Newborn care

Changing Your Baby’s Nappy

In the early days you will need to change your baby’s nappy quite often as they could 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 your baby is likely to be 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 – if you can, encourage your partner to get involved too and take over this task every so often, they may find it enjoyable.

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

Bathing your newborn

Your baby could have their first bath shortly after they’re born, you or your partner may be asked if you’d like to do this. 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 way to help develop a bond between parent and child and has proven benefits. Here are some:

• Relaxation.
• Helps to develop a bond of trust.
• Massage could improve your baby’s sleep.
• May help to boost immunity.
• Improves blood circulation and skin condition.
• Massage can aid digestion.
• Massage can help to settle babies who have colic or reflux symptoms.

Many hospitals and Birth Centres run courses on infant massage. 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.
• Plan for a time when you are feeling relaxed and your baby is generally settled, unless you are performing the massage to help relieve pain.
• Ask your baby for their permission before you start the massage. This is one way to show your respect for them and their body.
• Start on the legs and move upward through the body.
• Use long firm strokes.
• Do not place any pressure on their tummy.
• When massaging to relieve pain from colic, move your hands in a gentle, clockwise direction on their tummy.
• Use a lotion such as sorbolene, or a cold pressed almond or olive oil. These can be beneficial to a young baby’s skin and are easily absorbed.

For more information on Infant Massage visit:

• International Association of Infant Massage
• The Huggies infant massage section

Settling Baby

Learning how your newborn will settle and sleep could be a challenging time for you and your baby. Sometimes you may feel preoccupied by how much sleep you are both getting. This is a normal experience for most mothers and their babies.

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.