How to care for a child after maternity hospital. Caring for a newborn in the maternity hospital

After the hospital, every woman wants to be home as quickly as possible. Already on the first day after discharge from the maternity hospital, it is important to adjust the environment and daily routine to the needs of the newborn.

What to do with a newborn after discharge

First of all, you need to inform the clinic about a new resident.

You should prepare for the pediatrician’s arrival: buy shoe covers for him, stock up on a notepad and pen to write down how to properly care for your baby in the first days after the hospital. The doctor will examine the child and recommend procedures that need to be performed for the newborn.

For several days, you should distribute responsibilities around the house, because both mother and child need proper sleep and rest to recuperate.

Microclimate at home

In the first days of a newborn, the number of relatives at home should be limited. A change of environment is stressful for a baby. He needs time to get used to it. It is enough if only family members are at home.

The room must be ready for the arrival of the mother and child from the maternity hospital. It is necessary to do wet cleaning and ventilate the room well.

Organization of a children's room

Renovations in the children's room are carried out in advance. It will be better if the parents choose the wallpaper and ceiling color together. For children, pediatricians recommend setting aside a cool room with an air temperature of +20...+22°C and a humidity of 55-60%.

When arranging a room, it is advisable to give preference to a minimum of furniture and curtains made of light fabric. The surface of the items must be made of material that can withstand daily wiping with a damp sponge or rag. Curtains are selected that are wear-resistant. It is best if their fabric is easy to wash, dries quickly and does not wrinkle.

There should be no living plants, long-pile carpets or rugs in the room.

Upon arrival with an infant, a children's corner is required. From the furniture you need to choose a crib, a changing table and a wardrobe or chest of drawers for clothes. The bed is placed in a part of the room where it will not interfere with movement. Choose a place away from the window. It is better not to hang a heavy canopy on the crib. Thick fabric will collect a lot of dust. It is better to choose a lightweight product made of airy, translucent fabric.

It is recommended to choose a mattress from hypoallergenic materials. He must be tough. A newborn will not need a pillow. It is advisable to choose bed linen from natural fabric, which will be pleasant to the touch.

The changing table for caring for a newborn must be positioned in such a way that there is a minimum distance between it and the cabinet with baby clothes.

Baby clothes

Parents should take care of their children's wardrobe even before giving birth. It is not recommended to choose items made of rough material or with many fasteners (hooks, zippers, buttons). When purchasing, you should pay attention to the seams. They should not rub the baby's delicate skin. The best option is to place the seams on the outside of the product.

Clothing should be made from natural materials. The child should not be allowed to overheat. His indoor cottons may be one layer warmer than adults', but no more. To determine whether your baby is warm or cold, just check the back of his head. If it is cold, it means the child is frozen. If the back of the head is slightly damp, the baby is hot and needs to be undressed.

A newborn should wear disposable or reusable diapers under his clothes. They are hygienic and do not cause any harm to delicate skin, provided they are replaced in a timely manner. Conservative parents prefer to use reusable products, but for outdoor use it is better to choose a disposable option.

Newborns defecate after each breastfeeding, so there should be a sufficient supply of diapers in the house.

Proper child care after childbirth necessarily includes morning toilet. After waking up, the newborn wipes his face with cotton balls soaked in boiled water. Then the eyes are cleaned. To do this, apply a damp cotton pad from the outer edge of the eyelids to the inner corner. A new disc is taken for each eye.

The nose is cleaned with a tourniquet soaked in baby oil. They carefully remove the crusts.

If the umbilical wound has not yet healed, it is treated with hydrogen peroxide or calendula tincture.
Body temperature is measured. The norm for a newborn is +37.2°C.

Nutrition

Breastfeeding should be established. To do this, you need to eat regularly and get proper rest. It is recommended to temporarily exclude from the diet foods that can provoke an allergic reaction in the baby. It is advisable to completely give up coffee. Fruits and juices must be introduced into the diet gradually, monitoring the child’s reaction. Preference should be given to fruits of green shades, as they are less likely to cause allergies.

