Baby Care Information & Advice

Do you want your baby handed to you immediately after the birth or should he be cleaned first? In recent years most babies were wiped down with a towel immediately after birth before mum or dad got a chance to hold them. Nowadays choice is the keyword! It’s your decision.

Research shows that the greasy film covering your baby, vernix, is a wonderful source of moisture for your baby’s delicate skin. And if you don’t wipe it off, it is reabsorbed. So your baby will be less likely to develop dry skin patches. Pre-term babies have much more of this protective layer than full-term babies.

In the womb your baby is submerged in amniotic fluid, so vernix is absolutely necessary for providing waterproof protection. After birth, however, mother nature may need a helping hand!

Returning home can be daunting for new parents. Giving baby his first bath can be terrifying!

Your baby does not need a special bath although many parents are well tooled up for the new arrival. A clean sink or the big bath will suffice!

Probably the main worry for parents is getting the water temperature correct. After ensuring you have all baby’s bits and bobs at hand, such as a changing mat, towel, fresh nappy, vest and clean clothes, place the baby in a safe place.

Run cold water into the bath first.

Top it up with hot water. Swirl the water around to avoid hot spots.

Dip your elbow into the water to check the temperature. It should be lukewarm. As the skin on your elbow is very sensitive it is a reliable way to test the water.

If you like you can add a little moisturising, hypoallergenic, baby bubble bath. Swirl it around with your fingers. Young babies do not need bubbles to play with!

Undress and wrap baby in a warm towel. Holding him over the bath, cup some bath water in your free hand and gently run it over his head. Shampoo is not necessary for very tiny babies as it can irritate their scalp.

Dry the baby’s head thoroughly. Babies lose a lot of heat through their heads. Wet heads lose more heat.

Placing baby’s neck in the crook of your elbow, and your hand holding the back of one of his legs, gently lower him into the water. (TIP If you are right-handed it is easier to place babies neck in the crook of your left elbow. Holding his left leg with your left hand, wash him with your right hand. The reverse is the case if you are left-handed.)

Some babies hate being bathed but many really enjoy it. He may become so relaxed that he falls asleep!

Cupping some water in your free hand gently trickle it over his body. Your do not need to rub or scrub as babies do not get dirty. They just need to be freshened up!

Be careful as he will get very slippery once he is wet!

Only keep baby in the bath for a short time as he will get cold quickly and never leave your baby unattended in the bath for even the shortest space of time.

Lift him out and wrap him up in his warm towel.

Quickly dry him and place a fresh nappy on him before he has any little accidents!

Finally, give him a big cuddle and dress him quickly…

And there you have it – baby’s first bath!

When to wean is a question facing all breastfeeding mums. How does a new mum know when to introduce solid food into her baby’s diet and what sort of food can a baby eat?

At present the World Health Organisation recommends that all babies be breastfed exclusively for six months. A long time, you may think, especially in the middle of a colic episode or growth spurt! However, there are real concerns for the welfare of babies that have led to this advice.

In the past many babies were fed solid foods at very young ages. It is now believed that their bodies were unable to cope with the demands this placed on them; a dramatic increase in the incidence of allergies and food intolerances meant guidelines were reviewed and altered.

The main danger that comes with introducing solid food too early is that babies may receive too much salt in their diets, leading to potential kidney problems in later life.

So, if you follow the advice of the World Health Organisation, you will see that it makes sense to put off giving food other than breastmilk for the first six months.

So how do you encourage a six month old baby to eat solids? The main thing to remember is that you should introduce solids gradually.

When your baby is ready for solid food he will begin to demand feeds more often, and may never seem satisfied for very long. He will start to take an interest in your meals and may even try to help himself! He will begin lip-smacking and chewing as he mimics you. A real sign that solids are imminent is the development of teeth.

Speak to a health-visitor if you think your baby is very hungry. If your baby is under six months you may find that he is just going through a prolonged growth spurt. If this is the case, his hunger will normally settle down after a few days when your milk supply has increased.

