8 Newborn Baby Care Tips for First-Time Parents

Published on: 06 June 2018 Last Updated on: 10 December 2021

The experience of being a first-time parent can be exciting and overwhelming in equal measures. Despite the advice you get from family and friends during your prenatal period, parenting and especially baby care may still be challenging. Newborn Baby Care can make things easier for you.

For instance, you may have questions on how to bond with your baby, what to do when the baby cries and you have no idea what it wants, giving your baby a pacifier, breastfeeding, and so forth. To help you navigate through some of these unique mother-to-child scenarios, below are 8 tips to start you off. Additionally, you can also check SellFormula.com’s baby feeding guide for more info.

Here are 8 Newborn Baby Care Tips for First-Time Parents:

1. Prioritize Breast Milk:

Breast milk is far more superior to baby formula. It contains antibodies that lower the risk of bacterial and viral infections as well as allergies. Also, breast milk digests easier thereby enhancing the bioavailability of the necessary nutritional components.

Working mothers can express breast milk which is then stored, warmed, and fed to their baby in their absence. It is recommended that you feed your baby exclusively on breast milk for the first 6 months. Newborn baby care can make things easier for you.

2. Maintain a Warm Environment:

Before the baby’s natural thermoregulatory mechanism kicks on, ensure the immediate environment is warm and cozy enough. You can use a thermostat to set specific temperature ranges at least for the first few weeks. Newborn baby care can make things easier for you.

Do not overdress the baby especially on warm or hot days. This can lead to overheating and the development of rashes and heat illnesses.

3. Bathing Your Newborn:

Real baths do not begin until the umbilical cord stump has fallen off. Even then, bathing should be monitored to avoid heat loss during and after a bath. Ensure the water is at the right temperature and make the baths short. Sponge bathing is also recommended for newborns.

When you live in colder areas, make the bathroom warm enough before the bathing process begins. Exposing your baby to extreme cold may lead to hypothermia.

4. Change Diapers Frequently:

If you have never taken care of babies before, diaper changing may seem like a nightmare. On average, you will do diaper changes every two to three hours, but this frequency will drop as the baby approaches 12 months.

Getting the best changing table pad can make the process easy and comfortable. Look for a table that is sturdy, preferably with guard rails and ample storage drawers or shelves.

5. Personal Hygiene When Handling the Baby:

Babies are sensitive and it is in your best interest that you maintain proper personal hygiene. Immediately before and after interacting with the baby, wash your hands with an antiseptic solution.

As much as you can, minimize the baby’s contact with strangers at least for the first few months. Clothes can be contaminated with allergens or microbes hence the need to watch out for their cleanliness.

6. Do Not Interrupt Sleeping Sessions:

First-time parents often get concerned about the length of their baby’s sleep. On average, expect newborns to sleep for up to 18 hours a day. However, babies are different and some will be more active compared to others.

Do not wake them up in the middle of their sleeping cycles because doing so interferes with their natural activity patterns. When you see your baby sleeping for shorter hours, contact your pediatrician and check for any anomalies.

7. Watch Out for Signs of Neonatal Jaundice:

Newborn babies are susceptible to physiological jaundice. For full-term babies, this tends to disappear within 10 days, but for preterm babies, it may extend for a few more days. In case your baby develops jaundice that persists, it could be the pathological type and this requires immediate medical attention.

Look out for the yellowing of the skin and sclera (whites of the eyes). Don’t opt for phototherapy unless advised by or done under the care of a pediatrician.

8. Make the Crib Comfortable:

It is not uncommon for babies to sleep on you and immediately you transfer them to their cribs, they wake up. The major cause for this is insufficient warmth and comfort in the crib. The best way to counter this trend is to prewarm the crib and gently slip the baby in between the warm blanket folds. New

In addition, locate the crib away from drafty windows, fans, and air vents. This helps in ensuring a regular indoor environment.

There are other tips out there you can include in your checklist. However, the above should set you on the right path to nurturing your bundle of joy. It is important you spend as much time with the baby as possible so that you can bond and create a familiar atmosphere.

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Reduce Your Exposure to Radiation When Using Your Mobile Phone

