Welcome to parenthood! You've brought your bundle of joy home and want only the best for your newborn. While it may seem daunting and intimidating as a new parent, there are many safety tips to keep your little one safe from harm. Here is everything you need to know about essential safety tips for newborn babies. From knowing if loungers are safe to understanding the importance of newborn screening tests, this guide will give you all the information you need to keep your baby happy and healthy. Let's explore!
1) Can newborn sleep with a pacifier
Many new parents wonder if their newborn can sleep with a pacifier. It's understandable – a pacifier can do wonders for comforting, soothing, and improving their sucking reflex, so why not let them sleep with it? The answer is a newborn baby can sleep with a pacifier, but there are certain conditions that we have to take care of.
Well, the fact is, the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends delaying pacifiers until the baby is at least 3 to 4 weeks old and they have established a routine with breastfeeding; introducing pacifiers earlier than that may interfere with successful breastfeeding. Bottle-fed babies can start pacifiers at any age right after birth.
As we know, pacifier helps to soothe and calm babies; however, pacifier also helps to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) during sleep. Furthermore, sleeping with a pacifier can increase a baby's risk of developing ear infections and cause problems with teeth and jaw alignment.
For this reason, it's best to limit pacifier usage only when settling down for naps or bedtime and not leave it in overnight.
Safety tips while using a pacifier
- Choose the correct size per baby's age and choose one piece pacifier to prevent choking.
- Never attach pacifiers to babies' clothing or any other objects; it will increase the chance of SIDS.
- If your baby is not interested in a pacifier, don't force it. Always make sure that the pacifier is clean to prevent germs.
- If you plan to breastfeed, offer a pacifier once breastfeeding has been established.
- Do not substitute a pacifier for feeding. Pacifiers are designed to soothe babies, not a replacement for feeding.
2) Can newborns wear mittens?
Mittens can undoubtedly benefit a newborn, especially if they're prone to scratching themselves due to their sharp fingernails. However, mittens should only be worn sometimes, as babies need access to their hands to explore and learn. Plus, mittens can make it difficult for them to grip objects, which is essential for development. If you're interested in having mittens on hand, just in case, make sure they fit snugly and will not slip off easily.
How long should newborns wear mittens?
There is no specific timeframe for this, and every baby is different. Still, some childcare professionals recommend that babies should stop wearing mittens from the age of 1 month because, by this time, babies will develop the essential motor skills to control their hands and legs.
3) Can newborn babies see?
Remarkably, newborn babies can see shortly after they enter the world! After birth baby sees only black and white, with a shade of grey. As the months go by, they will slowly develop their color vision at around four months. At birth, the retina of the eyes is not fully developed; they have trouble focusing and are not very light-sensitive. Newborn babies' eyes are about 65% of their adult size. One week after birth baby can see about 8-10 inches away (that is just the proper distance for your baby to see your face as you snuggle them in your arms). A baby can see about 12 inches away at six weeks of age. A newborn can focus on faces and make eye contact as early as two weeks old. At the same time, they don't have a perfect vision yet at this age.
4) Can newborns drink water?
Have you ever wondered if newborns can drink water? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing water to babies at six months. During the First six months of life, babies need only breast milk or formula, which provides all the hydration and nutrition they need. Until six months of age baby's kidneys are too immature to correctly filter the water, which can lead to water intoxication, which can affect the average growth and development of the baby. As baby grows, their kidneys get mature. By six months, their kidneys are mature enough to consume water without the risk of water intoxication. Once solid food is introduced at six months, babies can begin to have a small amount of water, but this should not replace milk feeds. Up to 1 year of age, babies' primary nutrition should be from breast milk or formula.
5) Can newborns drink cold milk?
As a new parent, it can be unclear what your newborn should eat and drink throughout the day. Is it ok to give cold milk to your baby? Well, the answer is yes. Full-term healthy babies can safely drink cold breast milk or formula, but for premature babies with any health issues, it's always better to consult a doctor first. According to CDC, "Breast milk does not need to be warmed. It can be served at room temperature or cold."
It is ok to feed your baby a bottle straight from the refrigerator/mix formula with cold water, or you can warm up the milk; it is just your baby's preference but make sure the milk is not overheated. Remember never to heat baby's milk in the microwave. This can cause "hot spots" in the milk that can scald a baby's mouth and throat. Many parents are concerned if the cold milk can cause stomach issues or if the baby can digest cold milk. However, there is no evidence that cold milk causes stomach upset in babies.
6) Are newborn hiccups ok?
As first-time parents, newborn hiccups are so panicking. It's typical and widespread in babies under 12 months to get hiccups, and it will decrease as your baby gets older. Usually, hiccups don't hurt your baby and will stop within 5-10 minutes, but if your baby's hiccups do not stop within a couple of hours, you should see the doctor. Hiccups are mainly caused by increased gas in the stomach; if babies overfeed, swallow too fast or gulp air during feeding, that could cause the stomach to expand and rub against the diaphragm, which causes hiccups. As long as your baby's breathing is unaffected and there are no unusual pauses between breaths, it's all normal, so if you can help your little one eat slower - great! But if not, don't stress - those cute (yet sometimes startling!) hiccups won't last much longer.
7) Are newborn loungers safe?
First, baby loungers are like a nest or cushion where the baby can relax during the day when the baby is awake. It is not for sleeping purposes. Our question is, are they safe? Well, the answer is both yes and no. However, the safety of newborn loungers is an increasingly popular topic for new parents. Newborns require much extra care and attention, so it's no surprise that we want to ensure they are comfortable resting. If used correctly and with constant adult supervision, they can be safe. We need to do a lot of household activities such as cooking food and laundry, or sometimes we want to take a break from constantly holding our baby. In that case, loungers are the best option. However, there are a lot of safety concerns and recall notices for loungers regarding suffocation hazards that result in SIDS. As we said, infant loungers are designed for use under adult supervision. If an unsupervised infant falls asleep in a lounger, they could roll over and get stuck against the side walls of the loungers and can't roll themselves back over. Being trapped on the side wall increases the risk of suffocation, especially if the baby's nose or mouth gets blocked, which leads to SIDS. So before purchasing any Lounger, it's wise to read up on its safety features and talk to your doctor about the best options for you and your baby.
8) Are newborn screening tests mandatory?
Newborn screening tests are often considered mandatory, but the truth is that it varies depending on your state. Every state typically requires a minimum core panel of screenings like those for genetic and metabolic disorders, but what extra tests may be done can vary across different states. Usually, newborn screening is done when the baby is 1 to 2 days old. This test detects severe health issues, including blood and hearing tests. The primary purpose of newborn screening tests is to see potentially fatal or disabling conditions in newborns as early as possible. Usually, the parents must provide consent for any additional tests to be completed. In addition, many states now offer expanded panels for more specific conditions that can be tested at birth. You must speak with your healthcare provider to determine which tests might suit your baby.
Conclusion
Newborn babies are precious and require more care than any other age group. We can ensure our newborns stay safe and protected with the proper knowledge! Knowing the essential safety tips for newborns can help us keep our little ones safe and healthy. From understanding what cold milk may do to your baby's stomach to ensuring our baby loungers are safe or making sure we know which screening tests our state requires, there are a lot of essential safety measures to consider.
The content provided in this article is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health providers before making any medical decisions. If you are experiencing any symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Also, if you have any questions regarding the safety tips for newborn babies mentioned in this article, feel free to contact your doctor or pediatrician. Together we can ensure our babies stay healthy and safe!
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