Dr. David Fay, assistant professor of family medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, shares these tips:
On breathing . . .
"Until about 6 months of age, babies breathe almost exclusively through the nose," says Dr. Fay. "If the baby develops some nasal congestion, medications are not usually helpful and can cause side effects like poor sleeping and irritability. Saline drops and gentle suction with a bulb syringe can help ease the congestion and allow the baby to breathe a bit more easily."
On nail trimming . . .
"Be very careful when trimming nails not to cut nails shorter than the end of the finger, and never trim the nails by tearing or pulling them, which can lead to infection," says Dr. Fay.
On umbilical cord care . . .
"Occasionally the top of the front of the diaper can irritate the area of the umbilical cord stump," says Dr. Fay. "To avoid this, purchase diapers of the appropriate size, and, if necessary, fold down the front of the diaper to keep it from rubbing the umbilical area until the cord stump falls off."
On first shoes...
"Shoes are not necessary until the baby begins to walk," says Dr. Fay. "While they may be an adorable accessory, shoes do not contribute to the development of the feet."
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