Newborn Care Tips

For many people, the baby that they are the parents of may be the first newborn baby that they have ever held. This can make the run up to the birth of your baby, when you should be excited and looking forward to meeting them, a rather scary time instead.

It is important to remember that many other people throughout history may have found themselves in your shoes-they didn't manage to break their baby and neither will you. Never have babies come with instruction manuals, and in fact even in recent history some of the advice given to new parents has not only been illogical-some could have been dangerous too!

Today you have on hand a variety of sources of information. Read up on the internet before your baby is born and don't be afraid to ask questions of the doctors and nurses when your baby is born, or when you take them in for a routine check up.

You will have to consider how you want to feed your baby. If you choose to breastfeed your baby then first attempt to do what comes naturally. Your baby will be born with the ability to suckle and with the suckling reflex so that any time they get close enough to your breast, or feel bare skin, they will turn to try and latch on. But this doesn't mean that they will do it right-so if you have problems, ask your doctor or a lactation consultant.

If you are bottle feeding then you should follow the instructions on the can. You may have to experiment to find which formula works best for your baby, as well as which nipple they like best.

Many soon-to-be parents may fear that they won't know what to do when the baby cries but this is rarely the case. A simple check list will often help you work out what they need, and you can simply work through it until you find the one that works.

In time you learn to recognize the different cries that represent hunger, soiled diaper, tiredness, or being cold amongst other things but in the meantime try this.

First check the diaper. If it is wet or dirty then change it, and see if they settle after a cuddle. If it is dry, or they don't settle, see if they need to eat. Try next to rock them to sleep, and feel them to see if they seem to hot or too cold. A forehead thermometer may help to assess whether they have a fever or not-in which case you may wish to call the doctor.

If your baby really won't settle you may wish consider taking them for a walk, or asking for help from an experienced parent or your pediatrician. It is possible that colic maybe the problem, in which case only time will heal.

Though it may be worrying when you are pregnant, that you know nothing about child care, stop worrying. Most parents have to learn on the job, and for the most part that works just fine. And when you can't work something out for yourself-never be afraid to ask.