Moms on Call | Basic Baby Care 0-6 Months | Parenting Book 1 of 3
Genres: Self-Help
Book Preface
Seeking medical care whenever you are concerned is recommended by Moms on Call.
Any time that you are concerned, or notice any symptoms, call your pediatrician’s office. Sometimes babies have discreet symptoms like a fever and at other times there is just something that you can’t explain; call it mother’s intuition or a nagging feeling that something may be wrong. Those are both valid reasons to seek medical attention. Many of the concepts addressed in this book vary from pediatrician to pediatrician. When it comes to your child’s care, you are responsible for making the final decisions.
This book is designed to provide information on the care of babies up to 6 months of age. This book is intended as a reference volume only, not as a medical manual. It is sold with the understanding that neither the author nor the publisher are engaged in rendering medical, health, or any other kind of personal professional services in the book. The reader should consult the services of a competent pediatrician, registered dietician or other medical professional. The author and publisher specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, to any parent, person, or entity with respect to any illness, disability, injury, loss or damage to be caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, of the use and/or application of any of the contents of this book.
The book should be used only as a supplement to your pediatrician’s advice, not as a substitute for it. It is not the purpose of this book to replace the regular care of, or contradict the advice from, the American Academy of Pediatrics, or any pediatrician, nutritionist, registered dietician, or other professional person or organization. This text should be used only as a general guide and should not be considered an ultimate source of childcare, child rearing, sleep training techniques, child feeding, food preparation/storage, or as the ultimate source of any other information. You are urged to read other available information and learn as much as possible about childcare and the nutrition and feeding of young children. For more information, see the references at the back of this book. Mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities in this book does not imply endorsement by the publisher, nor does mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities imply that they endorse this book.
Every reasonable effort has been made to make this book as complete and as accurate as possible. However, there may be mistakes, both typographical and in content. Therefore, this text should be used as only a general guide. You should discuss with your pediatrician the information contained in this book before applying it. This book contains information only up to the copyright date. New information, or information contradicting that which is found in this book, should be actively sought from your child’s competent medical professionals.
Bathing
For a bathing routine demonstration, see momsoncall.com. Your baby likely will have their first bath at home. It is unbelievably fun and adorable!
Support baby’s head until he/she can do so on their own. Always make sure that all supplies are kept within arm’s reach. A basket of items is an easy way to ensure that everything is kept together.
Until the umbilical cord falls off
- Wash the baby’s face with warm water and a washcloth (slightly warmer than room temperature).
- Clean diaper area thoroughly with Kirkland’s wipes or unscented alcohol-free wipes.
- Put fresh clothes or pajamas on them.
- This does not have to be a big production.
- After the umbilical cord falls off, regular baths may be given. Baby soap is optional but it sure makes them smell good!
After the umbilical cord falls off
Prior to bath
- Clean the genitals at the changing table.
- Females—do not wash female genital areas with soap. Soap is irritating to those parts.
- You may notice white, cheesy-looking stuff in the crevices. That is normal. It is just sloughed skin that mixes with the natural moisture in that area.
- Tip: Spread the labia (lip-like parts) and clean with a diaper wipe or washcloth FRONT TO BACK, so as not to introduce any stool into the urethra where the urine comes out. This will help us avoid bladder infections. You only have to get this thorough of a cleaning once a day, PRIOR to the bath.
- Males (circumcised)—After the circumcision is healed, gently pull skin back so the head of the penis is seen all the way around and clean well. Sometimes, some diaper cream or stool gets between the skin folds around the circumcised area so this will help us to keep it clean.
- Males (uncircumcised)—Clean the foreskin. There is no need to retract the skin. Speak with your doctor for specific care.
Bath routine
- Once the umbilical cord falls off, bathe every evening as a matter of routine. Babies learn by association and they will associate bath time with bedtime.
- Things to have at arm’s reach in the bathroom:
- Washcloths
- Baby wash/shampoo
- Soft baby brush
- Bouncy seat (placed near the tub, not in the tub)
- Fill the tub with 5-6 inches of warm water.
- We use the adult bathtub because it keeps the water warm and relaxes the baby.
- Place an adult-sized towel in the bouncy seat next to (not in) the tub and place the baby on top of the towel—strap them in. This is our “docking station,” so-to-speak.
- Kneel down next to the tub. Put the soap bottle right into the bath for easy access.
- Grasp the baby in a C-hold behind the head and neck and with your other hand scoop them right between the legs so that your fingers are splayed beneath their buttocks. Your thumb and forefinger can then easily wrap around the upper thigh. This hold is very secure and allows you to transfer the baby into the tub with ease.
- They may cry momentarily as they get used to the water. This is fine, they will settle down.
- Once the baby’s bottom is resting against the bottom of the tub, remove the hand that was under their bottom and use that hand to take a washcloth, dip it in the warm water and cover their little midsection with it so they remain warm.
- As you are bent over the tub, place your body weight (just below your ribcage) on the side of the tub to support your back.
- The hand behind their head and neck will stay in position to support the baby’s head and neck.
- The free hand will dispense the soap onto the washcloth (which is on their tummy) as an easy access point to get the soap needed for use on the baby’s arms, legs, torso and head.
- This is a great time to check for hair or thread that has become wrapped around fingers, toes and/or penises. If found, remove. If unable to remove, contact pediatrician.
- Dispense the baby wash directly onto the bristles of the baby brush and then scrub that little scalp. This dislodges any dry skin that can mix with the oil in the scalp and cause cradle cap.
- You will not hurt that soft spot with the baby brush so give them a good scrub.
- Rinse their head by scooping some water into your hand and gently rinsing their scalp with bathwater. Try to avoid getting it in their face.
- Then we are done and ready to scoop our hand between their legs, under that bottom and lift them back out of the tub into the awaiting towel that is resting on the bouncy seat.
- Let the water out of the tub, stand up and then you can take the baby wrapped in that soft towel back to their room to get into their jammies.
- Never leave your baby/babies in the tub or around water unattended.
Umbilical cord care
- Keep cord dry. You can clean around the edges with a Q-Tip dipped in regular rubbing alcohol to clean the dried blood. (The dried blood is left over maternal blood from the umbilical cord.)
- The umbilical cord will look almost like the inside of a steamed oyster (sorry) for the first week. It may have an end that looks like dried fruit.
When to seek medical advice
- Strong foul odor (trust us, it finds you).
- Bleeding – More than one teaspoon of bright red blood that runs out of the belly-button. Dried blood is okay. If the cord has bright red or even persistent dried blood, the pediatrician can usually fix it by putting on a special compound that is painless for baby.
- Oozing yellow/whitish discharge.
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