8 Top Tips to Keep your Newborn Baby Clean and Healthy

A newborn baby brings lots of happiness and stress too with its arrival. As they say that the parents are going thru’ a new set of responsibilities, sleepless nights, coping up with extra members in the family, guests and new crew of support services.

Newborns have to be cared for and most importantly closely monitored for any slight changes. A lot of healthy hygiene practices have to be followed at home and should be implemented by all family members including supporting team. There are plenty of do’s and don’ts that have to be strictly adhered to ensure newborn baby is clean and healthy.

The basic needs for a Newborn baby are:

Bathing a baby

Babies can be given a bath daily unless the baby is sick or had an immunization schedule. In winters when the external weather is extremely cold you can opt for a wipe with a towel dipped in luke warm water. You can wash the baby’s hair daily though it is not mandatory. Weekly twice you can apply a mild shampoo for the hair and use a mild soap. However, you need to monitor that the water does not enter the newborn baby’s nose, mouth, eyes and ears.

After bathing the baby dry the baby completely with a dry towel. Make sure you clean dry the hidden area under creases- especially armpit and groin. This will keep away infection or peeling of skin

Read: New Moms Newborn Basic Baby Care Tips

Care for the cord

After your baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut close to the body in a painless procedure, leaving a 2 to 3 cm short umbilical stump. Your baby’s umbilical cord stump will dry up and eventually fall off within 10 to 21 days. There will be a fresh wound and it will take a few days to heal.

Read: Umbilical cord care: Basics for a New mom

You need to take good care of the umbilical cord area. This area is delicate and will need a little extra attention until the cord stump naturally falls off. Apply medication as prescribed by your baby’s pediatrician.

Taking care of eyes, nose, ears

There is no specific need to clean the eyes, ears and nose, however you need to wipe them with a wet towel externally. Avoid putting Kaajal in the eyes. You can apply kaajal on eyebrows. If you observe some dirt like substance in the ear or nose, gently clean with a ear bud without going much deeper.

Keeping private areas clean

During baby massage the common practice is to squeeze the breasts of the newborn baby to remove a milky substance otherwise the boys will have huge breast when they grow up. At times the foreskin on the penis of the baby is pushed back as a part of cleaning. These actions can result in serious infections and should be avoided unless handled by experienced hands.

Read: Taking Care of a premature baby

Trimming nail

Preferably trim baby’s nails when the baby is asleep. Nails grow quickly and if uncut can cause scratches for the baby. The nails of a baby may be trimmed with a clipper or baby scissors. Do not bite off the nails as it is not a hygienic practice.

Read: How to trim baby’s nails

Cutting hair

Baby’s hair grow fast and few babies have thick hair and it will start falling into the eyes and cause irritation. In certain communities, it is a practice to shave the head, soon after birth or after the baby is one year old. If cutting the hair is delayed you can use baby clips and secure hair.

Shaving the hair is also practiced in Indian communities, religious and scientific reason for removing the birth hair. Apply sandal wood paste mixed in homemade turmeric paste for cooling the scalp, this is followed commonly.

Read: Shaving a baby’s head makes the hair grow thicker and stronger

The same holds true for ear piercing. It is safe to wait till the baby has received its triple injections to tonsure the head or pierce the baby’s ears. This helps prevent tetanus.

Read: Vaccines for your baby – Immunization schedule

Keeping clothes clean

The newborn baby’s clothes need to be segregated and washed daily in water containing an antibacterial solution like dettol and some mild detergent, either by hand or in the washing machine. They should be sufficiently dried in a machine or in the sun to kill all germs. Once dry, the clothes should be folded and kept inside the cupboard, free from contamination. Change the clothes when damp after a feed or after baby passes stool or urinates.

Read: The importance of Setting a Baby’s routine

Handling the baby

There will be lots of friends and relatives visiting hospital and home after the baby is born. Make sure that anybody who handles the baby washes his/her hands with a good antibacterial soap or hand wash. Make sure civil footwear is left outside the baby’s room to minimize contamination.

Read: How to Handle the New Born Baby?

Clean and sterilize feeding bottles and other accessories

Feeding bottles should be sterilized in boiling water early in the morning and should be left in the vessel with water and a lid. You should have a good set of bottles to avoid any shortcuts and bypasses during cleaning. After baby’s feed empty the bottle, wash and keep aside. All the bottles and nipples needs to be sterilized again prior to use.

Read: How to Clean and Sterilize Bottle Feeding Equipment &

Dispensing and Preparing Formula for baby

Baby toys are major causes of infection. You need to wipe them with soap and water and ensure they are away from floor. Keep away toys that have sharp edges or are damaged, they could be dangerous.

Read: Choking prevention and First Aid for Babies

A common advice

It is a known fact that newborn babies are delicate and prone to infections quickly even with slight weather changes therefore you need to monitor the flow of relatives and friends visiting the hospital and home. Ensure baby’s room is airy and well lit.

Read: Use an Air Conditioner(AC) or Air cooler for a newborn baby?

The mother should also take care of overall health and the food intake to ensure being healthy and also making sure of the baby’s well being. Take medicines on time and recover fast. Follow hygiene practices to keep breast clean by washing with soap and water frequently prior to breast feeding.

Best wishes!! Happy motherhood !!

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