Some infant care questions from a 40week pregnant new mom?
1. How to give your newborn a sponge bath? I mean, can I use a waschcloth? Do I start out with a damp one with soap, then a damp one with water? I’ve never given one but know you have to until the umbilical cord falls off.
2. If you put diaper rash ointment on every diaper change to prevent diaper rash, do you put it on the boys penis too? Or just the butt?
3. I live in a very warm climate. Can I dress him in just a onsie (day and night in summer) I will change the onsie at night.
4. Can I wash our clothes together if use Dreft? Or should it still be seperate even though I am using the baby detergent?
5. When can he hold up his head on his own? Should I wait until then to place him on his tummy for supervised tummy time? (NO I wouldn’t leave him alone like that or let him sleep that way, I mean for strengthening the muscles)
6. About how many months did your size N or 1 pampers last you? How many/day?
These questions aren’t ever addressed in magazines!
A big thank you to all the great answers. Thank you for taking the time to answer all my questions! They are very helpful.
Oh fyi the ac isn’t on at night because it doesn’t reach my room anyway, so my room is hot, yuck
1. Yes, that is how you do it. I like to wrap the baby in a towel and then do part by part so that the baby doesn’t get cold.
2. I think it is a good idea to use ointment every change to avoid getting a bad rash. I also think it is good to avoid the wipes, in the beginning at least, because they can irritate the baby skin. I usually use cotton with water and then pat dry the area. For messy diapers I wash with baby soap.
3. They say the baby should wear a layer more than you. But if you don’t have ac at home and it is hot than I believe just an onsie should be fine. Be ready to change clothes often because babies tend to get their clothes dirty frequently by spiting up, leaking diapers, etc.
4.Yes you can. But do not use fabric softener.
5. You can put the baby on his tummy even before he is able to hold his head, this will help him. But he probably won’t like and take it for a very short time in the beginning and yes, you should stay by his side.
6. All depends on the size of your baby.
These might be helpful:
http://www.webmd.com/baby/babys-diaper-rash
http://www.ehow.com/how_2516_give-baby-sponge.html
I didn’t bathe my son at all until after the cord fell off, but a baby wipe or damp wascloth is good.
Only use diaper ointment if there is a problem. Put it wherever the rash is.
Diaper-only is fine too!
I don’t use any laundry detergent on baby clothes. I pre-treat any milk and poo stain with Spray & Wash.
Tummy time is OK, but on a firm surface. Turn his head to the side and supervise. My son had lots of tummy time from day 1. He rolled over at 12 days old!
My son was 7lb 2 oz. He is about 3 mo old now and still in size 1. We’re goin on 200 diapers now. About 6 per day.
Dr. Spock’s Baby and Child Care is really great. I read it while I was pregnant (got it from the library) and bought a copy today at a thrift sale.
1. Yes you can use a washcloth, you just can’t submerge the baby in water and avoid getting the cord wet.
2. You put it on the butt when they have diaper rash. You could try powder to help prevent it.
3. Newborns like to be swadled, it makes them feel safe. If it is very hot you can put him in a onsie.
4. You can wash them together using either drift or another dye free detergent. If the clothes are really soiled then I wouldn’t.
5. At a couple of months he should be able to have some tummy time. Each baby is different and is ready at a different ime.
6. They don’t last long.
1. Yes you can use the washcloth and you can do soap first then rinse off by a clean wet washcloth. Until the cord falls off it is best to just wash down with a washcloth making sure not to get the cord wet. It won’t take long for the cord to fall off.
2. Don’t put ointment on every change, it isn’t a preventative kinda of thing but instead for when there are signs of an actual rash. The body can get use to it and then it won’t help with an actual rash. Also note that most rashes are actually yeast infections and can’t be helped with diaper rash ointment but instead the same stuff we use for yeast infections or guys use for jock itch. You put the ointment over the rash where ever it is and yes it can spread to the penis.
3. Yes onsies are a wonderful thing. My first son was born in the summer and he couldn’t handle having clothes on and the Dr said that onsies are great for hot weather just change it if it gets wet (with formula,milk, sweat….). I even used mostly onsies for the first 3 months with my winter baby because we rarely left the house and the heat in the apartment made him hot and he hated the clothes.
4. You can wash the clothes together just don’t wash your towels, bras or underware with you babies clothes or washclothes with the baby’s clothes.
