Questions and Answers about baby newborn

My three week baby often has tears and itchy eyes, should it be treated?

It is common for newborns to have tears and even a little sticky eyes. That's because the channel where the tears normally run down the nose is a little cramped at first.
Wipe the eye with saline, or water on a soft cotton swab. Dry from the outside in, it massages the tear duct and can help widen it.
If the eye becomes red, swollen or greenish, you should go to a doctor or BVC for assessment and possible treatment with ointment - read more about eye inflammation .

My baby was yellow in the beginning, now after three weeks he is still yellow, is it dangerous?

No, not usually. It may be that the yellowness (sometimes called jaundice ) in the skin and in the whites of the eyes remains weak for several weeks. It is important to see that the child is well-nourished, eats well and gains weight, if not, you should consult a doctor or BVC for assessment and possible sampling.

My baby hiccups a lot, is that normal?

Yes, some children hiccup a lot and it is completely harmless and normal. Often they have already hatched inside the stomach. Cooling can trigger the hiccup, but it can also come for no apparent reason. The child is rarely bothered by the hiccup. It can sometimes help with a dash of milk or infant formula .

When can I bathe my newborn baby?

You can start swimming as soon as the child has come home from BB. The navel stump need not have fallen off.
However, newborns do not get so dirty and do not need to bathe as often, but a couple of three times a week are usually adequate. It is not dangerous to bathe more often if the child thinks it is nice, but make sure the skin does not get too dry.
Use a large bathtub, set it firmly. Fill it with just warm water, feel with the elbow or use a thermometer, 34-37 degrees is a nice bathing temperature.
Hold the child with your left arm, let the child's head rest against your arm and hold a secure grip on the child's left upper arm, then you can easily wash the child with your free right hand without the risk of the child slipping out of your grip. Use a little olive oil in the water, it will prevent the baby's skin from getting dry.

When can the child bathe with mom or dad in the big tub?

You can swim together when the navel is healed. Keep in mind that children want a cooler bathing temperature than adults. Do not get in and out of the bathtub with the child in the arms and use a slip mat in the bathtub.

What ointments and powders are good to have?

The vast majority of children manage completely without ointments and powders. Don't buy anything just "for safety". If your child gets troublesome  rashes or red tails , consult with BVC.

When can you start with pacifier?

All children do not need a pacifier, but some children seem to have more sucking needs than hunger at certain times. When breastfeeding works and the baby is steadily gaining weight and is 2-3 weeks, you can try pacifiers if you want or think the baby wants it.

It is another suction method when the baby sucks on the pacifier compared to the breast. Therefore, one should avoid the nipple if breastfeeding is not started or fails. It is important that you make sure that the child has eaten properly and received dry diapers and comfort before offering the baby a pacifier.

At what age does the child have to end up with a pacifier, so as not to ruin his teeth?

According to dentists, it is only important at the age of four, five years to stop with the pacifier. Before that, the jaw is so soft that it easily reshapes when the child stops using the pacifier.

Children who are over a year do not have to walk around with the pacifier in their mouth all day, but usually understand that the pacifier you get when you are going to sleep or are sad. It is important for speech development that the child does not have too much time during the day.

When can we start wearing a harness?

Carry harness you can use directly from birth if the baby is complete. If the baby is born prematurely, you should consult a pediatrician or BVC.

When can we start using babysitters?

You can use baby seats already for the newborn baby if it is shorter moments.

When can the baby start lying on a blanket on the floor?
It is usually appropriate to accustom the child to lying on the floor from one to two months of age.
A good idea is that you yourself sit on the floor of the child. You can then talk to, sing for and help the child turn around and hold toys while browsing a newspaper or finishing breakfast. The best thing for the child's development is to lie on the floor and squat, play and move freely.
Read more about the child's development during the first year .

My son of eight months loves his walking chair, is it good that he gets to be in it a lot?

No, the walking chair is really superfluous and can also be dangerous. The child does not train the body naturally. It reaches higher and can more easily access unsuitable things, the chair can gain high speed and the child can risk being hurt. If the child loves the stroller, you can use the short moments sometimes, as a toy.

Which bed should I choose for my baby?

Small children like to sleep a little crowded and cozy. Which bed you buy is of less importance than how you sleep. Many may have a cradle or a basket in the beginning, but if you do not, it is unnecessary to buy. Instead, invest in a good crib with damper cover. When the baby is newborn, you can bed across and roll a blanket and put around the edges, to get a more homely feel. But make sure the child has his face free and sleeps on his back.

Should young children have a pillow?

The idea is that a thin soft pillow would relieve pressure on the head and in this way reduce the risk of the back of the head becoming flat. There are no convincing studies that show that pillow is good. Therefore, you can forgo the pillow for infants in the first half of the year.

My baby's got a flat back, is that dangerous?

Children's skulls are soft and easily reshaped under pressure. Since we started recommending that children sleep on their backs, it is not uncommon for us to see children with flat back heads. It is not dangerous as long as the scale of the skull increases according to the growth curve. As the child gets older and begins to sit, the head gradually regains its rounder shape.

I'm worried about sudden infant death.

What should I be aware of?
• The child should sleep on his back.
• Do not smoke.
• Make sure the baby is not too hot and that the face is free.
• Breastfeed the baby, if possible, and let the baby, if desired, suck on a pacifier when it is going to sleep.
• Let the child sleep in his / her own bed if it is for three months.

How much clothes should the child wear when we go out?

It is difficult to give general advice. One guideline is that the heat you get from moving gets the child to lie protected in the carriage. The day you put on an extra cardigan, the child also needs an extra blanket or cardigan and the day you lighten the jacket, you can also lighten the child's clothing. It is more common for children to wear too much than too little clothes. It quickly gets very hot in the trolley under the canopy, think about that special summer time.

My baby always has cold hands, how do I know if she's freezing?

Small children always have cold hands and feet because of blood circulation. Therefore, it is not a good way to determine if the child is just warm. Feel the neck or stomach instead. A child who is too hot is often red in the face and irritated.

Do young children need a hat in the summer?

Yes, young children have sensitive heads and may need a thin cap that protects against the sun and wind even in summer.

How should I protect my baby from the sun?

Small children should not stay in the sun, choose shade. Put on the child thin but covering clothes. Wear a sun hat. Avoid any sunscreen, discuss with BVC. Keep in mind that thin souffles, umbrellas, etc. can pass through the ultraviolet rays. Breastfeed more often if it is hot. Do not give water if you are breastfeeding fully.

We want to travel abroad, can you fly with a baby?

Newborn babies are best left at home in peace and quiet.
When the child has turned six months it is easier to make a trip.
Breastfeed or give the child something to drink at takeoff and landing, to reduce the pressure in the ears. Give nasal drops before departure if the baby seems stuffy in the nose.

What is Infant Massage?

Infant massage is loving touch of the baby's skin with calm, firm and rhythmic movements. Massage is a way for children and parents to have a calm and concentrated moment together. The massage is not a treatment, but it can have a beneficial effect in colic , stomach upset  and anxiety.

More and more childcare centers are offering infant massage in parent training. BVC knows otherwise where you can turn to take a private course in your area.