CARE OF
THE NAVEL
It's
important for you to keep the navel clean and dry. Clean it once, or even twice,
a day, if necessary. So that all of the secretions can be washed away, first
wash the navel thoroughly with soap and water using a cotton swab. Then apply
rubbing alcohol. The alcohol will have a desired drying effect.
If the little stump that remains is kept clean and dry, it will not become
infected and it will drop off sooner.
Occasionally, the stump drops off shortly after the baby leaves the hospital,
but it may take three, four, or even five weeks.
When it does, you'll notice a little blood spotting on the baby's diaper or
undershirt. This is normal and is nothing to worry about. Just go on cleaning
the navel as if there'd been no spotting.
If the navel continues to bleed or spot beyond a week, it may start to look a
little lumpy. This is granulation tissue. If this occurs, ask your doctor if he
feels the navel needs any specific attention.
A dressing or a band is no longer considered necessary. Most doctors feel that a
band will not prevent a small rupture which many babies will have during their
first year or so.
CARE OF THE PENIS
Caring for the circumcision is quite simple. Generally, a
bandage or gauze pad won't stay in place and is really unnecessary. If the wound
has a tendency to stick to the diaper, apply a little vaseline to the cut edge.
During the first two or three weeks, it's important not to forcibly pull back
the foreskin, because the cut edges of the wound might pull apart. However,
after three weeks, retract the foreskin with each bath to prevent it from
adhering to the
head of the penis.
If the baby is not circumcised, your doctor may tell you to retract the foreskin
with each bath. Be sure you pull it forward again after washing the head of the
penis. If you can't pull the foreskin forward again, and the penis begins to
swell, call the doctor immediately.
SWOLLEN BREASTS
Both boys and girls may have swollen breasts and little girls
may also bleed from the vagina. Both occurrences are due to the mother's
hormones which pass through the placenta and into the baby's bloodstream.
The baby's breasts and the little girl's uterus undergo the same changes as the
mother's. There's no need for alarm because the occasional blood-tinged
discharge is certainly normal. It is not a flow of blood.
When you bathe her or change her diaper, use moist cotton to clean the vulva. If
the baby has swollen breasts and milk runs out, don't squeeze them in an attempt
to express the milk. Just leave them alone.
DRESSING YOUR BABY
Grandma used to bundle up the babies no matter what the
temperature, and today there's still a tendency to overdress them.
During the summer, adjust Baby's outfit to the temperature. If the temperature
is somewhere between 70° and 74°, the infant's basic clothing should be a
diaper, undershirt, kimono, and a receiving blanket. Remove the blanket when the
temperature climbs to 75°-78°. From 80° to 85°, you can skip the kimono, and if
the temperature goes above 85°, the baby needs just his diaper.
During the winter months when the temperature of the house can be maintained at
a constant level of 72° to 74°, the basic dress would be a diaper, undershirt,
kimono, and receiving blanket. If you turn the thermostat down or cool your home
to 68° to 70°, add a heavier blanket for added warmth.
When you get out the articles for his bath, lay his clean clothes arranged in
the order in which you'll put them on him where you can reach them. You won't
want Baby to become chilled and he shouldn't be left unattended.
The clothes should slip on and off freely and quickly and
should never interfere with his exercising. If your house is cool and you put
more clothes on him, they should be loose enough so that he'll be comfortable
and free to move around.
Most babies wear a nightgown over their shirt and diaper until they're about 6
months old. After that, a nightgown and diaper are usually adequate.
Baby's nightgowns should be long, open all the way down the front or back, and
close with either a tie or gripper snap. This makes changing Baby's diaper a
relatively simple matter. If he sleeps on either his tummy or his back, the
nightie can be spread open and won't get soaking wet.
Sleeping bags will prevent Baby's getting uncovered, but they should be roomy.
During early infancy, you may use short sacques and nightgowns, and wrap Baby in
outing-flannel squares or receiving blankets. Spread the blanket on a table
diamond wise. Lay him on it with his head near the upper point and lap one side
point over his tummy. Fold the lower point over his feet and tummy, followed by
the other side point.
This is usually enough covering for him, even in bed, if your house isn't too
cool. Place another blanket over him if additional cover is needed. A waterproof
pad inside the blanket will keep it from getting wet.
Knit terry sleepers are ideal for a tiny baby, keep him comfortably warm, and
are ready to be worn right out of the dryer.
Baby girls look extra sweet in a pretty dress on special occasions. However,
skip overlong, starched, fussy dresses that make Baby uncomfortable. Topper
sets, with plastic-lined diaper covers, which come in styles for boys or girls,
and no-iron dresses make dandy dress-up outfits. A pair of booties will keep
tiny toes warm, but they'll probably fall off if he's a kicker.
A cardigan sweater is a must for breezy summer weather. Add a sunshade hat to
keep the sun out of his eyes. In really cold weather, bundle a tiny baby up for
outdoors in a pram suit or extra-warm sweater, cap, mittens, and booties, topped
off with a wool blanket. |