Handle with Care（2）
Long Nails
Some babies are born ready for their first manicure. The safest thing to use is an emery board or special infant nail clippers. “Never use your own cuticle scissors or adult nail clippers,” Thompson says. “Newborns’ nails are tissue-paper thin, and it’s easy to get some of their skin caught if you’re using a product that’s really made for bigger fingers.”
Quick Tips: File the nails down to the fingertips, rounding any sharp edges. Don’t try to peel or bite your child’s nails. “The risk is that you’ll tear off more than you intended, causing soreness and possible infection,” Thompson says. Instead, cut or file her nails when your baby is sleeping and won’t know what’s happening. Plan to trim the nails about once a week.
Circumcision Wound
Different circumcisions require different care. The most common techniques involve using either a Plastibell or a Gomco clamp. “Talk to the person who did the circumcision to find out how to treat it,” Thompson says.
Quick Tips: If your baby had a Plastibell circumcision, you’ll notice a plastic ring around the head of his penis. Leave it alone. The ring will fall off in a week to 10 days. If there’s no ring, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment with each diaper change for the first 24 to 48 hours to protect the penis and decrease friction. The head of the penis may remain red and swollen for four to five days. Around day three, a yellowish coating may form, which is normal. Contact your doctor if you notice bleeding or signs of infection (an increase in redness, swelling, warmth, or pus).
How to Take a Rectal Temperature
Like it or not, rectal thermometers are the gold standard for infants under 1 year. Ear thermometers, pacifier thermometers, forehead strips, and even underarm thermometers are simply not as accurate — temperature readings may vary by 0.5 to 1.0 degree, and that difference matters. “Fever in an infant can be a true emergency,” says Dr. Stevens. “You want to be very precise.”
Taking a rectal temp may seem awkward, but it’s not difficult. “Ask your pediatrician to show you how,” Dr. Jana advises. “It’s better to ask now than when you’re panicked because your child’s very hot and throwing up.” Today’s digital thermometers feature soft, flexible tips and display the results in seconds. Simply lubricate the tip with petroleum jelly or a water-soluble lubricant and insert it a half inch to an inch. (Diaper-changing position is ideal.) Hold the thermometer in place by squeezing your baby’s butt cheeks together until the temperature registers. Call your physician if the temperature is over 100.4 degrees F. or under 97.5 degrees F.
Mom-to-Mom Tips
I wish I’d known…
…that I’d need to change my nail-clipping technique as Ryan grew. When he was a newborn, my husband helped me cut his nails. Now that Ryan is older, he’s stronger and less cooperative, so I clip his nails when he’s sitting in the high chair. I hold one hand down on the tray and trim away.
Kelly James-Enger; Downers Grove, Illinois
…to have a towel ready when you take a rectal temp. Poop can fly everywhere!
Kelly Oechsner; Mayville, Wisconsin
…how to use a bulb syringe all by myself. When my older kids were little, I needed somebody to hold their hands and arms. Now I can do it like a champ. I grab the baby’s hands with one hand, stabilize her head with my forearm, and suction with my other hand.