Dr. Komarovsky about newborns

Respected by both parents and medical professionals for his well-known pediatrician advice on newborn care is Dr. Yevgeny Komarovsky. He is a reliable resource for learning how to take the best possible care of a newborn due to his honest approach and concise explanations. In this post, we explore Dr. Komarovsky’s observations and suggestions for first-time parents, emphasizing the crucial elements of newborn care.

Dr. Komarovsky provides helpful guidance on a range of topics, including understanding common health concerns and managing sleep patterns, to help make parenting easier. His focus on developing a healthy atmosphere and encouraging good habits can help parents during their child’s formative years. Parents can feel more knowledgeable and confident as they navigate the exciting journey of raising a newborn by paying attention to his professional advice.

Topic	Description
Feeding	Dr. Komarovsky emphasizes the importance of proper feeding schedules for newborns. He advises parents to follow a balanced diet and ensure the baby gets enough nourishment.
Sleep	He discusses the significance of creating a consistent sleep routine. Newborns should have a regular sleep pattern to support their growth and development.
Health Checkups	Dr. Komarovsky highlights the need for regular health checkups to monitor the baby"s development and address any concerns promptly.
Bonding	He stresses the importance of bonding with the baby through interaction and physical contact to foster emotional security and attachment.

About babies

In the medical field, a newborn is regarded as a child for the first 28 days after the umbilical cord is severed. For parents, these are the most crucial four weeks. Newborns require extra consideration and care.

Evgeny Komarovsky highlights that the newborn’s environment after being taken from the maternity hospital will have a significant impact on how healthy he is going to be in the future.

A person is delicate and fragile at birth, but not to the point where you have to immediately put him in a "greenhouse" environment. When a child is between four and five years old, parents often complain to the pediatrician that their child is constantly sick and almost never leaves the hospital. These parents often make the following mistakes: they fail to dress warmly, shield their child from the wind, and feed their child more satisfyingly.

Naturally, parents get ready for the baby’s arrival in advance. They read a lot about caring for newborns and heed the advice of "experienced" people. In addition, they have only a hazy understanding of the baby’s desires and fears, and they are unable to even roughly imagine what the infant, who is only a few days old, is capable of.

All babies are, of course, very unique. Their levels of maturity and health are different. Babies born early require special care. We will discuss fully term, full-term babies today. The number of points the baby scored at birth on the Apgar scale will be indicated on the medical discharge that all mothers receive.

Determining the precise meaning concealed by these points is a relatively simple task. A physician going by the surname Apgar suggested creating a unique scale to evaluate infant health. This technique assesses multiple factors, including respiration, heart rate, skin tone, muscle tone, and reflexes. Doctors give the infant a point value between 0 and 2 for each.

A sum is the outcome, and it is included in the certificate. Generally, a baby that scores between 8 and 10 on the Apgar scale is considered healthy.

After leaving the maternity hospital, few parents manage to persuade incomprehensible numbers of people on an incomprehensible scale; instead, they start examining the baby right away. Here, flaws and peculiarities start to come to light (with the assistance of grandparents and other relatives). The baby is crying too loudly or too softly, his eyes are squinting (looking in different directions), he is too red (pale), and his movements are, in the grandmother’s words, "too nervous and kind of twitchy."

Dr. Komarovsky strongly advises against making such diagnoses, citing the child’s discharge home as proof that he is unquestionably free of serious illnesses. Should the infant exhibit any pathologies, the young mother would have to relocate with him from the maternity hospital ward to the children’s hospital neonatal ward. Everything will be alright if they let him leave.

What the baby feels?

You must be aware of certain physiological aspects of the neonatal stage in order to accurately imagine how the newborn feels. Since he is still too young to fully appreciate them, you shouldn’t show him the shiny toys that friends and family gave him as part of their farewell presents. Due to inadequate formation of the optic nerve and eye muscles, the baby’s vision is still impaired in the early days. He can, however, tell the difference between light and dark. It transpires that he sees both day and night, but his father and grandmother do not.

According to Komarovsky, if the infant appears to be squinting or looking in different directions, this is a normal physiological phenomenon. A short while later, he will be able to focus his gaze, and everything will be OK.

Perfectly hears the newborn. Hearing is always a little bit less than average at birth, but by the third day, the auditory organ is already fully filled with air, allowing the baby to hear everything that adults can. The child does not demonstrate this ability in any way since he is unsure of the precise goal. The baby will start if the sound is sharp and extremely loud. And while everything is going on.

In the early stages of life, the infant is unable to discriminate between scents. On the other hand, if it smells strongly, he will notice and respond with a shift in expression. It is not advised for nursing moms to wear strong, concentrated perfumes because of this. The child has perfect taste discrimination; sweets calm him, while bitters make him feel disgusted.

Physiological features

Because of the intense blood supply, the crumbs’ skin is red. But because the child’s sweat glands are still developing, overheating them poses a serious risk. Komarovsky highlights the connection between the skin’s active blood supply and its remarkable healing capacity. Infants heal from scratches and wounds much more quickly than adults do.