When your baby reaches the six month target, and you are sure that he is ready for solid food, try a teaspoonful of watery baby rice or baby porridge. Try to keep foods very bland and runny at the beginning.

Once he is used to solid foods, and is no younger than six months, you can quickly move onto adult cereals like Weetabix and Readybrek.

It is wise to only introduce one food at a time so that you can identify any intolerances or allergies. Sometimes these can take several days to take effect, so stick to one food for a few days before moving onto another.

Some babies are happy to have one solid feed a day at the beginning of weaning, whereas others require more frequent feeds. It is a good idea to offer the breast before and after each feed to maintain a good milk supply.

Cows milk and dairy products, eggs, fish particularly shellfish), nuts (especially peanuts), some fruits and foods containing gluten can all cause allergic reactions. So be careful with your choices…

From six months babies can digest protein so red meat, fish ,eggs, cheese, chicken and pulses can all be introduced.

Do not give peanuts to babies under one year old: if there is a history of allergies in your family avoid giving them for at least three years. As well a being an allergy hazard they can also be a choking hazard.

Honey should also be avoided for the first year as babies can contract botulism from it.

Eggs must be thoroughly cooked but can be introduced from six months.

Buy gluten-free baby food at the beginning of weaning, if possible, as gluten can cause coeliac disease. Usually a six month old baby can digest gluten without any problems but younger babies are more at risk.

Some babies react to citrus fruits such as oranges but alternative fruit juices can be given instead, such as apple juice.

Never add salt to food which your baby will eat. If he is ready to eat the same meals as the rest of the family do not add gravy until you have removed the baby’s portion, as gravy can contain a lot of salt.

It is best to introduce savoury foods prior to sweet foods as babies very quickly develop a sweet tooth! They tend to enjoy pureed carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, turnip and parsnip and any combination of these foods. Babies also love stewed apples and pears or mashed bananas and strawberries!

However, many babies dislike potatoes at the beginning of weaning. When the baby is a little more experienced with tastes and textures you can start adding some potato to his meals.

Let the baby decide when he has had enough of any particular meal. Never force-feed the baby. He only needs a little bit of solid food each day. For some babies a few spoonfuls will be enough; for others a main course and dessert are required!

If he refuses to eat one type of food avoid it for a while and try something else. Return to the disliked food after a few days and try again. Some babies can be very fussy, whereas others eat whatever is placed in front of them!

Take it slowly and it will not be such a big change for either you or your baby. Weaning should be a fun experience for you both. After a very short time your baby will look forward to his solid feeds and will even start to let you know that he wants more!

Having a new baby is an incredibly exciting time, but it can also be filled with a great deal of anxiety. One major source of that anxiety is if you have a baby who isn’t sleeping well. Sleep deprivation will quickly wear you down, and your baby will be exhausted and irritable as well. When this pattern goes on for months, a once happy little family can rapidly turn into a tired and cranky crowd.

Much of this angst can be eliminated by helping your baby learn to sleep independently. A baby who sleeps independently is usually a baby who sleeps through the night and takes nice, long naps on a consistent basis. Enabling your baby to learn how to sleep better should be a simple and gentle process, and most often your baby even have to shed a tear. This article will provide you with some important tips from the baby sleep book, Sleep Baby Sleep, and will help get you started on your way to having a better sleeping baby and a well-rested house.

#1 Establish a Consistent Nighttime Routine

One important aspect to getting your baby to sleep through the night is to have a consistent bedtime ritual. A solid evening routine will help your child understand that it is time for sleep when the routine is complete. A typical schedule might include a bath, some quiet time, a final feeding, and then a good-night kiss. Though your particular routine may vary, it is important make sure you have some kind of consistency at bedtime.

