The first time you hold your newborn
baby, a flood of emotion overpowers you. This bundle of joy will change your life forever, bringing along a
whole new world of joy — and responsibility.
The baby is completely dependent upon you for survival. Every day brings along new challenges and new
experiences of learning to know, understand and love your baby.
While in hospital, you can take guidance from a lactation consultant or feeding specialist about nursing or
bottle-feeding. Also learn about how to hold, change, burp and take care of your new child. As the nurses
will tell you, it is important to always support your baby's head and neck.
Babies need extra support as their bones are quite fragile. For this reason, it is important to avoid shaking
a newborn at all costs — this can lead to serious injury. Babies are very sensitive and should be considered
extremely fragile.
To protect their weak immune systems, it is important to ensure that anybody who comes in contact with your
baby washes their hands well to prevent infection.
Bringing home your baby is a momentous event. Especially for first-time parents, family and friends should be
involved in the baby’s care. Doting grandparents and friends with children who have experience with newborns
are invaluable sources of information.
Bonding with your infant is very important as it helps forge a deep emotional connection., Look forward to
spending time cradling your baby, tickling and stroking, as well as talking, babbling and singing.
Some parents opt to try swaddling, a soothing technique that involves wrapping baby tenderly in a blanket to
provide warmth and a sense of security and comfort, as it mimics the sensation of the baby’s natural position
in the womb.
You may be surprised to know that a baby’s digestive system is so small that he/she needs to be fed every few
hours. Unsurprisingly, you will also need to acquaint yourself with the basics of diapering as the baby will
dirty diapers more than 10 times a day.
In addition, bid adieu to seven to eight hours of peaceful sleep, as babies have an erratic sleep pattern and
generally sleep for just three to four. It is important to remember to place your baby on his/her back to
sleep, to avoid serious injury.
To keep your baby healthy, be sure to take regular trips to your pediatrician to administer essential
vaccines at specific times in order to protect your child against various infections.
Your child's immune system is not prepared for any kind of infection or disease — it is up to you and your
doctor to protect your new baby.
Recommended vaccines that you must give your child include: hepatitis B, hepatitis A, rotavirus, Hib
(Haemophilus influenzae type b), pneumococcal and inactivated poliovirus.
In addition, you should also get your child vaccinated against influenza, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella),
varicella, meningococcal and DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis).
Parenting infants can take its toll on the parents themselves. You must take care of yourself in order to
take care of your baby.
Take turns rising to care for your infant at night, or call on the help of family members to give you and
your spouse a night to relax. As difficult as it may be, the joy of being a parent overpowers all other
emotions, especially when you see your baby smiling up at you.•
Photo courtesy of sxc / necogarnic
