Mom to Mom Advice on
Healthy Baby Basics
A healthy baby is a beautiful little work of art! A true blessing for any family. I would like to share my experience with some common 'healthy baby basics' for Newborns (0-6 months) like: ~ Bathing
~ Bonding
~ Diapering
~ Feeding Schedules
~ Sleeping Schedules
~ Vaccinations
~ And, Vitamins
I'm sure you are getting tons of unsolicited advice from everyone! That's SO normal! Everyone has their two-cents to share when they see a pregnant woman or brand new family. With all advice, even mine, feel free to take it or leave it. Listen to some good advice from other parents, and then do what's best for your family. Ready? Let's go!
Healthy Baby Bathing Basics Bathing your newborn can be a little scary. They feel so fragile and delicate...and slippery! Several times in the first month, I was afraid that Joshua would slip right out of my hands during bath time. He didn't, thank the Lord! :o) While his umbilical cord was still attached, we bathed him next to the sink. A light sponge bath is best during this time - because the cord should be kept completely dry.  When giving a light sponge bath, be sure that your baby doesn't get too cold. Wrap him up in a towel, and remove sections of the towel as you go. Be sure to only remove the section where you are cleaning, and then replace the towel to keep him warm.
Also, wash him from the cleanest areas to dirtiest. For example, wash in this direction: face -> neck -> chest and tummy -> back -> arms and hands -> legs and feet -> and finish with the diaper areas. Once the little umbilical stump falls off - it's time to graduate to the sink or tub! Fun! Ray and I got 2 different infant bath tubs for shower gifts. We tried both with Joshua, and they just didn't seem to cut it. One was built like a little bath tub. But, it was too deep, and didn't hold him up. The other one was shaped like a lounge with a built-in seat. It was too shallow. The water only covered his lower belly and legs, and he would get too cold. So, we tossed the little tubs aside and Ray put on some swim trunks! He started getting in the big tub with Joshua, safely cradling the baby on his legs. It was so much easier than fumbling with those little tubs, that's for sure!  So, encourage your husband to get in the tub with your baby. It will develop nurturing skills, confidence, security, and closeness.
It can really help daddy and baby bond... Bonding With Your Healthy Baby Bonding comes naturally to most new parents, but it may take a little time. A great way to bond is with skin-to-skin contact. Most babies love this kind of closeness - like laying on Dad's bare chest, for example. My lactation consultant recommended that I put Joshua on my bare chest soon after he was born. He would be comforted by the close contact, and he would recognize my scent (apparently breast milk and amniotic fluid smell very similar). For mothers, breastfeeding is a natural way to bond. If you undress your newborn down to his diaper to feed him, he will likely stay more alert. And, the soft skin contact between you and your baby will provide healthy stimulation for his development. But, if breastfeeding is not possible, continue to hold your newborn and feed him in his diaper with lots of skin contact. Also, spend time making eye contact. Pretty soon your baby will start to recognize you and smile - and that will definitely melt your heart! Diapering Basics for a Healthy Baby I am very fond of cloth diapers and "gDiapers" (hybrid cloth diapers with flushable inserts). I think it's important to minimize our impact on landfills - and disposable diapers are some of the worst offenders!
See my page on Cloth Diapers for more on that topic.
You may have to use disposables on your newborn until he or she reaches 7-8 pounds - that's the smallest that some cloth and gDiapers will go. So, after your healthy baby reaches 8 pounds - explore your options!
Check out Diapers.com for more diapering options,
it's a great place to start. :o) Anyways...here is my #1 tip for diapering any brand new baby: Keep everything covered at all times. Newborns have a funny way of waiting until the diaper is off to release the flood gates...if you know what I mean. I guess cold air just makes them pee. My mother-in-law gave me a wonderful tip when Joshua was a few weeks old... She told me to put a clean diaper underneath the diaper that I was removing. Almost like I was putting two diapers on at the same time. Then, a clean diaper is ready to be pulled over and secured the minute the dirty diaper is outta there! It's a great trick, because it minimizes the time your baby is uncovered. Pretty soon, you and your baby will get used to diapering, and 'open-air' accidents will become less frequent. Healthy Baby Feeding Schedules If you are breastfeeding, see the
Early Breastfeeding Schedule Recommended By My Lactation Consultant on my breastfeeding page.
If you are formula feeding, ask your pediatrician and see the formula package directions. Make sure you are not scrimping on baby's formula. Give them the right ratio of formula and purified water. How can you tell if your healthy baby is getting enough breast milk? For the first 2 weeks...
~ Nurse at least 8 times every 24 hour period. ~ Listen for good, consistent swallows during the feeding. Re-wake and Re-latch if baby falls asleep while nursing. ~ Do not limit the time or frequency you are nursing. Nurse every 2-2.5 hours, and continue to nurse as long as baby is swallowing. ~ Baby should have more than one yellow, loose stool each day after your milk is in. ~ Baby should have at least 6-8 wet diapers each day after your milk is in. ~ Your healthy baby will loose weight after birth - that's normal. Ideally, baby should be back to their birth weight before 14 days of age. ~ At baby's first doctor's visit, and every following healthy baby check-up, ask about their weight and make sure everything is on track. General feeding guidelines... For the first 3 months: your baby should be getting 8-12 feedings every 24 hours. 3 months - 6 months: your baby should be getting 6-8 feedings per day.  At 6 months: you should continue with the breast milk or formula, and you can usually start your baby on some solid foods.