The diet of a nursing mother should mainly consist of soups, cereals, and boiled lean meat. It is better to exclude cabbage and legumes to prevent bloating in the baby.

A nursing mother should not be nervous. She needs peace.

If you are concerned that you are not producing enough breast milk, you should drink as much fluid as possible. This could be warm tea or milk. There is no need to wash your breasts before each feeding, just shower daily.

It is necessary to monitor the baby's correct attachment during feeding in the first days. This will help prevent cracks from appearing.

You should express only when there is a planned absence or stagnation of milk. During one feeding you need to give only one breast - left or right, changing the order. With sufficient lactation, the baby will be completely saturated.

Newborn's first bath after the hospital

Babies are bathed daily, but with soap - once a week is enough. It is better to purchase a bath for water procedures in advance. The umbilical wound must be carefully monitored.

To carry out water procedures, in addition to the bath itself, you will need:

towel;

water thermometer;

baby soap or foam;

small ladle;

potassium permanganate.

Wash the bath with soap.

Boil water and cool it to +37°C.

Make a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Its shade should be slightly pink.

Prepare water for rinsing in a ladle.

Add disinfectant solution to bathing water.

The first time it is better to carry out the procedure together. One of the parents will hold the newborn, and the other will wash it. The baby, wrapped in a swaddle, is carefully immersed in the water, back down. The head should remain on the surface. You need to make sure that water does not get into your eyes, mouth, ears and nose.

The diaper is gradually unrolled and the baby is given time to get comfortable. They carefully soap his body, paying close attention to the folds. Then they are lifted above the surface of the water and rinsed from the ladle. Wrap in a soft towel.

Water should be boiled until the umbilical wound heals. In addition to potassium permanganate, you can add a decoction of chamomile or calendula to it.

After the navel has healed, it is allowed to bathe the child in tap water without additives.

The duration of the first bath should not exceed 5-7 minutes. Gradually, the time spent in water increases.

Hygiene procedures after bathing

After bathing, the baby is wiped dry. First, the navel is treated with a cotton pad or swab dipped in a solution of hydrogen peroxide. If necessary, the surface of the wound is lubricated with brilliant green.

Then all folds on the body are treated with baby oil or Vaseline heated in a water bath. Put on a diaper, baby vest and rompers or swaddle. After this, the baby can be fed and put to bed.

Neonatologists and pediatricians do not have a consensus on how to treat the umbilical wound. Some advise using brilliant green or hydrogen peroxide. Others use calendula tincture or boiled water.

Until the wound heals, when putting on the diaper you need to tuck the edge of the product, leaving the navel open.

Trimming nails

Nails are trimmed as needed using special children's scissors with rounded edges. Cut the nail straight along the growth line. It is best to carry out the procedure while the baby is sleeping.

First walk with baby

For the first walk, the air temperature should not fall below -5°C. In winter, it is enough to stay in the air for 10-15 minutes. During the summer, you can walk for up to half an hour for the first time. Gradually, the duration of the walk increases daily by 5-10 minutes.

In summer, a child can be in the fresh air for 3 hours several times.

In winter you need to pay attention to the weather. If the temperature drops below -15°C, the walk will have to be postponed.

When dressing your baby outside, you need to be careful to prevent him from overheating. It is more dangerous than hypothermia. Dress the child a little warmer than adults.

Diaper or vest

During infancy, a child spends more time asleep than awake. Clothing that restricts his movements can make it difficult for a baby to sleep. He cannot yet coordinate muscle contractions and constantly wakes himself up with careless touches of his hands or feet.

In this case, the diaper will serve as an assistant for the mother. Just don’t swaddle your baby too tightly. In the future, this can lead to problems with the hip joints and increased muscle tone.

During short periods of wakefulness, it is better to wear a vest and rompers. This way the child will feel more free. You should not wear a hat, even the thinnest one, at normal ambient temperatures. It will only be useful after swimming.

