Clothing accessories you need for your baby realistically in the coming weeks and months are a few items not in a dozen of quantity as your baby is going to grow out of it before you even know it.
What your baby needs after birth and several weeks after, should be enough for you to get ready with before you bring baby home. Typically, it is not as easy to go out and shop around with a few days old babies. For that reason, have every clothing essential ready for at least 6 to 8 weeks for you and the baby.
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Baby’s Clothing and accessories new parents need
Although hospitals in the US provide with basic onesies while you stay at the hospital for delivery.
By week 34 your hospital bag should be ready as it could be anytime now. So here is what clothing essentials you need for the first several months for your baby.
Undershirts or onesies
You need a few basic onesies in a newborn size that can be worn as an undershirt.
Keeping the weather in mind, to dress up your baby in too many layers in heating and air conditioning, is not a good idea. Limit layers depend on the location if you are inside or outside the house.
Pajamas and sleepers – for newborns you do not need special Pjs, just a footed onesie or a nightgown whatever you prefer for your baby.
As a safety consideration, do not use baby blankets in the crib as it may increase the risk of SIDS. Although you may want to have a baby blanket for the car seat or just as a cover-up. You can get a cute customized blanket for your baby.
Baby swaddles are essential for a perfect sleep schedule that you may want to start right from the beginning.
Getting too many socks is not a sound idea for this newborn period. You also do not have to find non-skid onesies as long as your baby starts walking. Once the baby is ready to crawl and tries to stand holding on to something, then you need to get no-skid socks or no-skid onesies.
However, if you still want to
get something to cover baby’s feet, get footed onesie or put on socks
underneath to keep them warm and cozy.
Your preference for getting baby socks is highly related to the climate where you live. If you do not have centrally heated homes, you sure need a few pairs to be on the safe side.
Baby shoes
Newborn’s shoes look so cute but they are not for walking. I would not suggest you buy too many shoes for newborns. There is quite a possibility you get a few pairs in your baby shower gifts. However, you just have to make sure you have enough pairs for newborn Photoshoot or month-by-month photography.
Do you know why babies need to wear hats, despite how hot it is outside? Baby head being the largest organ as compared to lower body, tends to lose heat faster and for that reasons, baby has to wear hat at all times at least for the first several weeks after birth.
Get hold of a cute looking no -slip hats for your baby. Sometimes hats tend to slip away and covers baby’s face while baby is in the car seat. New parents need to be vigilant at all times once you have a newborn along.
Baby Bibs
For nursing moms and formula-feeding moms, baby bibs are a must-have. Baby bibs have a purpose, and that is, you need to make sure the baby’s neck folds do not have milk residue that may be dripping while you feed.
Right size clothes
For an average-sized baby around newborn clothing size fit for about 2 to 4 weeks. When your baby is about a month old, it is very likely, 3 months size would fit your baby.
Every baby has its own growth pattern. Generally, formula fed babies gain weight rapidly as compared to breastfed babies.
You do not have to pile up so many outfits for newborn size as baby grow out too soon before you even know it. However, you can stock up size 3 to 6 months and 6 to 9 months as they may fit for most of the months until your baby turns a year old. Keeping a significant amount of diaper blowouts in mind, you sure need enough size 3 to 6 and 6 to 9 during the first several months.
Read all size and weight specifications on clothing tags when you are purchasing outfits. Carter’s clothings are very practical for every day wear. For some reasons they do run small or accurate as per baby’s weight and height. Thus, the best thing is to buy a bigger size rather than getting a small one.
Remember sizing varies with every brand. Some may fit accurately as described, whereas some may run small or big. When choosing the colors, if you want to go for neutral colors that may be of some benefit for more babies to come.
Rest assured, babies size do not change that quickly, once she turns one (or as faster as the first several months).
Here is the list of minimums you need in each size. You can add or subtract as per your choice.
Newborn Size 0 – 5 to 6 outfits, if you really want to have plenty, not more than 8 in my opinion. .
Infant Size 3 to 6 months at least 10 outfits.
Baby Size 6 to 9 months at least 15 outfits.
Size 9 to 12 months at least 15 outfits
Other than that – I would highly recommend you getting significant amount of baby bottoms in each size. Thanks to baby diaper blowouts.
As per my experience, do not get anything that is tight on the abdominal or tummy area for night-time. Loose-fitting clothes will help baby release gas quickly. Read more effective tips to ease baby having gas issues.
Easy access for diaper Changing
When choosing your baby’s outfit for day and night, you have to make sure it has easy access for changing diapers at night too. Some parents find two-piece clothing as perfect for night time, however, some prefer the pack and play onesies with zipper. It’s all about preference. You will figure out in a few nights what seems easy for you and your baby.
If you choose clothing with
zippers, make sure you keep zip and fabric away from baby’s skin in order to
avoid inadvertently zipping your baby’s skin.
Dressing Technique
When you are dressing up your
baby, make sure you position her well on the changing pad.
Make sure you have your hand
at the back of baby’s head for support
Put on onesies Over the head
and then gently put baby on her back and then limbs one by one through arm
holes.
Be gentle and keep baby in
safe position at all times.
For zippers and one-piece outfits, lay down the outfit first on the changing pad. Lay down your baby gently on the outfit and then put arms inside and then legs and then zip it up.
For soiled clothing, for
those which have shoulder snaps, pull it down from the waist to legs to keep
mess contained and not getting it in the hair.
For onesies which have no
wide shoulder to pull it down, roll up carefully to contain the soiled onesie
getting into baby’s hair.
Use mitten to Keep the baby’s hands covered in order to avoid face scratching. Mitten may tend to stay loose on the baby’s tiny hands. Look for newborn outfits that come with a flap inside the baby’s sleeve to keep hands covered.
Safety consideration for baby’s clothing and accessories
Your baby should feel safe and comfortable to sleep.
