What Every Parent Must Know To Properly Look After Their Babies

Prepare yourself for when the time comes to bring your baby home and start a new life together

A new life begins once you have finished with the ordeals of pregnancy, labor, and delivery. It is now time to take your new bundle of joy home and start a life with your little one. However, once you are home, don't be surprised if you feel like you haven’t the faintest clue on how to go about it. The below tips will help you overcome your nerves as a first-time parent and feel more confident about giving the right care to your baby.

Take All the Help You Can After the Birth

As much as you would like to be independent when taking care of your child, you will eventually be overwhelmed and find it very hectic. There are many experts that give tips that are valuable for parents on how to take care of the baby. Take help from these tips and also consult specialists whenever you have a doubt. These doubts can be about anything, be it how to start nursing, to moving towards bottle feeding. You can also look for in-house help to assist you for a short period of time. They can help you to understand the more complicated aspects of caring for a newborn. Finally, your friends and relatives who have been parents can also give you some handy tips when it comes to taking care of the baby, and maybe even some time to lend a hand. Take all the help you can,and do not be shy about it.

Handling a Newborn

If this is your first child and you are not used to handling a newborn, then you may find their fragility intimidating. There are a few basic rules that to follow when it comes to handling a newborn. First, always make sure your hands are clean as newborns have a very weak immune system. Give support to your baby’s head and neck, and keep them upright when you are carrying them or laying them down in bed. Try not to shake the baby when you are playing with them as it can have fatal consequences. Their movements should be very limited so when you are taking them in a stroller, make sure they are fastened properly.

Forming an Emotional Connection

Bonding and soothing your baby is the first expression of emotional connection you will form with them. Cradle your child, stroke them gently and try to give them skin-to-skin bonding as much as possible. If your baby is premature or has any medical problems, then gentle massaging will help. There are many books and online lessons available wherein you can find out how to massage your baby properly. Care should be taken of course, so that you are not too rough on them. You can use a gentler voice when talking to them or singing to them. This, accompanied by calm rocking, will help your baby to fall asleep.

Swaddling the Baby

All babies need to be swaddled properly. To be able to do this, you need to spread out a baby blanket and fold the corner slightly. Lay your baby face-up on the blanket and make sure that their head is above the folded corner. Take the bottom corner of the blanket and gently fold it across the baby. This should not be done too tight. To make sure that they are breathing comfortably when you swaddle them, you can put your hand through the blanket to check if there is enough space. If it goes in easily then your baby is comfortable. [Considering some of the best sleep sacks for babies should provide them some comfort as well.] Swaddling your baby is a good technique until they are two months old, though you'll want to continue to keep your baby feeling snug and safe while they're an infant especially.

Using the Diaper

Remember that your baby will dirty their diaper at least 7 to 10 times a day. You can decide accordingly if you will use cloth or disposable diapers for them. When you want to change the diaper of your baby, start with first putting all the things you need within your reach. This way you will not leave your baby unattended at all. Remove the old diaper and gently clean your baby’s genital area clean. You can use water, cotton balls or wet wipes specifically made for babies. Apply anti-rash ointment so that your baby does not develop any rashes. Babies can develop diaper rash if they are left in dirty diapers for too long, or are allergic to some form of scented diapers. If the rash looks bad, then consult your doctor immediately as it can lead to a fungal infection.

Remember that handling a baby can give you mixed feelings of happiness and frustration. They can be awake for long hours at night and keep you up with them. However, in a few weeks, you will be able to understand their routine and be a pro in handling them. No matter what, there is joy in being a parent, and that joy only increases as you become more confident and connected with your baby.