Having a baby can be a very exciting and emotional time in a person’s life. There will be a flood of information and advice coming your way, but what information and advice should you listen to and which should you disregard? There are many myths and facts when it comes to raising a healthy newborn, and some of those will be discussed here.
One of the most common pieces of advice an expectant mother receives is that breastfeeding is best. According to research, breastfeeding is in fact best for newborns. The benefits of breast milk include easier digestion for the baby, less constipation and obesity. Also, the newborn is more likely to have improved immunity and less allergy-risk. Breast-feeding also has benefits for mothers as well. Aside from its low cost and convenience, there has also been found to be less post-partum depression and a lesser risk of breast cancer in women who breastfeed.
Although breast feeding is statistically the better option, some women are not capable of breast-feeding, and one should not feel guilty or worried because of this. If bottle feeding is a better option for you, that is okay too! There are formulas available, such as soy and lactose free that mimic breast milk and have been found to be just as good for newborns.
The easiest way to prevent newborn illness to quite simply, wash your hands! We have all learned that washing out hands gets rid of germs and bacteria, and this remains true while caring for a newborn. You should wash your hands before feeding, changing and after feeding and changing the baby. Do not be afraid to ask any visitors or guests to wash their hands as well. If you are doing your part to keep your baby healthy, you should also make sure anybody else who is coming into contact with your baby is doing their part as well. An easy solution is to keep bottles of antibacterial hand gel around the house for greater convenience.
Keeping your newborn healthy and safe is any parent or caregiver’s top priority. One of the greatest precautions one can take to ensure that a child is safe is to make sure the baby sleeps on its back. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), is one of the leading causes of infant death. You can help prevent SIDS by providing a firm mattress in the baby’s crib, as well as removing an overly stuffed blankets or toys that the baby could use to cover their face. It is also not recommended that parents have their baby sleep next to them in bed. This is very dangerous as a parent can suffocate or smother the child while asleep and not be aware of the situation until it is too late.
A few more tips for keeping your newborn safe and healthy are the following: always place your baby in a rear facing car seat when in the car. When in the car seat make sure the straps are tightened to fit and properly hold the baby. Also, keep your whole family safe by checking the batteries in your home’s smoke detector.