There should be no strings, pins or anything that could be dangerous for baby’s health.
Making sure your baby does not have any removable object on her clothing that could be a potential risk in any way.
How to Clean and wash baby clothes
Some babies, not all, may have sensitive skin and it could trigger some allergies with particular fabrics. So, just to be safe, you can wash all baby clothes prior to use only those which are going to have direct contact with skin, not outerwear.
I know many moms and grandmothers like to pack washed and clean baby clothes in your hospital bag. I did not do it for my kids because I never thought bout doing it, so it’s your choice anyway.
However, if your baby happens to have a skin allergy or sensitive skin, you should get Burt-bees organic clothing for your baby. I am a huge fan of soft fabric, and Burt Bees have the organic material that is safe for baby’s delicate skin.
Washing Baby’s clothes
Detergents, using baby-safe soaps or fragrance-free detergents for at least the first three months, is not a MommyTrap kind of a thing. Some fragrant products may trigger eczema in babies. Before you switch to regular laundry detergent, it is indeed a great way to wait for the first couple of months to rule out any signs of skin allergies or irritations which the baby might develop after birth.
Stain removal
Washing breastmilk or formula milk spit up, or a soiled outfit instantly can minimize stains but sometimes you do not have that option. Some diaper blowouts are so massive that you cannot even think about washing them in such circumstances. I even had to trash some brand new onesies at public restrooms while we were traveling as they were impossible to be washed or packed dirt.
You can use this stain remover to save your baby’s new outfits.
In order to prevent diaper blowouts, you can get a diaper extender to protect your baby’s clothes from poop stains. I think it’s time to go to a whole new level of baby essentials.
Diapering is an unavoidable part of parenthood. Your kids cannot go diaper-less until they are 2 to 3 years old. On average parents change 3000 diapers during their first year alone, and that makes roughly about 8 to 12 diapers a day.
The art of Baby diapering – Everything new parents need to know
As a matter of fact, not everyone is a pro in diapering. There are potential risks of pee sprays, blowouts and a lot more battle going on for parents. The art of diapering involves doing it, faster, less mess, and getting better every time parents change baby diapers.
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Cloth versus disposable Diapers
There are two ways for diapering, one is a disposable way and the other one is a washable way, meaning cloth diapering. Before you decide which one to choose, as a new parent you need to consider both options.
Disposable diapers
Disposable diapers are very absorbent and feel dry for the baby until they get over soaked in pee. Most of the good diaper brands take about 8 to 12 hours on average with one diaper taking in pee only.
However, newborns tend to change at least 8 to 12 diapers a day as they are peeing and pooping more frequently.
Also, Using disposable diapers make babies more vulnerable to diaper rashes believed by cloth diaper advocates.
However, no matter what may be the pros and cons are of cloth and disposable diapers, the biggest advantage of using disposable diapers is it definitely adds convenience to parenthood.
Cloth diapers
Cloth diapers are made with soft cotton and believed to be more comfortable than disposable ones. However, they are not very absorbent and needs diaper change quite frequently. They have an outer layer of stay dry cover which does not let everything getting wet outside.
The main advantage for moms using cloth diaper for their babies is, it is COST SAVING only if you are washing it by yourself at home. If you are getting the washing done from diaper service then it is going to cost for detergents and water. That being said, it is not as cost-effective if you have to pay for washing services.
Certainly using a cloth diaper is an environment-friendly choice and less convenient for the most part.
That being said as a parent, you know what is best for your child.
Choosing a good brand of diapers is very important. Generally, some more absorbant diapers tend to be more expensive, and the cheaper ones happen to be less absorbent. Either way, It costs you pretty much the same meaning, more cheap diaper approximately equal to less expensive diapers.
And one more thing is about the baby’s sensitive skin. Keeping the baby’s skin in mind is an important aspect of choosing diapers (Cloth Vs Disposable).
Pee detector is another factor you have to choose for the newborn phase. Diapers that have pee detectors are perfect for the first 3 months when you have to monitor baby’s wet diapers. Just FYI pee detector turns the line blue when your baby urinates.
Diaper sizing
Choose the right size for
your baby. As babies grow they get to pee and poop more so eventually you would
need more absorbency.
If you notice you are having frequent diaper leaks and blowouts, it’s time to go a size up. Bigger size means more absorbency.
For some babies, the diaper size and weight limit run small, do not be afraid to try one size up if your baby feels tighter in the tummy area.
Avoid diapering on the umbilical cord until it comes off. Many newborn diaper brands have umbilical cord safety curve on top, you can still fold the diaper from the top just to be safe with the umbilical cord.
As a first-time parent when you buy diapers do not stockpile small sizes too much. To get an idea, your baby is going to grow out of newborn size and size 1 within 6 to 8 weeks.
Pampers Swaddlers are the best for size 0 and size 1 diaper with urine detector.
Pampers cruisers are the best so far in absorbancy, fitting and coverage once your baby moves to size 2 and up.
Get the small size in lesser quantity
By the end of two months, most babies fit well in size 2. therefore, Do not buy too many small sizes in the beginning.
Divide the number of diapers with a cost of so you will know how much it going to cost you per diaper and how many you going to need in a day. Do your math and find deals.
Every baby is different, some may have a chubby physique and some are lean so fitting and absorbency both matters.
Find and Cut coupons
You can get coupons deals,
use them to cut diapers costs.
Think big and buy in advance – if you find good deals, think about buying diapers in advance. Moreover, you may able to find deals online on Amazon for a good price. Other stores like Target offer a gift card on the purchase of baby essentials for a certain amount.
Watch out for the fake diapers that are low on quality as well as absorbancy.
Wipes for newborns
Wipes are used for cleaning poop after every soiled diaper change. Diapers and wipes are frequently bought together. However, wipes can still be harsh for a baby’s soft skin.
