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This is the second part of the Newborn Care Tips series.

In the first part, we talked about newborn baby care tips on sleeping, feeding/breastfeeding, and diaper changing.

If you want to know more about the aforementioned topics, head on to Newborn Baby Care Tips for New Moms and Dads (Part 1).

Here, we'll talk about bathing a newborn baby, caring for the cord stump, and soothing a fussy and crying baby.


Bathing 

How to bathe a newborn baby:

  • Frequency of baths: In colder countries, it's normal to bathe/sponge bath a newborn for just 3 times a week on the first few weeks. In hot and humid countries like the Philippines, it's recommended to bathe your newborn baby every day. Of course, care should be given to prepare lukewarm bath water and to use hypoallergenic baby soap to avoid irritation.
  • Preparation: Always prepare all the things needed before bathing your baby: towel, changing pad, clothes, diaper changing paraphernalia, baby bathtub and bath seat (if applicable), baby soap/shampoo, etc.
  • Method of bathing: Use a shallow basin (or a baby bathtub), always test the water's temperature beforehand, and hold the baby with one hand or use a baby bath seat for better support. Be always sure to support your baby's head, neck, and back to avoid injuries. Your other hand should pour small amounts of water on the baby's head and body. It's advised not to use sponges when lathering soap and shampoo to your baby's sensitive skin; washcloths are preferred, or just use your bare hands.
  • Soap/shampoo: Use mild, unscented, hypoallergenic soap/shampoo that's specially formulated for babies. Dilute liquid soap and shampoo with water before application.

Umbilical cord stump care

How to clean and care for the umbilical cord stump:
  • Frequency of cleaning: Daily cord stump care should be done, once a day. Use a cotton ball dipped in clean water or 70% isopropyl alcohol, and then squeeze out the liquid onto the stump. Also clean the base of the stump in a gentle circular motion. Keep the area of the stump clean and dry to avoid infection, and fold the diaper away from the area of the stump. 
  • When the umbilical cord stump naturally falls off: The umbilical cord stump typically falls off after 1 to 3 weeks after birth. Never attempt to pull off the cord stump; it will naturally fall off on its own. Once the stump falls off, daily cord dressing should be done until it heals. Use cotton buds/swabs dipped in clean water or alcohol and gently clean starting from the inside going out.
  • Are abdominal binders needed: Do not apply abdominal binders. It can act as a medium for bacterial infection.

Crying and soothing a fussy baby

How to soothe a crying and fussy baby:
  • Why a baby cries: Babies cry for a number of reasons, so be sure to check if her diapers are soiled, the time when she was fed last, if the temperature in your room is too hot or too cold, or if she's coming down with something. Often, babies cry simply because they just want to be held. Trust your intuition.
  • Skin-to-skin, swaddling, and cuddling: Babies are used to the warmth and soft comforts of the womb. As much as you can, hold your baby, cuddle, and have skin-to-skin contact—these methods mimic closely to the natural environment of the womb, as with swaddling. Singing and rocking your baby are also recommended ways to soothe a crying baby. Find what works best for your little one.

About colic:

If your baby incessantly cries for 3 hours or more a day, 3 or more days a week, for 3 straight weeks, she may have colic. 

Colic is described as excessive crying for no apparent reason, though the reasons stem mainly from digestive problems. 

Often, infrequent burping after feeding could cause colic, so be sure to burp your baby right after every feeding.   

In the Philippines, manzanilla oil (chamomile oil) is often used to soothe colic; this is usually rubbed on the baby's tummy and fontanels, though be sure to check if your baby might be allergic to the oil. 

If you suspect that your baby has colic and none of the soothing practices could pacify your baby, see your pediatrician.
    ___

    It should be taken note, though, that the tips I rounded up here are from my own personal experience and from various advice I received from my pediatrician, parents, and other mom friends.

    Again, every baby is different, and it's important to take cues from your baby whether they positively respond to the type of care you're giving them or not.
    July 25, 2018 No comments

    Newborn Baby Care Tips in 2024

    Being a first-time parent is both an exciting and daunting experience.

    Believe me, my anxiety before I gave birth was nothing compared to the anxiety I felt the moment I first held our baby—it was crippling to the point of me thinking everything I was doing was wrong.
    Newborn Baby Care Tips for New Moms and Dads

    However, the beauty of parenthood is that, despite the lack of a step-by-step user manual on how to care for a little human, somehow, our intuition takes over the initial anxiety and points us to the best direction.

    Every new parent should know that there is no perfect way to care for a baby— every baby is different, thus, their needs and the way they respond to your care is different too.

    To help you ease out the newborn-stage anxiety, here are some newborn baby care tips for new moms and dads. 