You need to use your phone all the time. You are aware that it is not healthy to use it for several hours, but you can’t help it. Smartphones allow you to do almost anything using your phone. Before, phones were only for calling and texting. Now, you can use your phone for banking, shopping, social media posting, advertising, networking, and many other things. There is also a growing number of apps that may be useful to you. The problem with the use of your phone, continually, is that you run the risk of exposure to radiation. Since you can't stop yourself from using your phone, there are ways to use it without increased radiation exposure. Use a headset If you are calling someone, you can use a headset or a speakerphone, so you don't put your device directly on your ear. You might notice that phones get hot when used continuously for hours. It shows that the phone is giving off high levels of radiation. However, if your phone is far away from you as you are using a headset, it limits the impact of radiation. Keep your phone in your bag It is not a good idea to put your phone in your pocket as it is directly in contact with your body. You can use your bag or purse to keep your phone when not in use. Your body tissues might easily absorb phone radiation if the phone is too close. Think about texting instead of talking Instead of having a long conversation over the phone, you could chat with another person. You will still get the same information anyway. When texting, your phone is at least a few inches away from your head. Besides, when you call someone, you tend to talk about things that are unnecessary. Texting allows you to limit the conversation as it can be tiring to keep answering. Avoid calling when the signal is weak Don't force yourself to contact someone when your signal is inadequate unless the call is for emergency reasons. When the signal is weak, the phone will keep emitting radiation as it tries to make a connection. You are increasing exposure to radiation if you keep doing it. Also, when the phone on the other end is still ringing, you don't need to put your phone to your ear. Wait until the other party answers before you start talking. Talk less If you can, you need to find a way to reduce the use of your phone. It might seem impossible, but you can do it. When you don't use your phone often, you won't have to deal with these radiation issues. You can also set a rule regarding screen time to force yourself to unplug once in a while. Use EMF protection You can use protective devices like EMF protection jewellery to block the radiation from entering your body. Even if your phone is around, or any other electronic devices for that matter, you stay protected. You need to do something about radiation exposure now before it is too late.

Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory In Adult Gerontology Nursing