For sensitive skin, the best you can do is after wiping baby’s bottom, use a wet soft washcloth or you can wash baby bum every time you change a diaper. Make sure you dry the baby’s bottom thoroughly with a clean towel. A poop residue may trigger skin rash, in that case, washing with water is the best remedy.
Ideally, keeping skin sensitivity in mind choose wipes that are fragrance-free as fragrant wipes may trigger eczema related issues in babies. I highly recommend using fragrance-free Huggies wipes. They are soft and cleans well.
Baby wipes are not normally flushable wipes, so do not flush them in the toilet unless you are using flushable wipes.
In order to be cost-effective in terms of buying wipes, you may prefer washing to minimize the overuse of wipes.
Wipe warmers -why you don’t need it
Wipe warmers keep wipes warm when the temperature is cold and wipes feel cold on the baby’s skin. Your baby is going to adjust with wipes temperature fairly quickly even if you do not use wipe warmers.
Tip: do not try to waste your money on warmers.
Tips on Changing diapers
Changing a diaper is a technique new mom and dad need to follow.
Keep diapers, wipes, diaper disposing sacks, diaper pail, diaper rash cream at an arm’s reach.
In case of accidents, an extra outfit, a towel, an extra help of your partner (if he is around).
You need to have multiple locations in your home for diaper changing.
Keep in mind, most babies tend to pee as soon as they are exposed to air. Cover baby boy’s penis with a paper towel when you open baby diaper. You will learn the technique once you change a couple of diapers for your newborn.
Put a fresh diaper under baby bottom before opening the wet or soiled diaper.
Make sure you have a picture side on the front and tabs side on the back.
Lift her legs up and wipe off the bottom. You can put wipes in the dirty diaper and fold it. Make sure the baby’s bottom is clean and it is not going to soil the fresh diaper.
Once you make sure the baby’s bottom is clean, put the soiled diaper in a disposing sack and put it in the trash can.
Close the clean diaper by
sticking tabs on the front side.
Make sure it is snuggled well on the baby’s thighs and belly. A loose or low diaper would lead to early, messy and undesirable content to escape from the diaper.
boys tend to spray during a diaper change. Be cautious when you have a boy at hand. Leave him open for a lesser time, be quick in your task and once you are about to close, point his penis downwards to avoid unnecessary urine sneaking out.
A word on the girls’ Diaper change
On the contrary, girls tend to have areas where poop is hidden. Well, to ensure a gentle cleaning, do not be harsh on the inner areas of the lady part as it could cause undue irritation. It is not necessary to wipe a white discharge between the folds of labia.
However, this is to remind you, just to avoid Urinary tract infections, you have to make sure you wipe from front to back.
Moreover, a healthy way could be a little wash down with fresh water to ensure cleaning.
Diaper changing safety
consideration
Never leave your baby unattended
Avoid changing table falls by strapping your baby securely
Beware of talcum powder. Do not use baby talcum powders on diaper areas as they are a risk to lungs if inhaled. However, if you still want you can use TALC free.
Keep plastic bags, safety pins or any harmful object out of baby’s reach
Facts about Strange diaper objects
Crystal-like particles are formed due to over soak in diapers. Changing frequently can stop them from appearing.
Very rarely you may notice a Colored secretion in a diaper. Always discuss with your doctor if something concerns you in any way.
Ways to dispose of diapers
Disposing diapers can be tricky. If you have a sensitive nose you may want to get specially designed odor eliminator diaper pails. Although it won’t smell outside still the odor gets worse inside.
Just a reminder – Anything similar to the diaper pail and diaper genie can be super smelly and for that reason, I would never use that. Those who may use it and recommend may have a better way to do it.
For both of my kids, I was disposing of diapers in a regular lid trash cans and manage to trash them out twice or thrice a week. I use diaper disposing sacks for soiled diapers every time I dispose them of. Also, You may not need to dispose of wet diapers in the sack.
Here are the things I would recommend for disposing of diapers.
Skin irritation on the diaper
area is called diaper rash.
Babies could get rashes due to a number of factors but generally, it is hard to find a reason in their newborn period. The most significant reason is, contact with pee or poop can sometimes be enough to cause skin irritation.
In some cases, a yeast called Candida Albicans is responsible for causing considerable redness and irritation. Sometimes this yeast finds its way to the inside of an infant’s mouth causing thrush.
Diaper rash may get worsen due to pee or poop, hot weather, and long hours without getting changed.
How you can Treat a diaper rash
Frequently changing wet or dirty diapers and keep the area clean and dry minimize rashes significantly.
Minimizing anything that triggers rash is all you have to do, as the use of detergents, soap, diaper brands, and wipes anything can cause diaper rash. Meanwhile. changing any of them may help.
Additionally, the use of zinc oxide, ointments or petroleum jelly may help.
For severe rash, always discuss with a doctor about possible treatment. Your pediatrics may prescribe steroids or antifungal cream to treat diaper rashes.
Remedies for treating rashes
Using just a bit of baby
powder (talc free) to keep area dry and avoid rashes.
Mix organic mustard oil mixed with water with equal proportions. Apply on a clean area before putting on the diaper. This is tried and tested and works 99.99% of the time to treat rashes.
Applying breastmilk is also known to be one of the most effective remedies for treating rashes.
Apply corn starch mixed with water is an effective remedy for treating rashes.
For swimming, your baby cannot wear a regular diaper as it is going to soak up water and finally burst into crystal-like particles and that is not recommended for public Pool settings anyway.
For babies and toddlers that are not toilet trained, you need to get swimming diapers. They are not going to soak pee while in water, whereas the purpose is to contain poop so it doesn’t get into the water.
For toilet training, toddlers need training diapers that are easy to pull down and up and save your home from accidents.
Diaper blowout Blocker
Newborns ruin their onesies A LOT due to poop explosions. There is a solution to protect your baby’s new outfits from getting poop stains by using blowout blocker, diaper extension. As a new parent, diapering is a whole new thing and challenging as well.
