When Can I Take my Baby out in Public?

When a baby is born there will a number of relatives and friends coming to visit and bless the parents after they receive the good news. The parents are also curious and have a common query in mind, “When can I take my newborn baby in public ?”. This is a point of discussion and debate among elders too.

Ideally it is always good to stay back in the warmth of your home but there are certain requirements to be fulfilled in the growth and health of the child that requires you going out into the general public. When you introduce your little one to the world you need to take a few precautions for the well being of the child.

Also read: How to keep your Baby Healthy during Weather changes?

When can I take my Newborn baby out in public?

Since ages babies were not taken out for weeks and months considering then to be too fragile to be taken out in public. In Indian culture the newborn baby is not taken out to common places like church, temple or even the common roads for about 56 days. The elders were literally scared that the baby may get nazar, and may fall sick. Going out was only for doctor visit etc. in a closed environment.

Now that times have changed with the logical reasoning applied that babies can be taken out by following some precautionary measures.

However you need to remember that babies are delicate and prone to catch viral infections if they are exposed to crowds and busy places. Therefore when you plan to take your baby out you need to watch out for the below mentioned activities.

Also read: 8 Top Tips to Keep your Newborn Baby Clean and Healthy

Take Your Baby out when fed and clean

Take your baby out after he is fed and has been changed into fresh diaper and clothes. This will ensure baby is in the mood to look around and see the world is great. Avoid taking him out when it is time for his sleep time because he will be restless and will certainly make a lot of noise.

Watch the Weather and Temperature

Before you leave your home check out for the weather conditions / report.  If there is any chance of rain preferably avoid going out. Secondly if the temperature of the air outside is high you will not be able to manage your baby. Staying in during hottest summer days and the coldest of the winter can be the best bet for keeping your baby healthy and happy.

Be self sufficient with Supplies

If your outing will take a bit longer you need to plan for the essential supplies like extra diapers, feedings and a small toy. This will ensure you have all the basic requirements and you can handle the baby without any problems. A fully-loaded diaper bag comes in handy!

 Dress the Baby Properly

Take care while dressing the baby. Choose clothes that will keep the baby comfortable . Just like you plan your clothes and accessories you need to cover up the babies ear, head and feet based on the seasons. In summer dress lightly and in winter ensure extra layers. Avoid glaring sunrays and direct heat. Use an umbrella and park in shady places. You can however postpone the outing if the weather conditions are not manageable.

 Avoid busy places and Crowds

Avoid busy places and crowds as your baby’s immune system is not as good and stable as yours. Preferably avoid going out shopping, movies, busy places like stations and airports as much as possible. If it is absolutely a must go to these places, make sure your baby is well-covered and try to keep your distance from others as much as possible.

 Keep away from Sick People

You need to keep your child away from sick people or who were sick from contagious problems as much as you can. This will include avoiding gatherings such as birthday parties, holy places  where  people assemble often. As babies are delicate illnesses can be quickly transmitted to your baby.

 No Touching and kissing the new born baby

It is a common observation that people want to touch newborns – as they are so adorable and cute. But as new born parents don’t allow your baby to be touched, especially by strangers, no matter how well-meaning they are. There are a few others who want to kiss the baby’s cheeks or hands. If someone gets upset with you over this rule, don’t be surprised, but stand your ground. Make it clear that you want to keep her as healthy as possible. This is one main reason to keep the baby away from common places for the initial few weeks.

 Sanitize Your hands at regular intervals

Even if your baby is not touched, you could be that means that you can pick up germs. Remember that when you touch various surfaces for eg: the door handle of your car, the doors of your home or anything else can transmit germs to your skin. Keep a hand sanitizer in your pocket, in your car, at home, and even in the diaper bag, and use it often.

Clean things that you might not think of automatically, such as the handles of your stroller or the sides and bottom of your diaper bag. With a little care, you can make sure that your child doesn’t come into contact with germs before her immune system is ready to handle the outside world.

Create this awareness among your family members too and you can watch your newborn baby grow healthy and in good spirits too.

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Happy motherhood!!

Ear infection in a newborn baby

Ear infection is an experience every newborn baby may have had in the growing stages. Ear infection is very painful bringing both the baby and the parents under tremendous worry and sleepless night. You can understand why it occurs and what are the symptoms associated with ear infection. Breast fed babies are less prone to ear infections than a bottle feeding baby.

What is an Ear infection?

An ear infection typically affects your baby’s middle ear. These infections can be quite painful and often develop a few days after the onset of a cold. Basically, fluid builds up in a small pocket behind the eardrum. This fluid buildup is caused by germs and bacteria which get into the ear. The eustachian tubes, which form a passage from your ear to your throat, are very small in newborn babies, and they have a more difficult time blocking bacteria. Refer the picture for further understanding.  As the baby grows, so do their eustachian tubes, and they generally have less ear infections, although this may not always be the case.

Ear infections are associated with fever in some babies. Ear infections are not contagious.

What are the symptoms of ear infection?

You should carry your baby after washing the hands thoroughly.

• Your child will be restless and often will be tugging and pulling the ear.
• Your child may be having fever and will be crying with pain.
• You may observe pus or blood from your baby’s ear
• It may be some sticky substance oozing out of the ear.
• The secretion from ear may also smell bad.
• Baby will refuse feeds both bottle and breast feed as the baby experience pain upon sucking. The jaw movement will increase the pain.

Now baby is hungry and having ear pain too. You will hear louder non stop crying. You need to consult a doctor as you cannot see her crying with pain and not going easy with milk intake.

When to consult the doctor?

