Tips & Advice for Newborn Care at 3 To 4 WeeksJuly 24, 2019

Parenting a 3 to 4-week old baby can be the start of a big period for you and your infant. At 3 weeks old, your baby features will take shape. They may even look like a totally different infant than the one you took home, your baby changes yet again. As your baby grows, it is essential for you to identify certain newborn care things like feeding, clothing, bathing, trimming nails and sleep patterns of your baby.  Read on to get a brief idea about these few things and to keep in mind while taking care of the new-born.

Get Prepped

At 3 weeks, your baby’s days and nights become more predictable, and you can tend to yourself as well as to your newborn. One means to do that is by reducing your stress level and having a routine for your hungry little one and yourself.  i.e. start by prepping for the next nursing once the previous one is over. For instance, after a 10 p.m. feeding, be ready for the 1 a.m. one by prepping everything you need for feeding and placing out fresh drinking water for yourself so you don’t have anything to think about in the midnight. During the day, take advantage of your cute little one’s naps to a nap or take a bath or simply some me-time.

Baby's First Baths

By week 3 usually the baby’s umbilical cord stump falls off, you will finally be able to give your baby a real bath and your baby is ready for a bath in the sink or a tub. Whatever you use, pad the bottom with a towel to make it softer. Also, you may take the help of your partner to hold on to your slippery little one.  To keep the infant warmer, more relaxed and less likely to cry, keep a warm washcloth over babies’ tummy during the bath.  It helps your baby to have a happy water bath. Also, make sure that supplies are at hand and the room is warm before undressing the baby for bathing. NEVER leave your baby unattended while bathing. If you are expecting a call, either schedule the bath after the call or let the call wait.  These tips help your baby to have a lovely and safer shower time.

Diapering Your Baby- Disposable /Cloth Diapers

Changing diapers is a significant aspect when taking care of a newborn after delivery. If your baby is receiving enough breast milk or formula, she will wet at least 6 to 8 diapers in a day, together with regular bowel movements. So change her diaper frequently, once it feels full. To change a dirty diaper, you will want a changing sheet, gentle diaper wipes, diaper rash cream or Vaseline and fresh diapers. You can use cloth diapers or disposable diapers for your baby. Cloth diapers or nappies are reusable and eco-friendly whereas disposable diapers may last longer but are perfumed and contain absorbent chemicals which can irritate some babies. Using cloth diapers made out of old sarees, can let your baby’s skin breathe as the tender skin of your baby may not tolerate disposable diapers. Also, it is important that is you use cloth diapers properly washed it in warm or hot water using a mild detergent. Using an antiseptic liquid is a choice. If you use it, watch your baby’s skin for any allergy or rashes. Some mothers opt for cloth diapers during the day and diapers at night so that they can sleep better.

Cutting Your Baby’s Nails Safely

Yes, it is hard to believe that your soft little one has such sharp ragged nails, but with their hand movements, they can easily scratch themselves and you. Hence it is essential to keep the baby nails trimmed. Use baby nail clippers and trim the nails gently when your baby is asleep. Do not cut it too deeply as the nails are very tender and it might be hurting for the baby.  Also, do not cut the edges of the nails as this will affect ingrown nails. If you are confident enough, you can trim them while they are awake. It may take a while and some practice though.

Is It Safe To Apply Kajal To Your Newborn's Eyes?

A common belief that applying Kajal to newborn babies will make your baby’s eyes bright, attractive and glowing besides warding off the evil eye.  Baby eyelids are very delicate and soft, using kajal can lead to itchiness, watery eyes and even allergies. During a bath, when kajal is washed away, it can pass down the narrow and small opening between the nose and the eyes of your baby. This opening can get blocked, causing infections. Doctors strictly advise not to apply kajal to the newborn baby's eyes especially, the premature ones. Being born early, almost all preemies are more likely to have health problems, comprising eye conditions. You should know the risk of vision problems and what you can do to help prevent vision loss. So it is better to avoid the application of kajal altogether.

Dress Your Baby According To Weather

Just like adults dress based on the weather, babies also need to be dressed properly. Whether the weather is cold or hot, it is necessary to keep your baby safe and comfy. A general guideline for this is that clothing must be soft, not tight, and must not have add-ons or irritable attachments like sharp buttons or stiff laces. In warm weather conditions, there are chances for your baby might have heat rashes if the baby is too warm. While going to the sun, use a sun-umbrella or bonnet to keep your baby’s head covered. Remember that babies have gentle skin, so it is best to avoid over-exposure to sun, rain or wind. In a cold weather, it is best to have more layers of dresses than a single thick dress.  Woollen clothing like sweater, booties or bonnet should be made of soft wool and if possible worn over cotton under-garments. Simply you want your baby to feel comfortably warm like that he softly cushioned in your womb— not hot or cold. The best method to check this is to feel your baby’s chest or back and they should feel warm. Don’t worry if your little one feet and hand feel cool, this is normal.

Think About Co-Sleeping or Swing For Your Little One

Traditionally Indian mothers used a swing (jholi/jhoola/thottil) to rock their babies to sleep. Primarily because it mimics being in the womb. At this stage your baby still sleeps a lot so it makes sense to use a swing. But as your baby grows and is more aware of his surroundings, a swing might not always be a good option. Older babies can easily crawl out of it and injure themselves in the effort. You may also have space constraints. Here you can consider co-sleeping. It’s a great idea to snuggle in with your baby and makes night feeds easier. But co-sleeping comes with some risks like sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) and SIDS. Falling asleep while feeding or holding the baby can be fatal to the baby.

Hence both co-sleeping and swing have become heated terms, and with so many opinions on either side, it can be tough to figure out the healthiest choice for your family.  So it is suggested that believe your instincts and keep your baby’s safety and comfort as top priorities.

Ask For Help

As a new mum, you may not know how to feed or bath a baby. Do not hesitate to ask for help. Hire an expert baby nurse from MY Womb to assist you in taking comprehensive postpartum mother care and inclusive infant care at the conveniences of your home. We are the leading service provider of Post Delivery Care in Ernakulum to take care of the mother and newborn. Our panel of new born baby care experts can help you with information, tips and tricks to beat your motherhood blues.