Caring for your new baby

This page will give you information about looking after your baby and help you to know when your baby might be poorly and where to get advice and help.

Getting help if you are worried

Click here for more information about what is normal and what is not normal for a new baby and will help you to understand if you need to get professional help or advice.

You should call 999 or go straight to A&E if:

they have a rash that doesn’t fade when you press a glass against it
skin looks blue, mottled or pale (look around the lips and eyes)
your child is difficult to wake or is floppy
they are breathing very fast
they are having/have had a fit or convulsion
they are grunting (noisy breathing sound like squeaking)

Safe sleeping

Following safer sleep advice can reduce the chances of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS or cot death) happening. The safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own clear, flat cot or moses basket in the same room as you.

Lie baby on their back
Keep the cot clear
Use a firm, flat, waterproof matress
Do not smoke around your baby
Avoid baby getting too hot
Sleep your baby in the same room as you for at least the first 6 months

Further information:

Feeding and bonding

Please refer to the ‘Mothers and Others guide’ given to you during your pregnancy. Breastfed babies should be given a Vitamin D daily supplement (8.5 to 10 micrograms) even if you’re taking a supplement containing vitamin D yourself.

Further information

Wet and dirty nappies

If your baby does not pass meconium within 24 hours of birth, get urgent medical attention.

Some baby girls can have a small bleed or discharge from their vagina. This is because of maternal hormones and usually only lasts a few days. This is normal.

Bathing your baby

Wait at least 24 hours before bathing your baby. If you need to bath your baby for cultural/religious reasons, please aim to wait six hours from birth before bathing.

Take some time to prepare before you start. Make sure you have everything you need like clean nappies, clothing, towels and a changing mat to hand. Ideally, bath time needs to be carried out quite quickly as babies find it hard to control their body temperature and can get cold and upset easily.

How to wash your baby during the first few days (top and tail)

A sponge bath or ‘top and tail’ with water is enough during the first few days, then 2 to 3 baths a week is fine.

Use plain water only for the first month as their skin is very fragile
Wrap your baby in a warm towel on a changing mat. Clean around their face and neck using cotton wool pads or reusable wipes/flannels. You can keep their nappy on for now. Using a clean piece of cotton wool for each eye, wipe from the inside outwards. Talk to your health visiting team or your GP if your baby’s eyes look red or sticky
Now take off your baby’s nappy and using more cotton wool pads or reusable wipes/flannels dipped in water, clean their bottom and around their genitals. With boys, there’s no need to pull the foreskin back. With baby girls, remember to wipe from front to back to reduce the risk of infection. Don’t worry if there’s some discharge from the vagina, it’s completely normal in newborns
Smile at your baby while you’re doing all this, and talk or sing to them. This will soothe and reassure them

How to bath your baby

Make sure the room is nice and warm and run the bath to about 37°C. Use a water thermometer if you have one. Fill with cold water first and then add hot water to get to the correct temperature. Make sure you check the temperature with your elbow or wrist and mix well to avoid any hot patches.

Curl your arm into a ‘C’ shape and position your hand under your baby’s arm to support their head and to give you a firm hold
With the other hand, you can gently scoop water all over their body, smiling and talking to them the whole time
Turn your baby over to wash their back, keeping their face out of the water
Wrap your baby in a towel and then wash their hair by scooping water over their head with your free hand
Pat your baby dry with the towel. Avoid rubbing their sensitive Make sure all the little creases in the skin under their arms and around their legs are dry. There’s no need to use baby powder

Please remember to never leave your baby or child unattended during bath time. Babies of any age should only be supervised in the bath by adults.

Your baby’s skin and cord

Your baby’s cord will fall off by itself and will become more dry and darker in colour. It will fall off between day 3 and 10. Keep it clean by wiping around it with cotton wool and water. Keep it dry. Speak to your midwife or GP if there is a bad smell, it looks red or is producing discharge or bleeding.

Spots and rashes are common in babies, in some circumstances they can be caused by something serious. Click here to find out more about spots, rashes and other minor ailments and illnesses in babies.

Tests offered for your baby after birth

Newborn infant physical examination (NIPE)

Within 72 hours of your baby’s birth, a detailed head to toe check of your baby will be done. This will check your baby’s eyes, heart, hips, and other things to check for any problems. If any problems are found, your baby may need some more checks. Your midwife will talk this through with you. The NIPE is completed at the hospital or in a postnatal clinic.

Hearing screening

If your baby is born in hospital, you can be offered a newborn hearing test before you go home. This can also be done in a planned clinic within the first few weeks of your baby’s life. Your baby’s hearing test takes a few minutes. A small ear piece is put in your baby’s ear and gentle sounds are played. It is not always possible to get a clear reading at the first test. This can be because your baby is unsettled or may have fluid in their ears. This does not always mean your baby has hearing loss. You will be offered a second test. You will have the results as soon as the test is done.

Newborn blood spot test (heel prick test)

The newborn blood spot test helps to check if babies have any of 9 rare conditions, some of which can be life-threatening. Knowing early whether a baby might have or get these conditions means they can start to be monitored and treated sooner to improve their health and outcomes. A health professional will usually take a blood spot sample on day 5.

Emergency CPR if your baby isn’t breathing

Leicester Hospital’s advises you to watch the video using the QR code you will be given on the ward before you go home. It will show you how to do CPR if you needed to in an emergency.

Call 999, put baby on a firm surface, give them 5 breaths, 30 chest compressions, 2 breaths and repeat the 30 compressions and 2 breaths until help arrives.