Baby Care Essentials PDF

MODULE BABY CARE ESSENTIALS  PHYSIOLOGY A term baby is one born between 37 and 42 weeks’ gestation. The average weight at birth is 3.5 kg, with a normal range of 2.7–4.6 kg. The heart rate is between 110 and 160 beats/minute. The respiratory rate is 30–50 breaths...

MODULE BABY CARE ESSENTIALS  PHYSIOLOGY A term baby is one born between 37 and 42 weeks’ gestation. The average weight at birth is 3.5 kg, with a normal range of 2.7–4.6 kg. The heart rate is between 110 and 160 beats/minute. The respiratory rate is 30–50 breaths/minute. Respiration is noiseless systolic blood pressure is 75–100 mg/Hg. The normal body temperature range is from 36.5 to 37.4°C. INFECTION CONTROL When you get home, anyone who touches the baby should wash his or her hands first. Because the baby may be at risk for catching colds and other infections: Always wash your hands before you hold your baby. Always wash your hands after you change your baby’s diaper. Always wash your hands before you nurse your baby Always wash your hands before you prepare your baby’s formula and bottle. Make sure family/visitors who will touch your baby wash their hands with soap and water. Limit visitors to 2 or 3 people at a time. If anyone has a runny nose, cough, or fever ask him or her to visit at another time. If anyone has a cold sore/fever blister- NO KISSING the baby. Try not to kiss baby on the hands or feet, they are the first thing baby puts in his/her mouth. Keep baby away from pets for at least the first month. Keep your baby indoors as much as possible. Take only necessary trips. Avoid crowds (for example: church, grocery store, mall) for 1-2 months after baby goes home. Baby should have his/her own washcloth and towel (not one that someone else used). Do not put something (for example, pacifier or bottle) in your mouth and then in baby’s mouth.  ILLNESS Your baby’s breathing changes. Your baby cries more and is difficult to calm. Your baby is not eating as well, refuses to eat, or is vomiting. Your baby is difficult to wake and not as active as usual. Your baby has a cough that is not associated with feedings. Your baby has frequent liquid stools within a short period of time (8 hours), foul smelling, or bloody stools. Your baby does not have as many wet diapers as usual and the urine is darker. Your baby’s skin is pale. Your baby feels very warm or very cold. TEMPERATURE TAKING A digital thermometer placed under the arm is the best way to take your baby’s temperature. Make sure the tip of the thermometer is in the armpit (axilla). DIAPER CARE If the diaper area becomes red (irritated), leave the clean diaper area exposed to air. This will help the area heal. If a rash appears, apply a diaper ointment that contains zinc oxide to clean, dry skin. If the rash persists for more than 3 days, call your baby’s doctor for further instructions. DIAPER CARE OF YOUR INFANT Change your baby’s diaper often. Keep the diaper area clean by washing gently with a clean washcloth using baby soap and warm water. Be sure to rinse off all the soap and allow the area to dry before putting on a new diaper. For boys - lift the scrotum and wash all the skin folds carefully with warm water. If your baby is not circumcised, do not pull back the foreskin. This is not only painful for your baby but can cause an infection.  For girls - Always wipe gently from front to back to avoid spreading bacteria into the vaginal area. Use a clean cloth with each wipe. Separate the skin folds and wash gently with plain warm water. Remember to always wash your hands before and after changing a diaper. UMBILICAL CORD CARE Keep the umbilical cord clean and dry Clean around the base of the cord several times a day with a cotton ball and water. Note: It is no longer recommended to use alcohol on the cord. Keep the diaper below the cord until it falls off and there is no drainage. The cord should fall off in about 7 to 14 days. Watch for any of these signs of infection. If any are present, call your doctor: o Redness o Swelling o Tenderness o Yellow or green drainage, or a foul smell NORMAL BOWEL MOVEMENT It is not uncommon for breastfed babies to have a stool with every feeding. Babies getting mother’s milk should have 4 stools a day for the first 4-6 weeks of life. Some formula-fed babies have a stool with every feeding while others may have one a day or every other day. CONSTIPATION AND DIARRHEA If your baby has not had a stool in 2-3 days and seems uncomfortable or is only having hard, pebble-like stools, your baby may be constipated. Call your doctor for directions. If your baby has 3 or more watery liquid stools (diarrhea) in a 6-8 hour period, call your doctor for directions. Your baby could become dehydrated very quickly.  BATHING & SKIN CARE Until the umbilical cord falls off, your baby will need a sponge bath. After the cord falls off, the baby may be given a bath in the tub. Baths may be given in a small tub or sink. A small towel may be placed in the bottom of the tub or sink to prevent slipping. Choose a time for bathing when mother and baby are rested, before a feeding. This can be an enjoyable playtime for both. Your baby does not need to be bathed every day. Remember that babies are very slippery when wet, especially when soapy. NEVER leave baby alone in the tub, not even for a few seconds. Always bring everything you need for the bath to the tub before you begin. TEMPERATURE OF ROOM AND WATER Choose a location in which there are no drafts. The room should be comfortably warm. Water should be warm, not hot. You can test it with your wrist or elbow to check the temperature. TECHNIQUES FOR WASHING YOUR BABY Use plain water for washing the baby’s face. This may be done first, even before placing the baby in the tub or sink. Gently wipe the eyes with a washcloth, from the inner corner of the eye to the outer. Then, wash the rest of the face Do not use cotton swabs (Q-tips) to clean the ears, use a washcloth. Wash small areas at a time. If giving a sponge bath, dry each area after washing. You may keep other areas covered, such as with a receiving  blanket (this is to prevent chilling). Milk and dirt can collect in the baby’s skin folds, such as the neck. Clean well between the creases. Do not be afraid to wash baby’s head. You may use a washcloth or baby brush. Use thorough cleaning to prevent “cradle cap.” Use of soaps, lotions, etc. Use a baby soap or baby shampoo. Lotions are not necessary. If desired, use baby lotions, not cosmetic lotions. Do not use baby powder or cornstarch; the small particles tend to collect in a baby’s small airways in the lungs. HOME TEMPERATURE & DRESSING YOUR BABY It is recommended that you hold your baby skin-to-skin for several hours each day, especially if you are breast feeding. Cover yourself and your baby with a blanket, if necessary. Keep your house at a temperature that is comfortable for you (dress your infant appropriately). Keep your baby away from open windows, or fans. Clothing: Avoid tight-fitting, rough, and irritating clothing on the baby. Use soft bed linen and blankets. Always wash new clothing before using it. This washes out the sizing that can irritate the baby’s skin.  