    Sleeping for both baby and parents

    How to put a newborn baby to sleep and tips on how to deal with sleep deprivation:
    • Sleep pattern: The first month is always difficult. Your newborn is still adjusting to her life outside of the comforts of the womb, thus, their sleeping pattern is wildly erratic. On the second, third, and succeeding months, your baby's sleeping pattern will get better, and you too shall soon sleep soundly at night.
    • Length of time of sleep: Newborn babies tend to sleep for only around 2 to 4 hours at a time. They're awake for around the same amount of time as well.
    • Sleep deprivation of parents: While it sounds cliche, sleep when the baby sleeps helped us a lot. Of course, be practical and choose a good time to follow this newborn "hack." Lazy afternoons when there isn't a lot of housework to do worked great for us. It's also important to get help around the house so that you don't need to catch up on a lot of housework.
    • Nighttime sleep: Take turns with your spouse in waking up at night, and most importantly, be faithful with your agreed terms to avoid arguments. 

    Feeding/breastfeeding

    How much milk newborn babies need and how frequent newborns breastfeed:
    • How much milk babies need: The capacity of a newborn's stomach gradually grows in the first month. On the first day, it's approximately the size of a cherry (approximately 5 to 7 ml of milk). On the first week, newborns have a capacity of 1.5 to 2 oz of milk for each feeding, and on the second week and onwards, around 2.5 to 5 oz for each feeding.
    • Frequency of feeding: Newborns typically feed every 2 to 4 hours, so expect a lot of feeding or breastfeeding. Babies typically feed 6 to 8 times a day.
    • When is it time to feed: Watch out for early hunger cues: smacking of the lips, opening of the mouth, and rooting. Don't wait for your baby to be fussy or crying before feeding; those are already late hunger cues. 
    • Feeding and sleeping: If your baby sleeps beyond 4 hours, there's no need to wake her up just to feed. Let her sleep as much as you can and then feed her when she's awake.
    • Length of feeding: Let your baby determine the length of feeding; there's no need to time it. It's also normal for baby to fall asleep while feeding. Always burp the baby after feeding.
    • Is baby getting enough milk: Signs that indicate that your baby is getting enough milk include your breasts feeling softer and less full after feeding and having around 5 to 6, or more, wet diapers a day.
    • Should water be given to newborns: Never give additional water to a baby who is less than six months old. If preparing formula milk, always follow the 1:1 ratio (1 oz of water to 1 cup of formula milk); do not attempt to dilute the mixture with more water.

    Diaper change, peeing, and pooping

    How many times do newborn babies need diaper changes, tips on how to determine what normal pee and poop are for newborns:
    • Normal number of wet diapers: Newborn babies who are a week old usually have 2 to 3 wet diapers in 48 hours. If she's more than a week old, newborns have 5 to 6, or more, wet diapers in 24 hours.
    • Normal color of urine: Your newborn's urine should be light-colored; dark-colored urine usually indicate dehydration.
    • Normal number of dirty diapers: Newborn babies who are a week old usually poop once a day. If she's more than a week old, newborns typically poop 3 to 4 times a day.
    • Normal color of poop: Your newborn's poop should be yellow and mustardy for breastfed babies, and pasty and peanut butter-like for formula-fed babies. Here's a helpful visual guide of baby poop by Baby Center.
    • Breastfed baby not pooping: For breastfed newborn babies, it's sometimes normal to go 4 to 5 days without pooping. Exclusively breastfed babies (EBF) are almost never constipated, and breastmilk is perfectly blended by nature so that there is little to nothing left for a baby to poop out.
    • Diaper change and cleaning for baby girls: For baby girls, always wipe from front to back to avoid urinary tract infections. Take extra care around the folds of the labia (the area near the vagina).
    • Diaper change and cleaning for baby boys: For baby boys, cover the penis with a wet wipe before proceeding to clean to avoid accidents (i.e., pee fountain!). Clean from the top of the penis and downwards. Be also sure to clean the area around the scrotum.


    This ends Part 1 of this article. Head on to Newborn Baby Care Tips for New Moms and Dads (Part 2) to learn more about the following:

    • Bathing
    • Umbilical cord stump care
    • Crying and soothing a fussy baby
    July 11, 2018 No comments

     



    As a mother, I always worry if what I'm feeding my daughter is healthy, especially when I'm going out of the house. 

    It's often difficult to bring homemade baby food and snacks when you're out and about, so it's unavoidable to opt for packaged baby snacks from time to time.

    I know a lot of mothers who are "healthy food nazis," to the point of shaming other moms when we opt to feed our baby with what they consider as junk food. (Believe me, I've had my share.) 

