Short answer
Keep your newborn warm but not too hot, breastfeed on demand, keep the cord stump clean and dry, and always put your baby to sleep on their back on a firm, flat surface. You do not need to bathe a newborn every day; wiping the face, neck, hands and bottom is enough. Never leave a baby alone in water.
- Published
- Published by
- Dhruva Hospitals, Kadapa
Warm, but not too hot
Skin-to-skin contact is a good way to keep a newborn warm. Overheating is also risky, especially in Kadapa’s hot months. Feel your baby’s chest or the back of the neck: if it is hot or sweaty, remove a layer. Cool hands and feet are normal.
Umbilical cord care
- Keep the stump clean and dry, and fold the nappy below it.
- Clean around it only if it gets dirty with urine or stool, using cotton and clean warm water, then pat dry.
- Do not put oil, powder, ash or anything else on the cord, and do not pull it. It falls off on its own.
- See a doctor if the skin around it becomes red and swollen, it oozes pus, smells bad or bleeds.
Bathing safely
- A daily bath is not needed. You can wipe the face, neck, hands and bottom instead.
- Wipe each eye from the nose outwards with a fresh piece of damp cotton. Do not put anything inside the ears.
- For a bath, make the water warm, not hot. Check it with your wrist or elbow, and keep the baby’s head out of the water.
- Never leave your baby alone in water, even for a second, and do not let older children supervise.
- If you massage your baby, use only oils or lotions suitable for babies.
Safe sleep
- Always put your baby to sleep on their back, on a firm, flat mattress.
- Keep pillows, soft toys and loose blankets out of the cot.
- For the first 6 months, let your baby sleep in their own cot in the same room as you.
- Do not let anyone smoke near the baby.
- Do not share a bed if your baby was premature or weighed under 2.5 kg, or if you smoke, have drunk alcohol, or take medicine that makes you drowsy.
Feeding, vaccines and registration
Breastfeed whenever your baby is hungry. Vaccines start at birth with BCG, oral polio and hepatitis B, and continue at 6 weeks. Register the birth early, as you will need the birth certificate for the baby’s Aadhaar and passport.
Signs that need a doctor
Not feeding, unusual sleepiness, fast or noisy breathing, fever or a cold body, yellow skin, fits, or no wet nappy for 12 hours all need urgent care. Call +91 90368 52311, day or night.
Common questions
How often should I bathe my newborn?
A daily bath is not necessary. Cleaning the face, neck, hands and nappy area every day, with a bath a few times a week, is enough. You can bathe more often if your baby enjoys it.
Is it safe to swaddle my baby?
If you swaddle, keep it loose at the hips, use a thin cloth so the baby does not overheat, and always place the baby on their back. Do not swaddle if you share a bed with your baby.
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Sources
This article is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. In an emergency, call +91 90368 52311.