Any Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP), or individual considering moving into this booming area, will probably be aware that it involves more than supporting patients through short term illnesses or meeting their needs in a hospital or nursing home. As a rule, the older a patient gets, the more likely they are to experience chronic health complications which interfere with their day-to-day tasks. For much of history, such patients were written off, encouraged to take to their beds and be supported entirely by others, doing very little. They often didn’t live very long. But all that changed on account of one remarkable nurse, Dorothea Orem, whose legacy continues to shape the nursing profession today. This article examines her groundbreaking self-care deficit theory and looks at how AGNPs might use it for their nursing career. Dorothea Orem Dorothea Orem was born in Baltimore in 1914 and studied nursing in the late 1930s. This was a time when nursing schools were still a new phenomenon and there was a lot of experimental thinking in the nascent profession. Though she spent time on the wards as a staff nurse, she also worked as an administrator and consultant over the course of her career, spending her later years focusing on theory. A naturally focused and attentive person, she soon began recording observations about the patients she worked with, leading to her self-care deficit theory of nursing, for which she strongly advocated for her entire life. It was theory which, in its early years, transformed the way nurses thought about patients and their duties. It laid the foundations for nursing today. Universal Self-Care Requisites Orem’s theory recognizes eight universal self-care requisites, or SCRs. Here, universal refers to things every human needs, regardless of circumstance. Air is needed for respiration. Water is needed to maintain a healthy level of hydration. Food is needed to maintain healthy energy levels and prevent starvation. Elimination or toileting, a polite way of referring to the expulsion of urine and feces from the body, is required too. In addition to these four things, Orem posits that every patient needs a balance of physical activity and rest. Everyone needs social interaction, but also some alone time. People need to manage their lives to avoid or remove hazards, and, finally, they need to promote normality. This means that they need to achieve and maintain a way of living and relating to the world which is normal for them as individuals and does not involve psychosis. Health Deviation Self-Care Requisites When patients are recovering from injury or illness, or living with a chronic illness or disability, they can be described as experiencing a health deviation. This is not pejorative – it simply establishes that they differ from the norm. Health deviations are more common in older demographics, as they have additional self-care requisites. These requisites include following doctors’ instructions (taking medicine on time), identifying problems caused by their conditions and attending to them effectively (sitting down until a dizzy spell passes), and knowing when and how to seek help from a caregiver or healthcare professional. It is also important that these patients can understand and accept that their bodies have changed and can adjust psychologically to cope with it. What Is A Self-Care Deficit? A self-care deficit occurs when people are no longer able to carry out basic tasks. This can be because a disability makes them physically impossible to perform, or a number of other reasons. For example, some people get so overwhelmed by the way their bodies have changed that they stop trying to live. This doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve sympathy – it is an understandable response to an extreme situation – but it might mean that there is potential for improvement. For some people, self-care deficits are permanent or are likely to worsen due to progressive illnesses. For others, however, they can be temporary, even in extreme old age. Self-care deficits stemming from a broken arm, for example, will normally dissipate after the arm heals, but this is less likely if the patient has learned to feel helpless in the meantime. Assessment, Diagnosis, And Implementation When using Orem’s theory, nurses have three steps to work through. The first is undertaken during the initial assessment of a new patient and involves identifying any self-care deficits. These are not always obvious from looking at a patient and the process may require gentle but persistent questioning. Some people may be embarrassed and hesitant to talk if they are unable to care for themselves. The second involves full diagnosis of the deficits, including establishing causes. The third step is to draw up a treatment plan based on these diagnoses. In her work, Orem stressed the importance of recognizing that every patient is a unique individual, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach to this type of planning. In each case, AGNPs will need to work with the patient to establish the most effective way forward. Five Ways Nurses Can Help There are five strategies nurses can use to address self-care deficits when establishing patient care plans: For the most severely incapacitated patients, it may be necessary to perform actions on their behalf, such as washing or dressing them. Patients struggling mentally or who lack confidence can be guided through actions, ideally to the point of independence. Patients can be taught new ways of approaching day to day tasks which make them easier to accomplish, such as taking a break to have a shower in the afternoon if it is too hard to find the energy at other times. AGNPs can focus on the patient’s environment, making it easier for them to carry out self-care activities, such as suggesting kitchen gadgets to reduce the physical effort involved in preparing meals. Finally, AGNPs can train a family caregiver to provide appropriate support. These five strategies involve numerous actions, skills, and tools that nurses can use. Patients may need particular assistance with the following tasks. Helping With Eating Patients should always be encouraged to do as much for themselves as is reasonably possible. When it comes to eating, nurses should start with encouragement. Many older people lose their appetite and don’t feel motivated to eat, especially when it requires effort. So, an AGNP can point out that they have more energy when they manage to eat regular meals. If the patient can get food to their mouth by themselves, nurses should resist the temptation to assist, even if they sometimes drop the food. Instead, nurses can reassure them that this is not uncommon and all they need to do is take a little more time. Nurses should also be alert to the possibility of choking issues and arrange X-rays if concerned. If some food proves difficult to eat, they can discuss the possibility of dietary adjustments. Helping With Toileting Nurses should reassure patients that, awkward as they may feel, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. The nurse must ensure they can transfer on and off the toilet safely and consider options like raising the height of the seat or installing grab. If there is a risk of falling, AGNPs may suggest bedpans for use when no caregiver is present. If adult diapers are needed, nurses should ensure that patients know how and when to change them (even if they are not soiled) and how to protect their skin against rashes or bruises caused by wearing them. Finally, nurses can also discuss medical options for softening stools or speeding up or slowing down digestive transit. Helping With Dressing And Grooming A balance must be struck between helping patients be more independent in dressing and grooming themselves and enabling them to maintain a style or standard of appearance that is natural for them. Some older men prefer to be clean shaven but end up growing beards because it is easier to trim a beard than it is to shave safely and neatly, for example. Some clothing options can be easier to get into than others, depending on a patient’s particular mobility difficulties. Simple devices such as a stick with a hook on the end can make adjusting the back of a garment or doing up a zip much easier. Nurses should pay particular attention to footwear to make sure patients can stand or walk safely. Reducing Hazards Whether a nurse is helping a patient to move around and complete self-care tasks in a hospital ward, a care home, or their own home, they must always pay attention to hazard prevention. Hazards can include mess, a layout created without regard for disability, or other people or pets moving around. Nurses can start by ensuring that the patient is aware of the risks and can recognize dangerous situations. They should discuss simple measures like installing handrails or changing routines to make it easier to keep the area tidy. Nurses can also ensure that the patient can summon help if something goes wrong, by persuading them to install an alarm system or carry a charged mobile phone at all times, for example. Care With Communication Often, older patients who have self-care deficits also have difficulty with communication, whether due to physical or cognitive disability. Depending on their lifestyle in recent years, they may also be unfamiliar with modern technologies, but shy about admitting this. It is important for nurses to make sure that when they are addressing issues around essential needs, the patient understand them properly and vice versa. It can be helpful to use pictures in communication, which are often available in support materials. When meeting a patient in the place they are going to be living, the nurse and patient can explore it together (in stages, if necessary) so both parties can directly identify issues. Seeing Each Patient As An Individual An essential tenet of Orem’s theory is that patients must be treated as individuals. This increases the chance that they will stick to treatment plans, as well as directly improving their psychological wellbeing. Any nurse that’s interested in Orem’s theory and is considering joining this field will be looking into gerontology nurse practitioner programs online. The best courses place a lot of emphasis on adaptability and on learning how to manage different types of patients in different environments. The program at the University of Indianapolis, for example, encourages students to develop the patience and listening skills essential to getting to know patients and making them a part of the process. This communication and relationship building is essential to developing plans which will really benefit patients over the long term. The course at the University of Indianapolis is an eight-semester program designed for working nurses, involving part-time study and an intensive clinical placement. The Nursing Profession Continues To Benefit Thanks to Orem and her self-care deficit theory, patients are no longer left to waste away as they begin to struggle with old age. Generations of nurses who have practiced this theory have observed that, even in later life, patients can often improve and regain their self- care abilities with the right support. Advances in assistive technologies continue to make this even easier. The right support, focused on facilitating and encouraging independence, enables seniors to go on living satisfying lives on their own terms for much longer. Even when they need extensive practical support, giving them more control helps to maintain their morale and ability to navigate the final chapter of their lives. In the process of providing this support, AGNPs also get what they really want; to see their patients thrive, no matter what they must overcome to achieve it. Additionals: 8 Awesome Health Benefits Of Dark Chocolate Psychedelic Therapy for Mental Health Conditions How Does Children’s Health Impact Parental Lifestyle?