    But not all packaged baby food is harmful nor unhealthy. 

    If you know where to look and if you do your research, you'll find perfectly healthy and safe commercial baby food such as Nosh Baby Munchables!



    Nosh Baby Munchables is an organic teething wafer that comes in a variety of flavors.

    In the Philippines, and particularly at Baby Company at SM Seaside Cebu, the flavors available are Strawberry and Beet, Blueberry and Pomegranate, Banana and Mango, and Apple and Cinnamon.

    I was one of the lucky mommies who were given the product for free for the purpose of reviewing it.

    Rest assured that my review is without a dash of bias and is 100% truthful. So here's what I thought on Nosh Baby Munchables:

    Organic and allergen-free

    All of Nosh's baby food products are SDA Organic Certified and Non-GMO. The wafers are baked instead of fried, and are made without artificial colors and flavoring.

    Since we have a family history of allergies (me in particular), it makes me feel safe that the wafers are free of 8 common allergens.

    Great for teething babies

    No teeth? No problem! The wafers dissolve easily, so there's not a lot of sticky mess.

    Since my baby already has some teeth (4 and 3 more coming!), the wafers help in massaging the rest of her toothless gums as she munches on them.

    Aids in baby's motor skill development

    The wafers are nicely sized for little hands, but it does tend to break off easily. (My daughter enjoyed breaking them, by the way.)

    The good thing about this is that grabbing the little pieces becomes a great motor skill training activity for babies and toddlers, so it's still a win.

    Interesting yet appealing flavors

    Some of the flavors are not native to the Philippines (such as beet, pomegranate, and blueberry).

    However, the flavors are quite mild (I tried it myself) and the taste is not too sweet, just right.

    My daughter finished her first pack without qualms, so I guess I could say that she liked it. (She asked for a second helping too!) 

    Convenient snack for on-the-go moms and babies

    The wafers come individually sealed in packets of two, so it stays fresh even when my daughter isn't able to finish the whole pack.

    It's also handy and fits easily into any bag, though you might want to handle it with caution, as it easily breaks. 

    Nosh Baby Munchables are offered at P195 per box, and each box contains 26 pieces—a great deal at an affordable price!

    If you'd like to give it a try, head on to your nearest SM Mall or Baby Company Boutique.
    July 10, 2018 No comments

     



    Mealtimes aren't exactly my favorite part of babycare, much more when caring for a toddler.

    You have to make sure your little one is in the perfect mood to eat, lest you encounter tantrums and flying eating utensils.

    My one-year-old daughter often simply accidentally knocks over her eating utensils, particularly her drinking cup. Either way, it's not always fun to clean up after her.

    Which is why I've been on the lookout for a baby-proof tumbler—something that isn't easily knocked over and spilled.

    I found my godsend through Baby Company's All Things Baby Sale special offer for Mom Card holders: the no-spill MIGHTumbler.



    The MIGHTumbler has five fun designs to choose from, each with dainty pastel colors perfect for babies and toddlers, with cute animal prints to spark your young one's imagination.


    The tumbler is made of sturdy and lightweight plastic material (which is BPA-free!).

    What makes it unique is that it has a suctioned bottom so that it's not easily tumbled when accidentally knocked over. The lid is air-tight, keeping it away from spills.

    I also tested it myself, and the MIGHTumbler faithfully delivered on their promise—it's truly spill-free and tumble-proof!

    Mealtimes will be easier now that I don't have to worry about our daughter throwing away her drinking utensil—MIGHTumbler is sturdy like that.

    It's also ideal for on-the-go moms and babies, as it can hold up to approximately 500 mL of liquids, keeping you fresh and hydrated when you go out for a stroll. 

    The size of the tumbler, however, was bigger than I expected. Nevertheless, it can still fit snugly into your diaper bag (or a large handbag).

    Here are the available designs at the Baby Company Boutique at SM Seaside Cebu. They don't have the lime green panda, but they will probably restock soon!

    The MIGHTumbler is an exclusive offer to all Mom Card holders as part of Baby Company's #AllThingsBabySale.

    It's available at an affordable price of P299.75 with every P500 single-receipt spend from Baby Company. The promo runs from July 1 to 31, 2018.

    Mom Tip: If you don't have a Mom Card yet, you can get it for only P100 at any Baby Company branch, either at their stand-alone boutique or inside the SM Department Store.

    Just fill out the application form, and you can get your card in just a few minutes on the same day.
    July 02, 2018 No comments
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    My name is Kristenne, misis to Jerome and mommy to Kitty. I'm a work-at-home mom, writer, and editor. Learn more about what my blog is in the About page. If you'd like to work with me, or you have other questions and concerns, please feel free to contact me.



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