Care of the Newborn

1. Keep the umbilical cord stump clean and dry.

2. Fold your baby’s diaper away from the stump

3. Never attempt to pull off the stump, even if it seems to be hanging by a thread.

4. Don’t use alcohol to clean the stump.leave it dry

5. Don’t use cow dung or powder or grounded chalk or herbs on the cord. This prevents infection which can lead to neonatal death.

6. Always put the baby’s head in the lateral position(sideways) on their back when they are in bed or the cot. This prevents aspiration and sudden infant death.

7. Avoid trying to mould the head of the baby with hot water. This forces the fontanelles (the pulsating part of the scalp)to close prematurely and restricts brain growth. This is usually done in Ghana.

8. Give only breast milk to the baby till 6 months. Avoid mixing artificial feeds with breast milk. This confuses the baby.

9. Avoid too many people handling the baby before immunization. The baby’s immune system is immature and it’s easy for contracting an infection from another person.

10. Bath baby once or top and tail till cord falls off;in cold weathers and avoid exposing baby too often to prevent hypothermia(low temperature).

11. Go to the hospital immediately when your baby is running a temperature. Do not wait till the next day or keep giving antipyretics.

12. It is advisable to use natural oils(shea butter, olive oil) on baby’s skin. Some babies react to baby oils and will prevent any reaction from your baby.

13. Always make sure baby burps/belges after feeding. This prevents excessive vomiting and possible aspiration when sleeping.

14. Be careful of the foods and drugs you take into your body as a mother as they have an effect on the baby through breast milk.