#2 Help your Baby Learn how to Fall Asleep Independently

Each time your baby is ready to sleep, no matter what time of day or night it is, you have a brand new opportunity to help your baby learn how to fall asleep without your help. If you try your hardest to seize each of these opportunities, your baby will be sleeping through the night sooner than you can believe. Keep in mind though that this is a process, and not an overnight miracle. Be consistent in your efforts and you will quickly teach your baby how to fall asleep without your help.

#3 Put your Baby to Sleep Awake

If you get only one idea from this article, it’s that you need to try to put your baby to sleep while it is still awake. In other words, try to avoid having your baby fall asleep before you put him down. Be sure that your routine includes putting your baby in the crib or bassinet before it is asleep. If you put your baby to bed awake, it will more readily learn how to fall asleep without your help and your baby will sleep much better.

#4 Establish a Daytime Nap Routine

Sometimes figuring out a good daytime routine can be even more challenging than the one at bedtime. Out of sheer exhaustion and the desire to get a few minutes to yourself, you might be inclined to do absolutely anything to get your baby down for a nap. The problem with this is that your baby will begin to need that particular method in order to nap (for example, driving around, rocking, nursing, etc). You won’t be happy if your baby can only take a nap in the car, or nap only if you lie down beside her, or only if you rock her to sleep. Instead, try to get your baby napping by falling asleep alone, and you’re likely to wind up with a great little sleeper on your hands.

#5 The Family Bed – should you or shouldn’t you?

A family bed is not a bad thing, and many families the world over would have it no other way. If it’s something you want and have planned for, then by all means do it! On the other hand, if you have wound up with a family bed only because your baby cannot fall asleep any other way, then it might time to rethink your situation. A family bed could last for years, and if unwanted, often results in frustration and resentment and chronic sleep deprivation.

#6 Waking up Throughout the Night

Most, if not all, babies wake up several times throughout the night. Even a baby who is already sleeping through the night wakes up numerous times during the night. The key is that if your baby knows how to fall back to sleep on his own, it won’t need you to put him back to sleep. So, don’t rush in as soon as your baby wakes up in the middle of the night. Instead, give it some time and you might be pleasantly surprised to find that your baby falls back to sleep on his own.

#7 Getting Baby on a Schedule

Most people thrive on some sort of a schedule, and babies are no different. Your child is likely to function much better if it becomes familiar with the same events that happen throughout the day. If you get your baby on a schedule with a regular agenda, she will quickly figure out when it is time for sleep and will fall asleep much easier. Keep in mind though that everyone needs a little flexibility built into their life, so make sure that you are not too inflexible with your baby’s daily routine.

#8 Avoid using Aids to Help your Baby Sleep

Many exhausted parents resort to external aids to get their babies sleeping (for example, constantly using a pacifier, driving your baby around, and rocking or nursing your baby to sleep). Though your baby might initially fall asleep quicker with these external aids, you are ultimately making your job much more difficult. The problem is that it helps you avoid teaching your baby how to fall asleep alone. Instead, take the time to get your baby falling asleep without any help, and it will fall asleep faster and sleep better.

#9 Be Consistent

The more regular you are in how you put your baby to sleep, the quicker and easier it will be for your child to learn how to sleep independently. No matter how tired you are, or how much you might be dreading the night ahead, a consistent effort will pay off quickly. Be patient with yourself, as it is not always easy to keep with your plan when you are intensely sleep deprived. Just be as consistent as possible, and you will see results.

#10 Take Time for Yourself

It’s so easy to forget about yourself when you have a new baby. But playing the parent role 24/7, and having no time of your own could cause you to grow resentful and feel deprived. Instead, make a conscious effort to ensure that you get some time for yourself. You’ll feel rejuvenated, happier, and you’ll have more energy to devote to your family. You can and will be an amazing parent even though you get a little bit of downtime, and there’s no better time to do it than when your baby is sleeping soundly. Enabling your baby to sleep independently is truly a priceless gift that you’ll give to everyone under your roof. Your baby will be much happier if it is better rested, and so will you!