5. The supervised tummytime is what helps strengthen their necks to increase the holding up of the head. From day 1 you can do supervised tummytime for short periods of time. you may also notice even within a couple of days that while you are holding your baby he will try to lift his head.
6. For me I used the Newborn diapers for less than a month just because they were so expensive and not necessary after the cord was gone. The size 1 worked for I think up to 3 months on my boys then they started getting to a leaky point so I moved up to a size 2. It depends on if you have a skinny baby or a chubby baby. Also depends on the brand since brands sizes vary a little.
1. I used the Johnson and Johnson washcloths. Add water and they soap up for you, then I rinsed with a clean washcloth.
2. I used to apply oitment at every changing for preventative measures, but stopped and use baby powder to remove any excess moisture. Had a girl, so unsure where to apply on a boy.
3. I’m in a warm cliamte, onsies are fine. You’ll be able to tell if your little one is too cold or too hot.
4. I’ve combined our laundry since day one. Any free and clear detergent is fine. Dreft is so expensive, I use All, have fine results.
5. Mine was holding her head up by herself after about 5 weeks. You don’t have to wait for that for tummy time.
6. the newborn size lasted about a month. my daughter was 7lbs 12 3/4 oz when born- birth weight will dictate how long that size will last. went through maybe 5 or 6 a day at first.
1. What I did was get all my supplies together first: the small wash cloth, a little bowl of warm watter, mild baby soap, a towel and whatever else you choose to use. Then, I’d turn off the AC and the fan. I’d lie my daughter on the bed and undress her. Then, just add a SMALL drop of soap to the water (or not), and wet your wash cloth. Wring it out very well so that it’s barely wet. Then, start from the bottom and work your way up. Wipe between her toes, her feet, up her little legs, etc. As you move up, keep the part you just washed dry and warm by covering her with a towel.
I chose to use my bed because it’s much easier and much safer than using a sink or changing table.
2. I don’t have a boy, but I’d assume putting a little on his penis too since it is exposed to urine.
3. I leave my 7 month old in a onesie for most of the day. We live in Florida, and it’s entirely too hot to be wearing cutesie baby clothes. At night, however, you might want to dress him in a footed sleeper since it’s unsafe to put blankets on him. That will keep him warm without blankets.
4. I would wash them separately for a while. Your clothes have been washed in regular detergent before, so you never know what will irritate a newborns skin.
5. It takes a few months before they can hold their heads up alone. Wait until then before placing him on his stomach because, otherwise, he’ll just be face down on the carpet/blanket/bed, which can be unsafe. When he starts to develop a little more neck control (2-3 months), you can place him on his stomach in order to encourage neck muscle development, but I wouldn’t do it before then.
6. Lol, my daughter was 8 lbs when she was born, so they lasted about 2 weeks. Maybe less. They grow SO quickly in the first month that buying more than a pack or 2 of newborn diapers will be a waste.
GOOD LUCK!
1. A sponge bath is fine! Use a liquid baby bath soap, like Johnson & Johnson’s, and be sure to rinse and apply lotion to prevent dry skin.
2. I don’t think ointment is necessary unless there is a rash. Just be sure to check the diapers frequently so a rash doesn’t happen (or get so severe, because rashes WILL happen!).
3. Dress him in as many layers as it takes for you to be comfortable. Remember that babies can’t maintain their body heat as efficiently as adults can, so perhaps some light-weight pajamas would be a good thing, especially if you have air conditioning.
4. I washed our clothes separate because I liked the scent and feel of my regular detergent and fabric softener for my own clothes. You will always have dirty baby clothes/sheets/blankets, so will likely not have to wash a half-load often.
5. The first few weeks will be spent sleeping and eating (with a little bit of awake time), and you don’t need to worry about exercising him just yet. Take your cues from him. You’ll be able to tell when he is itching to start moving around on his own. Also, don’t make him "stand up" or hold any weight on his legs while he’s a newborn. Their legs aren’t strong enough, and in some instances it can cause problems for their growing bones.
6. My son was huge, but my daughter was small. It depends on the baby’s weight. The diaper packages give a weight range, so go by that. If I remember right, about a month.
You sound like you’re doing great! Congratulations in advance, and I’m sure you’ll do well with your new son! Enjoy this time – they grow in a flash!
To clean the baby, use a soft washcloth or cotton balls, a tiny bit of baby bath then rise with a clean one. Make sure to get around his neck—always a bad spot. Wash his bum last so you don’t spread germs.
