What you can do to help  Your baby may cope better with bathing if

 Let your baby have periods of undisturbed they are wrapped and placed gently into the
sleep. Try not to wake your baby if they warm water (swaddled bathing). Ask your
appear to be sleeping. baby’s nurse to show you what to do. You
 Protect your baby’s eyes from the light and try will be able to do your baby’s first bath as this
is a special occasion.
to avoid loud noise. Try to do cares and
interact with your baby during these awake Communicating with your baby Family and Infant
periods. Your baby is familiar with your voice. Talk softly Neurodevelopment
Positioning
Your baby’s movements are generally smooth.
before touching so that your baby knows you
are there. Start to touch by resting a still hand
Education
He/she can stretch arms and legs. He/she may before beginning any movement. Be prepared
still need some support keeping limbs close to to pace your interaction if baby shows signs of
the body and supported. discomfort or fatigue.
What you can do to help What you can do to help
 Your baby needs to have their hands close to  Allow your baby as much peace and quiet as
their face and their legs curled up – like they possible.
were in the womb.
 Talk to your baby when they are awake. You
 Move your baby slowly and avoid sudden may like to sing or read from a book to them.
movements.
 Keep still if your baby is looking at you as
 Your baby should be positioned on his/her
they may find it difficult to follow a moving
back when asleep in preparation for going
home unless their medical condition dictates
object.
otherwise. The nursing staff will explain if this  Be patient and watch your baby. Observe
is necessary. when they are calm and when they appear to
 Skin-to-skin contact has many benefits need rest. You will soon learn to recognise
including increasing quiet sleep and improving your baby’s individual cues. Don’t rely on the
sleep/wake cycle. monitors – learn to understand your baby!
Nappy changing/bathing Further Information
34-36 weeks gestation
Nappy changing and cares can be challenging For more information see the Bliss Baby Charity
for small babies. Your baby may be ready for website at: www.bliss.org.uk
their first bath.
Email support service: hello@bliss.org.uk
What you can do to help
 Try to avoid too much handling immediately www.enherts-tr.nhs.uk
before a feed as this can tire your baby and You can request this
Date of publication: 2012 information in a different
make feeding more difficult. format or another language.
Author: M. Garwood
 Move your baby gently and slowly and don’t lift Reference: Neo34-36 Version: 05 (Nov 2020)
their legs too high. Review Date: November 2023
© East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
 Feeding
Congratulations on the birth of your Your baby is 34 – 36 weeks gestation Your baby will often be waking up before a
baby. (4 – 6 weeks early) feed is due. Suck and swallowing will be
Having a baby in a neonatal unit can be At this age your baby’s senses are still coming co-ordinated. Your baby will probably
worrying but this leaflet will tell you a little immature. Care for your baby will be gentle. be able to feed from your breast or from a
about what to expect from your baby at this Your baby needs quiet and protection from bottle, but may still need some feeds through
age and importantly, how you can help their bright light because the senses are still a tube. He/she will be ready to suck a dummy
development. developing. during tube feeds. Hold your baby while they
are being tube-fed.
This leaflet is not designed to replace The neonatal unit staff will help you to care for
information you will get from your baby’s your baby. Your baby may not always be ready What you can do to help
doctors, nurses and therapists. If you have to be touched or handled, so ask the nurse  Begin collecting your breast milk as soon as
concerns or questions about your baby’s looking after your baby about their condition first. you can so that it is ready for your baby as
development, please talk to the neonatal Ask if you need help or you don’t understand soon as they are ready. Providing breast
staff. what is happening. milk is one of the best things you can do for
All babies are individuals and each one will Touching and holding your baby. Continue expressing if your
develop at a slightly different rate. Your baby is not able to take all feeds from the
Your baby’s movements will be quite smooth breast or bottle.
baby’s development will be affected by with few jerks and tremors. They will be able to
gestation at birth, how much they weigh and tuck in arms and legs. Movements may become  If your baby is bottle-fed keep them
by how well they are. Each baby’s genetic disorganised if they are upset. They may still wrapped in a light blanket. Shield your
make up will also play a part in how they find being undressed distressing but your baby baby’s eyes from bright lights and try to feed
develop and mature. will like to be held. in a calm, quiet environment.
In the womb the baby will experience a What you can do to help  When ‘winding’ your baby avoid excessive
variety of sensations – some pleasant, some patting on the back.
not so pleasant. The baby will move around  Speak softly to your baby before you touch
him/her.  Watch your baby’s cues whilst breast or
in the amniotic fluid and be able to get hands bottle feeding and give them time to
to mouth. They will hear their mother’s voice  Hold your baby still rather than rocking them. co-ordinate suck-swallow-breathe.
and other sounds from outside. The baby will Try not to stroke as very small babies often
sleep and be active according to mother’s don’t like this. Keep your baby’s arms and  Try to avoid care giving, such as nappy
daily pattern of activity. legs tucked in when you move them. changing, immediately before a feed as this
can tire your baby and make feeding more
The newborn preterm baby has to quickly  Kangaroo care (skin-to-skin holding) is difficult. Give them some time to recover
accommodate to their new surroundings. recommended at this stage if the staff feel from handling before starting feeding.
These surroundings affect behaviour and that your baby is ready for this, and you feel
development and it is important that we ready to start.  Do kangaroo care as often and for as long
recognise how your baby reacts and how we as possible, as this may help your milk
 Bonding squares that have mother’s smell supply.
can help their development to progress. can be placed near your baby helping mum
This is a time when your baby’s brain is and baby bond. Sleeping
growing at a very rapid rate and it is important  Avoid exposing your baby to strong odours, It is generally easy to see if your baby is
that what we all do, and how we do it, is as such as perfumes or aftershaves. awake or asleep. Your baby will be showing
developmentally appropriate as possible. brief “alert” periods.