Newborn Care: Establishing a Healthy Routine for Your Baby

The moment your newborn enters your life, there is nothing else as important as the baby’s care. It’s a good idea to prepare in advance of the birth date and establish a healthy routine for your baby and your family. You can get assistance with the planning process by scheduling a prenatal visit to discuss newborn care with a pediatrician at Corridor Primary Care Pediatrics in San Marcos & Kyle, TX.

About Newborn Care

Newborn care requires a commitment of a significant amount of time, patience, balance, and attention. You are looking after a tiny human who is unable to do anything without assistance. Newborn care also includes maintaining a communicative relationship with your pediatrician.

Tips for Establishing a Healthy Routine with Your New Baby

A healthy routine for your newborn includes setting aside time for feedings, bathing, activities, naptime bedtime, and “you” time. Remember that to be able to be your best for your new baby, you must also have time set aside for yourself to rest and do self-care activities. Here are a few tips for establishing a healthy routine:

• Organize your day in the pattern of feeding, doing an activity with your child, then encouraging sleep.
• Begin each day by waking your newborn up for the first feeding at the same time with consistency.
• Stick to a set time for naps and bedtime each day so that your baby can get used to the schedule for sleeping each day.
• Spend quality time with your newborn for at least an hour each day, whether it’s reading a book or just holding and rocking the child in your arms for bonding.
• Go outside to give your baby a chance to breathe the fresh air and feel the sun (avoid direct sunlight and choose early morning or late afternoon hours).
• Use the majority of the hours while your child is sleeping to do activities just for yourself, whether it’s sleeping, preparing a nice grown-up meal, reading, or working on a hobby.
• Write down your schedule, post it, and inform your family of the established routine so that they can help.

How a Pediatrician Can Help

Pediatricians encourage new parents to bring their newborn in for the first appointment within a few days of leaving the hospital and then at intervals over the next year. A pediatrician can evaluate the child’s health, recognize and diagnose possible conditions, prescribe medications, and advise you on important issues like breastfeeding, child safety precautions, and what amount of crying or fussing is normal.

Get Valuable Newborn Care Advice

Establishing a healthy routine will have positive effects on your baby’s development as well as your family dynamic. Get newborn care assistance from your child’s pediatrician at Corridor Primary Care Pediatrics in San Marcos & Kyle, TX by calling (512) 392-1700.