LifeMinute Fact or Fiction: Caring For Your Newborn

Here's how to care for your baby from bath time to bedtime

From the LifeMinute Team

November 17, 2014

You just had a baby -- you have enough to do. So we enlisted Mindy Walker, Executive Editor of American Baby Magazine, to help you sift through the myths making their way around the playdate circuit.

Myth #1: Soft baby skin doesn't need to be moisturized.

"You can start moisturizing your baby's skin from Day One," says Mindy, "Sure, your baby's skin is more hydrated than ours, but it's still sensitive and susceptible to irritants. A great time to do it is after the bath. And speaking of the bath, when looking for an infant baby wash, look for one that meets third party industry standards and is made for a newborn. Natural isn't always better, so go with what works for your baby."

Myth #2: Shampoos contain harsh ingredients that hurt your baby's eyes.

Not true, says Mindy. She explains, "Products like Johnson's Baby Shampoo can be as gentle on your baby's eyes as water, and this is really due to two things: the mildness of the formulation and the clinical testing that's been undergone. So you can relax and enjoy bath time with your baby, and make it a bonding experience."

Myth #3: Bedtime routines are for older babies.

Mindy says starting your baby's sleep routine right away can make him or her a better sleeper later. Her advice? "Thirty minutes before bedtime, dim the lights; after the bath, read them a book, sing a song, do a last feeding and then put them in their swaddle or sleep sack. When you do these things in the same order every night, your baby will recognize these as cues for sleep. So even if your newborn is waking you up at night for feedings, by doing this in the evening, you're setting them up to be longer, better sleepers later."

Myth #4: When starting with solids, rice cereal is a must.

Mindy says rice cereal is an option, but not your only option when getting your baby started on solid foods. "So we all know that when you start with solids at six months, you get to get that cute baby picture with food all over their face; now you can do it with a fruit or a vegetable puree," explains Mindy, "The most important thing, whether you start with rice cereal or a fruit or vegetable puree, is to wait three days in between introducing a new food; when you do that, it makes it easier for you to identify an allergy."

Myth #5: Your baby is too young to have tummy time.

Mindy says experts suggest starting tummy time when your baby is a newborn. Why? Mindy explains, "When you do this, even for one minute, you're strengthening her core muscles, which can help her later roll over, sit up and do all that crawling."

Want more info? Check out AmericanBaby.com for more tips about taking care of your newborn.

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