Don't Do These Things When Caring for Newborns – They Can Harm Your Child!
Don't Do These Things When Caring for Newborns – They Can Harm Your Child!
What are the taboos when it comes to caring for a newborn baby? Many new parents often find themselves bewildered when it comes to the daily care of their newborn and dealing with various occurrences on the baby's body. So, how should you care for a newborn? Below, we will introduce five major taboos in infant care!
Taboos in Caring for Newborn Babies
Avoid Using Plastic Wrap as Baby Diapers
Plastic wrap is not breathable. Wrapping a baby in it directly affects the normal development of their skin, hindering functions like waste elimination, sweat secretion, temperature regulation, and carbon dioxide exhalation. Over time, the wrap will age, leading to redness and pain on the baby's skin. Bacterial invasion can cause infection, ulcers, and even sepsis, which could be life-threatening.
Avoid Pinching the Baby's Cheeks
Many parents tend to pinch their baby's cheeks when trying to feed them or play with them. However, this is not advisable. Repeatedly squeezing a baby's salivary glands and ducts can lead to excessive drooling, oral mucosal inflammation, and other diseases. Therefore, it's best to avoid pinching the baby's cheeks.
Avoid Letting the Baby Sleep in Between Adults
Many young parents tend to place their baby in the middle while sleeping. This is not beneficial for the child's health. Oxygen consumption in the brain is high, especially in babies, where the proportion of oxygen consumption in the brain relative to the entire body is even higher. Placing the baby between adults exposes them to an environment with low oxygen and high carbon dioxide, leading to unstable sleep, nightmares, and nighttime crying. This can directly interfere with the child's normal growth and development.
Avoid Using Laundry Detergent to Wash Baby Clothes
The main component of laundry detergent is sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate, which has a strong inhibitory effect on enzymes like amylase and pepsin in the human body. This can easily lead to poisoning if not rinsed thoroughly, posing a risk to the baby. Therefore, it is best to avoid using laundry detergent for baby clothes.
Avoid Trimming the Baby's Eyelashes
Some young mothers trim their child's eyelashes to make them look prettier, believing that it will encourage the lashes to grow longer. In reality, the lifespan of an eyelash is about 90 days. Trimming a child's eyelashes will not make them grow longer. Moreover, trimming eyelashes is not conducive to a child's physical and mental health. Eyelashes serve a protective role in preventing dust and foreign materials from entering the eyes.
Key Points for Proper Newborn Care
Oral Cleaning
During childbirth, promptly remove mucus and amniotic fluid from the baby's mouth and throat to prevent aspiration and avoid aspiration pneumonia. However, avoid scrubbing the mouth as the baby's oral mucosa is delicate. If you notice "thrust," which appears as white patches on the oral mucosa, you can gently apply nystatin oral solution.
Eye Care for Newborns
After birth, use 0.5% erythromycin or 0.25% chloramphenicol eye drops to prevent neonatal eye inflammation. If there is excessive eye discharge, clean it with saline or 2% boric acid before using eye drops.
Pay Attention to Baby's Position
Newborns should primarily rest and sleep, with mothers holding them for breastfeeding. Ensure they have sufficient sleep, typically over 20 hours per day. It is recommended to place them on their sides, particularly on their right side after feeding, and change their position frequently to prevent positional plagiocephaly. Avoid placing them on their back, as this can be unsafe and cause choking during vomiting. There's no need for a pillow, and if you decide to use one, ensure it's approximately the width of the baby's shoulders. Using a firm pillow to correct head shape is not recommended. Pay attention to the living environment as well.
What are the taboos when it comes to caring for a newborn baby? Many new parents often find themselves bewildered when it comes to the daily care of their newborn and dealing with various occurrences on the baby's body. So, how should you care for a newborn? Below, we will introduce five major taboos in infant care!
Taboos in Caring for Newborn Babies
Avoid Using Plastic Wrap as Baby Diapers
Plastic wrap is not breathable. Wrapping a baby in it directly affects the normal development of their skin, hindering functions like waste elimination, sweat secretion, temperature regulation, and carbon dioxide exhalation. Over time, the wrap will age, leading to redness and pain on the baby's skin. Bacterial invasion can cause infection, ulcers, and even sepsis, which could be life-threatening.
Avoid Pinching the Baby's Cheeks
Many parents tend to pinch their baby's cheeks when trying to feed them or play with them. However, this is not advisable. Repeatedly squeezing a baby's salivary glands and ducts can lead to excessive drooling, oral mucosal inflammation, and other diseases. Therefore, it's best to avoid pinching the baby's cheeks.
Avoid Letting the Baby Sleep in Between Adults
Many young parents tend to place their baby in the middle while sleeping. This is not beneficial for the child's health. Oxygen consumption in the brain is high, especially in babies, where the proportion of oxygen consumption in the brain relative to the entire body is even higher. Placing the baby between adults exposes them to an environment with low oxygen and high carbon dioxide, leading to unstable sleep, nightmares, and nighttime crying. This can directly interfere with the child's normal growth and development.
Avoid Using Laundry Detergent to Wash Baby Clothes
The main component of laundry detergent is sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate, which has a strong inhibitory effect on enzymes like amylase and pepsin in the human body. This can easily lead to poisoning if not rinsed thoroughly, posing a risk to the baby. Therefore, it is best to avoid using laundry detergent for baby clothes.
Avoid Trimming the Baby's Eyelashes
Some young mothers trim their child's eyelashes to make them look prettier, believing that it will encourage the lashes to grow longer. In reality, the lifespan of an eyelash is about 90 days. Trimming a child's eyelashes will not make them grow longer. Moreover, trimming eyelashes is not conducive to a child's physical and mental health. Eyelashes serve a protective role in preventing dust and foreign materials from entering the eyes.
Key Points for Proper Newborn Care
Oral Cleaning
During childbirth, promptly remove mucus and amniotic fluid from the baby's mouth and throat to prevent aspiration and avoid aspiration pneumonia. However, avoid scrubbing the mouth as the baby's oral mucosa is delicate. If you notice "thrust," which appears as white patches on the oral mucosa, you can gently apply nystatin oral solution.
Eye Care for Newborns
After birth, use 0.5% erythromycin or 0.25% chloramphenicol eye drops to prevent neonatal eye inflammation. If there is excessive eye discharge, clean it with saline or 2% boric acid before using eye drops.
Pay Attention to Baby's Position
Newborns should primarily rest and sleep, with mothers holding them for breastfeeding. Ensure they have sufficient sleep, typically over 20 hours per day. It is recommended to place them on their sides, particularly on their right side after feeding, and change their position frequently to prevent positional plagiocephaly. Avoid placing them on their back, as this can be unsafe and cause choking during vomiting. There's no need for a pillow, and if you decide to use one, ensure it's approximately the width of the baby's shoulders. Using a firm pillow to correct head shape is not recommended. Pay attention to the living environment as well.