Baby Maintenance
As you grow accustomed to your new baby there are normal routines that will become a part of daily life for you. A few of the standard procedures involve such commonplace things as diaper changing, feeding and sleeping.
With modern developments there is not really any need to deal with the old style cloth diapers, pins and plastic diaper pants. Convenient disposables have become ubiquitous in infant care. There is always still the need to check for and prevent problems from arising every time you change your child. A quick inspection for rashes or sore spots will help you keep your child healthy. Talcum powder and ointments will keep the skin protected from moisture and chafing. Cleaning with soft wipes and cotton swabs will help keep small nooks and crannies clean and free from irritations and infections.
Taking care of the umbilical cord during the first week or so is very important. It must be kept soft and securely protected until the natural process of withering takes place and it drops off.
Breast feeding will be a rewarding and rather simple process. The biggest concern here is in keeping the source cleaned and sterilized. Replaceable drip pads in you maternity bra will help with this. Even after switching to bottle feeding the primary concerns will be to keep the equipment sterile and take care that formula is cared for and not let sit so long as to go bad.
Sleep time presents a few potential problems that are still easy to avoid. It is recommended that newborns be allowed to sleep on their backs. Because of the malleability of the skull at this early age, you should make sure to constantly alter which side of the baby's head is laying flat on the bed. It has been demonstrated that if the head is always on one side during the first year of development it will form offside instead of symmetrically.
