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.
Supplemental water is not necessary. Cereal and solid food is not generally
started until 4-6 months of age.
Vitamin supplements are not necessary, since commercial formulas are
already vitamin-fortified. You may use
formula straight from the refrigerator; you need not warm it, if the baby likes
it that way.
If
you make up one bottle at a time, you need not sterilize. If you make up
bottles the night before use, you must sterilize the water, bottles, and
nipples until the baby is 4 months old.
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, we are 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!