Parents are frequently alarmed to learn that their small infant has stronger muscles. According to Evgeny Komarovsky, this is typical. Underdevelopment of these same muscles is indicated by tone, and this is also quite normal for newborns.

Similar to adults, the newborn has pulmonary breathing from the moment of his first breath in the delivery room.

Newborns are unique in that their trachea and nasal passages are relatively narrow, and their bodies actively pump blood into their mucous membranes, making them extremely vulnerable to injury. Overheating the nursery will cause them to dry out quickly and cause issues with runny noses and coughs.

When a newborn "grunts" through his nose while breathing, parents frequently wonder what to do. According to Evgeny Komarovsky, this reoccurs due to the constricted airways, where the mucus generated to loosen just becomes lodged and builds up.

A newborn’s heart is arguably the strongest and most productive organ. It begins to function at maximum capacity in the first moments of life. Compared to adult hearts, the heart beats more frequently. Throughout the neonatal stage, it contracts 110–150 times per minute on average. Since the heart beats more quickly in response to external stimuli like loud noises, bright lights, and breezes, this indicator is not stable.

The baby’s digestive system grows at an astonishing rate because they can consume an increasing amount of formula or mother’s milk every week. After birth, the gastrointestinal tract is sterile for a few hours before bacteria, which aid in digestion, start to grow in the intestines. Feces undergo color changes, going from black (meconium) to brown and green to light yellowish. The consistency starts to change on the fifth or sixth day; the feces get mushy and smell sour.

The nervous system that will experience the biggest changes in a person’s early weeks of life is the baby’s, and it is flawed. For example, tremors, or shaking of the limbs, may be the most common occurrence in a newborn but not in an adult.

There are some reflexes that are unique to newborns. They will gradually fade as the child gets older and eventually vanish entirely. Komarovskaya suggests doing your own research to reassure parents that their child is "normal." Fit infants are capable of the following:

• Grab. If you bring your finger to the palm of a newborn, he will definitely grab it tightly.
• "Hug". If you hit the changing table on which the baby is lying with your palm (or lightly tap on the hips and buttocks of the child), then first he will arch upward, spread his arms, and then return them to the position at the chest.
• "Crawl". Of course, newborns do not know how to crawl in the full sense of the word. If you put a child on his tummy, he will start to push off with his legs, as if trying to crawl.
• "Walk". If you take the baby under the armpits and rest his legs on a hard surface, he will definitely push them off. If you tilt him forward a little, he will begin to make movements that a person makes when walking.

An incredible ability to quickly adjust to changing environmental conditions is bestowed upon a child from birth. This innate ability will vanish if parents instantly build a "greenhouse" at home for him—one that is stuffy and hot, without any drafts, double-sanitized, and cleaned with antiseptics. Because of this, the child’s loving parents are compelled to acknowledge that their immune system is compromised. Komarovsky highlights that immunity is developed during the first few weeks of life as well, and that parents should try to avoid interfering.

Dr. Komarovsky offers priceless insights into the upbringing and development of infants, emphasizing useful guidance to assist expectant parents in navigating the early years of their child’s life. His advice addresses important subjects like feeding, sleeping habits, and health issues, providing a simple and approachable method for guaranteeing the welfare of the infant and the parents. Parents can confidently support their newborn’s growth and create a nurturing environment during these critical early months by adhering to Dr. Komarovsky’s recommendations.

What does he want?

A baby can tell the difference between good and bad instantly, and he will cry out to let you know. A child may cry for a variety of reasons, such as hunger, pain, cold, heat, discomfort, or wet diapers.

Parents will eventually learn to differentiate between different demands based on the cry’s characteristics. You must use the exclusionary method to respond to the cry in the interim. Check the diaper and change it if needed if he cries. Take his temperature and check for bloating in the stomach if he doesn’t settle down. Offer water if everything is as it should be.

And feed them only as a last resort. Some parents respond to their newborn’s cries by giving her breast milk, thinking the baby is always hungry. According to Evgeny Komarovsky, overfeeding is a mistake that will cost too much in the long run because it causes a lot of childhood illnesses.

Basic principles of care according to Komarovsky

The child’s room should not have air temperatures higher than 18 to 20 degrees. 50–70% humidity in the air.

Nothing that gathers a lot of dust should be in the space, such as big plush toys or carpets with lengthy piles. Daily wet cleaning is recommended, but detergents shouldn’t be added to the water.

Bedding and clothing for newborns should be made of natural materials without the use of textile dyes. They need to be washed with a unique baby powder that has a hypoallergenic composition. Always rinse them off after washing.

The child shouldn’t be wrapped up. He ought to dress like an adult in terms of quantity.

A pillow is not necessary for the child. Still, it is imperative to have a firm orthopedic mattress that doesn’t sink in.

Every day bathing should be done. It is preferable to begin the procedures following the healing of the umbilical wound. To prevent diaper rash on the skin, the child can first be cleaned with wet sanitary wipes free of perfume.

