Christian Healthcare Ministries | Caring for Newborns

You’re finally ready to begin life with your baby!

Caring for a newborn can feel overwhelming at first. Ask experts, nurses, and trusted friends or relatives for help and advice in the first days or weeks after you get home. In the meantime, these tips can also help you feel more confident about caring for a newborn.

Holding a baby

If you're a new mother and haven't spent a lot of time around newborns, it may feel intimidating. Here are a few basics to remember:

• Wash your hands before handling your baby. Make sure that everyone who handles your baby has clean hands. Newborns don't have a strong immune system yet, so they can get sick easily.
• Support your baby's head and neck.
• Make sure your baby is securely fastened into the carrier, stroller, or car seat.
• Limit any activity that could be too rough or bouncy, such as rough play, being thrown in the air, or shaking.

Bonding and soothing

Bonding happens when parents make a deep connection with their infant within the first hours and days after birth. Physical closeness can promote an emotional connection and contribute to the baby’s emotional growth, which also affects their development in other areas.

Begin bonding by cradling and gently stroking your baby. Both you and your partner can hold your newborn against your skin while feeding or cradling. If your little one is fussy, try singing, reciting nursery rhymes, or reading aloud as you gently sway or rock your baby.