Newborn care: Everything you need to know about baby grooming
It?s true: Your baby is absolutely beautiful and probably the sweetest tiny human ever born, but even the most stunning infants need a bit of grooming now and then. And, as you?ve figured out by now, newborns don?t come with manuals, so we?ve rounded up some expert tips for keeping your baby looking (and feeling!) her best.
Caring for the umbilical cord
This remarkable organ that kept him nourished throughout pregnancy has a bit of an ick factor outside the womb when you?re waiting for it to dry and fall off, which usually takes one to two weeks. At each diaper change, gently wipe the tummy area clean with warm water, allowing the cord itself to stay dry. Avoid tucking it inside the diaper, which Michelle Ponti, a paediatrician in London, Ont., says could trap moisture and make the area ?quite dirty and stinky pretty quick.? If you notice any smell, redness, swelling, puss, or if your baby seems feverish or irritable, contact your healthcare provider. During a bath, it?s OK if the cord gets a little wet as long as you allow it to air-dry afterward, says paediatric naturopath Hillary Dinning from Calgary. And be mindful not to knock or hit the sensitive area by accident.
Bathing
Hold off on giving your baby a bath for about the first week of life. Most newborn skin is covered in a creamy, white substance called the vernix caseosa, which is largely made up of oils from a baby?s sweat glands. This layer acts as a barrier, protecting your baby?s skin in utero. After birth, D...
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