Feeding can be done on demand or by establishing an hourly schedule. One "golden mean" that Evgeny Komarovsky highly suggests is mixed feeding.

The child should be the one to indicate when it’s time to eat, but the breaks between meals should be at least 2.5–3 hours. It is not advisable to overfeed your infant because this can cause intestinal colic, also known as "gas."

This type of feeding will enable the baby to swiftly transition into a well-established feeding schedule and will give the mother peace of mind that the child is receiving enough nutrition.

You shouldn’t stop natural feeding even if there isn’t much breast milk. There are numerous ways to encourage lactation.

Carefully select a milk formula if the baby isn’t able to take breast milk for whatever reason. It needs to be modified, ideally in a hypoallergenic way. Give the baby the formula from a bottle with a small hole so that he makes an effort to suck out the food in order to prevent him from overeating, which is a fairly common occurrence for babies fed formula.

Everyday walks should be required. Naturally, you should accept this even if the baby is ill, as long as they are not feverish.

A baby can snooze for up to 22 hours every day. In order to facilitate the child’s eventual transition to the daily schedule, try to establish a bedtime routine as early as possible. A newborn has up to two feedings during the night. After feeding, he needs to be returned to the crib right away. You should avoid using bright lights during feedings because the baby should know instinctively that it is nighttime.

A newborn requires daily massage and gymnastics. The foundation of every exercise should be gentle touches, patting, and stroking. Make sure the child is on his stomach, massaging it clockwise.

Till the umbilical wound heals completely, do not stop treating it. A newborn should have their ears cleaned, their nasal passages cleaned with cotton swabs, and their body washed every day. The baby’s nails can cause severe scratches because they grow quickly and are sharp. Use specific children’s scissors with blunt edges to trim them.

Possible problems

This process is not without issues, even if parents have set up everything properly and provided the best environment for the newborn’s healthy growth. Adults need to keep in mind that when an ambulance is required immediately, there are serious issues. Call "03" right away if the child is having trouble breathing, there are prolonged delays, or both. In the event that a newborn experiences convulsions, severe vomiting (which should not be confused with regurgitation), or a high temperature (above 38.0), parents should act exactly the same way.

If the child cries loudly and for an extended period of time, it could be a sign of intestinal distress, such as difficulty passing gas. Keep an eye on the kind and frequency of the stools. The most prevalent issue with newborns is skin "blooming." If the baby develops a rash or red cheeks, make sure you have arranged the baby’s living environment (microclimate, allergen-free, etc.) correctly. Observe what you feed your infant. It’s conceivable that the combination picked is inappropriate for him. Make sure you see a physician.

Make sure to contact a doctor at home to rule out conjunctivitis if the eyes frequently become inflamed and the eyelids swell. Dacryocystitis, or obstruction of the lacrimal and nasolacrimal canals, may be the cause of the issue. In this case, the doctor will demonstrate proper massage technique for you to help eliminate the issue.

For most parents, intestinal infant colic is a nightmare. Komarovsky cautions against inflating the issue to universal proportions and instead cautions against exaggerating it. Since the child’s digestive system is getting better, colic is entirely normal. Treating them is not necessary. Applying heat, giving the child a massage, and placing the child on the stomach are sufficient to improve their condition. Given that sucking motions soothe infants, pacifiers can be quite helpful for certain babies.

You can watch Dr. Komarovsky explain what colic is, why it occurs, and how to treat it in the video below.

If the child struggles to distinguish between day and night, Komarovsky suggests that you muster your resolve and force yourself to wake the child up more frequently for at least one day, keeping him awake until night. He also reminds the child to breathe clean, humid air and to sleep in a cool location.

Typically, tenacious dads and moms are able to handle the issue of "confused life" in a matter of days.

New parents can gain valuable insights into newborn care from Dr. Komarovsky. His focus on comprehending a baby’s needs rather than rigorously following medical advice can lessen the anxiety that frequently accompanies becoming a parent. Dr. Komarovsky encourages parents to create a nurturing environment that promotes their baby’s development by emphasizing common sense and practical advice.

His advice on things like feeding, sleeping habits, and emotional bonding emphasizes the value of being patient and paying attention. By following these guidelines, parents can help make a child’s early years more enjoyable and manageable. By offering comfort and useful solutions, Dr. Komarovsky’s approach helps families better manage the difficulties of caring for a newborn.

All things considered, Dr. Komarovsky’s recommendations are a useful tool for creating a safe and nurturing atmosphere for babies. Adopting his advice can result in a more confident and positive parenting experience, assisting families in giving their new addition the best start in life.

Video on the topic

Bathing babies – School of Dr. Komarovsky

Jaundice in newborns – Dr. Komarovsky

Your newborn – School of Dr. Komarovsky

Do children on breastfeeding need additional water? – Dr. Komarovsky

How to properly bathe a newborn? – Dr. Komarovsky

When can you bathe a child for the first time and in what? – Dr. Komarovsky

White line on the tongue of a baby after feeding – Dr. Komarovsky