Lack of sleep is a real problem for parents of new babies. The new baby during the first few weeks needs constant care through out the day and the night too. It’s difficult caring for a new baby, and parents, especially new parents, can get worn down from the strain the new responsibility places on their shoulders. The lack of sleep and the wear may lower resistance and the parents could develop colds and having a cold can add to the strain.
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Taking care of a baby when she has a cold is difficult for any mother but a breastfeeding mother has an additional burden. She has to be very careful about taking any medication because it could be passed on to the child. She should check the ingredients of any cold medicine and consult her doctor to see if she should take it or limit the dose she does take.
A mother with a cold and a new baby to take care of may need to get help. If the father also has a cold they may need to get some outside help. If one parent cannot care for the baby, the other parent has to take over. New parents can easily get worn out, and they should try to work together as much as possible to avoid that. If the well parent over taxed he or she won’t stay well long. It’s best to get help before both are sick.
New parents do need help occasionally, and they should’t be ashamed to ask for it. Other family members and friends often enjoy helping out with a new baby. With the help of friends or family taking care of the baby, parents with a cold have a chance to recuperate fully. The recuperation may be accomplished much more quickly because they’ll be able get some needed sleep.
There is nothing worse than the helpless feeling you have sometimes when your baby is sick. You want so much to get him feeling better and happy again. Of course you’ll want to know how to diagnose the problem and how to properly take care of your sick baby yourself or if you need to call a doctor.
If your baby ever becomes sick – and all of us who are already parents know how often this happens – you’ll need to know how to take care of a sick baby so that you won’t worry and be able to think clearly. You’ll feel confident knowing that your baby will be in good hands whether you’re treating him or the doctor is handling it
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The first thing that you want to do is to determine whether or not the baby is actually sick. The first and most important thing to check is your baby’s temperature. If he has a fever you can pretty much tell that your baby is sick. A fever is the body’s way of letting you know that there is something wrong.
You’ll want to take your baby to the doctor regardless of how old he is if he has a fever just to make sure he isn’t seriously sick. There are many things that can go wrong with babies and you want to make sure he’s okay. The only real way you can do that is to have a doctor look at him.
Once you determine that your baby has a fever, and before you get to a doctor, you can begin to take care of your sick baby by cooling him down a bit. Make sure that he is in light clothing. Use a cool facecloth to cool his exposed skin.
You’ll want to make sure he’s hydrated by giving him plenty of fluids. If the baby is still young enough that he’s only on milk make sure he has plenty. If the baby is older, you can give him soup or something like that in order to keep him eating.
Though many baby illnesses begin with a fever, but if your baby has been healthy before the fever he’ll probably recover quickly and be smiling and cooing again soon.
Baby Care Tip #1: The Bath Water Temperature
There’s a trick for checking the bath water temperature that has probably been around for hundreds of years. Test the temperature of the water by placing the inside of your wrist on the surface of the water. Your inside wrist is very sensitive, and if it feels like it is room temperature, then it will be acceptable for bathing your baby.
Baby Care Tip #2: Where to Bathe Your Baby
When you first have a newborn, obviously you cannot put the baby in the tub yet, so you will need to give it a light bath with a washcloth on a changing table or bed. However, once your baby is sitting up on its own, you can consider whether it is time to bathe your baby in something that will hold water and your baby. You can use a sink, a baby tub, your bathtub, or even a big bucket!
As your baby gets older you’ll want to graduate to a regular bathtub. Remember that the water should only be at most 3 or 4 inches deep., and never, ever, leave your baby alone in it.
Baby Care Tip #3: Swaddling the Baby
Newborns are very sensitive to cold temperatures. Remember, they have been in a nice warm womb for the past nine months! It’s important that you keep the newborn well clothed and wrapped securely in a blanket.
Swaddling your baby is effective in getting the baby to stop crying. Sometimes babies cry because they don’t feel secure, and not because they are hungry or messy. ,Properly swaddling the baby will give them that security may be missing.
For More Information
These are just a few of the many baby care tips that you’ll find and hear about. Family, friends and your baby doctor will have more advice for you. Also, check the internet. There are many reputable websites available to help new parents. Taking care of a baby is a learning process. Have patience and you will succeed!
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