Health Tips for Your Baby

How to take care of minor problems.

CARE OF UMBILICAL CORD:

The end of the cord will fall off in a couple of weeks after birth.

Until it falls off, keep it clean and dry.

Keep diaper below cord so that the cord stays dry.

Dab with alcohol on a cotton swab 1–2 times each day.

Call your baby’s health care giver if it looks red, irritated, bleeds or oozes, or

has a bad odor.

CARE OF CIRCUMCISION:

A circumcision should heal in 7–10 days.

If the tip of the penis is irritated by the diaper, put a little bit of petroleum jelly

on the irritated area each time you change the diaper.

PREVENT DIAPER RASH:

Change diapers often.

Wash baby’s bottom with soap and warm water at each change.

Use zinc oxide paste or diaper rash cream on irritated areas.

TREAT DIAPER RASH:

Leave baby’s diaper area uncovered for a few hours each day. (Place several

folded cloth diapers under baby.)

Use zinc oxide or diaper rash cream on irritated areas after washing.