Caring for your newborn
Feeding, sleeping, cord care, warmth, immunisations and the newborn signs that need care urgently.
- Skin-to-skin contact keeps your baby warm and helps feeding
- Keep the cord stump clean and dry
- Always place your baby on the back to sleep
- Keep to the immunisation schedule and bring the Road to Health booklet
Keep your baby warm, close and fed. Skin-to-skin contact helps with warmth, breathing, breastfeeding and bonding.
Cord care: keep the stump clean and dry, fold the nappy below it, and do not put anything on it unless your clinic advises. It usually falls off within one to two weeks. Redness spreading onto the tummy, pus or a bad smell needs to be seen.
Sleep: place your baby on the back to sleep, on a firm flat surface, without pillows or loose bedding, and keep the room smoke-free. Newborns sleep in short stretches and wake to feed — this is normal.
Nappies and stools: expect frequent wet nappies and stools that change from dark and sticky to soft and yellow.
Mild yellowness of the skin in the first week is common, but jaundice appearing in the first 24 hours, spreading to the palms and soles, or with a sleepy baby who is feeding poorly, needs urgent assessment.
Immunisations start at birth (BCG and polio) and continue at 6, 10 and 14 weeks according to the South African schedule. Take your Road to Health booklet to every visit.
- Difficulty breathing, grunting or fast breathing
- Fever, or a baby that feels cold and will not warm up
- Not feeding, very sleepy or difficult to wake
- Yellow skin in the first 24 hours, or yellow palms and soles
- Fits or unusual stiff or floppy movements
- Redness, pus or bad smell around the cord
- No urine for a day, or persistent vomiting
A newborn with any of these signs must be taken to hospital immediately, day or night. Newborns can become ill very quickly.
This information is general health education and does not replace advice from your nurse, midwife or doctor. In an emergency go to your nearest facility.