Many new parents are still a little unsure at first when changing and caring for their newborn baby. The little person seems so fragile. And parents don't want to do anything wrong and certainly don't want to accidentally hurt the little one. But experience shows: The moves come quickly, and not just for a fresh nappy. Soon mum or dad and baby will be able to make the most of the time spent nursing together. Because they are much more than just "freshening up the baby". In the meantime, you can caress, touch, gently massage, talk, laugh and play with your little one. This stimulates baby's senses. This helps him to develop his body awareness - and he will enthusiastically enjoy your attention. In this way, the parent-child bond is also deepened almost incidentally.
And your midwife is also there to answer any questions you may have about caring for your baby. Of course you can also contact me at any time in my Online midwife counselling contact me. Or you can book my Infant care course. Here you can find out everything you need to know about how to care for your baby and lovingly support their health. This also includes baby massage. Have a look at my Online course to.
In my experience, the four most frequently asked questions about baby care relate to nappies, skin care, navel care and baby baths. That's why I want to go into them here.
A fresh nappy please!
To prevent a sore nappy bottom, a fresh nappy should be changed approximately every four hours. Nappy due. And then, of course, when you notice that your child has just done a small or large nappy change. If your baby lies in a wet nappy for (too) long, not only can the urine attack their sensitive skin, but the warm, damp nappy climate also promotes the growth of bacteria. Bacteria are particularly dangerous for small babies. They can easily lead to cystitis, which can quickly develop into a serious infection in the immature immune system. Changing nappies frequently is therefore not only important for your baby's well-being, but is also a real health protection measure.
When you change your child's nappy: Please draw not your child's feet upwards to lift their lower body. This can lead to hip joint problems. Instead, it's better to reach under one of your baby's legs and grasp their other thigh with your hand. This allows you to bring the legs towards the baby's body with a gentle twisting motion to lift the pelvis enough to push the nappy under the bum.
To the Cleaning the intimate area We recommend using a soft flannel moistened with lukewarm water. If you use classic terry cloth flannels, however, do not use fabric softener when washing the cloth. The fragrances they contain are suspected of causing or at least favouring allergies in babies. As an alternative to towelling, you can also use special Baby flannel made of molton, which are also washable and reusable.
Many parents find it practical to use disposable wet wipes. However, these are less sustainable for the environment, almost always contain ingredients that can cause skin irritation (so-called contact dermatitis) and they feel cold. I therefore advise you to be cautious with the use of wet wipes. If you Wet wipes If you want to use oil wipes, make sure you check the ingredients: they should not contain fragrances, perfume or alcohol. Alternatively, you can also make your own oil wipes for travelling:
Take a lunch box that closes well and fill it with large Cotton pads and pour something Almond oil between the individual layers. You can use these homemade oil pads to clean your baby on the go. They are soft on the skin and warmer than wet wipes.
At home, however, I recommend using washable, reusable material for the reasons mentioned above. It is practical if you keep a thermos flask with warm water on the changing unit. Then you can change your baby without having to fetch water every time.
When cleaning your baby's genital area, please pay attention to the following:
For girls it is important that you always use the flannel from the front (vagina). to the rear towards the anus so that no intestinal bacteria get into the vagina. It is best to gently dab the area between the labia. But please remove not the vaginal secretion, which provides a natural cleansing of the vagina.
For boys please strip not the foreskin of the penis back. This is because it is still attached to the glans. This is completely normal in the first two years of life. And you don't want to cause your son any pain or even hurt him!
This applies to all babies: Dried faeces can be removed more easily with a little oil. For this Almond oil well suited. Please remember that the skin folds in the groin must also be cleaned when wrapping. Afterwards, it is important that you pat the skin dry. Also remember the skin folds.
Beware of hairdryer air: I know parents who swear by their hairdryer and use it on a low setting to dry the delicate skin around their baby's nappy area. Although the hairdryer dries the skin quickly, it can also easily cause the skin to become too dry and therefore susceptible to infection. Extensive blow-drying in particular can burn baby's sensitive skin. The swirling dust irritates the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes.
Normally, the delicate skin does not require any further care after cleansing. However, if baby's bottom skin is dry or reddened, you can apply a thin layer of Wound protection cream apply.
Before you put on a fresh nappy, your baby will enjoy kicking around a little "bottomless". Lots of air for the little bottom also prevents skin irritations such as nappy rash. The fresh nappy should not be too tight or too loose. If there is room for one or two fingers between the tummy and the nappy, it will fit perfectly.
BabCare for delicate baby skin
Everyone has a natural skin barrier that offers a certain degree of protection against harmful influences. This means that the uppermost visible layer of skin is a protective horny layer. In addition, the sebaceous and sweat glands form a skin protection layer consisting of surface lipids (fats) and a protective acid mantle.
In babies and small children, however, the horny layer is still very thin. And the natural protective film is also weak because the sebaceous and sweat glands are not yet working at full capacity. This means that the skin barrier of babies is more permeable than that of adults. The delicate skin is therefore quite sensitive and can dry out more quickly or react to skin irritation. If a baby's skin barrier is disturbed, foreign substances can penetrate more easily, irritating the skin or triggering immune reactions. This can ultimately lead to illnesses such as asthma or allergies, for example to pollen.
