Bringing home a new family member will bring unimaginable joy to all parents, however, it may bring worry and agitation as well. Let’s face it, nobody could teach you exactly how to act around a baby, how to adequately take care of it, and how to do all things immaculately to ensure a smooth transition to your home. You may feel even more agitated if this is your first child and when everyone around you wants to interfere. Following are a few basic care tips every new parent should know.
1. Don’t stress about the diapers
Disposable or cloth diapers? This brand or the other? The baby doesn’t even care. The first thing to note is that you should get disposable diapers, no matter if you reckon it’s not the most healthy or eco-friendly alternative. The baby will use a lot of diapers and don’t worry if the “content” changes colour or consistency, that’s quite normal. Gently lay the baby on a flat surface, and change the diaper slowly. To treat a rash, apply a rash cream. Prepare for a lot of “accidents” and always have wet wipes and spare clothes on hand.
2. Choose organic baby clothes
The secret to ensuring your baby won’t have any redness on the body or rash is getting quality baby clothes. Even though the baby will grow quickly, you should set aside more money for some baby essentials because that will only be beneficial in the long run. Aim to choose all-natural, organic, and quality clothes such as baby headwear, bodysuits, onesies, leggings, pyjamas, socks, etc. Know that their skin is very sensitive and hence they need absolute care. Only with high-quality baby clothes will you rest assured that your baby would be protected.
3. Perfect water and room temperature – no bathing worries
Most parents tend to stress out when it’s time for bathing. Here is what will make the whole experience a fun and safe procedure. The most important thing is that the room is warm enough, ideally around 76 degrees Fahrenheit (24 Celsius), the water temperature should be pleasant though, not too hot and not too cold. Water should be shallow and you should use plain sensitive baby soap. Avoid any shampoos and invasive products for now. Talk to the baby at all times, place it in the tub while holding it. Slowly splash the baby with water, and with gentle moves clean it up.
4. Make breastfeeding or bottle-feeding a real delight
Even though some moms tend to fear would they be able to breastfeed their baby or not, and how will all come about. However, there’s no need to worry as breastfeeding comes to the mother so naturally, and it’s so much more to the baby than just nutrition. Even if you choose to bottle feed, here are the basics you should follow. Use the right and comfortable position for you, make eye contact, hold your baby towards your breasts, and make sure the head doesn’t fall back. After the baby has burped, either place it over your shoulder and tap it or put it in a sitting position.
5. Baby care amenities
In order to make your life easier and your baby’s life more carefree, you need a few essential amenities. A car seat, stroller, and crib are absolute necessities. The items you would choose would merely depend on your financial abilities. When it comes to nursery amenities, try not to sleep next to your baby no matter how much (or loud) it cries. Place your baby in a crib due to safety reasons, and don’t place anything around the crib beside the bedding to avoid potential choking hazards. You should also get a changing pad, waterproof mattress protectors, a baby monitor, and changing sheets.
6. Holding the baby
This is a perfectly natural endeavour, but one that agitates the new parents. Holding your baby is a delightful thing, and no matter how you hold it, no parent has ever dropped its baby. There are many ways you can hold your baby safely. The baby doesn’t have good neck and head support, so it’s advisable to hold it in a cradle hold for starters. Place the baby’s head in the crook of one of your arms and wrap your other arm around the baby, or hold the original arm with the second arm. Once you get more proficient, you will be able to hold it in numerous ways.
To sum up, things would be tough only in a few couple weeks, until then try to implement the above-mentioned care tips and just enjoy carelessly in this wonderful period.
