Parenting a Newborn Boy

Parenting Your Newborn Boy

Parenting your newborn boy is an experience unlike any

other you will have in your lifetime. Holding your newborn

son for the first time is an amazing experience - smelling

his sweet baby scent, feeling his warm, incredibly soft

skin on yours, counting each of his little fingers and toes

and marveling at their fragility and their perfection at

the same time.

Parenting a newborn boy is not altogether that different from parenting a newborn girl, although a newborn boy may have some special care needs if he has had a circumcision performed.

Your newborn boy’s penis will probably seem pretty small, more like an “inny” than an “outtie”. Most baby boys have a generous padding of fat in the pubic area when they are born, and the fat pad seems to overlap the penis a bit, making the penis seem retracted. They will grow out of this eventually, although if you are overly concerned, of course, see your doctor.

If you choose to have your newborn son circumcised, there will be a little extra care required for the penis, as well. Your newborn boy will probably be sent home with a tiny little gauze strip covering the end of his penis. Your doctor will give you written instructions for the care of the newborn’s circumcision, please follow these instructions.

The doctor may have told you to change the bandage on the end of the penis every time you change the baby’s diaper. If you put some petroleum jelly on the end of the penis before you place the bandage on it will keep it from sticking to the site. If your doctor told you to leave the bandage alone until it falls off, then do so, every doctor is different.

Some doctors will put what is called a Plastibell on the end of the newborn boy’s penis, which will stay in place for 5 to 10 days until it falls off. It will usually take about 10 days for the penis t fully heal after the circumcision, and if there is a yellowish coating over the penis as it heals, this is normal and should be left alone.

After the circumcision, there should be no visible or active bleeding from the penis, but there may be a small amount of blood in the baby's diaper. Keep the area as clean as possible. Change the diapers often to minimize contact with urine and stool. Gently wash the penis with soap and water every day if permitted by your doctor. Do not immerse the baby in water until the penis is fully healed.

Other newborn care basics:

Be sure to support your baby's head and neck at all times. Cradle the head in your hand when carrying your baby and support the head when carrying the baby upright or when you lay him or her down gently. Never, ever shake your newborn, whether in play (newborns are not ready for rough play though) or in anger. Shaking that is even mildly vigorous can cause bleeding in the brain and eventually even death. To wake your baby (try not to!), don't do it by shaking — instead, tickle your baby's cheek or feet or blow gently on the hair.

Always securely fasten your baby into the car seat and se an age appropriate car seat.

Always take as many opportunities as you can to hold your baby and touch him, skin to skin, as this will promote bonding and will be soothing to your baby. Babies also usually love vocal sounds, such as talking, babbling, singing, and cooing. Since the baby was able to hear while in the womb, familiar sounds, especially Mommy’s voice, may be soothing to your new little guy. Your baby will probably also love listening to music. If your newborn boy is being fussy, try singing, chanting nursery rhymes, or reading aloud as you sway or rock your baby gently in a chair.

Swaddling is another great soothing technique every parent and caregiver should learn. Swaddling is an action that is reminiscent of the tight quarters of the womb, and therefore may be comforting to a newborn.

Here's how to swaddle a baby:

Spread out the receiving blanket and lay the baby face-up on the blanket with his head at a corner that has been folded over. Wrap the left corner over the body and arms and tuck it beneath his abdomen or butt. Bring the bottom corner up over the baby's feet and fold it down at the top if it is too long and will cover baby’s face. Wrap the right corner around the baby, leaving only the neck and head exposed.

Diaper rash is another common concern of new parents. Typically a diaper rash is red and bumpy and will go away with a warm bath, some diaper cream, and a little time out of the diaper. Most rashes occur because the baby's skin is sensitive and becomes irritated by the wet diaper. If your baby has had juice, the poop can become acidic and cause a rash. The best way to prevent a rash is to give your baby a little time out of a diaper every day in the air, and to change the diapers frequently, especially immediately after bowel movements. Use a preventative diaper cream with zinc oxide if your newborn baby is prone to diaper rash.

You should give your baby a sponge bath until the umbilical cord falls off naturally and the belly button has healed. If your baby has been circumcised, you will also need to wait until the site has healed to give baby a bath. Babies really do not get dirty or get body odor - so bathing your infant every other day is sufficient. Just be sure to thoroughly clean any spit up, feces or urine that comes in contact with the skin n a daily basis.

Never ever - ever ever! Leave your baby alone for an instant in a bathtub. Ideally, you should bath your baby in an infant tub in no more than a few inches of warm water. Babies are no going to enjoy their first baths, so make them quick, gentle and in a warm room if at all possible. Most baby soaps today are soaps that can double as shampoos, I personally recommend Baby Magic bath soap and shampoo or Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. Both are tearless and smell wonderful! Be sure to speak gently and reassuringly o your baby as you bath him, letting him know you are right there the whole time. Keep one hand on him in a reassuring manner, and be sure to shield his eyes and face from water running into it as this might be uncomfortable for baby. If you are sponge bathing your newborn, you can even do it in sections as he becomes dirty throughout the day. Have twins? We also have a section on newborn girls!