How To Safely And Effectively Clear Your Complexion

One of the most common things we notice with people aside from their smile is their skin. They say that the skin says a lot about a person's health--and that is true. When our complexion is not clear as we'd like it to be, there may be other underlying problems such as hormonal imbalances, poor hygiene, or lifestyle changes we need to address. According to dermatologists, the complexion is an important part of not just our physical well-being, but it also gives us a gauge of how we perceive ourselves. Having a clear complexion helps us to: Feel confident about ourselves - we don't have to feel embarrassed about our skin condition. When our skin is clear, we feel more confident about ourselves and are less self-conscious about our appearance. Helps us in career and other lifestyle choices - when we make big decisions in life, we want to be as presentable as possible. Having clear skin also helps us to achieve well as we make big choices in our career. Gives us an overall sense of well-being - poor skin complexion is a gateway to more infections in the body. Since acne and psoriasis can also be sites of open wounds, it might be an entry point for infection. Having clear skin steers us away from this risk. As we understand the benefits of having clear skin, this article gives us additional ways to help clear our complexion in simple and effective ways. How To Safely And Effectively Clear Your Complexion 1. Drink plenty of water : As with any health problem, drinking enough water can work wonders for your skin. Most of the problems with psoriasis and acne stem from the skin lacking moisture. As a result, it can be more prone to irritation due to dryness. The dryness may create extra sebum, which in turn causes infection in people who are suffering from acne. Additionally, those who suffer from psoriasis may have difficulties curbing the skin problem when they are in dry weather conditions. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day can help supplement your skin with moisture that it needs to prevent further flare-ups. 2. Have a good skin regimen : There are some instances where soap and water on your face and body won't do the trick. You have to adopt a regimen that works for your skin. The most common step to do this is to identify a gentle wash, a toner, and a moisturizer for your skin. You can also add treatment for blemishes or flare-up spots. To help you decide better, you can ask the help of a dermatologist to give you advice on what products you can include in your regimen. The skin regimen should be consistently followed, or else you'll run the risk of having further infections. 3. Take skin medications : Aside from having a usual regimen, your dermatologist may also give your prescriptions for skin medications such as Tazorac. Tazorac is a vitamin A derivative drug which can help cure symptoms of psoriasis and acne. Additionally, you can also find Tazorac price discounts online on websites such as Singletary. You may use the Tazorac price discount voucher at participating drug stores in your area. These medications may be given if you have moderate to severe types of skin conditions. Just like your normal skincare regimen, you need to apply them consistently and as recommended. 4. Eat wholesome foods : There's a saying that goes "you are what you eat", however, the saying "your skin shows what you eat", is also true as well. Cut out junk food in your diet, as oils and other chemicals found in burgers, fries, pizza, and chips may cause you to break out with more blemishes. Too much milk and sugar can also cause skin problems as well, as they have the tendency to block out skin pores. Eat wholesome foods such as lean fish, green tea, and other healthy types of smoothies instead. These foods have skin-clearing properties that are even used as the main ingredient in some skin products. Read Also : 10 Foods For Vibrant, Glowing And Younger Skin Effects Of Sleep Deprivation On Your Skin & Good Sleeping Habits 7 Tips For People With Hypersensitive Skin

8 Newborn Baby Care Tips for First-Time Parents

Here are 8 Newborn Baby Care Tips for First-Time Parents:

1. Prioritize Breast Milk:

2. Maintain a Warm Environment:

3. Bathing Your Newborn:

4. Change Diapers Frequently:

5. Personal Hygiene When Handling the Baby:

6. Do Not Interrupt Sleeping Sessions:

7. Watch Out for Signs of Neonatal Jaundice:

8. Make the Crib Comfortable:

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Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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8 Newborn Baby Care Tips for First-Time Parents

Here are 8 Newborn Baby Care Tips for First-Time Parents:

1. Prioritize Breast Milk:

2. Maintain a Warm Environment:

3. Bathing Your Newborn:

4. Change Diapers Frequently:

5. Personal Hygiene When Handling the Baby:

6. Do Not Interrupt Sleeping Sessions:

7. Watch Out for Signs of Neonatal Jaundice:

8. Make the Crib Comfortable:

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Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

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