Bathing Your Baby

• For the first few weeks, stick to sponge baths until the umbilical cord stump falls off and heals completely.

• Use lukewarm water and a soft cloth — no need for daily baths unless it’s poopocalypse.

• A few drops of baby-safe soap is enough. Less is more.

• Always support the head and neck. A non-slip baby tub or sponge pad helps!

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Local tip:

In Malaysia, many grandmothers recommend adding daun sireh (betel leaves) or kunyit (turmeric) to baby bath water for healing. While it's a lovely tradition, check with your doctor before using herbs on baby’s skin.

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Umbilical Cord Care

• Keep it clean and dry. Do not cover with the diaper — fold the top of the diaper down to avoid irritation.

• Don’t pull the stump — let it fall off naturally (usually within 1–3 weeks).

• If there’s foul smell, redness, or pus, call the doctor. Infection isn’t part of the cuteness.

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Skin Care for Sensitive Babies

• Newborn skin is delicate. Expect peeling in the first week — totally normal!

• Use fragrance-free, hypoallergenic moisturisers if needed.

• Avoid powder (yes, even that iconic baby powder). It can irritate lungs and skin.

• For rashes: Check for irritants (like soaps or fabrics) and use barrier creams for diaper rash.

 

Diapering 101

• Expect 8–12 diaper changes a day. Yes, really.

• Clean front to back, especially for baby girls, to prevent infections.

• For baby boys: Watch out when changing — that surprise pee fountain is real.

• Use warm water or gentle wipes, and always pat dry. No vigorous scrubbing required (you’re not cleaning a wok).

 

Bonus: Traditional Practices (Modern Take)

• Minyak telon or herbal oils: Some parents swear by it for gas and warmth. Use a tiny amount and patch-test first.

• Bedak sejuk (cooling powder): Traditional but not always safe for babies’ lungs — better for toddlers or adult nostalgia.

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Helpful Products to Consider:

• A changing mat (easy to wipe!)

• Mild, pH-balanced soap and shampoo

• Barrier cream for rash prevention

• Cotton swabs or pads (for wiping around eyes, nose folds, neck creases)

• Gentle baby lotion (optional)

 

Final Word:

You don’t need a shelf full of products or a spa setup. You just need clean hands, warm water, and a calm approach. Trust yourself — and when in doubt, remember: if you’re worried enough to Google “how to clean baby neck folds,” you’re already doing great.

Newborn Sleep: AKA “What is Night?”

0–3 months:

• Newborns sleep a lot — 14 to 17 hours a day, in short, irregular bursts.

• They don’t know day from night (like a tiny clubber who naps all day and parties at 2am).

• Focus on safe sleep: baby on their back, on a firm mattress, in a crib or cot, no pillows or soft toys.

 

Tip: Keep nights dark and quiet, and daytimes bright and active to help regulate their internal clock (eventually).

 

Building a Routine: Ish

​3–6 months:

• Babies start showing signs of a pattern (hallelujah!).

• Start creating predictable routines — bath, feed, cuddle, bed. Simple, calm, repeat.

• Expect 2–3 naps a day and a longer stretch of sleep at night (if you’re lucky).

 

Routine ≠ schedule — it’s more about what comes next than what time it is.

 

The 4-Month Sleep Regression

Yes, it’s real. No, you didn’t break your baby. Around 4 months, many babies start waking more, fussing at bedtime, and napping like they’re on strike.

Why? Their sleep cycles mature — and now they’re waking between cycles like adults do. But unlike you, they don’t know how to get back to sleep yet.

 

Survival tips:

• Keep the routine consistent

• Offer comfort without overdoing it

• It’s a phase (say it with me: it’s a phase!)

 

6–12 Months: Hello, Baby Bedtime!

• You can aim for a more consistent bedtime now — around 7–8pm works well.

• Baby might sleep 10–12 hours overnight (with or without waking), plus 2–3 naps.

• Separation anxiety can kick in, so gentle reassurance is key.

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Wind-down tips:

• Quiet time an hour before bed

• Feed, change, story/sing, cuddle

• Try not to create a “must-rock-for-45-minutes” bedtime trap — future-you will thank you.

 

Sleep Myths to Ignore:

❌ “Don’t pick up the baby or you’ll spoil them.”
✅ Babies can’t manipulate — they just need connection.

❌ “Put cereal in the bottle to make them sleep.”
✅ Not recommended. It can cause choking and doesn’t help sleep.

❌ “You must sleep train or else…”
✅ There are many ways to help baby sleep — do what works for your family (even if it’s “winging it nightly”).

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Safe Sleep Basics (Always!)

• Baby sleeps on their back, in their own cot or bassinet

• No pillows, bumpers, blankets, or toys

• Room-share (but not bed-share) is safest in the first 6 months

• Use a fan or air circulation to reduce risk of SIDS

• Mattress should be firm and flat, fitted sheet only

 

Common Sleep Tools That Can Help:

• White noise machines

• Swaddles (for 0–3 months only — stop when they start rolling)

• Sleep sacks for 4+ months

• A comfort object (soft cloth, small blanket — but only after 12 months)

 

Final Word:

You’ll read a thousand opinions on baby sleep. But here’s the truth: every baby is different, and so is every family. Some sleep through the night at 6 weeks (we don’t talk about those unicorns), others take months (or years). What matters most? That you’re meeting their needs and getting help when you need rest too.

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You’re doing amazing, even if your eyebags say otherwise.

Why Babies Cry

Here are the usual suspects:

• Hunger (again?? Yes, again.)

• Wet or dirty diaper

• Sleepiness or overtiredness (babies are terrible at relaxing)

• Gas, wind, or the infamous colic

• Overstimulation (too many lights, sounds, visitors, or TikToks)

• Wanting to be held

• Literally no reason at all. Just vibes.

 

And no, crying doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent. It means your baby is a baby.

 

How to Soothe a Crying Baby

Here’s a parenting truth bomb - Not everything will work every time.

 

But here are your best tools:

• Feed or burp - Even if they just ate 20 minutes ago — newborns are snackers.

• Hold or babywear - Skin-to-skin contact, swaying, or just letting them feel your heartbeat can do wonders.

• Movement - Rocking, swaying, stroller rides, or “doing the dad bounce” while pacing the hallway.

• White noise - Vacuum, fan, womb sounds, or YouTube’s finest 10-hour ocean loop.

• Swaddle - Makes them feel safe and contained — like the good ol’ days in the womb. 6. Bath time

• Warm water = magic. Sometimes.

• Change the environment

 

Dim the lights. Lower the volume. Step outside. Babies can get overstimulated too.

 

When It’s Not Just Normal Crying

If your baby cries inconsolably for hours every day, especially in the evenings, it might be colic — which is super common (and super frustrating). It usually eases by 3–4 months, but during that time… whew.

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Also watch for:

• Fever

• Vomiting

• Rashes

• Crying that sounds different (shrill, high-pitched, or weak)

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When in doubt — always call your paediatrician. That’s what they’re there for.

 

Real Talk: If You’re Feeling Touched Out or Overwhelmed

Babies can’t help crying — but you’re allowed to step away for a minute.

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If you’ve checked all the basics and nothing is working:

• Put the baby down in a safe space (like the crib)

• Walk away

• Breathe. Regroup. Cry if you need to.

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A calm parent is more helpful than a burnt-out one.

You’re not failing. You’re adjusting.
And this won’t last forever — even if it feels like it already has.

Real baby development doesn’t follow a neat schedule.
Some babies roll early and skip crawling.
Some babble before they sit.
Some stare into space like tiny philosophers before suddenly launching into action.

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Here’s what’s generally happening in the first year:

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0–3 Months

• Lifting head briefly during tummy time

• Focusing on faces (especially yours!)

• Responding to sounds and turning toward voices

• Making eye contact, cooing, and flashing that first tiny smile

 

4–6 Months

• Rolling from tummy to back (or vice versa… maybe)

• Grabbing objects (and immediately putting them in their mouth)

• Laughing, gurgling, and testing out “baby opera” at 3am

• Pushing up on arms during tummy time

 

7–9 Months

• Sitting up (with or without the wobbles)

• Starting to crawl, scoot, or do weird worm movements

• Babbling more (“ba ba ba” and “da da da” on repeat)

• Starting to understand object permanence (aka the “WHERE DID YOU GO??” panic)

 

10–12 Months

• Pulling up to stand

• Cruising along furniture

• Saying simple words (“mama,” “ball,” “uh-oh”)

• Pointing, waving, clapping — cue proud parent moment

• Developing opinions and letting you know it

 

“Is This Normal?”

Short answer: Probably.
Long answer: Every baby is different.

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Some are early movers. Some are late bloomers. Some want to chew on books. Some want to eat their socks. All of it falls within the wide range of “normal.”

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The goal isn’t to hit every milestone on time — it’s to notice your baby learning, exploring, and connecting more over time.

