How to dress a newborn: the right techniques to avoid mistakes
How to dress a newborn for the first few weeks? The layette!
The baby will not wear the first clothes for long. So don't invest too much, it may need the larger size very quickly!
For a baby with a "classic" build, plan for only 1 or 2 birth-size pajamas.
Think practicality and choose clothes that easily go through your head. For the first few days, choose the ones that open at the front and prefer the snap fasteners rather than the ones that tie on the belly.
The pajamas are easy to put on with snaps on the belly or back and crotch. A significant plus: it covers the baby from head to toe.
How to choose the right shoes for your baby
For the first few weeks, you will probably only dress your baby in bodysuits and pajamas. Small clothes and other trendy little items for babies are cute, but they are not practical and cannot be put on the baby very often. There is no need to spend all your salary on them!
Colors: candy pink for girls, sky blue for boys?
The color palette is vast for children, even at this age: sparkling tones, warm colors, patterns. In addition, today children are also in fashion, thanks to collections that follow trends.
Good to know: Choose clothes that are above all comfortable, soft, practical to put on and take off, with a simple and solid closure system.
Avoid cords, ribbons, pins or large buttons, which are dangerous for the baby.
What clothes to choose to protect the baby from the cold?
This is the primary task of the baby's clothing: to protect him from sudden changes in temperature. At this age, a baby is sensitive to cold as much as to heat, and is not yet able to regulate his body temperature on his own. It is important to make sure that he is sufficiently covered (but not too much!) to be warm enough Also remember to keep a constant temperature in his room, around 20/21 ° C.
To keep him warm at night, cover him with a warm pajama or sleeping bag, and use a long-sleeved leotard for winter.
When it comes to fabrics, choose cotton to dress your baby; forget synthetics, which do not absorb sweat well, and wool, which can irritate baby's skin.
When it's really cold you can use a suit. Think of the gloves, to be fixed inside the suit with a drawstring so that they do not get lost.
Good to know: Don't forget to cover your baby's head and ears, especially in winter. For babies under three months, a hat (preferably cotton) is essential because it is through the top of the skull that the body loses its heat.
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Which shoes to choose?
Before the child walks, shoes are not essential. At home, socks are enough to keep his feet from getting cold. Small soft leather shoes are also available in adorable designs and have the advantage of staying firmly attached to your baby's little feet.
Good to know: When the baby begins to stand up, leave the feet without shoes to stimulate the arch of the foot.
How to take care of the baby's clothes?
Choose garments that are easy to care for, machine washable and quick-drying. On the one hand it saves you time, on the other hand it will be better to wash and rinse them. Use a dermatologically tested cleanser to avoid damaging the baby's fragile skin.
Good to know: Baby's fragile skin is in prolonged contact with clothes and this can be a source of irritation. To protect it, use a mild detergent on your clothes and skin.
How to dress a newborn? Instructions for Use
Dressing up a newborn always seems very complicated. Young parents may be afraid of hurting him by putting on his clothes and doing the wrong thing. But don't panic! During your stay in the maternity ward, the nursery nurse will be able to give you a lot of advice on this topic. It will also show you how to dress your baby and help you make the right gestures, which will quickly become reflexes once you get home.
Here are some rules for not making mistakes:
- To wear the leotard, widen the collar as much as possible, roll the whole garment in your hands, pass the baby's face first, then the head.
- For the sleeves, put your hand on the end of the sleeve, grab the baby's arm, then unroll the sleeve over the baby's arm. Do the same if you are wearing a sweater or t-shirt.
- For trousers or dungarees, use the same trick: put your hand on the foot, pick up the leg in your hand, grab the child's foot and unroll the trouser leg.
