Nothing quite beats the early days of parenthood and nothing else is quite as daunting. It’s a few days after the birth and all of a sudden you are responsible for a new, helpless life. It’s a mammoth task and knowing where to begin can seem bewildering. But don’t worry, our new parent’s survival kit has all the information you need to get you through those first few weeks.
You’ve spent months looking forward to his arrival but now that he’s here, what do you actually do with him? If you feel baffled by the needs of your newborn, don’t be hard on yourself. Most new parents find it takes a while to understand what their little one is trying to tell them.
The most important thing to realize is that babies don’t only cry when they’re hungry. It can also mean that his nappy is wet or dirty, he’s tired, he’s got wind, he’s too hot or cold or he’s just plain grumpy and would like some comforting.
In time you will come to understand what his different cries mean. In the meantime if he’s rubbing his fists in his eyes it’s a sure sign he’s begging for some kip, and if he’s pulling his knees up to his chest he’s probably got wind. To check whether he needs a layer of clothing or bedding put on or not, feel his tummy or the back of his neck. Don’t rely on the temperature of his hands as babies have poor circulation and these can remain icy even when the rest of him is uncomfortably hot.
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If your baby is tired or feeling a bit fractious, try rhythmic motions such as rocking or walking to calm him down.
A lot of the time when your baby cries it will be a sign that he’s hungry; after all, if you’ve only got a tiny stomach it needs refueling regularly! The most important thing for successful breastfeeding is to remain relaxed and confident in yourself, so start by making sure you are comfortable and your back is well supported, then bring your baby up to your breast, rather than stooping down to him.
For your baby to latch on successfully he needs a gaping mouth; brush his cheek or mouth with your nipple to trigger the rooting reflex. When your baby is latched on properly his bottom lip will be turned out and he will have the areola as well as the nipple in his mouth.
There’s no getting away from it; nappy changing is one of the inescapable realities of life as a new parent. Don’t worry if you’re all fingers and thumbs at the start; you’ll soon be changing them like a pro, even whilst semi-conscious at 4am!
Start by making sure you have everything you need to hand; a change mat, cotton wool and warm water or baby wipes, a towel and a clean nappy. Undo the old nappy and use it to clear up as much mess as possible, then roll it up straight away and secure the tabs around the outside and you should keep any fall out to a minimum. Use cotton wool and warm water or baby wipes to gently clean your baby. Always wipe from front to back on a girl to avoid the risk of infection. With boys, take care not to drag the skin of his penis or to pull the foreskin back. Then pat your baby’s skin dry with the towel. Apply nappy rash cream at this point if it is needed.
Position the clean nappy under his bottom, pull the front up between his legs, then bring the tabs of the nappy or wrap round (if you are using cloth nappies) to the front and press them firmly in place.
So these are the just few tips for new parents to care newborn baby that can make your work easy overall.
Some really top advice here. I think people can get overawed by their first baby and so reading advice and preparing properly beforehand can save them a lot of problems. I just hope they turn to the right sources for their info, there are some poor sites out there too…