Newborn Care guide: Mistakes that every parent should avoid

​​​​Congratulations..!! If you are here reading this article, you are either going to welcome or already have welcomed your little bundle of joy.

As new parents, we usually get overwhelmed with new experiences and phases of our life and we tend to make some mistakes during our parenthood. When it comes to caring for newborn babies, there are certain things that are generally advised to avoid.

Mistakes that every parent should avoid with their Newborn

Putting Your Baby to Sleep on Their Stomach: The safest sleep position for a baby is on their back to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Avoid placing your baby on their stomach or side to sleep until they are old enough to roll back themselves. Sleeping on a tummy can raise the risk of SIDS because an infant can not roll over to breathe and will inhale their own carbon dioxide.

Shaking the Baby: Never shake a baby, as it can cause serious injuries and even life-threatening conditions like shaken baby syndrome(SBS). If you need to wake your baby, don't do it by shaking. Instead, tickle your baby's feet or blow gently on a cheek. New borns should never be shaken and should be handles with care.

Overstimulation: Avoid exposing your baby to excessive noise, bright lights, or chaotic environments that can overwhelm their developing senses. Provide a calm and soothing environment instead. Avoid using scented perfumes or lotions.

Rough Handling: Be gentle when handling your baby. Avoid jostling or roughly bouncing them, as their neck muscles are still weak and their heads need proper support. Please take care of their neck muscles.

Allowing Smoking Around the Baby: Keep your baby away from secondhand smoke, as it increases the risk of respiratory problems and other health issues. Ensure a smoke-free environment for your little one.

Letting everyone kiss your baby: Make this mandatory in your newborn care guide, Don't let everyone kiss your baby. And kissing on lips should be strict no for you as well. I know it sounds tough to resist but resisting is better than repenting.

Not sterilizing their bottles and pacifiers: Parents please invest in sterilizers to ease yourself, or you can boil the bottles and pacifiers after every use.

Feeding Honey or Water: Newborn babies typically rely solely on breast milk or formula for nutrition. I have heard many people arguing that we should give water to our infants because they also feel thirsty. Your little one should be receiving both nutrition and hydration from breast milk or formula, not water. No water before 6 months of age. and Babies younger than 1-year-old should not be given honey. That's because a type of bacteria (called Clostridium) that causes infant botulism can be found in honey. 

Ignoring Signs of Illness: Pay attention to any unusual symptoms or changes in your baby's behavior.If your newborn baby is lethargic and drowsy when it isn't their normal sleep time or is unresponsive, urgent medical attention is needed. If your little one has a weak cry, absence of a cry, or if they have a high-pitched, continuous cry and are unusually unsettled/unable to be consoled, urgent medical attention is needed.

Leaving Your Baby Unattended and leaving them alone with Pets: Never leave your baby unattended, especially on high surfaces like changing tables or sofas. Always keep a close eye on them to ensure their safety. Remember not to leave them alone with your pets. Animals are not smart enough to take care of a human baby, they might hold them with their mouth just like their own babies, or lick them to show their love which is highly dangerous for newborns.

Delaying Immunizations: Follow the recommended immunization schedule for your baby. Vaccinations are essential for protecting them from serious illnesses and diseases.

Not burping baby properly

One of the key mistakes many new parents can make is failing to take the time to properly burp their newborn. The result of failing to burp is that the baby may spit up and gag, lose some of that precious milk, or wake up in an hour or so screaming in pain. It might take you an additional 10 minutes at the end of the feed but the baby will be happy.

Over clothing, Overdressing baby: Avoid overdressing your baby or exposing them to excessive heat. Infants have difficulty regulating their body temperature, so ensure they are dressed appropriately and keep their environment at a comfortable temperature. Having cool hands and feet is normal because of poor blood circulation in the initial months. they are not feeling cold, please make them wear comfortable clothes.

Overdoing the decoration of their cot or bed:  Avoid placing loose blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals in the baby's sleep area to reduce the risk of suffocation. Instead, use a fitted crib sheet and consider using a wearable blanket or sleep sack for warmth.

Applying Ointments or Creams without Consultation: If you notice any skin irritations or rashes on your baby, consult with your pediatrician before applying any ointments or creams. Some products may not be suitable for newborns or may require a proper diagnosis.

Overfeeding the baby: Overfeeding a baby often causes the baby discomfort because he or she can't digest all of the breast milk or formula properly. When fed too much, a baby may also swallow air. This can produce gas, increase discomfort in the belly, and lead to crying. Remember to make the perfect composition of formula milk.  Do not add extra formula powder. Using too much can make your baby constipated and may cause dehydration.

Excessive Pacifier Use: While pacifiers can provide soothing comfort for babies, excessive reliance on them can interfere with breastfeeding and oral development. Use pacifiers sparingly and in consultation with your healthcare provider.

Remember, This phase is unique and new filled with excitement but do not let your joy sway your mind. Things before you give anything to your child except breast milk or formula milk. Learn to say no to others if somebody kisses your child, or might have some infection. Newborn's immunity is still developing and they can catch any infection way too fast.