Diaper leaks are common in toddlers, especially at night. Due to diaper leaks in the middle of the night, babies end up waking up due to wet clothes. For working parents, it is kind of stressful to soothe a crying baby who wakes up from her sleep and keeps parents awake too.
Also, it is not always 100% that the baby is going back to sleep once she wakes up.
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Reasons why diaper leak at night
There could be a number of reasons for the diapers leaking at night.
Diaper brand
If you are experiencing diaper leaks more frequently at night, there is a possibility of an issue with a diaper brand. Some diaper brands may not have enough absorbency as compared to the expensive ones.
Luvs diaper brand is not as hugging as pampers cruisers. It is very likely for LUVS to leak at night.
That being said, you have to make sure the diaper you are using has a good fit all around, so it doesn’t leak in like 4 hours you put it on.
Your Child is a heavy wetter
Not every baby or a toddler is a heavy wetter. Some Toddlers, if not all, love to drink water or juice and for that reason leaks happen. Even if they are showering or bathing, it is very likely for them to drink tons of water and eventually it’s about oversoaked diapers leaking too soon.
Needs a diaper change
When was the last time you changed the diaper? Is it more than 8 hours or you can touch the diaper and feel an over soaked diaper. change it immediately because chances are it’s going to be all over, next time she pees.
Your child is sleeping in awkward ways
Nighttime leaks are very common that leave parents worried because eventually, the baby is going to wake up due to a wet bed and wet clothes. A toddler who loves to sleep on her tummy, or when there is a need to pee, toddlers most likely twists and turns in their sleep and consequently the diaper leaks.
In that case, leaks are going to happen regardless, the best thing you can do is to use mattress pads to protect your bedding.
Baby boys and baby girls
For baby boys, it leaks usually due to the direction of his penis and for baby girls, it could happen anytime.
Baby is feeling cold
Sometimes the temperature is too low and for that reason, frequent urination is very likely. If your baby is leaking at night, the first thing you need to see if she is cold at night. Touch the baby’s neck with a bare hand and see if it feels cold than normal.
Tips to prevent diaper leaks for heavy wetters
Heavy wetting is common among toddlers, and on the other hand, it is quite stressful for the parents to deal with frequent diaper leaks despite using the best diaper brands out there.
Here I tell you simple solutions to prevent diaper leaks significantly and, not limiting the water intake – as water is essential for staying hydrated and healthy. Limiting liquids altogether is not at all recommended for babies.
However, parents need to understand, what goes in has to come out. The more liquid your child intakes, the more wet diapers she has.
Go one size up for the night time diapering
If your baby is drinking too much water or milk then – go a size up for diapers to prevent nighttime leaks or limit water intake one hour before bedtime.
Generally, having one size bigger for the night time diapering could help you deal with extra absorbency. Most likely, your toddler is wearing size 5 or size 6 depending on her growth by her first birthday.
Use booster pads for extra absorbancy
For heavy wetter toddlers, you can use booster pads. Just stick a pad in the baby’s regular diaper in order to increase the absorbancy to avoid wake-ups in the middle of the night.
You need a waterproof washable mattress cover, regardless. Diaper leaks could happen any time and anywhere so just to protect your mattress and your baby’s mattress you have to have one. You can get a waterproof mattress cover from Walmart, Target or order online.
Change diaper in the middle of the night
This solution is possible for Co-sleeping babies toddlers or those who are sleeping in their own beds instead of a crib. Change diaper in the middle of the night.
Tips for changing a diaper at night
When you touch baby’s diaper you will know it is full or still has enough room for more wees.
Most of the good brand diapers have absorbancy for 8 to 12 hours. But for some kids, you need to change.
Try not to wake up a baby especially if she is a light sleeper. Generally, toddlers get better at sleeping through the night, therefore, it becomes relatively less challenging to change a diaper in the night.
Do not turn on the lights. Instead, use a night light or a flashlight of your phone.
Do not use wipes, cold wipes or warm that could wake her up – unless it is a soiled diaper.
Keep it quick and short. Place a clean diaper under the soaked one. For boys do not forget to have a dry paper towel to cover the wee area in case of unexpected sprays.
As a general rule, If a baby or toddler sleeps around 7 pm until 7 am, ideally you should change diaper after midnight to prevent her to wake up around 3 am that is way before her wake up time.
No tight Pjs
When you dress up your kids for the night, make sure the trousers are not tight around the diaper area. Diapers inflate thus, there should be enough room for diaper to soak liquids. if the bottom apparel is tight, the diaper is gonna leak earlier than it should.
No tight PJ – make sure trousers or pants are roomy enough and let diaper expand while soaked. It is very likely for a diaper to explode or leak If the trousers are tight.
In addition to that, if your toddler is wearing a onesie every night and she is a heavy wetter, it would be better if you switch to clothes that can be changed easily at night without waking her up. For instance, it is relatively easier to change a wet trouser rather than a onesie.
I hope you find these suggestions helpful in preventing diaper-leaks at night that I have learned on my own, and so far, I have been implementing them successfully.
When babies start crawling, you need to baby proof all tricky areas of your house. Your little explorer wants to explore every spot around your House that may interest him.
Baby’s safety should be your top priority and you must take safety measures and encourage her to learn and explore.
As a parent, you are the best judge what your child is capable of. YOU can decide what your child needs in order to keep them protected.
Every child is different from the other. Some are generally more active than the others. That being said, depending on your child’s behavior and activities, you must decide what safety measure you need.
Save this post so you can find solutions for baby-to-toddler proofing to prevent your child from potential dangers at every stage.
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Baby-proof your home to keep babies and toddlers safe
Kitchen Cabinets safety
Move cleaners and glass utensils in upper cabinets
Kitchen cabinets and drawers are the first targets for little explorers. All you need to do, move all kinds of cleaners and anything that is hazardous for babies and kids.
