While babies are absolutely wonderful and cute, they can get bored and be a handful sometimes. Here are some tips on how to keep your baby happy during quarantine and beyond:
Keep baby’s skin healthy
If you want to keep your baby in a good mood, it’s imperative to maintain a healthy skincare routine. This includes using lukewarm water when giving them a bath to avoid scalding or drying out their skin, or even using a good quality nappy rash cream to prevent diaper rash.
Use a soft towel afterward to avoid skin rashes and pat your baby dry gently and slowly. Massage your baby with natural oils like almond oil and coconut oil to keep her skin soft and nourished, and keep her covered to avoid sun exposure and sunburn.
Use a mild, non-fragrant moisturizer to lock in moisture onto the baby’s skin and dress him in cotton clothes to help keep his skin dry by absorbing excess moisture.
Changing time
Another part of keeping your baby happy is to change their diaper often, about every 2 to 4 hours round the clock. Be sure to change a poopy diaper immediately to avoid a rash.
Babies sometimes get wiggly or fussy during diaper changes so start by rolling up their onesie around their arms to create a makeshift swaddle that’ll help them feel secure during the process.
Also, make sure your baby’s diapers aren’t too tight and that they’re nice and absorbent.
Burp your baby
Burping is as important to keeping your baby comfortable as feeding. However, it’s not always easy and new parents often find it challenging.
Basically, you burp your baby to help them release gas which is the air they may have taken in while feeding. To do this, simply hold the baby up on your chest with your arm tucked under the baby’s bottom.
Put a burping cloth over the shoulder and gently but firmly pat baby’s back, and rub their back softly after a few pats.
Breastfed babies tend to burp less often because they take in less air and sometimes some babies don’t burp at all which is perfectly normal. If the baby spits up, just wipe and continue.
Ideally, you should burp your baby after feeding on each breast. If you’re bottle-feeding, burp halfway through and then again when they’re finished.
If the wind does go down to their tummy and they’re in pain, you can help the baby out by pulling their knees up or doing a cycling motion with the legs.
Swaddling
One of the simplest ways to keep a baby happy is to swaddle them, especially when they’re eating or just resting. Some babies like to be swaddled to mimic the feeling of being in the womb. The swaddle shouldn’t be so tight that it restricts their breathing, and it shouldn’t be loose enough to come up over their face.
Keep them entertained
The good news is that it’s pretty easy to keep an infant entertained. One way you can do this is to put your phone on loud when talking so they can listen in the conversation and pick up new words and expand their vocabulary.
Babies also love exercise so make sure to include them when working out. Also, play relaxing music and put on candles while giving your baby a bath to enjoy a little relaxing time.
Enjoy a dance party while lip-synching to music, play peek-a-boo with her while folding laundry, or sing to her while cooking supper.
Dress your child with soft and breathable clothes
Every child is unique, and fabrics for babies’ clothes come in an array of preferences. Certain materials can be used for baby clothing, bedding, and accessories. Some kids have very delicate skins that can be irritated by clothes made from synthetic materials. Instead of synthetic materials, consider buying clothes made from natural, breathable fabrics like cotton, soft-not itchy wool, bamboo, or even linen.
When it comes to clothes for sleep, find pajamas that are soft and thermoregulating. Changing temperatures can heighten the sensitivity of babies’ skin and even disturb their sleep. Thermoregulating pajamas keep your baby warm during the winter and cool during the summer, perfect for wearing all year round. Choosing the right fabric for your baby’s sleep clothes can contribute to better sleep quality, not only for your baby but for you as well.
Different materials require different care, but using the same washing method on all types of clothing can lead to the material losing value over time. Therefore, the best way to make your child’s clothes last longer is by paying attention to the tag found on the neck or down the side of the clothing that gives the dry-cleaning instruction. Be careful with what you put in the washing machine to avoid damages. There is nothing more frustrating than a broken washing machine and dirty children’s clothes.
