcome anxiety by taking their fears seriously and encouraging them to talk about their feelings. Pregnant women with asthma need to continue to take their asthma medication as it is important to the health of both mother and baby that the mother's asthma is well managed.

Most injuries to babies do not occur by chance - many are predictable and largely preventable. Some children are unsettled the first few nights in a 'big bed'. Try to be patient, loving and reassuring. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only.