Tips and information

• Wipe the baby dry and clean and delay the first bath for at least 24 hours
• Keep the baby warm with one or two layers of clothes more than adults and keep the head covered with a hat
• Have the baby tested for eye and hearing problems and for jaundice
• Keep the umbilical cord dry and, not applying anything on it, such as ointment
• Keep the baby and the mother together in the same room and allow the baby to feed on demand
• When the baby is small, keep the baby in skin-to skin contact as much as possible every day
• Wash hands with soap and water before handling the baby
• Know the danger signs and where to seek care, such as if the baby is not feeding well, has fast breathing or a high temperature
• If you need help with breastfeeding, ask others for advice, such as asking a trained health worker or other experienced women
• Feed a baby only with breast milk for the first six months
• Give the baby no fluids other than breast milk
• Give small amounts of easy to digest food at 6 months and continue to breastfeed up to 2 years of age or beyond
• Give a variety of foods that need chewing as the infant gets older daily, or as often as possible (such as meat, poultry, fish, fruit and vegetables or eggs)
• Give food to infants directly using a spoon and feed slowly and patiently
• Encourage children to eat but do not force them
• Talk to children while they eat, with eye to eye contact
• Help children to learn to feed themselves
• Have good quality sleep in a quiet environment:  14 – 17 hours (infants up to 3 months), 12 – 16 hours (infants 4 – 11 months), 11 – 14 hours (12 – 2 years of age), 10 – 13 hours (children beyond 2 years) 
• Place a baby on their back to sleep and make sure they can breathe easily
• Know that a baby should sleep on this back during the first year
• Place a baby under a bednet to sleep in places where malaria is present
• Understand that this will protect against mosquito bites, which pass on the disease
• Register the birth of a child with the appropriate service
• Follow the advice of a health worker after a baby is born
• Register a child for health services
• Find out from a health worker when immunizations are due
• Ask a health worker about any supplements children might need to stay healthy
• Ask a health worker how to avoid infectious diseases, such as HIV, malaria and TB if there is a risk in the area
• Contact a health worker as soon as possible if worried about a child’s health or development
• Ask about support for children who have a disability or who have special needs
• See a health worker as soon as possible if a child has any danger signs such as not eating or drinking enough, or they are less active than usual