What should I be careful with with a newborn?

Here are a few basics to remember:
  1. Wash your hands (or use a hand sanitizer) before handling your baby. ...
  2. Support your baby's head and neck. ...
  3. Never shake your newborn, whether in play or in frustration. ...
  4. Make sure your baby is securely fastened into the carrier, stroller, or car seat.


What are some safety concerns with a newborn?

Safety for Your Child: Birth to 6 Months
  • Car Injuries. Car crashes are a great threat to your child's life and health. ...
  • Falls. Babies wiggle and move and push against things with their feet soon after they are born. ...
  • Burns. At 3 to 5 months, babies will wave their fists and grab at things. ...
  • Choking and Suffocation.


What should you not do while holding a newborn?

Don't lift your newborn by or under their arms

If you pick them up by or under their arms, you risk injuring their arms or shoulders. Worse, their head will dangle and could flop around, potentially causing a brain injury. Instead, place one hand behind their head and neck and the other hand under their bottom.


How soon should a newborn have visitors?

Parents should try to limit the number of visitors their babies come in close contact with overall. Consider having extended family and friends wait two to three months until your baby's immune system is stronger to plan their visits.

Can you hold a newborn too much?

Contrary to popular myth, it's impossible for parents to hold or respond to a baby too much, child development experts say. Infants need constant attention to give them the foundation to grow emotionally, physically and intellectually.


Caring For Your Newborn



How long should a newborn stay home after birth?

According to most pediatric health experts, infants can be taken out in public or outside right away as long as parents follow some basic safety precautions. There's no need to wait until 6 weeks or 2 months of age. Getting out, and in particular, getting outside in nature, is good for parents and babies.

Is it OK to watch TV around newborn?

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How often should I hold my newborn?

The longer you hold your baby, the better. Any amount of time is good, but it is best to try for at least 1 to 2 hours each day.


What happens if baby's head flops back?

Don't worry if you touch those soft spots (called fontanelles) on his head — they're well protected by a sturdy membrane. And don't fret if your newborn's noggin flops back and forth a little bit while you're trying to perfect your move — it won't hurt him.

What are newborn danger signs?

Wheezing, grunting, or whistling sounds while breathing. Odor, drainage, or bleeding from the umbilical cord. Yellow coloring of the eyes, chest, or extremities. Crying, irritability, or twitching which does not improve with cuddling and comfort.

What are do's and don'ts for baby?

What Are the Do's and Don'ts For a Newborn Baby?
  • Parenting Do's and Don'ts for a Newborn Baby. ...
  • Do Ask for Help After the Birth. ...
  • Do Remember Your Newborn Is Fragile. ...
  • Do Interact with Your Newborn. ...
  • Don't Put Your Newborn on Their Stomach at Bedtime. ...
  • Don't Let Your Newborn Sleep Through the Night. ...
  • Don't Be Too Hard on Yourself.


What you should not do with a baby?

Things Parents Should NOT Do With A Newborn
  • Letting Him Sleep On His Tummy. Image source: iStock. ...
  • Letting Anyone Kiss Your Newborn. ...
  • Leaving Dirty Diapers On For Too Long. ...
  • Over-do The Outfits. ...
  • Letting Your Newborn Cry For Long. ...
  • Leaving Your Baby Alone. ...
  • Punishing Your Newborn. ...
  • Giving Your Newborn Cow's Milk.


Can you damage a newborns neck?

Babies, especially very young ones, have relatively large heads, and weak neck muscles, so any kind of violent movement will cause a kind of whiplash effect. A baby's delicate, developing brain is much more sensitive to injury and serious damage than an adult's.

How do I know if I hurt my babies neck?

Stiff Neck
  1. A stiff neck means your child can't touch the chin to the chest. To test for a stiff neck, lay your child down. Then lift his head until the chin touches the chest. If he fights you, place a toy or coin on the belly. ...
  2. Note: Without fever, a stiff neck is often from sore neck muscles.


What happens if you don't hold a baby's neck?

"Babies are tougher than they appear and won't 'break' with normal handling. While it's important to support their head until they have the neck strength to hold it up on their own, their head won't fall off if you forget.

What do you do with a newborn all day?

Newborn babies seem to mostly sleep, eat, cry and poo.
...
Other play ideas include:
  1. giving your baby different things to look at and feel while talking to them.
  2. giving your baby supervised tummy time each day.
  3. making sounds.
  4. giving your baby a massage.


Should I hold my newborn all night?

Newborns need a lot of soothing, and being held by a parent or loved one is very soothing.” So, go ahead and let your baby snuggle into your chest. Those early weeks aren't the time to worry about sleep training.


Why can't you touch a baby on your period?

Since mom herself will be back on her period soon, there's no valid, medically-proven reason that someone's menstrual cycle would cause any harm to a newborn.

Why does a fan reduce SIDS?

In other words, a fan will help regulate the levels of carbon dioxide in a room. Furthermore, studies have shown that by opening a window in a bub's room, the risk of SIDS is reduced by 36%. On the other hand, sleeping with a fan in the room reduces the risk of SIDS by 72%.

Is background TV bad for newborns?

Background Noise Is Harmful to Learning

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children under the age of two should not watch any television.


Do newborns cry for no reason?

About newborn baby behaviour

For example, your baby will cry because they feel hungry, unsettled, wet or uncomfortable, or just because they need a cuddle. And sometimes your baby will cry for no obvious reason. Babies are born with very different temperaments.

Can I let my newborn cry for 5 minutes?

If your baby doesn't appear sick, you've tried everything, and he or she is still upset, it's OK to let your baby cry. If you need to distract yourself for a few minutes, place your baby safely in the crib and make a cup of tea or call a friend.

What should I expect from my first night with a newborn?

The first night home with your baby is often spent awake holding, soothing and feeding. Your baby was held inside you for your entire pregnancy, and newborns expect nothing less immediately after birth! You and your partner will probably have to take turns holding your baby for comfort during that first night at home.


Should I swaddle my newborn?

Babies don't have to be swaddled. If your baby is happy without swaddling, don't bother. Always put your baby to sleep on his back. This is true no matter what, but is especially true if he is swaddled.

Can I hurt my newborns spine?

Damage to an infant's spinal cord may be the result of blunt force trauma – be it a traumatic injury from a fall, or serious damage which occurs during childbirth – or from a medical malady affecting the spine.