Tahneek
Tahneek should be done with the new born child. This is the practice of chewing and softening a date, and placing a little of it on the palate of the child. If the date is not available, one may apply anything sweet (like honey or syrup) to the child’s palate.
The scholars have written that through this Sunnah act of tahneek, the veins and muscles of the child are strengthened. The dental palate, the jaws and mouth are made active, thereby making it easy for the child to draw milk from the breast of the mother.
Tahneek is commendable (Mustahab) In this regard, it is narrated from Abu Moosa (RA) that he said, ‘A son was born at our place, I bought him to the Messenger of Allah (SAS) who named him Ibrahim, and performed his tahneek with a date. He then made dua of barakah (blessings for him) and handed him to me’. (Bukhari, Muslim).
Tahleeq(Cukur Rambut)
1. It is established from the Sunnah that the head of the child is to be shaved on the seventh day after the birth:
From Samurah (radiyallaahu `anhu) that Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu `alaihi wassallaam) said:
“A child is held in pledge by his `aqeeqah that is slaughtered on his behalf on the seventh day, and he is named and his head is shaved.”
Reported by Ahmad (7/5), Abu Dawood (2838), At-Tirmidhee (1522). It was graded Saheeh by: At-Tirmidhee, Al-Haakim, Abdur-Razzaaq Al-Ishbeelee and others.
3. An issue: Should the hair of a baby girl be shaved?
In this there is some differing between the Scholars, but what is apparent is that the head of the baby girl is also to be shaved for the following reasons:
Maalik Ibn Anas (d.179H, rahimahullaah) narrated in Al-Muwatta (2/501) from Ja`far Ibn Muhammad, from his father who said:
“Faatimah the daughter of Allaah’s Messenger (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) weighed the hair of Hasan, Husayn, Zaynab and Umm Kulthoom, and she gave its weight in silver as charity.” and this is supported by the statement of the Messenger (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam):
“And shave his head.”
Furthermore the Prophet (salallaahu `alaihi wassallam) explained the wisdom behind removing the hair of the new-born because it is harmful saying: “And remove from him harm.”
So this encompasses every new-born, whether it be male or female, and Allaah knows best.