Leaving the Maternity Ward: Some Tips for Taking Care of Your Baby

Leaving the maternity ward is always an emotional moment for the mother, who is happy to return home with her baby. However, it can also be a source of anxiety for parents. They often leave the hospital or clinic with a care kit for the child. It is important to put together a toiletry kit to take care of your child from head to toe.

Bath time and diaper changes: moments to share

The bath is usually given in the morning, after leaving the maternity ward. After a night’s sleep and a feeding or bottle, the bath allows you to wash your baby before putting them back down for their morning nap. Babies don’t always enjoy being undressed or even soaped up with a bath gel. Once in the water, however, they relax. The bath should only last a few minutes.

Diaper changes should be done before every meal and whenever necessary. After leaving the maternity ward, babies may have liquid stools, which can be very irritating. The skin must be cleaned thoroughly to avoid diaper rash.

Daily care

Saline solution is the only product needed for cleaning the face, which should be done once a day. After leaving the maternity ward, it is best to use single-dose vials of saline. A small amount can be poured into the nose. If there are impurities, simply roll two small pieces of cotton soaked in saline and gently insert them into each nostril.

Baby’s eyes can sometimes be affected by conjunctivitis. To clean them, wipe from the inner to the outer corner of the eye with a cotton pad soaked in saline solution. Use a new cotton pad for the other eye.

For the ears, external cleaning is enough, only around the outer ear. The use of cotton swabs is strongly discouraged: they push the earwax further into the ear canal. Baby safety cotton swabs are not necessary after leaving the maternity ward. Nails do not need to be cut before three weeks.

The umbilical cord needs care during the first 15 days after birth. The end of the cord dries up and falls off on its own. It should be disinfected every day. Some maternity wards recommend covering it with a compress. Others prefer using a drying treatment until it falls off naturally. Under no circumstances should you remove it yourself. However, if healing seems slow or the navel is oozing, it is best to consult a doctor.

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