Baby Care
Congratulations, Mom. Your baby is here! This can be a happy time, but it can also be confusing and overwhelming at times. This is especially true for new mothers. That’s why we’re here to support you! Below are some tips to help you care for your new baby.
Explore the Newborn Center
Babies seem so delicate and fragile. If you’re a new parent, you might need some practice before you feel comfortable handling them and understanding their daily routine.
Learn the basics of caring for your newborn through the KidsHealth Newborn Center. This gives you tips about childbirth, breastfeeding, bringing your baby home, changing a diaper, bonding with your baby and many other helpful topics! It’s a great resource, whether you’re a new parent or not.
Start breastfeeding
If you can, start nursing within an hour of your baby’s birth. Babies tend to be alert in the first few hours of life, so breastfeeding right away makes the most of this natural wakefulness. After this, newborns will sleep for most of the next 24 hours. At that point, it might be harder to get your baby to latch on.
Not able to breastfeed regularly? You can get a free breast pump through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program! If you’re having issues with breastfeeding, such as milk supply or sore nipples, may also offer free lactation consulting services.
You can also get a breast pump through Ameda Direct or Aeroflow at no cost to you! Call them for more information using the numbers below:
- Aeroflow: 1-844-867-9890
- Ameda Direct: 1-877-791-0064
Have other questions about how to properly breastfeed your newborn?
Join an online baby care class
The Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia has an online community called Pickles & Ice Cream Georgia. They host a free, 90-minute online baby care course where you can learn about baby health, diapering, playtime, and more. The course is open to anyone who has given birth within the past 6 months, and their support partners.
Learn about baby care, WIC and everything else you need to keep yourself and your baby happy and healthy. You can even earn up to $20 in gift cards for taking part in these classes! Check out upcoming Pickles & Ice Cream events to sign up and learn more.
Put your baby to sleep safely
Preparing for sleep safely can save your baby’s life. First, remove any toys or other objects in your baby’s crib. Then, place your baby in the crib, face up, on a firm surface. Make sure that they are alone in the crib at all times. Never sleep with your baby as you can roll over and harm your baby. Need help finding a crib? Call 2-1-1 for local resources.
To learn more about how to safely put your baby to sleep, check out these resources below:
Baby Care Resources
- Your Child’s First Checkup: 3-5 Days
- Your Newborn’s Growth
- Communication and Your Newborn
- Newborn Development
- Learning: Play and Your Newborn
- Childhood Immunizations
Have questions about how to care for your baby?
Call our Maternal Care Team at 1-833-230-2034 (TTY: 1-800-750-0750 or 711).
Have other questions?
Call Member Services at 1-855-202-0729 (TTY: 1-800-255-0056 or 711), Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.