Newborn Baby Tips
The first 1,000 days can shape a child’s future. We have one chance to get it right.
- English
- العربية
Health & Nutrition
Breastfeeding: the first and most precious gift
By starting to breastfeed within an hour of birth, a mother is gifting her child the first and most precious possible gift that significantly reduces the risk of infant death within the fragile first 28 days of life. Unfortunately, less than half of the world’s newborns benefit from the most impactful and cost-effective intervention for saving their lives: exclusive breastfeeding.
Watch these videos and parental masterclasses on breastfeeding that explain concepts, refute misconceptions and give tips on how to deal with the most common and major breastfeeding challenges faced by mothers and when to introduce solid food.
Breastfeeding Q&As
Pregnant Health
Father, grandfather or uncle: you have an important role!
If your wife, sister or daughter is pregnant and due soon, you have an important role to make sure these 3Ps have to be there to welcome the newborn:
- Place (hospital, healthcare unit...etc.)
- Person (doctor, nurse, breastfeeding consultant...etc.)
- Products (drugs, NICU, equipment to handle complications and care for premature newborns...etc.)
In the early days of birth, vaccinations are your big task!
Here are the 3 main vaccinations that have to be taken in the first week of life:
- Day 1: the first dose of Hepatitis B. Available in all hospitals and primary health care units and should be taken within the first 24 hours of life.
- Starting day 1, a baby can have the first doses of OPV and BCG which are available at the primary healthcare units.
- From day 3-7: When you go for the birth certificate and vaccination, the healthcare professional will take a blood samples from your baby’s heel; a routine procedure to check on his Thyroid gland function and development at this stage.
Download the full vaccination schedule in Egypt here
Skills Development
Did you know?
Within a few days, babies can start smiling when people smile at them.
- Provide ways for your baby to see, hear, move freely and touch you. You should see your baby’s arms and legs move in disconnected ways. Slowly your baby will learn how to control her movements.
- Look into your baby’s eyes and smile in response to his smiles. You should see your baby react positively to your facial expressions, movements and gestures.
- Gently soothe, stroke and hold your child. You will see your baby comforted, happy to be held and cuddled.
- Do skin to skin contact. Feeling, hearing and smelling your presence should provide your baby with a sense of calm and security.
- Gently change the sound of your voice. Make it slower/quicker, higher/lower, or quieter/louder. You should observe reactions from your baby’s face and body, and notice him interacting with you.
- Place your baby on her tummy and shake a rattle or bell in front of her. Slowly lift the rattle just a little and encourage her to lift her head and shoulders to watch it move. Doing so helps your baby follow the rattle with her eyes, and practice lifting her head and shoulders.
- Talk to your baby in soft tones and ‘baby talk’. Both the father, mother and other caregivers should communicate with the newborn. You will notice that she can hear and will soon start memorizing and copying your words.
Here are some ideas for making fun games