Also, move Ceramic or glass utensils in the upper cabinets and replace them with plastic container boxes. They may spend hours opening and closing them. It is a lot of work.
For extra safety and keeping the child from hurting her hands, you can choose what baby proofing latches work best for cabinets and drawers in your house according to kitchens and rooms configuration.
For spoons and ladles drawers, make sure they do not have access to knives, cutters, and graters.
For you to clean up all that mess. But look at it this way, you have tons of stuff to do, what they gonna do all day long. Embrace the mess and let them learn and explore keeping safety intact.
They too need real-life learning, just when they do not want to play with toys.
Some kids, if not all, have no special interest in taking risks. Although I have never used outlet covers that doesn’t mean you do not need that either. At some point when babies learn to crawl and stand, that seems to be the best attraction around the house.
For parents who leave kids with baby sitters or grandparents or if they know their child is too active and love to explore on his own, then you should never risk their safety. Invest in your peace of mind.
Here are a few options that may work for your outlet covers.
In the first place, you should try to firmly say “No” when she is about to touch it, your reaction to your child activities counts a lot. Do not panic, and stay composed.
Also, you can cover your outlets with painters tape.
Stairs safety
Safety doors are essentials to protect kids from falling. Choose the right gate depending on the configuration of your house.
Essentially you need to have gates in certain areas of your home when your baby is almost ready to crawl. That’s the high time to make it safe.
However, this stage won’t be too long, kids learn eventually. But you cannot go without having one if you have stairs in your home. Babies are fragile, you need to be extra vigilant.
Generally, kids are cautious, however, when do they fall, it’s mostly out of sheer mistake or an accident.
The key is to keep telling kids and warn around dangers. For that, you have to be consistent about warning them with logic and reasoning. Trust me, they will get it before you even know it.
Door safety
If you have already baby-proof other areas in your house, you must not forget about room and closet doors safety and drawers safety as well. Nevertheless, that’s the most tricky area babies and toddlers are exploring what’s inside.
Many kids accidentally hurt their fingers in between the sliding door and drawers.
Machines like a sewing machine, paper shredder, etc – everything that may have a potential threat. Think above and beyond and see what are the dangerous areas and get rid of the harmful and unsafe stuff around the house.
Never leave paper shredder turned on while you have a baby or a toddler at home.
Glass tables protection
For new parents, tables with sharp edges and sharp corners need a lot of attention. Protect your baby by using the table corner guards. Choose what works best with your furniture.
Cover the harmful edges of your furniture like a TV stand or coffee table, with a foam and tape it well.
Sometimes babies stumble and they end up falling. This may hurt. My son hit his head on a round glass table with no sharp edge and still got 1/2 an inch deep cut on his forehead. Not even in the fraction of my thought, I could foresee a round table could hurt anyone.
Regardless of what tables you have in your house, just be sure the play area and other rooms in the house are baby-friendly and safe in every possible way.
Keeping kids from going outside unsupervised
When toddlers learn to open the door, the concerning part is the main entry and exit door. If not all, for some kids parents need to have door protection that will keep them from exiting unsupervised.
These door knobs are super helpful. I myself had to use it when my daughter started opening the door and go outside unsupervised. I highly recommend using it for toddlers who can easily open the door and go out leaving parents worried.
Door knobs and stove knobs safety covers are the perfect solutions for curious toddlers.
In my experience, what I have witnessed, kids understand safety very well. Infants tend to cry if they are not feeling safe while held by strangers.
I have noticed even infants’ reflexes are super strong they would have their grip tightened if they notice sudden unsafe movement.
As a parent, the best practice is to consistently tell them not to put themselves in danger. Generally, it may seem unrealistic to believe, how can a child understand dangers that early in life. Although not in the same sense as an adult still kids are very smart and they tend to learn fast.
Newborns heads are proportionately larger than the rest of their bodies when they are born. Gradually in a matter of a few months, the baby grows at a rapid pace so her head gets proportionate to her lower body fairly quickly.
Babies are born with a soft head naturally so that it can compress or overlap to fit through the birth canal. The shape of a baby’s head is not always picture-perfect. Some babies get cone-headed while making their way through the birth canal.
If you run your fingers over your baby’s skull, you may feel ridges along with the areas where the bony plates of the skull have overlapped. Coneheads are quite typical.
However, this does not mean their head is going to stay the same for life. Fortunately, over the next several weeks baby’s skull bones round up and the ridges will disappear. Baby’s head will shape up with time and you have to make sure your baby is not spending too much time on her back. This might lead to the flat head syndrome.
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Everything about Newborn’s Head, Face, Eyes, and Nose, handling
As a new parent, you need to be super careful while holding a baby. Always support the baby’s head with a hand underneath supporting both the head and the neck for the first couple of months at least. Soon the baby would know how to balance her head all by herself.
The soft spot
Soft spot generally known as fontanelles are normal gaps that allow the baby’s brain to grow rapidly throughout the next year.
Parents need to be gentle when touching the fontanelles on everyday handling. You may notice pulsating soft spot which is normal meaning the visible pulsing of blood.
Also, parents need to keep a close eye on sunken soft spot indicating dehydration combined with poor feeding and dry diapers.
Heads Coverup
The real reason why baby’s heads are covered with hats is, newborns tend to lose a significant amount of heat from their heads if not covered, more quickly than adults. This is why it is recommended to have a hat over the baby’s head at least for the first few weeks.
Baby’s hair
Your newborn may be born with a head full of hair or no hair, however, there is a possibility of hair thinning out significantly in the next few weeks and then the real hair coming back.
Cradle cap
Babies tend to develop cradle cap on their heads, typically seem like a thick dandruff layer. Although it is not harmful and itching may take its toll leaving parents worried.
