DELAWARE MODERN
PEDIATRICS, P.A.
David M. Epstein, M.D.
300 Biddle Avenue, Suite
206
Springside Plaza, Connor
Building
Newark, Delaware 19702
Phone: (302) 392-2077
Fax: (302) 392 - 0020
www.DelawareModernPediatrics.com
Instructions for Newborn Care
Congratulations
on the birth of your baby! Now you can
relax, and enjoy the new addition to your family.
NURSING: I recommend that you feed whenever the baby is
hungry. Teach your baby that you trust
his appetite! Your baby should nurse at
least 8 to 12 times in a 24 hour period.
Some of these feedings may be clustered very close together, even 1-2
hours. During the day, don’t let the
baby nap for longer than 2 ˝ hours between feeds; wake the baby for feeds if
needed. But you can let the baby sleep
at night, while you are asleep. The
baby does not need water. Cereal and
solid food is not generally started until 4-6 months of age.
Many babies do not need a pacifier; if your baby wants a pacifier, you should offer it only if you have just fed the baby within the last 10-15 minutes so that you know he is not hungry.
When your baby is 2 weeks old,
begin ADC vitamins, 1 dropper-full per day ("Tri-vi-sol" or other
brand, no prescription needed, “with iron” if possible). Be sure to take care of yourself as well!
Continue your prenatal vitamins and iron (perhaps as long as you might be
bearing more children). Get as much
rest as possible, eat a well balanced diet, and drink plenty of fluids.
When storing breastmilk for
later use, be sure all equipment is sterile. Breastmilk can be stored 48 hours
in the refrigerator, or 4 to 6 months in the back of your freezer (not on the
door).
If you ever plan to give your
baby a bottle, you will have the most success if you introduce a bottle (with
expressed breast milk or formula) once or twice a day, beginning between 3 to 4
weeks of age. This age is late enough
that the breast milk will be well established, but young enough that your baby
can still become used to a rubber nipple.
ROUTINE INFANT CARE: Keep
babies sleeping on their back. Babies
ride in a car facing backwards, in an approved car seat in the rear seat, until they reach 20 pounds and they are a year old.
To
care for the umbilical cord, a little soap and water, or hydrogen peroxide, is
adequate. (Be sure to pull the skin
away from the cord as you clean, so that an infection doesn’t develop at the
base of the cord.) If the skin seems
dry, any lotion is fine to use if it has no perfumes or dyes. You may bathe the baby in any manner that
seems sensible to you.
Excessive exposure to television
has been shown to be harmful for your baby’s development. I recommend that the TV not be allowed to
play in the baby’s earshot for more than 1 hour per day. However, music (whatever you enjoy) is
beneficial as a nice social stimulation, and you may play music as much as you
like.
Smoke is very irritating to your
baby! It puts the baby at risk for pneumonia and ear infections. Never let anyone smoke in your house; ask
them to go out to the balcony or back porch. Don't smoke in the car.
Keep the house at a comfortable
temperature for you. Dress the baby as
you dress yourself. Fans and air
conditioning are ok, if not aimed directly at the baby. Furnish the room
simply; carpeting, upholstery, stuffed toys and drapes collect dust which may
irritate the baby's nose. You may take
the baby outdoors as soon as you arrive home, if the weather is nice. You may
have visitors or take the baby to the home of family or friends if the number
of people is limited and no one has a contagious illness. Do not expose the baby to a large family
gathering or take the baby shopping or to church for the first 6-8 weeks.
If your baby has a stuffy nose,
you may make saline drops (a pinch of salt to 4 oz. water) to drop into the
nostrils. A cool humidifier with plain
water is also helpful; change water daily and dry between uses. For the first 8 weeks, it the temperature is
over 100.5, call us immediately.
MY OFFICE
We are available for emergencies
by phone 24 hours a day. It your baby becomes sick outside of regular hours,
and you feel that the baby needs help before office opens, dial 392-2077 and
leave a message. I, or the covering
pediatrician, will return your call very quickly. Please limit after-hours calls to urgent problems that cannot
wait for the next day. I prefer that
you avoid the Emergency Room if possible.
For routine advice and
questions, I am happy to help you any weekday morning. Please don't hesitate to
ask our advice; I expect new parents to have many questions! If the nurse can help you, she will.
Occasionally she will suggest that you leave a message for me, or that you come
in for a sick visit. The first visit
to the office should be 2-4 days after discharge from the hospital.
Remember: The most important influences on your baby’s long term
development come from the baby’s social environment. Teach your baby that you trust him, by trusting yourselves. You can’t do it wrong … so have fun, and enjoy
your family and your baby!