I mostly used powder—sprinkle on the diaper, not the baby. Use cream in the evening when baby starts to sleep through the night. I put it on butt and scrotum but not really penis unless it was red.
I put my kids in a onsie and then swadled with a light blanket for sleep. It should be fine in the day as long as he is not too near a fan or AC. I heard somewhere they should be dressed just slightly warmer than you.
I’d wash the clothes separate for a few months just to be on the safe side.
I can’t remember exactly when they can lift head, but I’d wait until then for tummy time. In the summer, my babies would lay on their dad’s naked belly for “tummy time”. It gives dad some good bonding time.
Diapers depend on the size your baby starts out. Mine were small, but I would imagine most babies are only a few weeks in N and a few months in 1. 1 is cheaper than N, so move to it as soon as you can. I never used many 2—mostly went from 1 to 3. Newborns go through a ton of diapers. I would say at least 8 each day. That number lowers when they are a few months old.
I’m going to preface this by saying I didn’t read the other answers so forgive me if I repeat.
1. spongebath, use a washcloth dipped in warm soapy water and then rinse it and wipe clean.
2.Depends on the baby but my 2 boys never needed ointment on the penis itself.
3.YES! If you are hot, so are they.
4.yes unless you have really dirty clothes.
5. Again, depends on the baby, I have 3 and they all had thier heads up by a few weeks but "normal" has a big range.
6.once more depends on the baby. One of mine was out of 1’s at like 4 weeks but another not until 3 months. When the poop leaks go to the next size up!
Good luck and go with your insincts. I was a young (19) mom with my 1st but my 3rd…I’m 33. You learn with your baby and if you ever want to talk or ask a question, message me! Have fun!;)
1. No need to use soap, babies dont really get dirty. Wrap him in a towel, sponge off his upper body, wrap it back up, sponge his lower body, wrap it up, sponge ihis head and towel dry.
2. No need to use it at every change, but if you do then apply it to the bottom, testes and penis, as well as the front pubic area.
3. A onesie should be fine, but maybe a light cotton sleeper at night, babies don’t regualte temperature as well as adults
4. Skip the dreft, wash your clothes and his in unscented detergent, its cheaper then dreft, and some babies are allergic to the fragrance in it (my son was, had to re-wsh everyting after he was born!!)
5. Babies can hold thier heads up right away, but its not easy for them. By 4 weeks or so start tummy time, a few minutes a day, and increase it as he gets older. Let him lay on his back and sides as well, so he gets stimulation form all angles and even pressure on his skull
6. My son was out of size one by 6-7 weeks. Only wore N for the first 2 weeks, then he started getting big!!!
Good luck!!
You’ll find out in a hurry what is going to work for you, and I’m sure it’s very different for everyone. Here’s a few ideas from how I did things with my son….
1. I put a towel down on the kitchen table to lay him on. Then I partially wrapped his body in another- I washed sections while I kept the rest of him warm. I had a small bucket of clean warm water to rinse and I started with just a little baby soap on a wet wash cloth.
2. I wouldn’t use diaper ointment unless he has a rash. A little vasoline wouldn’t hurt if you feel the need to use something, but just on the bum.
3. A onesie is probably fine during the day. He may want to be swaddled for comfort, so a thin, breathable blanket would be OK with just a diaper if it’s really hot (if you have A/C, I’d dress him a bit warmer than that)
4. Dreft is great, but it’s a bit more expensive than our detergent, I always washed his clothes separately.
5. He probably won’t hold his head up very well until he’s about 2, 3 or 4 weeks old, but he’ll sure try, and tummy time is great from day one on a firm surface and with you right beside him.
6. Newborn diapers didn’t last us more than about a month- I think until about 8 or 9 pounds (if you have a big baby, he may never even wear them). Size one lasted a few months- I would plan on at least 10 diapers per day at first (remember you’ll be changing with each feeding and they eat about every 2-3 hours).
They’re so much fun and they grow so fast. Don’t worry about all the small details and forget to enjoy him- it’ll all come to you once he’s here!
1. use a wash cloth, if you like and just wash everyplace but the tummy around the cord..not too much soap. then rinse with clean damp cloth
2. no, we don’t use cream at every diaper change.. only used it once when baby had a little rash..Don’t put on penis
3.we live in the south, so it’s HOT.. but you’ll need to put baby in warmer PJ’s at night(even if it’s hot out b/c they get really cold at night) little ones cant regulate body temps yet
4.i would wash separate…when using Dreft use half the amount as directed(it’s hard to wash out if you use more. plus we use oxyclean for babies.. it’s great!
