You will learn to tell when your baby isn’t feeling well. You can tell if your baby has a cold because he will probably have a stuffy nose and a cough. If your baby’s nose gets stopped-up with mucous, suction it with a bulb syringe. It’s important to keep this airway open so he can breathe while he takes his milk. If you use a cool mist humidifier, use a mixture of half water and half household bleach or vinegar to clean it and keep it free of bacteria and molds.
If your baby has a fever
A fever can be the sign of possible infection. Fever in a newborn may mean serious infection. Call your pediatrician right away if your newborn’s temperature is higher than 100°F.
Medicine
Use all medicines very carefully and only after talking to your pediatrician. If you have questions about a medicine, ask your pediatrician. The following tips will help you with prescription or over-the-counter medicine.
• Know the name of the medicine.
• Know what the medicine should do. For example, should it lower a fever or stop a cough.
• Before you give any medicine to your baby, learn the possible side effects, and which side effects are cause for stopping the medicine. For example, can the medicine cause diarrhea or stomach pain. Then watch your baby to see if he has any of the side effects.
• Learn the signs of an allergic reaction.
If you think your baby is allergic to his medicine, stop giving it to him and call your pediatrician right away. If your newborn is having trouble breathing, call 911 right away.
When you give your newborn medicine, give it exactly as your pediatrician has prescribed. “Exactly as prescribed” means “Right Time, Right Dose, Right Medicine.”
• Right Time Some medicines must be given with food, or only once a day. To help remember when to give your baby his medicine, write down the time as you give each dose, and write down the time you should give him the next dose.
• Right Dose Make sure you measure medicines correctly using the right measuring tool. Most medicines come with their own measuring tool. The right dose also means for as long as the doctor prescribes. If your pediatrician prescribes medicine for 5 days, give it to your newborn for 5 days, even if your newborn seems fine after 3 days.
• Right Medicine Before giving medicine to your newborn, read the label on the bottle to make sure it has your newborn’s name on it. Be very careful not to give your newborn medicine that has been prescribed for you or for one of your other children. Check the date on the label before giving it to your baby to make sure the medicine is not out of date. If you accidentally give your baby the wrong medicine, take the medicine bottle with you to the phone and call your pediatrician right away. If your pediatrician’s office is closed, call Poison Control or 911.
Caring For Your Newborn
Table of Contents
Introduction
Congratulations!
Caring Begins at Birth
Your Newborn’s Hospital Check-up
Ten Fingers and Ten Toes
Special Care for Your Newborn
When Your Newborn Cries
Changing Your Newborn’s Diaper
Feeding Your Newborn – breast or bottle feeding
Feeding Your Newborn – spit ups, weight gain, BMs
Bathing Your Newborn
Dressing Your Newborn
Shhh!! We’re Sleeping
Keeping Your Baby Safe
Your Newborn’s Admirers
Taking Your Newborn Out
If Your Newborn Gets a Cold
If You Have Questions
Well-baby Check-ups
When to Call Your Pediatrician
Take Care of Yourself, Too