Handling your Newborn Baby From Head to Toes

Nappy rashes? Constant crying? Tangled umbilical cord? How in the world are you going to hold that head? Both fragile and tough, bodies of babies require a keen eye and a special touch. Here are a couple of tips and tricks to keep your newborn in tiptop shape.

 

Skin

Newborns may have blotches and rashes in most of their body areas, but these disappear after a few weeks. Little white, pimple-like bumps on the face, often across the bridge of the nose, called millia, are also common. These are caused by immature sweat glands, and these often subside in around four to six weeks.

Stork bites often appear, too. These are red marks on the forehead, upper lip, nape, or the back of the skull; these marks also eventually disappear.

 

Head

The head is one of the most fragile parts of your baby’s body.  A newborn’s skull isn’t fully formed yet.  It will have soft parts called fontanelles, where the bones haven’t fully fused yet. These can be found at the top and the back of the head, and will close over the next two years. Be careful with these parts even though a thick layer of skin already protects them.

An occasional problem that develops in newborns is cradle cap, characterized by red splotches or dry patches of skin on the scalp. It can be remedied by rubbing the patches lightly with baby oil and rinsing with water.

 

Eyes

When bathing your baby, refrain from using strong scented soaps during the first few months. Clean the eyes by gently running a damp cloth from the inner corner of the eye to the outer part. When you begin tub-bathing your baby, make sure to cup your hand over the forehead to prevent baby soap from going into his eyes.

Don’t worry if your baby’s eyes wander around during the first few months. It’s perfectly normal for a baby to look a bit cross-eyed during the first couple of weeks. He is just starting to learn how to control his eye muscles.

 

Click here to read on how to look after your newborn baby's mouth and neck, as well as bonding emotionally through cuddling.

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Read on about how to look after your newborn baby's mouth and neck, as well as bonding emotionally through cuddling.

 

Mouth

Babies must be fed on demand, which is about every two hours or so, during the first two months. You can check if your baby is hungry by gently stroking one cheek with your finger: if he turns his head in that direction with an open mouth, then that means he is searching for Mommy’s nipple for feeding—this is known as the rooting reflex.

Breast milk has been proven to be the best in helping babies build their immunities especially in the first six months, when they are most vulnerable to illnesses and infections. If you’re breastfeeding, let your baby feed for about 10 to 15 minutes on each breast. If you’re using baby formula, two to four ounces should be enough for each feeding.

A baby usually swallows a lot of air when feeding, so burping your baby after every meal is a must. Burping is usually done by rubbing the baby’s back gently while carrying him upright. Remember to support his head while doing this. You can also burp the baby by placing him face down on your lap, and gently tapping his back.

 

Neck

One of the most important things to remember when handling your baby is to always support the neck and the head with your hand, especially when you’re holding the baby up or laying him down. Also make sure that the baby is always comfortable: don’t hold him so closely that he can’t move anymore; babies need their space, too!

When bathing your baby, remember to pay close attention to the creases on his neck. This is one of the places where dirt generally builds up.

 

Close Cuddles

The emotional bond between a parent and a child is a good place to kick everything off. Recent studies show that infants deprived of physical contact with their parents exhibit characteristics of stunted growth.

For most parents, bonding with a child comes from the everyday care of the child. It has been proven scientifically that one of a newborn’s greatest needs is Mommy’s touch. Cuddling, which involves skin-to-skin contact, has been shown to improve the welfare and long-term wellbeing of premature babies. Isolated babies have been proven to seek out physical comfort over food or sustenance.

Your baby needs to be physically close to you, so you need to spend a great deal of your early weeks and months (and even years) cuddling and comforting him. Seek every opportunity to interact together to strengthen the bond between you and your newborn. Remember to make eye contact with your baby, too. It’s one of the simplest ways to communicate with him.

 

Click here to read on about how to look after your newborn baby's belly, elbows, knees, hands, fingers, arms & legs, genital area, and how to give him a bath.

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Read on about how to look after your newborn baby's belly, elbows, knees, hands, fingers, arms & legs, genital area, and how to give him a bath.

 

Belly 

The umbilical cord will usually remain attached to your newborn until he is 2 to 3 weeks old. In some cases though, the cord stays attached for up to 8 weeks. Make sure to keep the cord dry, and clean it with 70% isopropyl alcohol every other day. If it reddens or if there is discharge, consult your physician immediately about it.

 

Elbows & Knees

As your baby discovers the pleasures of movement, he will naturally take to crawling. Rub a little mild lotion or cream, petroleum jelly, or baby oil on your baby’s elbows and knees to keep the skin on these body parts from drying  or chafing.

 

Hands & Fingers

Your baby’s hands are still too small, so it would be difficult and unsafe to cut their fingernails. Put mittens on your baby’s hands to protect their faces from scratches in case his fingernails get too long. In a month or so, you can start using a special baby nail clipper to cut his nails.

Infants have remarkable reflexes brought about by their inborn survival instincts. The most noticeable would be the grasping reflex: if you put an object in their tiny palm, they’ll grip it tightly, with both hands even.

 

Arms & Legs

When a baby gets startled, the usual reaction would be to flail his arms and limbs around. This is called the startle or “Moro” reflex, which is a normal reaction so you need not worry about it. If your baby isn’t very responsive or if your baby can only move one side of his body, you should consult your pediatrician immediately.

Always remember to clean the creases found in his underarm area and behind the knees, as these are where dirt tends to build up.

 

Genital Area

Remember to change your baby’s diaper regularly to avoid nasty rashes. Prepare around 10 changes of diapers every day. Remember to clean the genital area thoroughly with damp cotton balls and a dry washcloth to wipe the area. For baby boys, remove the diapers slowly: sudden exposure of his private parts to air may cause him to urinate. For baby girls, wipe from front to back; doing it the other way around may cause urinary tract infections.

 

Feet

A baby’s feet won’t require too much attention when cleaning, but you have to pay close attention to the areas between the toes. Don’t clip the baby’s toenails until the third month.

 

Bathing A Newborn

Before the umbilical cord comes off, bathing your baby should only consist of sponge baths. Remember to lay your baby on a flat surface. Never take your eyes off him and always keep the parts that you’re not bathing wrapped in a towel.

Start by wiping your baby’s eyes with a damp washcloth. Also, use only water when cleaning the outer ears and the nose. The rest of the face should be cleaned using unscented baby soap. Remember to pat the face dry afterwards.

When washing your baby’s body, remember to pay close attention to the area behind the ears, the creases under the arms, the neck, and the genital area. Make sure that all the areas are dry before you put on your baby’s diaper and clothes.

 

You may also want to read the following related articles on bathing your baby:

Baby Bath Time Basics: Keep Baby Warm + Bath Time Bloopers from Real Moms

Is there an ideal bath time for babies?

How to Give Your Newborn Baby a Sponge Bath

 

Photography by Jun Pinzon