5. start tummy time as soon as you get him home(supervised..bla bla bla), and our little guy is 3 months old and can almost hold his head up on his own, not sure what the norm is
6. NB diapers lasted till 9 weeks(he was 7lbs7oz when born, so at 10lbs we moved up a size)
Good Luck and congrats mommy!
1. Bathing. They will show you how to do this at the hospital. You can use a washcloth. We used two washcloths and a basin of clean water or set up on the counter next to a sink for fresh water for rinsing. Start at the head and work down, from cleanest to dirtiest, in order to keep the rags clean. You actually do not need to bathe baby very often at first. Maybe every 3-4 days. Do the diaper area last, but make sure you get all the creases. For an uncircumcised boy, do NOT retract the foreskin. It is attached to the head of his penis in order to protect it and would be damaged by forceful retraction. Use an alcohol wipe on his umbilical cord.
2. Diaper Ointment. I’ve only used diaper ointment at the first sign of redness, not for every change. I also prefer the Gold Bond medicated baby powder over all of the ointments… it has worked a LOT better than ointments and also keeps things from overheating, and it lubricates too. Ointment, I just put on the but unless he was red under his penis. For the powder though, you can apply it pretty generously around the penis and testicles, around the butt, etc. Great stuff. Highly recommend it.
3. Clothes. The typical rule of thumb is to dress him in whatever you are comfortable in, plus a this cover layer (like a receiving blanket). He will also need hats more often than you would, especially if he doesn’t have hair. You can definitely dress him in a onesie if you would also be comfortable in as little clothing. I actually do not put any clothes on my son at night on hot summer nights. If it gets chilly though, you should definitely have something to warm him, like a Sleep Sack or other clothes.
4. Detergent. Yes, but it will be expensive to use Dreft on all of your clothes. We never use any special detergent because we think it’s silly to spend so much money when a lot of those baby-specific brands are even problematic because of the scents and other things they put in them. We just use a simple detergent without bleach and we’ve not had any problems at all.
5. Tummy time. My son is four months and he’s been able to hold his head up pretty well for about 2 1/2 months now. All babies are different though. You can place him on his tummy before he can hold up his head unassisted, however, because it will give him reason to hold up his head and it will strengthen his muscles. It will also help motivate him to learn to roll over. We have a Boppy pillow that we’ve used to tummy time, and it works very well because it can prop him up enough that his face isn’t pressed into the floor or blankets of wherever he is.
6. Diapers. Not long… a few weeks maybe. You’ll average about 12/day at first. My son is now four months and he’s already in size 3 diapers and he goes through about 6-8 per day now. Newborns go through a LOT more than even 1-month olds. You’ll also go through a lot as you learn your baby’s pooping habits. It’s pretty common to go through 3-5 diapers in one change because baby will poop again as soon as you get the old diaper off. You’ll want to get a package of Newborn diapers and a package of size 1 diapers. If your baby is big, the newborn size may not fit at all and you’d hate to make a stop at the store on your way home from the hospital.
Don’t forget to ask about breastfeeding!
Good luck and happy birth wishes to you!
My best suggestion for you is to ask your doctor or your own mom or some of your girlfriends.
But here are my suggestions
1.I’ll answer this one tomorrow, the lady that I am the nanny for does everything all natural, it recommends some type of baby body wash that is almond I think. She would reccommend that instead of soap.
2.Yes if you use diaper rash ointment it it is best to put in all areas that may get sore due to wetness including the penis as well as the butt. You don’t have to use an ointment everytime though. We someitmes use baby powder too.
3. Yes, you can dress him up in just a onsie, just as long as he is warm enough, but remember it is kind fun having him dressed up in other different outfits. Don’t forget a hat for the first few months. You should probably have him wrapped in a light blankie like a receiving balnket.
4. We have always washed the infants clothes together it does not seem to make a difference. Just remember to pretreat any stains.
5.Each baby matures differently they start a little bit at about one month old, by the time are six moths old they should be able to hold it up completely….I found this article on the web that might help you its a little more specific…..
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babydevelopment/6579.html
6. That depends on how tiny your baby is. Some babies when they are born are to big for the newborn diapers. The baby needs to be changed typically a little after each feeding (what goes in must come out !:) ) So it depends and it will be fewer diapers as the baby gets older.
A package of 48 lasted a month old just about 2 weeks, if that helps.
