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BATHING Until the navel and circumcision are healed, the baby should have only sponge baths. Afterwards, the baby may be propped up in a small tub of warm water. Choose a warm area so that your infant will not get chilled. Have all your bath needs within your reach so that you never leave your child unattended. Bath time should be an enjoyable and relaxing time for both of you. Initially your infant may cry with his baths, but by three months of age he should be enjoying it, splashing and playing in the water. Bathing two to three times a week is adequate and will prevent excessive drying, but you may bathe your infant more often if you desire. Soap is not necessary and should be mild if you choose to use it. Most lotions and creams contain perfumes and additives, which may cause skin irritations or rashes and are not necessary. Your baby smells good just the way he is. A small application of petroleum jelly or other lubricating ointment in the diaper area will help protect his skin. Powders can be inhaled and damage the lungs as well as cake up and harden; therefore we discourage their use. Shampoo your infant's hair when you bathe the rest of him, using mild, pH-balanced shampoo. When shampooing, use firm but gentle finger pressure to massage the entire scalp (including the soft spot) and rinse well.
CARE OF THE CORD The umbilical cord should dry and fall off during the first 1-2 weeks. The area at the base of the cord should be left alone. It is no longer necessary to apply alcohol to clean the cord. Try to fold the diaper down away from the umbilical cord until it falls off, which will occur in about 2 weeks. It is not uncommon to notice a few drops of blood or mucus on the navel after the cord falls off. Apply pressure and the bleeding will stop.
ENVIRONMENT AND CLOTHING Your baby’s room should be at a comfortable temperature; no cooler than 65-68 degrees in the winter and no warmer than 78 degrees in the summer. Use how you dress yourself as a guide for how to dress your baby; if you are in a T-shirt and shorts, dress the baby lightly. If you are in long pants and a sweater, dress the baby in a full length warm outfit. The room should be bright. A mobile will stimulate your infant to focus and follow movement after about one month of age. Pillows are not recommended. Don’t tiptoe around and talk quietly when your baby is sleeping. Most infants will sleep even while you vacuum in the same room. If your baby gets used to a very quiet house he may begin to wake up at the slightest noise. Remember that babies can get hot in warm weather and cold in cool weather as you do. Cotton clothing is least likely to cause allergies. Wash all new clothes and blankets before using them for the first time. You should launder your baby’s clothes in laundry soap (Ivory soap or Dreft) instead of detergent. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets should be avoided. Wash your infant’s clothes and diapers separately. You may add one cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle of the diapers to eliminate the ammonia odor. Protect your infant from direct sun exposure, especially between 10am and 3pm when the sun’s rays are the most direct. A baby’s delicate skin can burn in just 5 minutes of direct sun. Protect your infant from insect bites by using a net over his stroller or carriage especially when bug biting is at its worst. If air pollution is at dangerously high levels (code red alert days), avoid excessive time outdoors. Having a baby is an excellent incentive to stop smoking. We urge you to seize the opportunity and quit, both for the baby and for you. If you must smoke it is best to not smoke in the house or in the car (even when the baby is not there) to avoid exposure of the baby to lingering irritants from the smoke. Don’t allow anyone else to smoke around the baby either—he depends on you to protect his delicate developing lungs from smoke.
CIRCUMCISION If your son has been circumcised, petroleum jelly should be dabbed on any gooey areas after bathing for the first few days to keep the scab from sticking to the diaper, taking care not to block the urethra. Do not be alarmed if the healing circumcision takes on a yellow/greenish color in patches, these are merely well hydrated scabs. After the skin has healed, simply keep the area clean with soap and water.When well healed, gently slide the skin back as far as it will comfortably go and wash every day. Do not tug or force the foreskin as this may make it scar down to the penis. Small amounts of the foreskin may still be adhered to the head of the penis after the circumcision; just as with the uncircumcised penis this will correct itself over several months to years.
COLIC The term colic is used to describe prolonged episodes of crying for which no satisfactory reason can be found. Colic usually begins in the second week of life, peaks at two to three months of age and usually subsides by four to six months. There are many proposed causes and remedies none of which work all the time. They include wrapping the baby snugly in a blanket (but only while being held by an attentive adult), rocking, placing a warm water bottle next to or on the baby's stomach, using a loud ticking clock or a tape recording of the vacuum, hair dryer or other white noise in the baby's crib, or walking the baby with his face down and faced forward. Other suggestions for quieting an upset baby may be found in the section on "Crying." It is normal for you to feel tense, anxious, and angry, and even to blame yourself for not being able to comfort your child at all times. Remember that it is nothing that you are doing wrong. Some researchers feel that this is a normal reflection of temperament. It is important that you and other family members share caring for your infant so that you all can get some relief from the stress of caring for a colicky baby. It is also important that you get some time alone away from the baby. Hire a babysitter or ask a relative, friend, or neighbor to watch the baby while you go out. In the long run you will be happier and more rested. Finally, medication may be prescribed in some of the more severe situations. If you believe your child is colicky please call us for an appointment to have this evaluated.
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