Taking Your Newborn Home: What You Need
Taking your newborn home is exciting!
Hats Can Be Fun!
Hat
A hat for your newborn is so important that the hospital gives you one as soon as your baby is born. A hat helps your newborn stay warm. Warmth positively contributes to your baby’s overall health and development. Hats can be fun, and if you prefer you may choose any hat for your baby to wear. This newborn is giving an example of a hat that fits well and is warm … and fun!
T-Shirt
Unfortunately those little T-shirts your baby wears while in the hospital need to be left behind so that other babies can use them too. When packing a T-shirt for your newborn choose long or short sleeves, snaps or ties, influenced by your preference and by the weather.
Outfit
For that special going-home outfit choose clothing that keeps your newborn’s legs covered when the car seat strap is securely in place. An outfit with long pants, or baby tights, will be both practical and warm.
Booties or Socks
Your newborn will be warmer with booties or socks … and they look so cute!
Receiving Blanket
A small blanket tucked around your baby, after securing the straps of the car seat, will provide comfort and warmth for your newborn.
Camera or Other Device
Any device that can capture precious images of your newborn will be worth having. Baby pictures are treasures.
Car Seat
For your baby’s protection the law requires you to use a car seat, even for your tiny newborn baby. For peace of mind have your newborn’s car seat inspected at a Child Safety Seat Inspection Station near you.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 3 out of 4 babies and children are in the wrong car seat, are not properly secured in the car seat, are in a car seat that is not properly secured in the car, or are in a car seat that is facing the wrong direction. Consider using this tip for your peace of mind and for your baby’s protection.
Doctor’s Name and Phone Number
Because your newborn’s pediatrician takes over the care of your baby when you leave the hospital, you must provide the doctor’s name and phone number before your baby can go home. You can record this important information in advance, in a place that gives you easy access from your hospital room when the time comes.
Mom’s Pain Medication
Talk to your nurse before you are discharged to leave the hospital about pain control options and recommendations. It will be easier to meet the challenges of that first day, and night, at home if your pain is under control.
Diapers and Wipes
The hospital will provide diapers and wipes while your baby is in their care, and will send you home with a few diapers. But, you definitely want to have a good supply at home since they disappear quickly.
Knowing What to Expect
This list will help you prepare for the transition from hospital to home. Knowing what to expect offers peace of mind and helps you enjoy your first day together in your home.
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
How Do I Know My Newborn Is Hungry?
Hunger cues let you know when your newborn is hungry.
Rooting
Hunger Cues
Sucking, flailing hands, head turning, and an open searching mouth are early, body-language hunger cues. These particular hunger cues usually precede crying.
The cues that your baby displays, prior to crying to get your attention, are known as early baby cues. Being able to recognize these early hunger cues, as well other early baby cues, is beneficial for your baby.* Thank you Mother Nature for baby cues!
Rooting
Here is a video to demonstrate these early body-language cues for hunger. They are commonly referred to as “rooting.”
Since your newborn will want to eat about every 2 to 3 hours you will become very familiar with rooting, very quickly.
Learning to read your baby’s early body-language cues will make your life easier. Your baby will be happier overall by having basic needs met in response to early baby cues, rather than in response to crying. Your happier baby makes you happier too!
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
Music “Touching Moments Two” Kevin MacLeod http://www.incompetech.com. ©D. Fravert, RN.
* “Crying babies: Answering the call of infant cries” by M. Faris, Texas Childcare Quarterly
Newborn Sleep: Knowing This Helps
The following information should ease your worries about newborn sleep.
Sleeping Newborn
aboutyournewborn.wordpress.com 