Colic in a newborn is caused by air that enters the digestive tract and presses on the walls of the stomach, thereby causing unbearable pain to the baby. The attack passes in 3-4 hours. The older children get, the easier it is for them to cope with colic.

There are several factors that provoke discomfort:

improper attachment to the breast;

the child cries a lot;

after feeding, they were not given the opportunity to burp air;

the newborn spends too much time lying down, which makes digestion difficult;

the baby was overfed.

It is easy to recognize infant colic: half an hour after the evening feeding, the baby suddenly begins to scream loudly, and calms down 2-3 hours later, also suddenly. With such symptoms, the newborn should be shown to a pediatrician to confirm the diagnosis.

For colic, it is recommended to massage the abdomen with light clockwise movements and carry the baby vertically to allow air to escape faster. In extreme cases, a gas vent tube can be used. From pharmaceutical preparations, the pediatrician can prescribe a product based on fennel or simethicone.

Parental behavior

In the first months of life, the child still does not hold his head up on his own. Parents should not forget about this. You always need to hold it.

A baby's crying indicates hunger, pain or discomfort.

It should be responded to. There is no need to be afraid to often hold a newborn in your arms; this makes it easier to determine the cause of the cry.

It is necessary to monitor the baby's skin and protect it from diaper rash. The fontanel also requires special attention. The newborn's head must be protected from sharp and hard objects.

Returning home after childbirth, many women who have given birth to their first child simply do not know how to care for the baby in the first days. Despite the fact that there are grandmothers, girlfriends and other close people, the mother herself needs to learn to provide immediate care for the baby after birth and when he sleeps to feed him.

First week at home

The first days of mother and baby being at home immediately after giving birth turn out to be the most difficult for parents. Caring for a newborn in the first days after birth takes a lot of time and effort; the baby often eats, sleeps and requires increased attention. If there are grandmothers or other relatives in the house, they should immediately take care of all the chores around the house during this period, because in order for the mother to be able to fully care for the child and feed him when he sleeps, she herself immediately needs to get proper rest. In the absence of relatives and close people, the husband should take care of the wife by taking on part of the housework.

Baby food

Today, experts strongly recommend that young mothers feed their baby on demand from the moment of birth. It has been proven that a baby who eats at will develops much faster. He is calmer and healthier than a child who eats by the hour. Of course, many may object and say that this is very inconvenient to do, but you will only have to be patient for a few days. Later, the child will make a schedule for himself to feed him and you can calmly plan your days. It also matters how you breastfeed your baby; if your baby eats correctly, he will be full and bother you less often from the first days. After giving birth, all mothers are strongly recommended to consult a breastfeeding specialist who will show and tell you how to properly feed your baby.

Navel treatment

Modern pediatricians do not recommend treating the umbilical wound with brilliant green after childbirth and sealing it with a plaster or bandage. Nature took care of everything itself. The navel heals within a few weeks of birth and does not require special care other than keeping it clean. For normal healing of the umbilical wound, it is necessary to ensure that the baby’s feces do not fall on it in the first days. You also need to make sure that the navel is dry. After bathing, carefully dry your navel with sterile cotton wool. If you follow the rules of hygiene and dryness, the navel will heal quickly and will not cause any trouble. That's all for navel care.

If you notice redness or suppuration in the area of the umbilical wound, you should immediately contact your local doctor. Self-medication can only make the situation worse.

Many mothers are concerned about an umbilical hernia. Recent studies have proven that this phenomenon does not pose a danger to the child. An umbilical hernia can form due to a large umbilical ring, which, when the stomach muscles are tense, is filled in the first days with part of the baby’s intestines.

This phenomenon goes away on its own and does not require any treatment (in the absence of pathologies).

Taping and bandaging the navel is an unjustified measure and does not bring any results. So you can calm down and let Mother Nature take care of the healing of the umbilical ring. It is difficult to say how long it takes for an umbilical hernia to heal; it all depends on the individuality of the baby. The norm is considered to be overgrowth from several months to 3 years.