The solution to dealing with cradle cap is massage baby’s scalp with oil and then scrape off gently with soft bristles comb.
The good news is, in many cases cradle cap is gone within a few months even If you leave it on its own.
Babies may develop flat heads or flat spots due to constant pressure on their heads while they are on their backs. The biggest challenge of being a parent is to ensure a perfect balance in almost everything you do with your baby.
While it is essentials for babies to be on their backs for better head shape as most of them are born with elongated heads; it is also very important to make sure the baby’s head is shaping up nice and round, and not developing any flat spots.
Care instructions every parent must know about the baby;s head shape
Try to lay down your baby on his back, not on the side. However, if you are laying him down on the side then make sure it is not always the same side. You need to keep flipping sides. As it may lead to flat spots on one side and not on the other.
Moreover, practicing tummy time is helpful in avoiding flat head in babies, once the umbilical cord is detached.
Using a head shaping pillow (supervised) to avoid flat head if the baby is on her back most of the time, while in the car seat or on a play mat.
If you notice flat spots on the baby’s head, talk to your doctor about Plagiocephaly. In most cases, the baby may need a helmet therapy that it is very effective in treating deformities diagnosed as early as possible.
Baby’s eyes and everything related
Baby’s vision develops with a time frame of 3 to 5 years. Newborns can see fairly hazy to 8 to 12 inches and then within 3 months, they can not only see you also they are able to follow objects.
Newborns can see in contrast to colors like black, white and red. Sooner they are getting to see every color of nature.
This is why Newborns’ books are in black, white and red contrasts.
Babies may look like they are cross-eyed
Parents may notice their newborn appear cross-eyed on some occasions. They should develop better eye control muscles fairly quickly. However, if you are still noticing any different eye movements in your baby’s eyes, do not hesitate to talk to your child’s pediatrician.
No tears for newborns
Newborns do not shed a tear while they cry for the first couple of months. However, premature babies reportedly produce enough tears to coat and lubricate their eyes. In reality, the amount of tears newborn make are not enough to roll down for the first few months.
What is Blocked tear duct
Although block tear duct is a situation you might notice in your newborn. Newborns have tiny tear duct in the inner corner of the eyes that plays an important part in functioning drainage.
Discuss this with your pediatrician and follow her advice on the treatment.
Baby’s nose
A baby’s nasal passage doesn’t develop and open up the way It is supposed to be. However, they are obligated to breathe through their narrow little nose for about 3 to 6 months. This makes newborn breathing noisy due to dryness and stuffiness.
Sneezing is normal for babies
Newborns tend to sneeze a lot and it is another normal thing about babies. Most babies outgrow this tendency of sneezing to the slightest tickle within a few months.
The best thing is to use saline drops to fight off the dry stuffy nose.
Bulb suction or Nose Frieda nasal aspirator: using bulb suctions or nose Frieda in case of sick days and really stuffy congestion. Most of the time, hospitals provide you with bulb suctions as they are frequently used at the hospital to suck out any liquid from the baby’s mouth.
Using a humidifier for dry rooms or dry environments can significantly improve baby’s sleep as well as in her sick days makes breathing fairly easy.
Parents may notice some things about the baby’s mouth and it is always better to discuss it with your child’s care provider.
White clear bumps
You may notice white clear bumps inside the baby’s mouth on lips, gums.
Newborn or natal teeth
In rare cases, newborns are born with too early teeth. If you notice something like this, you may have to get them removed.
Sucking blisters
Babies may develop blisters inside their mouths due to frequent sucking. The good news is, sucking blisters will eventually go on their own.
White coating
You might notice white coating inside the baby’s mouth probably due to formula or milk residue in the baby’s mouth. Despite some cases, it could be thrush and need to be discussed with the care provider.
What is Thrush
Thrush is caused by a type of yeast called Candida Albicans that is found in the intestinal tract and is responsible for some diaper rashes also. This type of yeast spread inside the mouth and keeps coming back.
Besides, liquid yeast medication is one of the solutions, also a purple staining solution is suggested in the worst cases of thrush.
The best practice as a parent is to always discuss with your pediatrician if you notice anything inside the baby’s mouth.
Tongues are connected with a little tissue frenulum with the floor of our mouth. We are all born with frenulum but for newborns, this is extended to the tip of the newborn’s tongue.
Although this condition is harmless and generally requires no treatment. However, for some, it makes latching on breasts difficult that may lead to a small procedure to fix it.
Baby Acne
Babies tend to get tiny bumps on their face called baby acne. You do not need to apply anything on the baby’s face. Just wash and gently wipe dry. These acne bumps will most likely go away in a few days. If otherwise do not hesitate to talk to your pediatrician about it.
Many moms tried using breastmilk and have noticed significant recovery. The best thing to do is, do not use anything but breastmilk if you wish.
That being said, the timeline for baby acne to go away is at least a couple of weeks for most cases.
Having kids get overwhelming for new parents. Newborns are fragile yet strong enough to make through the mom’s cozy uterine cafe to this world.
Babies need a lot of care and attention during their newborn stage. However, these baby care tips make it easy for new moms who are feeling overwhelmed with this new baby phase.
These simple, and easy to follow baby care tips are going to be helpful for new moms during the first couple of years.
If you are expecting a baby anytime soon, save this for later, since it has helpful tips about baby sleep, diapering, feeding, and clothing, etc, a new mom needs to know about for the baby’s first year after birth.
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Newborn care tips for new moms and dads
Before I forget, I need to start with diapering tips.
Baby Diapering Tips
Diapering is an unavoidable part of parenthood. You cannot go diaper-less with kids until they are 2 to 3 years old. On average parents change 3000 diapers during their first year alone. 8 to 12 diapers a day.
You can always try to change an over-soaked wet diaper only while your baby is asleep without waking her up.
