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Baby Care Basics

Baby Care Basics

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 have worked hard to develop the best nappy for your baby and the Unique 3-layer Design™ 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. 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 see our Baby Care Basics section.

Infant Massage

baby massageInfant 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 Huggies® Bath & Body lotion 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:

Bathing Baby*

Tips for bath time

Many parents feel nervous when they first bathe their babies. Once you establish a routine, both of you can relax and enjoy the time of extra closeness.

  • Newborn babies do not need to be bathed everyday. Every second day is fine. In between you can keep them fresh by giving them a top and tail.
  • You can also do a quick top and tail to keep baby clean and fresh between baths.
  • Warm the room to at least 20°C (68°F), and keep the time he’s undressed to a minimum.
  • Make sure the bath is a comfortable height for you. Wear a waterproof apron with a towel tied around your waist so that you can dry your baby on your lap.
  • Make sure everything you need for washing, drying, and dressing is within reach.
  • Always test the water first and don’t add hot water while the baby is in the bath. Add baby bath liquid to the water, this is easier to use than soap.
  • Chat and smile to him constantly, and make as much body contact as possible. Most babies soon enjoy splashing around.

Cleaning the Cord Stump

Your baby’s umbilical cord stump dries and drops off within a week to ten days of his birth. You may receive advice from the hospital to clean this area daily - however there is another opinion that excessive cleaning of the area is not necessary and simply keeping the area clean and dry is adequate. If you notice any redness, discharge or other signs of infection, ask your doctor for advice.

Washing and bathing your baby is less about cleanliness and more about the intimacy and fun that you and your baby can enjoy. It is also a good opportunity for Dad to get involved and spend some “hands on” time with your new baby. For more tips, see our Bathing your Baby section.

Settling Baby

baby sleepingLearning 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 go to the Your Baby's Sleep section.

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

  • Your Baby Health Clinic and your family doctor
  • Karitane Sleep and Settling information. You will find a great diagram of how to wrap your baby here. Karitane also have a 24 hour helpline. Sydney (02) 9794 1852 or Freecall 1800 677 961
  • Tresillian offer a 24 hour helpline. Sydney (02) 9787 0855 or Freecall 1800 637 357
  • For VIC contact Tweddle Child and Family Health Service
  • For WA contact Ngala who offer a telephone helpline from 8.30am-9.00pm (08) 9368 9368 or 1800 111 546
  • For QLD Information and Advisory Service. (07) 3862 2333 or 1800 177 279
  • Health Insite provides links to numerous articles about sleep and settling
  • An article called Crying Baby from the SA Child and Youth Health unit.

* Dr Miriam Stoppard MD FRCP, Conception, Pregnancy & Birth, Dorling Kindersley, Australia 2002