1. when you are in the hospital see if you can get two of the pink basins to take home..use these for bathing the baby until the umbilical cord falls off..use one with soap and one with just plain water..use one washcloth for each..take the soapy one first and wipe one part of the body down then take the plain water one and wash the baby off..and wait 24 hours after the cord falls off to submerge into a tub of water.
2. I work in the medical field taking care of patients who wear diapers.. and plus taking care of my son.. you can use vasealine or bourdexs butt paste.. i take it and put in the creases of the legs where the diapers go, under his penis and all over his hiney..this prevents urine from burning the skin when in the diaper b.c it runs right off …
3. onesies are perfectly fine..i live in a humid climate and i havent been able to put my son in a normal outfit yet b.c of the weather..so i keep him in onsies..
4. you can do either or…i do both sometimes depending on how much baby clothes i have to wash..if its not much i will take my sons clothes and ours and wash it in dreft..
5. my son started to hold his head up very soon..by two weeks and he got stronger..typically they start at about 6-7 weeks.. and the tummy time is fine when they are little..my son loves his tummy i just dont leave him like that for long.. my home nurse told me 15 mins a day is perfectly fine..
6. my son has been out of Newborn diapers for two weeks..you can tell when its time to go up a size because they start to leak out of them.. and if you purchase the swaddlers they are wonderful…so soft on the baby’s leg that it wont cut… and i go through atleast 10..i dont like to leave him in wet diapers..
Good luck to you and congrats..im a first time mommy too..it doesnt take long to catch on..
1. I gave my daughter a bath the 2nd day she was home. I had a baby bath tub and filled it up just a little bit and then washed all around the umbilical cord, making sure not to get it wet.
2. I have a girl, but I assume if there is a rash on the penis, but it there also. I don’t put ointment on there every diaper change either, unless it starts to look a little red. But I did find some ointent that is amazing! It is called Boudreaux’s Butt Paste. It is a little expensive, but it works better than anything else.
3. I dress my daughter in a onsie often since it is hot here.
4. I wash all of my daughters clothes with mine because I use a detergent that is free of colors, and dyes.
5. My baby is 2 months old and I put her on her tummy to sleep because of reflux, and she seems fine when she lays on it to play.
6. I had newborn diapers for 6 weeks, and she is just now good into the 1s. It just depends on the size of your baby.
1. Washcloth is fine.I used baby wash and gently bathed them. Just be careful not to get the belly button area wet.
2. You only need the diaper rash cream if the baby develop a rash (on his butt only). It was recommended to me by my doctor not to use powder because the powder goes everywhere when you use it and it can be harmful if the baby inhales it.
3 Onsies are fine. Babies are not that much different from adults when it comes to being hot or cold. So I would dress the baby according to temperature. It is always good to shield their face from bright sunlight or cold.
4. I started out washing them separately, but then I discovered that regular detergent works just as well, as long as the baby is not sensitive to it. I also combined my clothes with the baby’s and it was OK.
5. I’m thinking around 3 months. Once the baby can hold their head up its OK to let them have tummy time for short periods at a time as long as they are supervised.
6. Each child was different, but on average 3 and half to 4 months.
Good luck with your new baby.
1.) Get your bathroom warm, babies don’t like to be cold, and lay your baby on a soft towel. Lather up a wet, warm, wash cloth with baby soap and start washing! May sure you wash in all the folds. I’d was his face with just water. Then rinse the wash cloth out and get all the soap off of your baby. Make sure when you dry him off that you get the folds in between his thighs, knees, arms and under his chin dry.
2.) I usually put diaper rash cream on his bottom, creases of his thighs and lower abdomen, because when little boys pee, it usually goes up!! I apply it at every diaper change because my baby is prone to diaper rash.
3.) A onesie during the day should be good if it’s warm. At night maybe a onesie and a light weight blanket. You tend to get a little cold at night, because you’re sedentary.
4.) Most babies don’t need a special "baby detergent". If you have something on your clothes like oil or something that might harm your baby, then wash your clothes seperately, otherwise you can wash your clothes and your babies together with regular detergent.
5.) Babies can usually hold their heads up on their own by about 3 months, but you can start tummy time when they are just weeks old!! He’ll probably start lifting his head up while he’s on his tummy before he’s a month old.
6.) My son wore newborn diapers until he was about 3 months old. He’s now 7 months old and wears the size 3.
When he was a newborn he went through about 8 diapers a day. He now goes through maybe 6 or 7.
Hope this was helpful!