2. Do not change a dirty diaper while your baby is asleep unless the baby wakes up by herself.
3. While changing a wet diaper only, do not use cold or warm wipes in case of wet diaper only while the baby is still asleep. the touch of the wet wipe is most likely going to wake your baby up.
4. Use cell phone light or use a night light while changing a diaper.
Note: Diaper change in the middle of the night can only be possible if the baby is sleeping in her bassinet, toddler bed or co-sleeping. With high rails crib, it may not be convenient for moms or dads to change a diaper.
5. For babies who tend to toss and turn a lot while sleeping may end up having diaper leaks without getting fully soaked. You can use mattress pads or disposable changing pads on the baby’s crib to deal with such situations.
6. If your baby is a heavy wetter due to water or liquids intake, I highly recommend having your baby(toddler) wear PJs or night trouser that are somewhat loose around the diaper area.
7. Tight clothes around the diaper area do not allow the diaper to reach its full potential of absorbing liquids. For heavy wetters, make sure you change diaper more frequently because, once it is oversoaked, there is a high chance of leaking.
8. When your Well-fed baby cries at night it could be due to following reasons mainly:
9. First, of all, decide where you need to change the diaper and then keep all diapering essentials in your arm’s reach. It should preferably be a changing station with a changing pad.
10. This one is for dads: When diapering, make sure you have a picture side on the front and tabs side on the back.
11. The diaper should not be on top of the umbilical cord – use pampers for newborns that are curved for the umbilical cord.
12. Expect more diaper blowouts, while your newborn is more in a laying down position or in a sitting position, the poop or pee has to go somewhere in and out the diaper. The best tips to prevent diaper blowouts are to size up, change frequently and do not delay diaper change for babies. However, for infants, you may want to wait for another 10 minutes to get everything clear out from inside.
Baby needs to eat as soon as baby is born. Latching baby immediately after birth is the best and recommended way to start your new journey of motherhood.
13. If your baby is not sleeping well even after nursing good, she may need top feed in order to feel full.
14. I get a lot of criticism for giving out breastfeeding advice. To be honest, I can assure you one thing, if you want to exclusively breastfeed you can once you have enough supply. However, the starting weeks are rough And I would never advise you to starve your newborn baby when she is hungry and you are struggling With a milk supply.
15. Dehydration in newborn babies is a serious thing. Never starve your newborn baby.
16. There could be a number of reasons for delayed supply or just hormones are playing big time and you do not feel the energy to nurse, take your time and supplement if you feel the need to do it.
17. Nurse every two hours to establish a good milk supply.
18. If your baby seems to have a reflux issue and tend to throw up what she eats, that means she needs gradual feeding, after every feed, she needs to be in an upright position.
19. Wear the baby as it is the best way to keep baby upright while staying handsfree to get done with other chores. Reflux issues get better as baby grows.
20. When feeding through a bottle, you have to make sure, there are no soap residues in bottles, and do not shake the bottle too much that makes it bubbly. This will prevent from having gas issues.
21. Either you are feeding formula or pumped breastmilk through a feeding bottle, position bottle up to fill in the entire nipple to avoid air going inside.
22. For colic babies, the best thing is to feed more often and early to avoid gas triggers.
23. Breastfeeding babies and formula-fed babies may show signs of an allergy too on something you are eating. It could be in the form of lactose intolerance, or bumps on the body may appear due to allergic reaction to something mom is eating. They may grow out of these allergies later in life.
24. Postpartum hair fall is normal when you notice the hair fall has started playing its game, maybe its time to increase baby’s feed or start introducing solids.
25. No matter when you start semi-solids with your baby, the best thing is when the baby gets the hang of eating solids, ENCOURAGE SELF FEED. no earlier than 7 to 8 months depends on how your baby reaching her milestones.
27. For newborns, wake up a sleeping baby to feed every 2 hours during the day and stretch night sleep to 3 to 4 hours depending on how well-fed baby is during the day.
28. Always try to swaddle for the first couple of months and see if that option works for you to get you and baby some sleep at night.
29. Do not wake up your sleeping baby to feed once they are well fed and sleeping for longer stretches at night. This will eventually help the baby get the hang of nighttime sleep.
30. Do not just have your baby laying down all the time. Adjust the baby’s head and keep an eye on head shape especially in the first three to 4 months after birth.
31. Babies who are laying down most times of the day, tend to develop flat spots. Keep flipping sides when putting baby to sleep.
32. Babies are born with a soft head and normally delivered babies may get elongated head due to pressures passing through the birth canal. In order to have a normal round-shaped head, babies have to be on their backs and remember, moderation is the key.
33. Do not create day and night confusion from day 1. Keep nights quiet and dark and days louder and brighter. This will help babies get on a night schedule faster.
34. If your newborn baby wakes up in the middle of the night hungry and wide awake, try not to talk or light up your room. Feed on demand and put baby down. Eventually baby is asleep. If you have to hold your baby for a burp, keep it quiet and dark. In order to set a sleep schedule for your baby, you need to avoid mistakes from day one.
35. Using a sound machine is a must for new moms. Either you are co-sleeping or room sharing or you have a separate room for kids, keeping a sound machine is a must. Besides other newborn needs like hunger, wet diaper or being cold at night, your baby will be able to sleep better without waking up to unnecessary sounds.
Things get better as long as you and your baby can sleep well through the night. I highly recommend using a sound machine.
If you are curious, I have been using this one for about 2 years. The rain sound is the best out of all and effective. It is affordable, portable and goes everywhere with us even work in different countries too.
38. No too many newborn shoes for at least 3 to 4 months. Once the baby starts sitting up or crawling, I would prefer having shoes.
Newborn baby clothes and shoes are so tempting that you hardly resist. Trust me, babies grow up super fast and if you are a savvy mom, do not fall for it. You can use that money on bigger shoes.
