How infant care from your pediatrician in New Providence, BS, can help you and your baby

If you are a first-time parent, caring for your infant can make you nervous. Are you doing the right things? Is your baby feeding or sleeping well? These are just two of the questions your pediatrician can help answer.

Dr. Gwendolyn McDeigan at The Paediatric Centre in New Providence, BS, offers a wide range of medical services for children, including infant care services.

These are a few guidelines that should make caring for your infant a little easier:

• Your infant’s first visit to the pediatrician should be within 2 to 5 days of birth.
• Your infant will feed every 2 to 3 hours if breastfed, or every 3 to 4 hours if on formula
• Your infant will sleep at least 16 hours each day during the first few weeks
• Always place your baby on his/her back to sleep
• Your infant’s stool starts out black, but as your baby gets older it becomes dark green to yellow
• Bathe your infant with mild soap and lukewarm water and thoroughly clean the folds of skin
• Don’t bathe your baby too often to prevent dryness and skin irritation

Having a baby is a very special experience, and your pediatrician can help safeguard your baby’s health. The first visit with your pediatrician is the perfect time for you to ask any questions about caring for your infant, your baby’s health, and other concerns.

When you are taking care of your infant, remember to care for yourself too. Infant care can be overwhelming, especially if you are taking care of a home and working. Don’t be afraid to:

• Seek out help from friends and relatives
• Sleep when your baby sleeps
• Let household chores go
• Only take care of what needs to be done
• Take walks with your infant to help reduce stress

To learn more about infant care and how your pediatrician can help, call Dr. Gwendolyn McDeigan at The Paediatric Centre in New Providence, BS. You can reach her by calling (242) 322-5025, so call now!