When your baby is becoming fussier and crying a lot you need to take the baby to the Doctor. The Doctor basis diagnosis may prescribe for antibiotics and ear drops. The eardrops and medication will address the pain and minimize the infection gradually.

Baby also becomes active when the pain is subsides and will accept feeds quickly.

Home remedies:

Place a cloth pad dipped in warm water. Squeeze it and place it near the baby’s ear. The warm compress gives relief for 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat this process. The baby will also sense the parents attention and the mother’s warmth and will be quiet. It is a type of massage and soothes the baby.

1 to 2 drops of warm olive oil or coconut oil can be placed in each ear. Oil should be warm enough that the baby can bear the temperature. Remember baby’s skin is delicate and therefore need gentle handling.

2 drops of warm garlic oil can be put into each ear.

Should we go in for medication over the counter

It is recommended by Medical practitioners and Pediatricians that we need to wait for 2 to 3 days for natural curing. The bacteria inside the ear will build resistance to the medicine and later on they will not be very effective. You will have to go in for higher dosage to address the ear infection.

Precautionary methods:

Watch out newborn baby’s ears for any dirt or sticky excretions. Prevent baby from cold and fever. When you go out of the home properly cover ears to prevent cold breeze affecting ears.

Do not allow water to enter the ear during bathing process. Wipe the ear externally with Baby ear buds. Do this when baby is asleep. Check baby’s ear with a pen torch for better viewing.

You need not become worried and depressed about your child’s condition. Assure the baby with your nearness and kisses and I’m sure he will sense your attention and recover quickly.

How To Select Right Furniture For Your Kids…Tips

If you are a parent of newborn baby and on the look out for making your little one comfortable, you need to spend some quality time in research and discussing with other parents who are experiencing a new baby. You can take feedback, evaluate the pros and cons and make the final investment.

You can spend time visiting shops or check for all offers on baby furniture online. You can check out for all colors, designs and latest models in the sites.

Basically all safety aspects should be reviewed prior to selecting a furniture set. These days designer baby rooms can be ordered. This will include wall painting , curtains, sun screens and all items associated for the kid.

If you want to re-use family furniture or the older siblings cradle etc. check for all connections, nuts and bolts, sturdiness prior to usage.

When you buy a crib make sure it is a large one. The child should be able to sleep and play in it. The slats of the crib should only be 2 to 3 inches apart to avoid getting hands and legs getting stuck. The drop down door should be sturdy and function properly, no screeching noise when used. The mattress should fit in properly.

Usually the crib and cradle will have toys hanging from above which will make noise upon movement to attract the child .

When you buy a cradle check that there are no sharp edges. Cradle is advantages as it is mobile and can be moved to rock the baby in another room too.

Due to space constraints parents opt for convertible or folding baby furniture. Make sure the locks and latches holding the legs are firm and durable. Check for all surfaces, avoid sharp corners. It is a great idea to have a crib in the day and a cradle in the night.

You need to have a large dresser such the drawers can be locked. Clothes , toys etc can go in and there will not be any scattered on the floor. There should be locking provision for the lower ones  such that once they start toddling they do not mess things around.

You can provide all the comforts for the little child coming into your lives. Proper planning and research will enable you select the best baby furniture and enjoy your time with the baby nursery.

You can make the room attractive by creating a photo wall. The progress of the child can be captured in various pictures and affixed .This will give a flashback of events and remind us that the child is growing and can keep the child engaged gazing at her own image.

Getting the most out of baby clothes

A newborn baby, although one of the most incredible joys in a person’s life, can also present something of a headache. The spending that is required to keep a baby healthy, happy and well-clothed is something that can really mount up and make any parent panic a little bit. There is no doubt whatsoever that some unscrupulous individuals will try to take advantage of this by selling baby gear at extortionate prices and trying to emotionally blackmail parents into spending that kind of money – “if you really care for your baby, you’ll pay whatever it takes” being the rather grubby subtext of their sales pitch.

Paying these people no heed can be difficult, but it really is the best option in the long run. Anyone who tries to tell you that your baby needs what they are selling has run out of more inventive sales techniques and is just a money-grabbing ghoul. You can dress a baby in hand-me-down clothes and they will not be adversely affected physically or mentally. It is one of the last points at which you can observe a total absence of direct peer pressure – your baby doesn’t care a jot if their clothes are not designer and you have not spent every penny you have on them. Let your baby’s happiness be the only important factor in all of this – some shyster’s sales pitch will be no help to anyone but themselves. Giving them what they need does not necessitate spending untold sums on supposedly state-of-the-art baby clothes.

How often should you feed a baby?

With a newborn baby in the house, especially if it is your first, there is so much to learn that you simply cannot replicate with classes, books and additional parenting aids. Every baby that is born will have its own unique traits, and although you can learn a lot from other parents, from books, from TV and a wealth of other sources, there is always the fact that what works with one baby may not necessarily work with another. However, this should not be viewed as an apocalyptic warning. As a parent, you will learn quickly how to deal with your baby, and they will form an attachment to you.

The question of how often to feed a baby is one that often arises for new parents. With regard to how often they need feeding, it seems to differ slightly but is generally between two and three hours between feeds. At this stage of their life, any baby is programmed to sleep for short periods and awaken to be fed at such intervals. This is why parents will talk about sleepless nights at the early stage of parenthood. As the child grows older, they will of course begin to go longer between meals, but at an early age, with no ability to articulate their needs nor understand what people are saying, they will find their own way to make things clear to you. This regularity of needing to be fed is why many parents keep the baby in the same bed as them in the early stages.