It's recommended that you do NOT add cereal to baby's bottle. It could be a choking hazard, and provide too many calories. The book - Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron, can help you introduce the right foods at the right times. She will also teach you how to prepare and store your own baby food. Healthy Baby Sleeping Schedules In the beginning, your little one will be on her own schedule. She will sleep quite a bit, and sometimes wake up to eat or complain about a dirty diaper.  If you have nursed your baby at least 7 times between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., and the baby weighs more than 6 pounds and is over 37 weeks gestation, then the baby can feed "on demand" in the middle of the night.
By giving your baby more calories during the day, she will sleep sooner during the night. How much sleep does your healthy baby need? Here are some general guidelines, thanks to babycenter.com. _____ At 1 month - 8.5 hours of nighttime sleep, 7 hours of daytime sleep (broken into 3 naps), for a total of 15.5 hours. At 3 months - 10 hours of nighttime sleep, 5 hours of daytime sleep (broken into 3 naps), for a total of 15 hours. At 6 months - 11 hours of nighttime sleep, 3.25 hours of daytime sleep (broken into 2 naps), for a total of 14.25 hours. At 9 months - 11 hours of nighttime sleep, 3 hours of daytime sleep (broken into 2 naps), for a total of 14 hours. At 12 months - 11.25 hours of nighttime sleep, 2.5 hours of daytime sleep (broken into 2 naps), for a total of 13.75 hours. _____ Your baby will naturally start to fall into a sleeping schedule. But, don't be surprised if he starts to fuss about sleeping. When they become more alert and interactive, they want to be with you more. If you stick to a routine for naps and bedtime, your child will learn that sleep is an important part of the day. Lots of families co-sleep, and that's totally fine, but your ultimate goal is to encourage an independent sleeper. When your child can go to sleep by themselves, and resume sleeping if they wake up early, that's wonderful! That's the goal! :o) Sleep habits really must be taught, and you need to stay firm about it. If you know your baby has eaten enough for the day, is clean and dry, and is not sick - it's ok to let them cry a little in protest. Just check on them every few minutes that they cry. Pat them on the back and say, "It's bed time, time to go to sleep" and then give them a few more minutes. This may seem 'mean,' but you know that they are just crying in protest. And, you know that healthy sleep habits are SO important. Just Be firm - they will quiet down, and they will learn quickly that bedtime means bedtime. We stuck with this plan, and Joshua became an independent sleeper very early. Now, at 21 months, we put him to bed and he lays right down and falls asleep without any protest. Good sleeping habits are the best ones you can teach your children! Well-rested kids are healthier, happier, and better behaved. Here's a great book about sleep schedules: Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth. Vaccinations For A Healthy Baby Vaccinations are becoming a controversial subject. Autism is on the rise. And, lots of parents are convinced that there is a link between the Autism Spectrum Disorder and vaccinations. I just don't know. I have read articles, and talked to Joshua's doctors, and most of what I'm hearing is "No link between Autism and Shots." We decided with Joshua to follow his doctor's recommended vaccination schedule. But, I was not happy when he was getting 4-5 shots at one time in the early months. That seemed excessive... So, with our next child, we plan to space out the vaccinations more. He or she will get all the recommended vaccines, but just no more than 2-3 at a time. And, we will probably look into separating the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella shot with Joshua and our other kids. That one is the most controversial, and I don't see why all three vaccines need to be lumped together. I would definitely recommend that you educate yourself, pray, and make the decision about vaccinations as a family. Just keep in mind - the vaccinations that your children receive are protecting them from potentially fatal diseases. If everyone stops vaccinating, we could have a major problem on our hands. Here is a great book about vaccinations - it is informative and eye-opening: The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child (Sears Parenting Library) by Robert Sears Vitamins for a Healthy Baby Below 6 months - Most of your baby's nutrition will come directly from Mom's milk or fortified formula. The following vitamins can be added when baby starts on solid foods. ***Just be sure that you DO NOT go over the recommended amounts for Iron. It is fatal in large quantities.*** ~ A liquid or powder 'Infant and Toddler Multi-Vitamin' can be added to solid foods, or given directly if in liquid form. ~ Vitamin C (180 mg) - for immune support. Can be crushed up and added to solid foods. ~ A Probiotic - for digestive and immune support. Found in yogurt or capsules, crushed up and added to food. ~ GLA (gamma linolenic acid) omega-6 fatty acid - excellent for brain health and development. This can come through the breast milk, if Mom takes it. If not, squeeze 1 capsule directly into baby's mouth. 6 Months to 1 Year - ~ A liquid or powder Infant and Toddler Multi-Vitamin ~ Nutritious Extra Protein - needed to make and repair all tissue cells. Can be added to solid foods, especially cereal or porridge. ~ Vitamin C (100-300 mg) daily ~ Omega 3 Fatty Acids (DHA and EPA) - for proper brain development ~ A Probiotic
For more information on vitamins for the whole family, and where I got my recommendations, click here.
~~~~ I hope these healthy baby tips were helpful and informative. But, please don't substitute this for real medical advice. Follow your pediatrician's recommendations first. Please
contact me
if you have any questions or comments - I would love to hear from you! And, if you know any new parents, send them the link to this page. God bless you and your healthy baby! :o)
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