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Fontana zone

Most mothers are frightened by the pulsation in the fontanel area, and they are afraid of damaging it. There is no need to worry about this, the baby’s fontanel is protected by a special film from birth, which is extremely difficult to disturb; this care was provided by nature itself. If you do not cause damage on purpose, it is almost impossible to harm the fontanel. A cause for concern may be a situation when a child is not eating well and his fontanel has sunk inside.

Water procedures

Despite the fact that all our grandmothers constantly tell us that the child needs to be bathed every day of the week, there is actually no such need. The mother can draw up a bathing schedule depending on the time of year and the child’s attitude towards water procedures. How many times and how to bathe the baby after childbirth? In winter, the baby can be bathed 2-3 times a week. The only thing that needs to be done with such a schedule of water procedures is daily washing and rinsing. You should wash your child after each bowel movement, and you can wash your face throughout the day, morning and evening.

To bathe your baby, you need to purchase a special bath. It is best if you additionally place a rubber mat on the bottom, which will prevent the baby from slipping; you can also use a regular diaper for this purpose. The water temperature should not exceed 37 degrees. Today in pharmacy chains you can purchase a special thermometer that will be used to bathe with your child and you will be able to control the temperature of the water during the entire bath. You need to bathe your child in the same bath all the time, then he will get used to it and will not be afraid.

The mother can choose the time of water procedures herself. The main rule should be that bathing should be done before meals; if the baby eats before the bath, he will fall asleep ahead of time. You can bathe both before daytime feedings and before the last evening meal.

When performing water procedures, make sure that water or soap does not get into the baby’s eyes, otherwise the next time he may refuse to bathe, and this fear will remain for a long time. When washing your baby, use baby soap and cotton wool. You can also use special mittens that the mother puts on her hands and washes the child. Avoid using synthetic sponges and washcloths as they may irritate your baby's skin.

Particular care must be taken when washing your baby's hair. Make sure that the cotton wool or mitten is not too saturated with water, otherwise water will get into the eyes. The soap from the head should be washed off with slightly wrung out cotton wool in the direction from the forehead to the crown.

Also gently soap and wash your baby's body.

If the baby bursts into tears and does not want to continue bathing, he should be immediately pulled out of the water.

You can use a flannel diaper as a towel in the first weeks after birth. You need to wipe the baby very carefully; remember that the navel after water procedures must be wiped dry with a cotton swab.

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After swimming

After water procedures, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the baby’s ears without affecting the ear canal, cut the nails and dress the baby in clean, ironed clothes. It is advisable to trim a child’s nails using special scissors that do not have sharp ends. Upon completion of all procedures, the child can be fed and put to bed. If the child is hungry and does not want to cut his nails or clean his ears, you can postpone these activities and do it when he is sleeping.

As a rule, healthy children do not need additional cleaning of the nose, mouth and eyes. Do not torment the baby and do not bother him with unnecessary care. Treatment of the eyes and nose is necessary only if there are signs of disease in these organs.

You need to clean your nose if dried mucus appears in the nasal passages; due to a clogged nose, the child often eats poorly. In this case, the nose is cleaned with a damp cotton swab. This must be done quickly and extremely carefully. Saline solution can also help with nasal congestion. Dilute one teaspoon of salt in one liter of boiled water and drop 2 drops into each nasal passage, this product perfectly moisturizes the nasal mucosa and all impurities will come out naturally.

The use of powders and oils may be justified only on the recommendation of a pediatrician. In other cases, the baby’s healthy skin does not require additional care. Therefore, save your family budget and do not purchase advertised products that you absolutely do not need. How many unnecessary promotional products have you already bought?

Intimate area

It is extremely important for girls to cleanse themselves daily, starting on their first birthday. This is due to the risk of infection from the anus into the genital tract, so care for the girl must be thorough. Girls should be washed in the direction from the vagina to the butt. Washing should be done after each bowel movement and before bed. Boys can be washed as needed. Boys' genitals do not require special care.

