Quick Guide To Routine Infant Care

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Routine Child Care

Quick Guide To Routine Infant Care

CARE OF THE NEWBORN

CARE OF THE PREGNANT MOTHER

Balanced diet
Calcium and iron
Adequate rest
Regular examination
Immunization
Emotional support
Appropriate treatment where needed

CARE DURING DELIVERY

Hospital delivery
Appropriate resuscitation

IMMEDIATE CARE OF THE NEWBORN

Keep baby warm
Avoid baby bath for 1 to 2 days
Keep baby with mother
Breastfeeding within ½ to 1 hour in normal delivery / 4 hrs in
Operational delivery
Help new mother with breastfeeding
Give Colostrum
No water / honey / sugar water / glucose
Allow mother an baby to interact
Discourage visitors
Give confidence to mother
Help if there are problems - breast engorgement, breast abscess, sore nipple, ---------difficulty in attaching to breast.

CARE DURING EARLY INFANCY

DISCHARGE FROM HOSPITAL

Doctor's decision…
If baby is normal - 3rd day
When breastfeeding is established…
Mother is confident
If baby is ill or in NICU - mother should be near the baby

FEEDING

Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months
Demand feeding
Unrestricted feeding
Night feeding
No bottle / pacifier (nipple)
No vitamins / calcium / Ayurvedic preparations
No water / juice
Give food after 4 - 6 months -

Semi liquid food
Semisolid food
Homemade food
Easily available
Easily digestible
Mashed fruits
Cooked and mashed vegetables
Finger foods
Egg, chicken, fish
Full diet (1/3rd of adult diet) by 1 year
No force feeding / pleasant meal times
Eat with the family
Continue breastfeeding until 2 years

HYGIENE

Oil massage - by mother or family member, gentle, any oil is ok.
No oil in nose and ears
No channa or flour paste
Do not squeeze baby's breast
Bathe daily - warm water, mild soap
No need for shampoo
Do not clean mouth
No powder, kajal
Change nappies after each soiling
Do not tie abdomen, do not tie up the baby
Cut nails
Avoid tying threads

NORMAL BEHAVIORS

Newborn passes stool within 24 hours
Urine passed within 48 hours
Feeds for 5 to 20 minutes on the breast
Feeds after every 2 to 4 hours
Newborn may sleep excessively
Breastfed baby passes urine at least 6 times in a day
Breastfed baby may pass many liquid stools per day / one well
Formed stool in many days or be somewhere between these extremes.
Sleep patterns vary
Weight gain is between 500 gms and 1 kg / mo
Some milk regurgitation is normal
Colic occurs up to 3 - 4 months
Finger sucking is normal
Crying for attention is normal...continued

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