Tips for new mothers
Handling a new born baby can be both exhilarating and nerve-wracking for new parents. From learning how to support their fragile heads to soothing their cries, there’s a lot to consider. When handling your new born, it’s essential to feel confident that you are holding and supporting your baby the right way. Oakfield Early Learning Center in DMCC, one of the best nurseries in JLT, shares a few tips to ensure you handle your precious new baby with care:
Holding and Carrying
- Support babies head: in the early weeks, your baby’s neck muscles aren’t strong enough to support their head fully. Always ensure you support their head and neck when picking them up or holding them, especially when they’re lying down or being moved.
- Cradle hold: scoop up baby with one hand supporting their head, neck, and spine. Use your other hand tucked under their bottom for ample support.
- Resting on your forearm: slide your hand from your baby’s bottom up to support their neck. Gently nudge their head into the crook of your elbow while still cradling their head. Move your hand from the supporting arm to their bottom3.
Upright Positions: You can also hold your baby upright in different ways:
- Looking Over Your Shoulder: Rest your baby’s head against your chest and support their neck with your hand.
- Facing Forwards: Hold your baby upright, facing away from you, with one hand supporting their head and neck.
- In a Sling or Carrier: Use a baby sling or carrier to keep your little one close while providing head and neck support
- Hold Your Baby Close: Skin-to-skin contact has numerous benefits for both you and your baby, including regulating their body temperature, stabilizing their heart rate, and promoting bonding. Hold your baby close to your chest as often as possible, especially during feeding and cuddle times.
General Tips
Always wash your hands before handling your baby. This reduces the risk of transferring germs and infections and is particularly crucial during the newborn stage when their immune system is still developing. At our high quality daycare and nursery, hygiene is our top most priority. The baby room is a no shoe zone and staff where gloves for feeding and changing times.
Learn the art of swaddling: Swaddling can help your baby feel secure and calm by recreating the snug environment of the womb. Master the art of swaddling using a lightweight, breathable blanket, ensuring their hips can move freely. At Oakfield ECC we welcome parents to provide their own blankets and bedding if they wish.
Practice Safe Sleeping: Always place your baby on their back to sleep in a crib or bassinet with a firm mattress and no loose bedding or soft objects. Follow safe sleep guidelines to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Here at our kindergarten we never leave babies or children alone and an adult is always stationed in the sleeping room.
Respond to cries promptly: Crying is your baby’s way of communicating their needs. Respond promptly to their cries to provide comfort and reassurance, whether it’s feeding, changing, or simply offering cuddles.
Establish a feeding routine: Whether you’re breastfeeding or formula feeding, establish a feeding routine based on your baby’s cues and needs. Feed your baby on demand, aiming for at least 8-12 feedings in a 24-hour period. Here at Oakfield ELC DMCC we follow the parent’s lead and feed baby according to their individual needs and home routines.
Burp your baby: After each feeding, take the time to burp your baby to help release any swallowed air and prevent discomfort from gas and colic. Hold your baby upright against your chest or over your shoulder and gently pat or rub their back until they burp.
Practice Tummy Time: Tummy time is essential for strengthening your baby’s neck, shoulder, and arm muscles and preventing flat spots on their head. Start with short sessions of tummy time several times a day, gradually increasing the duration as your baby grows. Here at Oakfield we make sure that our nursery nurses offer Tummy Time every day to the babies in our Baby Room.
Monitor baby’s development: Keep track of your baby’s developmental milestones, including physical, cognitive, and social milestones. Consult your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your baby’s development or progress. Alternatively, pop into to Oakfield ELC and have a chat with our amazing Midwife, Baby Room Supervisor. You can have a chat and demonstration on everything from Tummy Time to showing you our Milestone Chart.
Trust your instincts: Above all, trust your instincts as a parent. You know your baby better than anyone else, so listen to your intuition and respond to your baby’s needs with love, patience, and care. Our Pre – school here in JLT places high value on parents as they know their baby better than anyone in the world. That’s why Oakfield Early Learning Center follows individual care routines based on clear communication with the parents and considering baby’s home routine.
Why don’t you pop into to Oakfield Early Learning Center JLT, Dubai and have a chat with our amazing Baby Room Midwife. She will offer demonstrations on everything from Tummy Time to showing you our Milestone Chart.
To conclude, handling a newly born baby can be both challenging and rewarding, but with patience, practice, and the right guidance, you’ll soon feel more confident in your parenting skills. Remember Oakfield Early Childhood Center, your home from home kindergarten, is right here to help you navigate this incredible journey of parenthood.
