New Parents and Baby Care Basics
Jul 1st 2009Bonnie LynchBabies
Nine months of excited anticipation and finally your precious bundle makes his debut! Gosh, you cant wait to show him off to the world. Only now you have to make the transition from having hospital staff support to doing it all yourself. All of the responsibilities now fall on Mom and Dad. Yikes! Suddenly it dawns on you; you've never done this before.
The first step you and Dad need to take as new parents is to relax. Remember, every parent has experienced a little panic at the idea of first-time baby care. Good news! All babies survive those first few days at home with their parents without a scratch. Be assured that yours will too. The best way to manage during those first few days and weeks is to bone up on baby care basics and take notes that will carry you through everything from diaper rash and diaper bags, to bottles and burping.
Get Help
Those first few weeks with your new baby will be some of the most challenging you'll encounter, but dont be afraid to ask for help. Having someone to assist you will be a great calming influence. If your helper has gone through the experience herself she'll be an invaluable source of advice and information. Your body will also need to transition to the postpartum stage of your pregnancy. That includes rest and recovery for both Mom and baby. Having someone pick up the slack in the baby care department so that you can rest will speed your recovery as well as build your confidence in your new parenting role.
Kisses and Cuddles and Other Good Stuff
Those first days and weeks are the time you and your new little one bond with each other. Both of you will enjoy every bit of the cuddling you can get during this time. Your baby will thrive under your gentle touch, physical closeness and the sound of your voice. All of these contribute to your and your baby's well being. During these first days and weeks, you cannot spoil your baby by giving him too much cuddle time. Pick him up to your hearts content, hold him close, and sing and talk to him. Both parents need to get equal time on the snuggle part of caring for your baby. Dad needs his bonding time with baby too.
Getting Answers to your Baby Care Questions
Baby care basics are mostly feeding, sleeping, diapering and bathing. Those little bundles do little else during their first weeks of life! There is a virtual library of baby care books available for answers to your baby care basics questions. Don't wait until you've come home from the hospital with your baby! Get a few early on during your pregnancy so you'll be prepared before the first labor pains hit. Your doctor is a great source of information on the baby care basics. You'll be seeing him often during your childs first year. You'll have many opportunities to get answers to your questions. Your doctor will also be able to recommend good baby care books.
Your new baby can be both a frightening and an exciting adventure. Eliminate some of the concerns from this process by reading and otherwise learning about baby care basics before you ever bring your precious bundle home.
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