One
Welcoming the child
Keep the room warm and quiet. Skin-to-skin contact soon after birth steadies the baby's temperature, breathing, and heartbeat. Wash hands before every handling. Let the mother rest while the father takes the child.
The Ayan Method in Practice
Care for the Newborn
Everything below is written to be understood by a first-time mother and a first-time father at two o'clock in the morning. Short sentences, no jargon, nothing withheld.
Six Foundations
The daily work of keeping a newborn well
Two
Feeding
Begin breastfeeding within the first hour where possible, and feed on demand — often 8 to 12 times a day. Watch for wet nappies as a sign of enough milk. Where breastfeeding is not possible, follow a health worker's guidance closely and sterilise everything.
Three
Sleep and safety
Place the baby on the back to sleep, on a firm flat surface, without loose bedding, pillows, or soft toys. Keep the sleeping space close to the mother. Never sleep with the baby on a sofa, and never near smoke.
Four
Health and immunisation
Attend every scheduled check-up and complete the national immunisation schedule on time — it is the single cheapest protection a child will ever receive. Keep the cord stump clean and dry. Record every visit.
Five
Hygiene and home safety
Clean water, clean hands, clean cloths. Bathe gently and briefly. Remove smoke, open flames, unstable furniture, small objects, and unguarded water from the child's reach before the child can move.
Six
Bonding, voice, and play
Talk, sing, and name things all day, even before the child can reply. Hold and carry generously. Respond to crying — being answered is how a baby learns the world is safe.
Markers of Growth
What to watch for, and to write down
Children vary, and variation is normal. Record what you observe and raise anything that concerns you with a health worker rather than waiting.
- 1 month
- Focuses on faces, startles at sound, feeds and sleeps in short cycles.
- 3 months
- Smiles socially, holds head steadier, makes cooing sounds.
- 6 months
- Rolls over, reaches and grasps, babbles, begins complementary foods.
- 9 months
- Sits without support, responds to their name, plays back-and-forth.
- 12 months
- Pulls to stand or walks, says a first word, points to what they want.
- 24 months
- Runs, joins two words, follows simple instruction, plays beside others.
Seek Help Immediately
Danger signs that must never be waited out
If any of these appear, take the child to a health facility at once. It is always better to be sent home reassured than to arrive too late.
- Difficulty breathing, grunting, or chest drawing in
- Fever, or a body that feels unusually cold
- Refusing to feed, or feeding much less than usual
- Persistent vomiting, or blood in stool
- Fits or convulsions; unusual floppiness or stiffness
- Yellowing of skin or eyes; a red, swollen, or discharging cord
- No wet nappies for many hours, or sunken eyes
- A cry that is weak, or one that cannot be settled at all
This guidance supports a family’s daily care. It does not replace the advice of a doctor, nurse, or midwife. Where local health guidance differs, follow the local guidance.