FEEDING YOUR BABY Breast Milk Nursing your baby as early and as often as possible is important for two reasons: maintaining your milk supply and having time for learning and practicing before you go home. Formula If your baby is not receiving mother’s milk, there are formulas that provide nutrition to meet your baby’s needs. REFLUX PRECAUTIONS The following may help: When nursing, keep your baby’s head higher than his stomach. The cradle and football holds are the easiest positions for keeping your baby more upright. Hold your baby upright with the head higher than his/ her stomach after feedings. Vomiting: It is normal for your baby to have a wet burp or to spit up some formula after or during feedings. It is not normal to vomit before, during, or after feedings. If you are unsure if your baby is spitting up or vomiting, contact your health care professional. Signs of breathing problems: Seek immediate medical attention if your baby has any of the following signs that don’t go away quickly: No breathing/apnea Blueness of the gums and lips Fast breathing: more than 60 times per minute when resting  Wheezing, or noisy breathing Restlessness, and is unable to settle down Lack of energy or easily tiring (especially over the last 2 or 3 feedings) Runny nose or increase in secretions Suctioning yellow or green secretions from baby When to suction your baby’s nose and mouth with a bulb syringe: Your baby’s nose sounds stuffy or congested. You can see mucus or drainage coming from the nose. Your baby is having trouble breathing. Your baby vomits and there is milk blocking the airway. If your doctor tells you to.  CAR SAFETY Follow car seat instructions and vehicle owner’s manual to install and use the infant car seat correctly. Place the car seat in the back seat of the car facing the rear. Make sure the seat belt is tight and through the correct belt path of the car seat. Fasten the harness snugly over your baby’s shoulders with the chest clip at the armpit level. DO NOT use a rear-facing child seat in the front seat of the car if it has front passenger-side air bags Keep your infant rear facing as long as possible, until at least 2 years old. This is safest. It protects your baby from head and spinal cord injury. BURNS Never microwave formula or breast milk. Always warm the bottle in a bowl of warm water and test on your wrist before feeding. Keep electrical cords out of reach. If you smoke (ask your nurse about help to quit), never do so while holding your baby. Never hold your baby while drinking hot liquids.  SLEEP SAFETY Follow safe sleep practices to help decrease the chances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep related deaths. SIDS is the sudden, unexpected death of a baby younger than 1 year of age that doesn’t have a known cause even after a complete investigation. SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants between 1 month and 1 year of age. FALLS Never leave your baby in a high place, such as a bed or changing table without your hand on them. Always strap your baby in when using a swing, high chair, or grocery shopping cart. Do not use baby walkers; children are injured in them more often than any other nursery product. SHAKEN BABY Never shake or hit your baby, it could lead to brain damage or death. Always handle your baby with care. Support baby’s head at all times. Do not hold your baby upside down, bounce baby roughly, or toss baby up in the air. Never take baby’s cries personally. Babies cry for many reasons and some cry a lot. It is normal to feel frustrated or tense when this happens, but never take it out on your baby. If you feel angry or frustrated, take a break. Make sure your baby is safe and go to another room. Ask for help: have a partner, friend, or relative care for your baby for a while. Talk to someone: talk to a healthcare provider to get help.  CHOKING Choking occurs when an object blocks the airway, preventing oxygen from getting to the lungs. Many objects can be choking hazards. Food and objects that are choking hazards: Hot dogs, nuts, chunks of meat, cheese, raw fruit, or vegetables Hard or sticky candy Popcorn Peanut butter sandwiches Coins Marbles Pen or marker caps Small buttons or batteries Small toys or toy parts (Barbie shoes, Lego pieces, etc. Prevent choking: Keep the above foods and objects away from children under 4 years of age. Infants should never have their bottles propped. Insist children eat sitting down. They should never walk, run, or play with food in their mouth. Cut food for infants and children, and teach them to chew well. Supervise mealtimes. Do not allow older brothers or sisters to give the infant or child dangerous foods or objects. Follow age recommendations on toy packages CALL EMERGENCY IMMEDIATELY IF THE INFANT OR CHILD BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE. Poisons come in many shapes and sizes: Household products: many cleaners, pesticides and fuels are poisonous. windshield wiper fluid is very poisonous. They are attractive to children and may be mistaken for a flavored drink. Personal care products: powder, mouthwash, hair products, and skin products can be poisonous Other: paints (especially lead-based paints) and carbon monoxide are also concerning. Prevent poisoning: Store medicines and products out of reach. Store products in their original package. The information contained on the label will help the poison control center know how to treat in case of poisoning. Use products safely: Read label carefully for proper use. When using poisonous products, never leave them unattended. Put the poisonous products away in a safe place after use. Make sure the container is closed tightly. Never call medicine “candy.” Install carbon monoxide detectors. Check house for peeling paint and repair as needed. If you are unsure whether the paint contains lead, contact a certified professional