The big day is almost here, and suddenly you’re getting cold feet. How do you take care of someone so tiny and helpless? How do you hold him? Handling a newborn baby can be scary the first time, but they’re not as delicate as they look. Keep a few basics in mind and before you know it you’ll look like you’ve been handling newborns all your life.
The big day is almost here, and suddenly you’re getting cold feet. How do you take care of someone so tiny and helpless? How do you hold him? Handling a newborn baby can be scary the first time, but they’re not as delicate as they look. Keep a few basics in mind and before you know it you’ll look like you’ve been handling newborns all your life.
Step 1
Support your newborn’s head and neck at all times. A newborn’s neck isn’t strong enough to hold up his own head so you have to keep a hand under the head when picking the baby up. Once you’ve lifted the baby you can slide his head onto the crook of your elbow or onto your shoulder.
Step 2
Notice that your baby has soft spots (called fontanels) on her head. This is where the skull needs to grow and close, which will be in 12 to 18 months. While it’s okay to touch these areas, be careful not to press on them.
Step 3
Burp your newborn after each feeding by holding him on your shoulder and patting or rubbing gently on the back. This will help the air bubbles release from his stomach so he doesn’t get a tummy ache.
Step 4
Change your baby’s diaper by laying him on his back. Slide the clean diaper under his bottom by lifting his feet and then open the soiled diaper. Clean him completely with one or more wipes and apply lotion or powder if you like. Pull the clean diaper between his legs and fasten it snugly on the sides.
Step 5
Dress your newborn by laying her on her back. Pull her shirt gently over her head, work each arm through the sleeves and roll her from side to side a bit to work the shirt down. Place each foot in the legs of her pants, then pull the pants up, lifting her a bit with your fingertips until the pants are in place.
Step 6
Bundle your baby by spreading a receiving blanket and folding the top corner down. Place him on the blanket with his feet towards the point of the triangle and pull the left side snugly across, tucking it behind his back. Fold the bottom up to cover his feet and wrap the remaining side around him. This is called "swaddling" and simulates the position he was in before birth.
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