Newborn care

Changing Your Baby’s Nappy

In the early days you will need to change your baby’s nappy quite often as they tend to have frequent bowel motions, so you will become an expert in no time. It is important to change the nappy if they have had a bowel motion as a rash can result if left unchanged. Changing your baby’s nappy provides an ideal opportunity for social interaction as baby is usually awake and ready for some stimulation.

Huggies Newborn Nappies are Australia’s No. 1 newborn nappy, with a range of special features specifically designed to help keep your newborn’s delicate skin as perfect as day one. The Unique 3-layer Design with a special UltraAbsorb top layer designed to absorb wetness and contain the spread of runny bowel movements makes Huggies the most absorbent nappy you can buy. Huggies is also the only nappy with a super soft Breathe Dry – all over highly breathable cover. This allows fresh air to circulate around your baby’s bottom keeping them drier and more comfortable. In fact, Huggies keeps your baby so dry they are the only nappy clinically proven to help prevent nappy rash. Plus, Huggies Nappies have been awarded Gold in the 2015 Mother & Baby Awards for ‘Most Popular Disposable Nappy (0-3years)’. For more information on Huggies Nappies & Baby Wipes see our Product Range section.

Because changing your baby’s nappy provides a great opportunity for interaction – encourage Dad to get involved and take over this task every so often, he may find he actually enjoys it.

For more tips on changing your baby’s nappy, see Nappy change.

Bathing your newborn

Your baby may have their first bath shortly after they’re born, given by a midwife. The first time you bath your baby may be a nerve racking experience as you learn how to hold and clean your baby. See our tips on bathing your newborn.

Ensure the cord stump is kept as dry as possible to help prevent infection. Ask your doctor or midwife for further advice on how to care for the cord stump until it falls away naturally in around 10 days.

For more information see baby bathing.

Infant Massage

Infant massage is a wonderful tool to use for developing a bond between parent and child and has proven benefits for your little bub. Here are some of the benefits to your baby.

Relaxes your baby.
Helps to develop a bond of trust.
Massage can improve your baby’s sleep.
Helps to boost the immune system.
Improves blood circulation and skin condition.
Massage can aid digestion.
Massage can also give relief to babies suffering from colic and reflux.

Many hospitals and Birth Centres run courses on infant massage that you can attend during your stay. Here are a few tips on the basics of infant massage to get you started.

Ensure the room is warm and your baby is not in a draft.
Only proceed with the massage if you are feeling relaxed and your baby is generally settled, unless you are performing the massage to help relieve pain.
Start on the legs and move upward through the body.
Use long firm strokes.
Do not place any pressure on the abdomen.
When massaging to relieve pain from colic, use a circular motion starting on your baby’s right hand side of her stomach.
Use a lotion such as sorbolene, or a cold pressed almond oil. These are beneficial to your baby’s skin and are easily absorbed.

For more information on Infant Massage visit:

Settling Baby

Learning how your newborn will settle and sleep is a tricky time for you and your baby. You may feel your life is consumed by how much sleep you and your baby are having, this is normal.

For tips on sleep and settling see baby sleep.

In addition here are links to some resources available in the community and via the internet.

Your Baby Health Clinic and your family doctor.
Your Plunket Nurse – 0800 933 922
Parents Centre

For more information see Baby Care.