It is important to maintain hygiene in the diaper area by trying to change it frequently and wash the area. The arrival of a newborn raises many questions for parents in the care and management of the baby. With patience, affection and the right information we can give our baby all the care he deserves.
Basic care of the newborn
The umbilical cord. The umbilical cord usually falls off between 3 and 12 days of the newborn's life. We must wash it with soap and water , at least once a day (coinciding with the bathroom). Once dry, we will cover the cord with a sterile gauze to which we will add 70º alcohol . This gauze will be changed whenever necessary; If urine or feces are stained, we will repeat the entire cleaning process.
Once the umbilical cord is detached, we will continue treating the umbilical scar in the same way until the gauze appears completely clean; usually this occurs within four or five days. For the care of the umbilical cord,Antibiotic powders and iodinated antiseptics should not be used (the latter due to the risk of inducing hypothyroidism). Bandages or girdles that surround the abdomen should not be used. It is important to monitor the appearance and smell of the umbilical cord. If redness, secretion or a bad smell is observed, the pediatrician should be consulted.
Body cleansing. The newborn should be bathed daily . The water will have a temperature around 36º C and an acid pH soap will be used, one of those that exist on the market specially prepared for babies. We will take special care in cleaning the folds. It is important to maintain hygiene in the diaper area, trying to change the diaper frequently and wash the area to avoid prolonged contact of the child's skin with urine or feces. A protective ointment can be used after washing .
Clothes. Clothing should be comfortable and loose to allow the baby to move freely. It is preferable that it be made of cotton; wool can be irritating. The newborn, especially in the first few days, tends to get cold easily, so their clothes must be adapted to the ambient temperature , but avoiding excessive clothing.
The ones. When the nails are long , they can be cut or filed to prevent the child from scratching. They should be cut with proper scissors (rounded tip) very carefully . The cut must be straight to avoid the ingrown nail. We will take advantage of the moment when the child is calm and we will hold the little fingers well to avoid any damage.
The room. The child's room should be quiet and it is recommended that it be well lit with natural light. The room must be ventilated every day. The temperature should be about 20ºC.
The cradle. It must have a firm mattress, without pillows or toys inside it. Exaggerated shelter is not advised , nor is it advisable to cover your head during sleep. It is advisable for babies to sleep in the same room as their parents until the age of 6 months; this favors breastfeeding and care during sleep. Sleeping position should be on your back (there are numerous studies that have associated sleeping on your stomach with sudden infant death syndrome).
Walks and sun exposure. It is convenient to take the child for a walk from seven to ten days if the weather allows it. Sun exposure is important as it prevents rickets by intervening in the production of vitamin D. In the summer we must avoid the central hours of the day and direct exposure to the sun.
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