39. Onesies shoulder flaps are meant to prevent baby’s hair from blowouts.
40. Avoid using tight trousers or pants for baby as it may cause gas or prevent it from releasing out of the body.
41. While going out, dressing up your baby weather appropriate. Your baby may need just one extra layer than you are wearing. Either use a light blanket in summers or a car seat cover. During winters you need a warm car seat cover if you are staying outdoor for a while. Otherwise, a baby blanket would do just fine.
42. Always use the hat for the first couple of months irrespective of the weather. Newborns tend to lose body heat from their heads faster as the head is the largest part of the newborn body. Keeping body temperature normal is necessary.
43. Keeping newborn protected while you go out should be your top priority. Using canopy strollers or blankets to cover babies outside is essential from UAV and UAB rays of the sun.
44. Sunscreen is a must even for babies if you are staying longer outside.
45. Baby acne is a common skin condition in newborns, the best thing is to leave that alone. It is going to go away in a few days. Keep skin clean, and do not rub. However, you can still apply breastmilk as a lot of moms have been using it as a home remedy.
46. White bumps called “milia” appear on the baby’s nose and generally leave soon.
47. Erythema Toxicum is a splotchy, bumpy rash that appears shortly after birth and can be expected to leave in a week or so.
48. Heat rash is due to sweating which may result in small pink pimples on baby skin. Keep your baby cool and clean and make sure you clean baby’s neck fold and dry them thoroughly
49. Eczema is a skin condition usually triggers with fragrant products like detergents, body wash, etc. In case you see patches near the fold, elbows, arms, etc, talk to your doctor to get it evaluated.
50. Babies are vulnerable to get jaundice. Although mild jaundice goes away on its own in a few days still the best thing is to have your baby sit or lay down beside the window where you and baby can enjoy indirect sunlight.
Indirect sunlight is a quick remedy for treating jaundice. However, if you notice the persistent condition of skin getting more yellow, eyes, tongue, etc. you need to call the doctor right away.
51. Thrush is a mouth condition when a yeast infection travels to the baby’s mouth. This yeast will form white skin patches inside the baby’s mouth. You need to call your doctor when you notice any signs of thrush.
52. Diaper rash is the skin irritation and the best remedy for severe diaper rash if using mustard oil mixed with water. Also, A+D ointment works best for diaper rash.
53. Baby’s skin is soaked in water for good 9 months and once they are out, it most likely gets dry, cracked and peeling. Massage oil to prevent skin from getting over-dry.
Head handling Tips
54. Soft Spot handling: Parents need to be gentle when touching the fontanelles on everyday handling. A sunken soft spot is an indication of dehydration. Newborn Baby sleeping for longer stretches during the day or may seem lazy is also an indication of dehydration.
55. Cradle cap is the thick layer of skin developed on the baby’s scalp. The solution to dealing with cradle cap is massage baby’s scalp with oil and then scrape off gently with soft bristles comb.
56. Your newborn may be born with a head full of hair or no hair, however, there is a possibility of hair thinning out significantly in the next few weeks and then the real hair coming back.
57. Baby’s vision develops with a time of 3 to 5 years. Newborns can see fairly hazy to 8 to 12 inches and then within 3 months, they can not only see you also they are able to follow objects.
58. Newborn or natal teeth: In rare cases, newborns are born with too early teeth. If you notice something like this, you may have to get them removed.
59. A baby’s nasal passage doesn’t develop and open up the way It is supposed to be. However, they are obligated to breathe through their narrow little nose for about 3 to 6 months. This makes newborn breathing noisy due to dryness and stuffiness.
60. Sucking blisters: Babies may develop blisters inside their mouth due to frequent sucking. Sucking blisters will eventually go on their own.
61. Tongue-tied: Tongues are connected with a little tissue frenulum with the floor of our mouth. We are all born with frenulum but for newborns, this is extended to the tip of the newborn’s tongue.
This condition is harmless and generally requires no treatment. However, for some, it makes latching on breasts difficult that may lead to a small procedure to fix it.
62. Newborns do not shed a tear while they cry for the first couple of months. However, premature babies reportedly produce enough tears to coat and lubricate their eyes. Tears newborns make are not enough to roll down for the first few months.
63. Baby’s umbilical cord needs to stay dry to come off as early as 2 weeks and as late as 5 weeks (my experience too). Do not wet the cord while bathing. Sponge bath should work for the first few weeks as babies do not need frequent baths
64. Do not ever shake a baby even out of sheer joy as it could be fatal.
65. When you hold a newborn, always adjust the baby’s head with support of your hand as the newborn baby head is not stable enough until the baby is a few months old.
Baby soothing tips
66. For the first several months of a baby’s life, you should omit the possibility of spoiling. Newborns cry as that’s the only way they know how to communicate and once you hear your baby crying, it is highly advisable to promptly respond to their needs so that would send her a message that you are there to tend to her needs.
67. Moms get stressed out when babies are crying. You have to keep calm, take a deep breath and if needed take a break. If you are not ready mentally, emotionally or physically, take help from anyone available during that time, husband, or friend.
68. Put baby down for a little while safe and secure and compose yourself, as long as you are around, it doesn’t hurt the baby to cry for some time.
69. There are times when your head is spinning due to sleep deprivation or you may face other health concerns, Hold your newborn baby when you know you are in the best of your mental and physical state.
70. If the baby does not seem interested in eating or go a few hours without showing any sign of appetite, it is always a good practice to call your pediatrician.
Hi -I am Madiha, mom to two beautiful kids. Here you can find helpful tips about pregnancy, postpartum, newborn care, toddlers and product reviews. Join the tribe and let’s grow together as moms. Enjoy having kids while they are still little and more fun.
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Hi -I am Madiha, mom to two beautiful kids. Here you can find helpful tips about pregnancy, postpartum, newborn care, toddlers and product reviews. Join the tribe and let’s grow together as moms. Enjoy having kids while they are still little and more fun.