Crying is the only way the baby knows of to tell you that something is wrong. Babies may differ in how they cry but it is usually for the same reasons that is either they need something or they want attention. They are not able to communicate yet, so the only way to communicate is to cry.

When they cry it is usually because they are hungry, wet or dirty nappy, colic, uncomfortable position, too hot or too cold, lonely, bored, tired, want to sleep, frightened or feeling unwell.

You should try to understand why your baby cries as it is a very important step to meet your baby’s need and to comfort him.

A newborn baby spends most of the time sleeping. As he gets older , he tends to develop a sleeping pattern. Watch out for his sleeping pattern and it will be easier for you to handle him as you will know when he is sleepy and you can plan your time around the house better.

Most of the time he will spend his time in between feeding asleep unless he is wet or hungry. Babies will usually sleeps up to 20 hours a day. However, each baby has his own sleeping pattern. Some will be awake longer and be quite contented.

It is very important to help your baby differentiate between night and day. This can be achieved by simply dimmed the light at night in the room where he sleeps. The baby will eventually understands that dim light means it is night time and he will be able to sleep longer. You would not want him to wake up in the middle of the night thinking that it is day time.

Try to put your baby to sleep at the same time daily. Settle down to a routine like changing him, feeding him and sing some lullaby songs before he sleeps. This will help him to adopt a routine and he will most likely wakes up at the same time everyday.

It is recommended that you put your baby to sleep lying on his back and facing up to prevent or minimise the risk of sudden infant death or cot death. Newborn should not be given a pillow. If you want a pillow, get the Safe & Sound flat pillow which is safer for the baby and allows easy breathing should the baby turns.

A baby who gets enough sleep will grow well and tends to be more happy.

Your baby’s first bowel movement is called the meconium. This is usually dark greenish-black substance. Once your baby starts to feed, the stool colour will slowly change to yellow, brown or greenish. The stools are usually not foul smelling.
Don’t become obsessively worried about your baby bowel movements. The number of stools passed vary from one baby to another. Some babies may not pass stools for a duration of up to a week. The frequency tends to reduce as they grow older. As long as your baby is healthy, happy and gaining weight, there is nothing to worry about.

Loose stools are normal for babies. Breast fed babies tend to empty their bowels more frequently and their colours are yellowish and usually loose. Sometimes they may not move their bowels for a few days as their body system absorbs all the milk that they drink. This is not constipation and you shouldn’t worry too much as it is normal for most babies.  If your baby passes very loose stools frequently and are watery and foul smelling, it could be diarrhoea. You should seek medical advice from your doctor immediately.

Babies on formula milk tend to pass firmer stools, brownier and smellier compared to breast fed babies. It is important to give them enough water in between feeding to soften the stools.

Constipation is also quite common during infancy. If your baby did not pass motion for a few days and the stools are hard enough to cause pain or discomfort, he may have constipation. If your baby is straining a lot to pass a hard stool and cries, consult your doctor and follow your doctor’s advice. Usually constipation can be relieved by giving your baby more water or fluid. If necessary, the doctor may prescribe laxative.

It is a daily routine to keep your baby clean. For the first time parents, giving your baby a bath could be quite an experience. The newborn baby is so tiny and fragile and to hold him while bathing him can be quite a challenge. It is important to get everything you needed such as bathing gel, shampoo, towel, cotton, diaper and clothing ready so that the bathing process can proceed smoothly. You will feel more relax when everything is within your reach and you will probably enjoy it. After a few times of giving your baby a bath, it will become a routine and you will feel more confident in handling your baby.

Tips for giving your baby a bath.

1. Preferably use a small bathtub with a wide opening so that you will have more space to handle your baby. Before putting in your baby, always test the temperature of the water with your arm or elbow. It should neither be too hot nor too cold. Do not test it with your palm as our palm may not be sensitive enough to tell the exact temperature of the water.

2. Bath items should be laid out within your reach such as baby bathing gel, shampoo, washcloth, cotton balls for cleaning the eyes, towel, diaper and clothing.

3. Ensure that the bathroom or your baby room is kept warm. Close all windows. Remove the baby shirts and wrap the baby in a towel.

4. Clean the eyes and face first. Dip the cotton balls into the water and clean the eyes. Then use a new cotton ball for the face and the ears.

5. Then wash the baby’s hair. Hold the baby in your arm and use your hand to support the baby’s head and shoulders and lower the head close to the water. Dip a washcloth in the water and use it to wash the hair. Ensure that the water do not go into the ears and the eyes. Apply a little bit of shampoo or baby bathing gel and rinse well. Dry your baby’s hair thoroughly.

6. Remove the towel and lie the baby with your arm supporting the baby’s head and hold on to the upper section of the far arm. This is to prevent the baby from slipping. Even if the baby does slip from your arm, you still have a hold on it. Do place a non-slip mat in the bathtub to prevent the baby from slipping.

7. Keep the baby in a semi upright position so that the lower half is immersed and his head and shoulders are above the water. Use your other free hand to wash the baby starting from the shoulder onwards and move towards the bottom which is usually the dirtier parts. Chat and smile all the time while you are bathing him. Sing a song to him and he will feel more relax.

8. When the baby is done and clean, support the baby’s neck and head and put the other hand under his bottom and lift him up gently and put him onto the towel and dry him gently and thoroughly. Pay attention to the skin creases such as the armpit, neck, ankles and knees.

9. You should dry the umbilical cord area thoroughly and then wipe it with an antiseptic swap or surgical spirit. Leave the cord uncovered and prevent it from rubbing against the diaper by keeping the diaper fastened below the cord.

10. Once the baby is dry, dress him up with the shirt you have prepared and keep him warm. The baby will usually be more alert and happy after the bath.

The remains of the umbilical cord will dry up and fall off between 1-3 weeks after birth. You must keep this area dry and clean. You’ll probably be advised to wipe the umbilical cord gently with surgical spirit using clean cotton wool. You don’t have to wait for the umbilical cord to heal before you give your baby a bath; as long as you dry the area thoroughly afterwards.

If the umbilical cord area is red and inflamed, seek advice from your doctor. A slight discharge or bleeding is normal but it should not last longer than a couple of days.

Baby’s behaviour in the first few weeks may be a mystery to you, with little apparent routine or pattern from day to day. many parents, especially fathers, are rather scared of picking up their newborns, fearful that they may somehow hurt their baby. So try to relax. The love you feel for your baby will help to guide you through this new and wonderful experience. It’s not difficult to master the basics of baby care. Here, we provide the following rundown on some of the basics to help you build up the confidence in baby care.

Handling your baby.

It’s instinctive reaction to hold your baby close to you, to talk soothingly and lovingly as you look into the baby’s face and eyes. Your newborn baby will be comforted by any kind of holding, cuddling or caressing. Make sure you hold your baby firmly, escpecially in the early weeks when the sensation of being enclosed (whether by your arms, by your clothing or by a receiving blanket), gives a great sense of security.

Don’t be afraid of picking the baby up. The baby is much tougher than you think. The only thing you really have to take care of is the lolling head. Up until about four weeks old, the baby has no control over the head at all, so make sure that the head is always supported. Similarly when putting down your baby, make sure your whole arm supports the spine, neck and head until he is safely placed in the cot.