| Baby is a precious creation- you must handle him/her | | | | 1. Diapering the baby-Everybody knows how to |
| with utmost care. Your baby lacks muscle control, so | | | | change a diaper, but when you have to do it yourself, it |
| you have to take extra precautions while holding, | | | | may get messy. You may feel awkward in first few |
| bathing, feeding, and dressing the baby. Lift the baby | | | | times, but slowly with little practice, you will handle the |
| slowly and don’t rush when you carry her/him. | | | | newborn with ease. While changing diapers, use a |
| Newborns are completely dependent on you. | | | | waist-high table with safety straps. Lay the baby on |
| If this is your first baby and have never handled any | | | | the diaper, fold the front half of the diaper over the |
| baby before, baby’s fragility may be overwhelming | | | | baby and tighten it with attached tapes. Check the |
| for you. For many parents, just holding the tiny baby is | | | | diaper in 5 to 10 minutes to see whether it is wet or |
| nerve-wracking. Below are few guidelines to follow | | | | not. Do not allow the baby to be in wet diaper for a |
| and within a couple of days, you can become an | | | | longer period, which may lead to skin infection. |
| expert. | | | | |
| | | | 1. Dressing the baby-Excited parents spend enough |
| 1. Holding the baby carefully-For a new parent, who | | | | money to buy good clothes for their newborn baby. |
| has no experience with infants, simply picking up and | | | | Whichever clothing you prefer, look for garments that |
| holding the little one is scary. Take suggestion from | | | | are easy for you to put on and takeoff the baby like |
| older member in the family and friends. Your | | | | large necklines are easy to slip baby’s head. While |
| baby’s head is big and heavy compared to other | | | | dressing, support your baby’s head in one hand until |
| parts of the baby. Therefore, it is very important to | | | | he/she is 3 months old. |
| support your baby’s head and neck when you | | | | |
| carry the baby up and lay down. A good way to pick | | | | 1. Bathing your baby- Bath time can be enjoyable if |
| the baby up and put him/her down is with your whole | | | | you know how to handle the baby while bathing. Until |
| arm, which supports spine, neck and head at the same | | | | 10 to 15 days after birth, the baby is generally given a |
| time. When you are going to wake up your baby, | | | | sponge bath and after that a daily bath. While bathing |
| don’t shake him/her, just tickle in the feet and the | | | | in tub, make sure to hold the baby in one hand tightly, |
| baby will be up. Some parents like to wrap their | | | | otherwise the baby may slip. Right after the bath, wrap |
| baby’s legs and hands in a blanket until they are | | | | your baby in a towel and cover the head. |
| used to it. | | | | |
| | | | 1. Make yourself sure to fasten the car seat or stroller |
| 1. Feeding the baby- Feeding the newborn is | | | | every time when you are going out. Avoid bouncy or |
| something that every new parent worries about at | | | | rough roads as this may upset your baby’s |
| first. At this period, babies drink either breast milk or | | | | stomach. |
| formula. If the mother is breastfeeding, then feeding will | | | | It is better to ask for your family and friends to get |
| most likely occur in every few hours and if the baby is | | | | through this time, which can be disturbing. Nurses can |
| bottle fed, then the gap between feedings may go up | | | | also show you how to hold, bath, change, and burp |
| to two to three hours. Don’t forget to burp the | | | | your baby. Though you may feel worried about |
| baby after each feeding. | | | | handling a baby, within 2 to 3 months, you will get used |
| | | | to a daily routine and turn into a professional parent. |