Translations:Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book/Health and Science/Home Nursing/40/en
From Pathfinder Wiki
7. Know how to help take care of a newborn and an aged person in your home.
Care for a Newborn
Newborns must have all of their needs met by others. About the only thing they can do by themselves is poop, pee and breathe (and in the case of premature births, sometimes not even that).
- Feeding
- A healthy newborn must be fed. Breast milk is best, but formula is a common alternative. If you do not know what the baby is drinking, ask the mother.
- Sleep
- Babies need a lot of sleep. Lay an infant on its back, and make sure the temperature is comfortable. If it's chilly, cover the baby's body (not the head!) with a blanket.
- Diaper
- When the baby soils a diaper, it should be changed.
- Holding a baby
- A newborn does not have strong enough muscles in the neck to support the head, so when the baby is held, the head must be supported at all times.
- Medical Care
- Newborns should see a pediatrician frequently. The first pediatrician visit almost invariably occurs in the hospital where the baby was born. A follow-up visit will be scheduled for a week later, and then again as scheduled by the pediatrician.
- Outdoors
- Dress the baby appropriately for the weather. If it's warm, bundle up. If it's hot, you will still need to make sure the baby does not get chilled. Protect the baby from rain, snow, and other forms of precipitation.
- Transporting
- If traveling in a vehicle, securely buckle the baby into a car seat approved for newborns. If carrying the baby, always maintain a firm hold (don't drop the baby!). In a stroller, buckle the baby in and cover with a blanket. Do not leave the stroller unattended, and always keep your hands on it (do not let it roll away).
