Thriving at 3 
Tips for Parents
Newborns & Babies
Health
4 Tips to Keep Your Baby Healthy
- Protect Against Germs - A close encounter with germs can mean a trip to the hospital for your baby if they get sick and develop a fever. You can try to limit their exposure to germs by washing your hands before touching them, especially if you’ve been out shopping, handling raw food or changing their diaper. If someone around them has a cold or flu, you may want to ask them to stay out of range until they are germ-free.
- Don’t Give Nonprescription Medications - Normal household medicine can be deadly to a newborn. Even baby painkillers, cough medicine and decongestants can all cause harm, as can other medications. That’s why it is important not to give any medication to your baby unless it is prescribed for them by your doctor.
- Protect their Ears - Your baby’s ears are delicate, so protect them from loud sounds very close to the ears. Even an innocent popping kiss on the ear can cause a bit of permanent deafness.
- Keep the Air Clean - Secondhand smoke can cause serious health risks to non-smokers. If someone in your house smokes, they can protect your newborn by always smoking outside. Avoid using chemical household sprays, like insect repellent or cleaning products, when your baby is in the room. Your newborn’s skin is even too sensitive for personal insect spray or baby sunscreen, so it is best to simply shelter them from mosquitoes, flies and the sun.
Daily Care
Baby Clothes
- 100% cotton is the best fabric for a babies skin because wool and acrylic may cause irritation.
- Babies cannot regulate their temperature as well as adults, so you may need to add layers to their outfit during the day. As a general guide, you can dress your baby in one more layer than you are wearing.
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Loose blankets are not recommended for newborns, especially while they are sleeping.
Diapers
- Nine to ten diaper changes per day can be expected. Numerous wet diapers are a good indicator that your baby is receiving enough fluid.
- To avoid a diaper rash, change your baby’s diaper as soon as possible after it becomes soiled. Waste is acidic and can burn your baby’s skin if their soiled diaper is not attended to within a reasonable amount of time.
Bathing and Keeping Clean
- It is important to keep your baby’s belly button area clean and dry until it heals. The same for a circumcised penis. A gentle wash with water is typically sufficient and soap is not recommended because in many cases it can irritate the skin. Dry carefully, blotting moisture gently with a cotton ball. If redness develops, call your doctor as soon as possible.
Nutrition
Breastfeeding
- Breast milk is exactly suited to your baby’s nutritional needs and it is convenient and free. There is no need to buy formula, sterilize equipment, mix powder, carry clean water or warm up bottles.
- Breastfeeding is also a unique chance for you to snuggle with your baby. This skin-to-skin contact can even help your newborn’s brain development.
- Breastfeeding doesn’t always come naturally. It is often a skill that has to be learned by both the mother and the baby.
Bottle Feeding
- If you cannot breastfeed, it is comforting to know that today’s milk formulas provide the basic building blocks of growth.
- When bottle-feeding your newborn, holding, cuddling and talking to them while their feeding will help them develop and grow. Even though they might not seem responsive at first, their brain is developing at lightning speed and depends on your early contact to develop to the fullest potential.
Play & Learning
- Play helps babies learn about themselves and their world. Playtime is about slowly discovering the world and babies trying their different senses on the objects around them.
Safety
At Home
- Prevent Falls - One of the most common accidents for new babies is falling from a changing table or other high place. To avoid this type of accident, keep one hand on your baby at all times or change their diaper on a mat on the floor.
- Prevent Choking - Perform a regular scan of the area within your baby’s reach and remove all small objects.
- Never Shake a Baby - Even playfully throwing a newborn or young infant in the air can injure their fragile spinal column.
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Information derived from: The Raising Children Network, 2006 http://raisingchildren.net.au/
