Caregivers

It is very important to control the temperature of the newborn baby. Cold hands and feets are characteristic of healthy babies; it does not mean that they feel cold.
The permanent proximity of the mother facilitates skin-to-skin contact, a situation favoring the maintenance of the baby's temperature.
It is recommended that bathing be delayed, if possible over 24 hours after birth, and that the environment where the newborn baby is placed be free of air currents.

When there is a medical indication to administer a human milk substitute for a specific situation, it must be prepared under safe conditions.
• Wash hands.
• Boil filtered water (after it begins to boil, wait 15 minutes), and then allow to cool to room temperature.
• Use the quantity of water corresponding to the quantity of feed desired; for every 30 ml of water add one level measure of milk powder.
• Shake the feeding bottle until the powder is totally dissolved.
• Milk should be prepared at the time of each feeding.

Skin irritations can be caused by prolonged contact with urine and feces. To avoid them, the diaper should be changed as often as needed. It is important to clean the baby with water and neutral soap after bowel movements, and to keep the diaper region dry.
• Change diaper frequently.
• Wash the region with neutral soap.
• Keep the skin clean and dry, especially in folds and grooves.
• After washing, dry the area well and powder with dry cornstarch in the affected region.

• Wash the infant’s clothes separately, rather than together with adult clothing.
• Use coconut oil soap or other neutral soap with less acid; do not use bleaches, powdered soaps, softeners with perfume, or bleach solutions (these products have chemicals that contact the baby’s skin, causing allergies).
• After washing, rinse thoroughly so that there is no residue from the cleaning agent on the fabric.
• Hang to dry in the sun (if possible) and iron (to eliminate microorganisms).

• Choose a location for the bath without drafts, during the warmest part of the day.
• Have all necessary items ready in advance and close at hand: towel, soap, clothes, diaper, blanket.
• Bathe daily or more than once a day, if necessary (if the newborn is restless, crying, hot, feverish...).
• Do not use alcohol in bath water; it dries the skin and irritates the mucous membranes. and it is dangerous.
• Do not use lotions, perfumes, talcum powder, or ointments.
• Dry skinfolds thoroughly.

• Remove excess feces with the disposable diaper.
• Take the baby to water for a cleaning, removing all feces, or use a cloth diaper moistened with lukewarm water to clean, avoiding friction. When cleaning infant girls, it is important to wipe from the vagina toward the anus rather than the reverse (to prevent urinary infection).
• Dry thoroughly and put on a clean diaper. Use cornstarch but avoid talcum powders, which can cause allergies
• Avoid the use of premoistened wipes, which can cause allergic reactions in the child.

To date, active COVID-19 (virus that can cause infection) has not been detected in the breastmilk of any mother with confirmed/suspected COVID-19. It appears unlikely, therefore, that COVID-19 would be transmitted through breastfeeding or by giving breastmilk that has been expressed by a mother who is confirmed/suspected to have COVID-19

Mothers with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 are advised to wear a medical mask, but even if this is not possible, breastfeeding should be continued.
It is important to replace medical masks as soon as they become damp and dispose of them immediately. Masks should not be reused or touched in the front but to remove it from behind.
It is important to follow other infection prevention measures, such as washing hands, cleaning surfaces, and covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing.