Taking care of your baby in the first days of life can be confusing, especially for first-time mothers. Don't worry! Just observe your baby and you will quickly grasp his or her needs and desires. Below are instructions from Dr. Tran Lien Anh, Head of the Department of Neonatology at Vinmec Times City International General Hospital, on basic knowledge and skills so that mothers can take care of their babies properly, as well as recognize diseases in newborns, helping your baby have a perfect start!

Chickenpox is an acute infectious disease caused by the Varicella Zoster virus. Chickenpox in infants is especially dangerous because children have poor resistance, the disease spreads quickly and can easily cause dangerous complications.

Retinopathy of prematurity is a common condition, especially in babies born before 33 weeks of gestation. This is because the retina of the eye normally forms between the 16th and 40th weeks of pregnancy.

Acute respiratory failure in newborns is a relatively dangerous condition that can even lead to death. Therefore, parents should know about this syndrome to have the most perfect way to care for their children, avoiding unwanted dangers that may occur.

Retinopathy of prematurity is a potentially blinding eye disorder that occurs primarily in infants weighing less than 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) or who are born before 31 weeks of gestation. The smaller the baby, the more likely it is to develop retinopathy. This disorder is one of the most common causes of vision loss and visual impairment in children.

Sunbathing for newborns to help their bodies synthesize vitamin D and prevent rickets is always believed by many parents. However, there is still a belief that sunbathing in the morning can also cure jaundice.

Taking blood from the heel and screening newborns within the first 48 hours after birth will help detect birth defects early, preventing serious consequences of birth defects for children.

Newborn screening aims to proactively detect, intervene and treat early diseases, metabolic and genetic disorders during the fetal and neonatal stages. The benefits of newborn screening are to help children develop normally and reduce the number of people with disabilities and intellectual disabilities.

G6PD deficiency is very common, and children with G6PD deficiency can still develop normally if properly cared for. However, if not detected and treated promptly, children can suffer from serious sequelae, even cerebral palsy.

Premature babies born before 37 weeks of gestation are at risk for retinopathy of prematurity. Retinopathy of prematurity can be prevented and treated, but if premature babies’ eyes are not properly cared for, they are at risk of vision loss or permanent blindness.

Sunbathing helps newborns absorb sunlight, produce enough vitamin D that the body needs, limit rickets, and treat neonatal jaundice. 7-10 days after birth is the ideal time for mothers to start gradually introducing their babies to sunlight.