A newborn baby is the most beautiful thing that a family can receive at home. Babies are dependent beings that need their parents to be able to survive and develop in a balanced way. You may have read all the books about babies, but there will always be some aspects that slip away, possibly because they are so basic that you have overlooked them.
But beware! Just because they are basic doesn't mean they aren't important. Next we are going to talk to you about some things you should know about newborns and that you may not know ... even if you can intuit it!
Baby can be fun
True, a newborn does not smile and needs constant attention from the adult, but they can also be fun. Physically fun. When a baby is born, they may not be as pretty as the babies you see in advertisements. As you go through the birth canal, your head may have been slightly deformed to achieve this, and your face and eyes are puffy. You should not worry, this aspect is only temporary and In just a few days he will be the precious baby you imagined before seeing him for the first time.
Don't expect smiles for 6 weeks
Don't expect emotional rewards or smiles for the first 6 weeks of your baby's life. During these first 6 weeks you will have the most demanding boss you have ever met. Newborns need their basic and emotional needs to be taken care of in the moment.
This can make you exhausted both physically and mentally, but you must bear in mind that all your efforts will pay off in a few weeks. When you see your child smile, you will know that whatever effort you make for him is worth it.
Beware of the umbilical cord
The umbilical cord is very delicate and you should be careful with the clamp that was put in the hospital. This area should always be clean and dry so that it heals well and falls off on its own. If your baby's belly button starts to look strange, oozes pus, or smells bad, you should go immediately to the pediatrician to see in what condition it is.
If sex is maintained, it falls off faster and usually takes about two weeks. If the cord gets wet, you will need to dry it. If it bleeds a little, nothing happens, but if you see that something strange is happening or that it does not seem normal, when in doubt, always go to the pediatrician for advice.
His little head will scare you
It is normal to be scared, his head does not have the bones of the skull fully closed and this can make you overprotective. This is not bad. You need to be careful with your little one's head. The fontanelles of babies help the baby's skull to mold itself as it passes through the birth canal.
But don't be obsessed either, you don't have to worry too much. It's okay if you comb over these softer areas of your baby's head, or gently caress her precious little head. What is extremely important is to protect you from any blow to the head.
If he's hungry, he'll let you know
Crying is the way in which a baby communicates, so you should begin to know his cries and know why he cries at all times. Newborn babies need to eat every two to three hours, And if you are breastfeeding, you may have questions about whether or not your baby is eating enough.
The weight of the baby is the best indicator during the first days to know if he is really well fed or not. Your pediatrician should review your baby's health after you have left the hospital. A newborn loses 5 to 8% of his weight during the first week of life, but will regain it during the second week.
The diapers will also tell you if he is well fed. Your baby will need to wet and fill five to six diapers a day for the first few weeks and have between one and two bowel movements a day.
Dry skin is normal
Dry skin is normal in newborns, so it is very important that you have a good baby moisturizer. You should put moisturizing cream every day, in this way you will avoid wounds or eczema on the skin due to its natural dryness. Remember buy a baby moisturizer that is hypoallergenic and does not contain fragrances.
During the first months of your baby's life, small pink bumps, rashes on the skin or on the bottom of the diaper may appear, and even baby acne may appear. This may take a few months.
You don't have to spend your days at home
Although if it is very cold and bad weather it is advisable to spend more time at home if you have babies, it is not necessary that you spend months cloistered at home. You can lead a normal life but always using common sense when you go out. Keep your baby out of the sun and avoid anyone who is sick.
Enclosed spaces full of people are also not advisable. If your baby has older siblings, teach them to touch their feet and not their hands or face, this will prevent them from infecting any virus. And if you have guests at home, don't let them touch your baby without first washing their hands.
To communicate with you, he will cry
As we have pointed out previously, the baby only knows how to communicate through crying. It's the way of telling you that he needs something. So he can tell you if he is hungry, cold, dirty diaper or if he simply wants you to give him love. These first conversations with you can be somewhat frustrating, but you should know that as the days go by, you will understand him perfectly. But you don't need to wait for crying to attend to your baby either, they also have a highly developed non-verbal language: if they are sleepy they will yawn or touch their eyes, if they are hungry they will suck their fists, if something hurts they will arch their bodies, etc.
And remember that this stage is beautiful… and fleeting!