Cloth

A note for every mother! Even if you use diapers and in your opinion the child does not get dirty, he needs to be changed 2 times a day - morning and evening. The baby's clothes must be washed with detergents for children's laundry and must be ironed.

Children's clothes should be comfortable and made from natural fabrics. Today in stores and markets you can find any number of inexpensive and beautiful children's clothing, which can be dangerous to the baby's health. Synthetic fabrics do not have the ability to absorb moisture, as a result of which inflammation and irritation can form on the newborn’s skin, especially if drops of milk get on clothes when the baby is eating.

You should also pay attention to the dyes used in dyeing fabrics. Do not buy bright things for newborns; aggressive dyes can provoke allergic reactions in the child. When choosing clothes, give preference to natural fabrics in bed colors. Also make sure that blouses, T-shirts and pants are easy to put on and take off. This will save you from the child's screams and protests when changing clothes.

The mistake many young mothers make is dressing their baby too warmly at home or on a walk. Understand that a child is the same person as you, only small. If you are hot and you are wearing a light sundress, you do not need to wrap your baby in 10 diapers and put 3 hats on him. Dress your child according to the climate conditions. A baby dressed too warmly begins to sweat, and at this moment a gust of wind or a draft will do its simple job. As long as the child does not sweat, he is healthy, eats well and sleeps as much as he needs. Moreover, when a child is dressed comfortably, he is also calm.

Walks

Starting from the 14th day after birth, it is necessary to include daily walks with the child in the daily schedule. You need to walk in any weather, on any day of the week and at any time of the year. Going for a walk with your child has a double positive effect for the baby. Firstly, fresh air enriches the baby’s blood, organs and tissues with oxygen, which has a beneficial effect on his development. Secondly, gradual changes in air temperature during the changing seasons teach the baby’s body to adapt to cold and heat, which is an element of hardening. With regular daily walks, the child gets sick much less often, eats and sleeps better than his peers who stay at home in cold weather.

Upon discharge from the maternity hospital, the mother receives a certificate of birth of the child and exchange cards - for the baby and for herself, birth certificate coupons. A birth certificate is needed to obtain a birth certificate. The woman gives her card to the antenatal clinic, the child’s exchange card and coupons to the local pediatrician.

One hundred clothes

During the cold season, the so-called “thermos principle” will help to collect clothes for the baby for discharge. There should be a pair of blouses, pants, hats: one thing is light, the other is warm. Let's say, a light cap is put on a newborn's head, and a warm cap is put on him, the same goes for rompers. Bodysuits (for hot weather) or overalls (for cold weather), covering the entire surface of the skin, are very comfortable. Babies are prone to rapid hypothermia, so a jumpsuit made of natural fabrics with closed feet and palms will be very comfortable. Also stock up on an envelope: thin for warm weather, and thicker for cool weather or sub-zero temperatures. Don't forget about diapers.

First trip

You can only transport your baby in a car in a child car seat. The baby's spine is still weak, pushing and rocking are contraindicated for him, not to mention emergency braking.

The baby car seat is installed backwards, that is, against the direction of travel. If you place it in the front passenger seat, be sure to disable the airbag. In the USA, a nurse in a maternity hospital is obliged to ensure that the baby is fastened in a car seat: you can leave the hospital premises only after she is sure that everything is done correctly.

You cannot feed your baby on the go: there is a risk that he will choke. Therefore, it will be more convenient to feed the child in advance or before the trip, already getting into the car. Be sure to bring wet wipes with you: you will need them if your baby burps.

Big Wash

After you cross the threshold of the house, the baby must be undressed, diapers changed and, if the baby has pooped, washed, then changed into pre-prepared home clothes. It is better to immediately put the clothes taken off from him and his mother’s things into the washing machine to get rid of the hospital microflora. The mother’s task is to take care of the child and herself: change clothes, wash her hands and, if the baby demands, feed him and hold him in a semi-upright position so that the air can escape.

