Newborn Care Basics: The First Weeks at Home in Nepal

Breast milk is the ideal first food. Feed on demand — newborns often feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. Skin-to-skin contact helps feeding and bonding, and keeps your baby warm. Watch for steady weight gain and several wet nappies a day as signs feeding is going well.

Always lay your baby on their back to sleep, on a firm flat surface, without loose bedding or pillows. Keep the room comfortably warm, not hot. Newborn sleep is broken into short stretches around the clock — this is normal.

Keep the umbilical stump clean and dry. Let it be exposed to air and fold the nappy below it. It usually dries and falls off within one to two weeks. See a doctor if the surrounding skin becomes red, swollen, smelly or oozes.

Newborns lose heat easily, especially in cooler hill and mountain homes. Dress in layers, cover the head with a cap, and keep them close. Avoid overheating — feel the chest or back of the neck rather than hands and feet.

You do not need to bathe a newborn daily. Two to three times a week with plain warm water is enough at first; keep baths short and the room warm. Newborn skin is delicate, so avoid harsh products.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Attend your scheduled newborn checks and contact your doctor with any concern.

Choose gentle, breathable diapers for delicate newborn skin.