Ultimate guide to newborn care plan for parents

Prepare yourself for newborn

If you are a parent for the first time, set aside your fears and enjoy this moment of holding your newborn in your hands. From now on, a newborn care plan should be your priority. This moment will not come again, so share your happiness with your close circle.

The baby was inside the womb for about 38 weeks, and it had come to a new environment. The baby shows their feeling by crying for the first time. This is the only moment when parents feel happy about their baby’s cry, which is a sign of the baby’s good health.

We must take care of ourselves physically and mentally as parents and family members of newborns because neonatal care is critical. Neonatal refers to the baby’s first 28 days. We need to take care of the baby even when it is sleeping.

The first week of life

First means first and foremost. Whatever your baby does immediately following birth is a miracle for every parent. Their first cry is a sign of their health. Baby’s first smile during sleep is the greatest wonder to see. Their first poop will only be black due to meconium. Their first feed even though they don’t know how to intake.

Likewise, everything they do is good to see, but for some parents, it will be hard because the first week of a few babies will be spent in the NICU due to specific health issues. After proper NICU treatment, babies will return to their parents

Newborn care basics

Clean home

Welcome home your new charm into your spotless home. Cleanliness is next to Godliness; likewise, a baby needs a clean environment.

Safe crib

Newborns need to sleep more than 15 hours a day so that the baby will have good brain development. Most of us prefer a crib for making a baby sleep. It is best to put your baby next to you and cuddle it for warmth. If you prefer a crib, make sure it is baby-proof, strong enough to hold the baby, and that the mosquito net is proper.

Bathing

Baby needs bathing from the first day. It is only necessary to bathe every day when it is needed. The baby’s skin will be dry and sensitive, so a short bath is enough. Cover your baby with a neat cloth and change diapers often to avoid infection.

Feeding

Breastfeeding is the best nutrition for a newborn, but in any case, if it is not available, we can go for formula milk. The feeding supplies have to be sterilized before every use.

Clean your hands before holding the baby. Give proper support to the neck and head while feeding. Make the baby burp after every feed to avoid gas formation in the stomach.

Baby poop

The color of poop is every parent’s worst nightmare. Baby’s first poop will be black as they could have swallowed particles in amniotic fluid inside the womb. Yellow watery poop with white granules is normal poop.

For the first six months, their intake is either breast milk or formula milk, so their poop is only runny. When the color changes, it could be due to the mother’s diet, like spinach, beetroot, or something, but if the color change in the poop bothers you, check immediately.

Essential things as a part of a newborn care plan

• Diaper

Mom’s best choice of diapers

• Vaccination chart
• Thermometer
• Mosquito net
• Breast pump (If mom is having a good supply of milk)

• Formula milk and feeding accessories
• Sterilizer ( either home vessel or purchased one)
• Moisturizer
• Body wash and shampoo
• Seasonal clothes
• Massage oil
• Vitamin supplements as prescribed

Bonding with baby

Skin-to-skin contact is essential for a newborn. It creates physical and mental bonding between parents and babies. Mainly, mothers’ used to cuddle them while feeding, sleeping, and playing.

A father needs to have skin-to-skin contact with their baby. After a few weeks, they will be ready to hug and cuddle. Baby cries due to hunger and to get love and care from adults.

Newborn body care

• Trim their nails regularly.
• Keep their hair short and clean.
• Keep their face and mouth clean after every feed.
• Keep their genitals clean.
• Change diapers frequently. (It may cause diaper rash)
• Apply lotion after bathing.

Cord care after birth

The umbilical cord automatically falls off after 2 weeks of birth. Please keep it clean and dry. Wash the area with water, being gentle. Only pull it if it is hanging on by a thread. The baby should only have a tub bath once the cord falls off.

If there is any bleeding or if there is any discharge with a foul smell, which means infection, If the cord didn’t fall off after 4 weeks, too, then call your medical practitioner immediately.

Care for mother

Everybody at home will be in a joyful and hurried mood to take care of the baby, but it is time to care for the mother too. Either by natural birth or c-section, she had suffered labor pain that nobody could share. So, whatever we do, the baby should be done to the mother to save her from postpartum depression.

Get your baby sleep miracle

Conclusion

To conclude, parenthood is enjoying every moment you can’t recreate. Care for the newborn is essential in all ways, and it is equally significant to care for the mother. The newborn is a new life for both mother and baby. Baby is exposed to every new thing, so baby takes time to experience it.

Time is precious in all aspects, and it is essential in the first 1000 days of newborns for their physical and mental development. One of the major concerns is maternal mortality, which can be avoided by educating parents about newborn care.

The newborn care plan can be followed using the chart provided by the hospital. This article is helpful for first-time parents. Please share about the joyful experience of your parenthood in the comment section.