Wet cleaning

The previously mandatory daily wet cleaning is no longer mandatory. As it turned out, it does not reduce the child’s risk of developing allergies. The results of recent studies have demonstrated that in almost sterile conditions, children develop allergies more often.

Postponed visit

For the development of breastfeeding, the mother’s peace of mind is very important. Therefore, its main task is to avoid stress and overexertion. The hormones that stimulate breast milk production are very sensitive to lack of sleep, anxiety and restlessness. This is very important to remember both for the mother herself and for her family and friends. They will understand if you ask them to wait a few weeks until the newborn gets used to the new environment.

Bathing

It is not forbidden to give the baby a bath on the first day of being at home. Usually the first water procedures last 5–10 minutes. Gradually, the time spent in water increases to 20–30 minutes. Literally from the first days you can teach your baby to dive and swim in the bathtub. This will add joyful impressions to the child and parents and will help the baby work up an appetite for feeding before bed.

It is not recommended for mothers to take a bath in the first weeks after natural childbirth. The birth canal is still open, and far from sterile water can get there. After surgery, a scar on the abdomen is unlikely to make bathing comfortable. So at first the woman will have to limit herself to a shower.

The first day after maternity hospital alone with the baby often turns out to be very difficult for parents. What to do with this little tiny person? How do you even take it without breaking something?

In fact, everything is quite simple. In any case, experience is needed. It is much easier for those young mothers who were in the maternity hospital with their baby; during this time (4-5 days) you can learn a lot. Therefore, do not hesitate to pester the midwives with questions. This way you will feel much more confident at home.

A newborn baby doesn't need much. Yes, he still doesn’t know how to do anything on his own, he needs your help in everything, but this help is quite feasible if everything is organized correctly. A child after maternity hospital - what does he need? So let's get started.

Caring for a newborn baby in the first days

In the first days and months of life, it is very important for the baby to be in his mother’s arms as much as possible. But many people are afraid to take the baby, lest he break something. Here's how to do it correctly:

Then the baby needs to be changed. Sometimes you have to do this many times a day, and the faster you learn the wisdom swaddling , the easier it will be.

In addition to the traditional means of diapers, immediately after birth the baby can also be dressed in clothes for newborns. This could be a vest, bodysuit or rompers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v1YApVjmcGY

Even if you decide to use only the most advanced disposable diapers, contact of your baby's skin with urine is inevitable. This means we need to think about preventing diaper rash .

Many babies are born with very long nails. And since they wave their arms without purpose or need, these sharp claws love to leave marks on the delicate skin of the face. At the very beginning, you can put scratches on your child’s hands, but soon you will have to master the technique
nail trimming :

A feature of newborns that other children do not have is umbilical wound . Sometimes it happens that due to careless care, an infection appears and the child may even get sick. Therefore, it is very important to handle it correctly.

Even for those babies who were born absolutely healthy, a baby first aid kit is needed for the first time. It will include both belly button care products and some others just in case.

Already in the first days after discharge from the maternity hospital, even if it’s raining outside, you need to walk . Start with short outings for 20–30 minutes, maybe twice a day.

In the evening, after sunset, the baby could be given a bath. Although newborns are not yet running around the nooks and crannies of your yard and do not collect all the dust from under the bed, you can bathe them simply for pleasure, calmness and for the sake of early accustoming to water.

Well, that's probably all. Evening has come and the baby needs to be put to bed for the night. How to do this, whether to leave him alone in the crib or take him with you, and also how to make your nights calm - in the section Children's sleep .

Feeding a newborn

Feeding a child is a separate huge stone in the foundation of your baby’s life. Therefore, we have allocated it to a special section.

The first thing that worries young mothers is how to properly attach their baby to the breast. Proper technique will help avoid cracked nipples and other breast problems.

Many mothers who have chosen their mother or grandmother to guide them face a problem -
feed the baby on demand or on schedule?
And also: should I express the remaining milk after feeding or not?

And for those who have too much milk, so that the baby does not have time to suck it out, chest pain may begin in the first days
and swelling - lactostasis. This is where you can come to the rescue
manual or electric .