However, you can support your child's skin protection. However, this does not mean "plastering over" baby's skin straight away according to the motto "a lot helps a lot". No, the protective layer should always be applied thinly and only when the baby's skin is dry or sore.
Make sure that the skin care products do not contain preservatives, emulsifiers, perfume, alcohol or urea. Use special products suitable for baby's delicate skin. These include, for example Baby oil. Many parents also like to use Almond oil. You can also use this for baby massage with a child at risk of allergies.
Form in the nappy area Wound protection creams if required a protective layer of oil on baby's skin. However, please do not use this cream on your child's face or in sore skin folds! If you want to protect your baby's facial skin against the cold in winter with an oily cream, there are also suitable products for this. However, your baby will only need these when it is exposed to the weather in the pushchair.
For sore spots on the baby's bottom (sore and reddened, but not open spots!) I can also recommend Healing wool recommend. This is organic sheep's wool that still contains the natural wool fat (lanolin). It is applied to the irritated area without using any other creams. Healing wool is also suitable for sore nipples on breastfeeding mothers.
You can find fragrance-free, vegan and climate-neutral baby care products at Mabyen. Here to get to the products.
Supply of the navel
After your child is born and the umbilical cord has been cut, a short piece of umbilical cord remains at the navel. This is closed with a clamp and usually falls off on its own around the 10th day of life. However, you don't need to worry if it falls off after just five days or if it still hasn't fallen off after two weeks. Such time spans are normal.
The umbilical cord remnant requires regular none It does not require any special treatment, but "only" needs to be kept clean and dry. Some people wrap it with an air-permeable compress, which also absorbs any liquid that may escape. If the compress becomes dirty or damp, it must be changed. However, the navel can also heal open, i.e. without a compress. Plenty of air should be allowed to reach it.
It is also important to make sure that the nappy is folded over at the top edge so that it does not cover the clamp and umbilical wound. Once the navel is completely healed, your baby can be bathed for the first time. Now there is no longer any risk of infection for the umbilical wound.
Cosy bathing fun for baby care
The first baby bath is a very special moment for many families. Some buy a bathtub for the baby, while other parents prefer the baby bath.Bath bucket. It is important that you choose what you feel comfortable with for bathing. With the Bathtub you should make sure that it is easy to carry when it is filled with water. If you have a Bathtub with a stand, make sure that it is stable and that it is a good height for you. However, the bath and bath bucket can also be placed on the floor if you can bathe your baby kneeling.
Your baby will particularly enjoy bathing if it is not too tired and is well fed.
Bathing makes you hungry. After bathing, offer your baby your breast or milk bottle again.
Bathing makes you tired. After a long bath and plenty of drinking, your baby may sleep a little longer. In this case, the best time for a bath is early evening.
In any case, the Room temperature be cosy and warm for bathing. That means at least 22 degrees, and preferably one or two degrees more. The Bath water again, the temperature is just right at 37 degrees. Please check this with a Thermometer. You don't need a special bath thermometer for this. A waterproof Clinical thermometer is perfect for determining the correct water temperature. The old method of mum dipping her elbow in baby's bath water to test the temperature is too inaccurate for babies!
Extra bath additives, soaps and shampoos are not suitable for babies. not necessary. However, if you want to use a bath additive, choose a product that is especially suitable for babies. It should not contain any fragrances or preservatives. Simply adding a little breast milk to the bath water has proven to be a good idea, as the milk fat it contains naturally cares for baby's skin.
For babies, 5 to 10 minutes of bathing time and one or two baths per week are sufficient.
Most babies like and enjoy a bath as a sensual experience. They still know the familiar feeling of being surrounded by water from mum's womb.
You can create a cosy experience for your baby after bathing with a gentle Massage continue massaging a care product into the skin.
Pay attention, that your child does not cool down when it comes out of the bath. This means: dry it off quickly afterwards and keep it warm!
A word to parents who would like to bathe with their baby in the large bath. Special rules apply here:
Your baby should only go into the big bath with you when your labour is over. It needs 7 - 8 weeks to be stable enough to enjoy a bath in the big tub.
It's good if you do this with two people so that you have help getting in and out of the bath. into the bath. Bathtubs are always a bit slippery and with your baby in your arms you need a stable footing. It's best to get into the bath first and then have your baby put into the bath for you.
You should have a bath in which you can reach the foot end with your feet. Don't fill the bath too full. Remember that your movement in the water will cause 'waves'. So move carefully so that your baby is not startled while bathing.
Always hold your baby with both hands.
Do not get into the bath if your circulation is not absolutely stable. It would be good if your partner stayed with you during the bath.
The bath water should also be around 37 degrees Celsius. Bath foams and soaps should not be used. The water should only reach up to the baby's chest.
alone with your child! Your partner should always be next to the bath for your child's safety.
Only bathe together with your child if you can safely support yourself with your feet at the foot end of the bath.
Rise never into or out of the bath together with your child. First lie down in the bath yourself and then have your partner place the child on your back on your chest. Always hold it there with both hands. In this position, the bath water should only come up to the child's chest. When the bath is finished, your partner will take the child out again and look after it before you get out yourself.
Your baby should not cool down after a bath. That's why it's also a good idea to have a large, pre-warmed towel ready for your baby when bathing in a large bathtub.
If you have the opportunity to lie in bed with your baby after the bath, you will experience the intimate emotional atmosphere that develops between you.
Here you will also find a list of useful product recommendations for baby care.
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