Your baby is not nearly as fragile as you might think. However, you should still handle your baby gently, not just for safety, but also to keep him feeling safe and secure. Choose wisely when you buy outfits for your baby. Avoid turtlenecks, skin-tight sleeves, multitudes of buttons, and zippers down the back. Don’t make the process more difficult than it has to be.
It is helpful to have all the diaper paraphernalia on hand before attempting to change your baby. Try to keep all the necessary items in one place close to where you and your baby spend a lot of your time. Things to keep on hand include baby wipes, a change pad, diapers, and ointment or petroleum jelly.
Taking care of your baby’s skin and nails is important right from the start, and will remain important as your baby grows. Your baby may not have any teeth yet, but now is still a good time to begin a dental care regimen.
When it comes to normal baby care, nothing is as scary for new parents as bath time. After your baby's umbilical cord stump has fallen off and the area has healed, you can start to put him into the baby tub for baths. Your newborn will not be ready to use the “big” bathtub until he is three to six months old, when he can hold his head up properly.
It may seem difficult now, but soon you will learn to rely on your own parental instincts to know what’s best for your baby, instead of depending on the opinions of others. This section of the Pregnancy and Babies resource centre will provide you with a few tips to get started.