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When to Check With Your Doctor

No panic — but if you notice things like:

• No smiling or eye contact by 3 months

• No babbling or interest in sounds by 6 months

• Very floppy or very stiff body movement

• Not rolling, sitting, or trying to move by 9–10 months

• Constant staring into the void (without responding to your voice or face)

 

...it's okay to ask your paediatrician. Not because something is wrong — but because early support helps. And peace of mind? Worth it.

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Final Word

Your baby isn’t behind. They’re just on their timeline.

No pressure, no comparisons — just real talk about how babies grow in their own weird, wonderful way.

Celebrate the progress. Laugh through the weird phases. And when in doubt, trust that your baby is learning more than you can see — even while licking the floor.

Everyday Home Safety

A baby’s job is to explore. Your job is to make sure they don’t do it like a stunt double.

 

Here’s what to babyproof first:

• Rolling hazards: Never leave baby on beds, sofas, or changing tables unattended. They will roll when you least expect it.

• Choking dangers: Coins, buttons, beads, and tiny LEGO bits = no-go zone.

• Cords and wires: Out of sight, out of chew-range.

• Hot stuff: Keep baby away from hot drinks, irons, water bottles, and “just one second” scenarios.

• Crib safety: Firm mattress, no pillows, no stuffed animals. Sorry, Pinterest.

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If it fits through a toilet roll, it’s a choking hazard. 

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First Aid Basics (for the non-medical parent)

You don’t need a medical degree — just some prep, calm-ish vibes, and a solid first aid kit.

 

What You Should Know:

• Choking: Know how to do infant back blows and chest thrusts

• Fever: Anything above 38°C = monitor, manage, or call the doc

• Burns: Cool under running water (not ice!), cover with clean cloth

• Cuts & scrapes: Clean gently, apply pressure if bleeding

• Falls: Observe for signs of concussion or abnormal behaviour

• CPR: Take a baby-specific CPR course — it’s worth it

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Screenshot this. Tape it to your fridge. Shout it at your partner in a crisis.

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Build Your Baby First Aid Kit

Keep one at home and one in your diaper bag. Include:

• Digital thermometer

• Baby-safe paracetamol

• Plasters, gauze, antiseptic wipes

• Nasal aspirator (for baby booger emergencies)

• Baby nail clippers (because those claws are deadly)

• Oral rehydration salts (for diarrhoea days)

 

Optional but helpful:

• Teething gel

• Instant ice pack

• Emergency contact list (doctor, clinic, poison control)

 

When to Call the Doctor

Don’t second-guess when it comes to:

• Breathing difficulties

• High-pitched or unusual crying

• Seizures

• Vomiting green

• Unresponsiveness

• You just know something’s not right

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Trust your gut — it’s sharper than Google at 2am.

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Final Word

You won’t catch every fall. You won’t babyproof the world. And that’s okay.

 

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s being prepared — and knowing when to breathe, when to act, and when to ask for help.Now go on, parent like the low-key superhero you are. 
(Just keep the Panadol and plasters nearby.)

When to Call the Doctor (For Real):

If your baby is showing any of the following, call your doc:

• Fever over 38°C (under 3 months) or 39°C (3–6 months)

• Breathing problems — wheezing, gasping, blue lips, or sucking in at the ribs

• Hard to wake, floppy, unusually sleepy, or just “not themselves”

• Inconsolable crying — the kind where nothing calms them and you’re both in tears

• Less than 4 wet nappies in 24 hours (hello dehydration!)

• Diarrhoea or vomiting that keeps going

• Seizures or sudden stiffening

• Rash that doesn’t fade when you press it

• Falls from any height with strange behaviour after

• Not feeding at all — bottle, breast, or spoon rejection with zero interest

 

Not Sure?

Use the “You Know That Look” Rule - every parent gets that gut-feeling moment — the "something’s off" vibe. Even if it’s not on the checklist above, trust it.

 

You’re not being paranoid. You’re being a parent who gives a damn. That’s different.

 

 

Your Sanity Checklist:

Save these in your phone and stick them on your fridge if needed:

• Paediatrician or Family Doctor

• Nearest 24/7 Clinic or Hospital (with an actual parking spot please)

• KKM Healthline / Emergency numbers

• Poison Control (because your baby will lick something suspicious)

 

Also handy: a folder with your baby’s medical records and vaccination info/baby book.
Don’t rely on memory. You’re tired. You once put your keys in the fridge. It’s okay.

 

Final Word:

You won’t always know. You won’t always be calm. But that doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It means you care, deeply — and sometimes, that means asking for help before things escalate.

 

You don’t have to be a doctor. You just have to be a parent who calls one when it matters.

 

And hey — if everything turns out fine? That’s not a waste of a phone call.
That’s peace of mind. And in parenting? That’s gold.