And almost everyone is afraid, how will the baby grow when he spits up almost everything he eats?

Most new mothers are healthy enough to breastfeed their baby. But if for some reason she loses milk, the child has to be transferred to

The young mother is excited; at the exit from the maternity hospital, she and her baby are met by a happy young father and many relatives. Memorable photographs, a sea of flowers, toasts to the health of the new family member, smiles and congratulations. The world is spinning at breakneck speed. But the champagne was drunk, the flowers were placed in a vase, and the relatives went home. Young parents are in shock, what to do with a new family member, how not to hurt their long-awaited son or daughter. Calm down, it's not that scary.

Read also

First, it’s worth understanding that children are far from being as fragile as they seem at first glance. In addition, they know how to stand up for themselves no worse than adults, defending their interests by shouting. How to care for a little man in his first days of life?

Cleanliness is the key to health, order comes first!

The first and main rule is that the baby must live in a clean and prepared house for him. This requirement does not mean that a young mother should spend almost the last days of pregnancy cleaning. Preparing housing for the adoption of a baby is the concern of dads and grandmothers; not a single speck of dust escapes their attentive gaze. The apartment into which the mother and baby will arrive after being discharged from the maternity hospital should be thoroughly washed and all dust wiped off. It is advisable to reduce the number of carpets and soft toys in the house, as they accumulate dust particles that can cause allergies in the baby. The ideal option would be to create a separate children's room. But! If your living conditions do not allow this, do not be upset. The main thing is that the apartment is clean and bright.

While the mother and baby are in the maternity hospital, the young father should purchase the following:

A crib. Modern children's stores offer a huge selection of cribs. Choose to your taste, the main thing is that the baby is comfortable. Along with the crib, you should purchase a mattress and special bumpers for the crib.
Small children often wake up at night, so it would be a good idea to purchase a night light.
Cabinet for children's things. The little person's clothes should be stored separately from the things of adults. Along with buying clothes, you should also take care of special detergents for washing children's clothes. Especially adult powders and shampoos can cause allergies on the baby’s delicate skin.
Humidifier. The children's room must be well ventilated. In addition, you need to constantly humidify the air in the room. This should be done especially in the cold season when central heating is running. Dry air can dry out the baby's delicate mucous membranes and cause a runny nose. But, if the budget of a young family does not allow the purchase of such a miracle of technology, it does not matter, you can make do with improvised means:

It is advisable to do wet cleaning in the baby’s room in the morning and evening;
ventilate the room well periodically;
It is advisable to place a container of water near the baby’s crib, or throw wet sheets over the central heating radiators.

Children's items and cosmetics

In the first days when the baby comes home after being discharged from the hospital, you will need the following things:

A first aid kit that should contain: brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide, a pipette, small scissors with rounded tips, fennel tea, espumisan or Baby-Calm, in case of tummy problems, cotton swabs, children's antipyretics (Panadol for children, Viferon suppositories), thermometer, chamomile grass, calendula or string for bathing the baby.
Hygiene products, these include diapers, baby cream, talc, baby shampoo.
Tampons, cotton swabs, discs.
Diapers. It is advisable to have from 5 to 7 pieces of regular soft cotton diapers and 4 warm flannel diapers. The usual size of diapers is 100 x 100 cm. The quantity of one or another type of diaper depends on the time of year.
Two blankets for the crib and stroller.
Bed linen for baby.
Baby clothes. Here it all depends on the desires and imagination of the parents, but it is most convenient to use onesies, rompers and vests, as well as children's overalls. You should definitely buy children's mittens made of lightweight fabric. Because small children make a lot of movements with their hands and often scratch themselves. In addition, you must have socks and caps.

Separate clothes should be worn for walking and going to the clinic. In the summer, this is a jumpsuit and a light hat, and in the winter, it is advisable to have a warm sheepskin envelope, consisting of a winter jumpsuit, a winter hat and mittens.

