First Time Parents

First Time Parents

First time parents need to know that they are not alone during the life-altering period of their lives that begins when they bring baby home from the hostpital. As first time parents, you should definitely recruit friends and family to help out as much as they are able, and take advantage of the many useful services offered by the hospital after birth. Most hospitals have lactation consultants, nutrition specialists, and other professionals who can act as a guide for first time parents through this often overwhelming experience. Nurses are also a great asset for first time parents, since they can show you the proper techniques for holding, burping, changing, and caring for your baby on a daily basis.

Dos and Don’ts That First Time Parents Need to Know

First of all, if this is your first time as parents, the fragility of a newborn may be intimidating. Just remember to always support your baby’s neck and head when laying down or lifting your baby. Never shake a newborn for any reason. Always be gentle, whether you’re caressing, playing, or trying to stop a fit of crying. Physical closeness to your newborn will encourage bonding and will also soothe a baby who may simply need some reassurance to stop crying or fussing. Make sure that your baby’s skin comes into contact with the skin of both parents, perhaps during feedings or after baths. This close contact will form a bond of unconditional love that will help your infant grow up healthy and confident, without the usual host of psychological problems that arise from not having had a parent to bond with at this tender stage of early life. Also be vocal with your baby, since human sounds such as singing, cooing, babbling and just talking stimulate your baby’s hearing and make babies able to identify their parents’ voices. Swaddling, or the act of wrapping a baby in a blanket so that his or her arms and legs are close to the body, keeps infants warm. The pressure of the blanket seems to give newborns a sense of comfort and security. Be careful not to wrap the baby too tightly, and always leave the head and neck exposed so the baby does not suffocate.

There is no perfect guide for first time parents, but the good use of simple common sense will get you through most of the daily challenges of life with a newborn. If medical conditions arise, always make sure to consult with a qualified health care provider or your baby’s pediatrician.

7/19/2007 10:58:09 AM