During the nine months prior to a first baby’s birth, first time parents make all the necessary preparations for the time when they take their baby home from the hospital. However, when the baby does arrive, they start having “new parent” jitters. After all, the small world that just included only the wife and the husband now has a new member in the form of a little baby boy or girl.

To make the transition easier from simple spouse to fulltime parents, here are some valuable parenting tips that you can observe…

Learn How to Care for Baby

Before your baby is even born, prospective new parents should already start taking baby care classes, aside from delivery tutoring sessions like Lamaze. In baby care classes, you will already be taught the “basics”, including how to prepare the milk properly (if you intend to bottle feed the baby), how to feed the baby, changing diapers, and how to hold, soothe, and play with the baby. Make sure that you share the responsibility once you bring home baby.

Take Shifts at Night

Undoubtedly, one of the biggest challenges for new parents is taking care of their baby especially when he/she wakes up in the middle of the night. Obviously, no parent can handle lack of sleep. Not only can it be stressful, no or very little sleep can affect mood, concentration, and memory. Plus, it can make you vulnerable to sickness.

So that the both of you can get equal amounts of sleep every night, Moms and Dads should take turns in waking up and tending to the baby’s needs. You can also divide the night into shifts, wherein one parent remains awake with the baby for a couple of hours while the other parent goes to sleep.

Bond with Your Baby

Already anticipate the precious bonding moments with your baby. Take the opportunity to cradle your baby in your arms and simply cuddle him/her. These gentle caresses and touches aid in developing your baby’s five senses. To be able to cherish these moments even more, have a camera on hand and have your picture with baby.

Always Make Eye Contact with Your Baby

There is no truth to that Old Folk’s saying that babies are blind at birth. Just because your baby’s eyes are closed most of the time doesn’t mean that he or she is blind. All newborn babies can see, but because their eyes are pretty much underdeveloped at this time, they can only see at a distance of between 10 and 16 inches. This is the average distance between your face and that of your baby’s whenever you are cradling him/her in your arms. Child psychologists have noted that there is nothing newborns love to do more than gaze at human parents. By maintaining eye contact with baby, you are helping in the development of his/her social skills.

Get Help

Caring for a newborn may prove overwhelming during those first two months. Early on, enlist the aid of relatives and friends. Grandparents especially love to take care of their grandchild. Friends and relatives will be very helpful in doing the cooking, shopping and other household chores while you are getting your bearings on being a new parent.

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Posted in Parenting Tips For Infants and Babies by jacaranda No Comments Yet