A bathtub or a special container for bathing the baby. The baby needs to be bathed daily. Once a week, use baby shampoo, and on other days, bathe the child in water with the addition of infusions.
Thermometer for bathing a baby.
Stroller and child car seat.
Baby changing table.
Bottles and mixtures. If your baby is bottle-fed, stock up on at least nine bottles. It is also necessary to have a bottle sterilizer.
Nipples, preferably several pieces.

The list is approximate, it can be expanded if parents wish and are able to do so. After a few months, you can buy your first educational toys.

I'm home

On the first day after discharge, the child should be fed, washed and put to bed. You should not stress your baby with a walk and a large number of visitors. Explain to relatives that parents and baby need to get to know each other and get to know each other better. Visits can be postponed for a month.

Walking with your baby

You can walk with your newborn baby the very next day after discharge from the maternity hospital. It’s best to start with 10-20 minutes, increasing your time in the fresh air every day. In the summer season you can walk a little longer than in the winter. You need to dress your child according to the weather. You shouldn’t wrap your baby up, the baby won’t freeze, but he can easily sweat.

Swim, swim!

On the first day at home, the baby should be bathed. For this purpose, it is advisable to use a baby bath specially prepared for the baby. The water temperature should be approximately the same as body temperature, within 36-37.5 degrees. C. It is necessary to bathe the child every day, preferably at the same time, before evening feeding. You can add a decoction of chamomile, string, and calendula to the prepared water. It is advisable to wash your baby with baby shampoo once or twice a week. You need to hold the child carefully, hold the back of the head with one hand, and the back and butt with the other. The baby should be immersed in water gradually, first the legs, and then the rest of the body. The very first bath should take literally a few minutes; in subsequent days, gradually increase the bathing time, according to the baby’s wishes and mood.

Dr. Aibolit

The local pediatrician usually visits the baby within the first three days after discharge from the maternity hospital. He evaluates and examines the umbilical wound and the condition of the fontanel. Will give recommendations to a young mother on how to care for her baby. During the first month, the pediatrician will visit the little patient every week and evaluate his condition.

In addition to the doctor, a visiting nurse will also come to visit. She will keep a baby card and visit him once a week for the first month of life.

A month after birth, the baby will have her first independent trip to the children's clinic, where the little man will be weighed, measured and his general condition assessed. After the first month of life, the baby will have to undergo a medical examination, which includes blood tests from a finger and urine, an examination by a neurologist and a surgeon. In addition, all children are required to undergo an ultrasound of the hip joints, this is done to exclude such a disease as hip dysplasia.

Even in the maternity hospital, the baby will be vaccinated against tuberculosis and hepatitis B. You should not refuse them, there are a lot of people in the world with these serious diseases. It is better that such troubles never touch the little man.

Baby care

Caring for a baby is a painstaking and exhausting daily job. A young mother is physically unable to cope with all the responsibilities on her own. It’s worth asking the baby’s dad or grandmothers for help. Let them give the young mother the opportunity to rest sometimes.

In the first days after birth, the baby usually sleeps most of the time. The mother should try to rest at the same time as the baby.

From the very first days it is worth considering the daily routine, as it is vital for the little man. After sleep, the baby must be fed, then undressed, changed the diaper and performed hygiene procedures. Use cotton wool or cotton pads to clean the baby's eyes, and wipe the ears and nose with cotton pads. Pay special attention to the treatment of the navel, lubricating it with green sterile cotton wool if necessary.

It is useful to be in the fresh air with your newborn for 2-3 hours every day, if the weather permits, and in the late afternoon to perform water procedures. can be carried out hourly, every 3 hours, shifting feeding if necessary due to sleep, or at the request of the child. Modern pediatricians consider feeding a child on demand better, since a baby, like any adult, has an instinct of hunger; the child will decide for himself when he wants to eat. The choice of feeding method remains up to the baby's mother.

Do not blindly follow the advice of grandmothers, doctors and friends.

Remember - it is the parents who are responsible for the little man, and most importantly, do not forget that what the child needs is love, and the rest can be easily learned.

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