What action should you take to stimulate a newborn's breathing after delivery?

To stimulate a newborn's breathing after delivery, flicking the baby's feet is a widely recognized and effective method. This action can help to provoke a reflexive response, which may encourage the newborn to take their first breaths. The gentle stimulation from flicking the feet triggers a natural instinct to breathe and can promote alertness in the infant.

It's important to consider the other methods mentioned. Crying softly does not provide a physical stimulus that the newborn can respond to, while gently blowing air in the baby's face might not effectively stimulate breathing in the same way as providing tactile stimulation. Tapping the back, while it can be stimulating, is less commonly recommended in neonatal care compared to flicking the feet. Therefore, flicking the baby's feet stands out as the most appropriate action for encouraging a newborn to start breathing after delivery.