Living with Baby - In the first few weeks after having a baby, parents will be overwhelmed (as well as sleep deprived!) But that doesn’t mean you have try to do everything yourself. If friends or family turn up (announced or otherwise), they almost certainly will take you as they find you! So when they do, gladly accept their offer so you can take a load off your feet.


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Living with Baby

In the first few weeks after having a baby, parents will be overwhelmed (as well as sleep deprived!) But that doesn’t mean you have try to do everything yourself. If friends or family turn up (announced or otherwise), they almost certainly will take you as they find you! So when they do, gladly accept their offer so you can take a load off your feet.

When your baby first comes home you will be inundated with well meaning advice from family and friends. Although most of this advice is well intentioned, don't worry too much about what your baby should and should not be doing at certain times of the day. You're baby will develop her own routine fairly quickly. Remember that it takes time for a newborn to settle down and realize when they want to sleep and eat.

Stimulating Baby’s Motor Skills
The best way for your baby to develop its motor skills is by giving them plenty of opportunity. You can increase a baby’s strength and coordination by letting them be active. Exercises like letting them stand them on your lap and letting them bounce can build a baby’s strength, coordination and agility.

Making Baby Safe in the House
As soon as your baby starts to move around, it is time to start locking your kitchen cupboards and bathroom cabinets. A great many commonly used substances can be harmful or even fatal to your baby, so it is best to err on the side of caution. Your baby will take great interest in exploring everything that is within reach. Take a look in all the cupboards that are accessible to him or her and see whether potential hazards can be moved out of reach. Common household goods such as medicines, iron tablet, household cleaners, bleaches and detergents, antifreeze and other common items can be harmful or even fatal if ingested by a baby. Also cap sockets in the house so they don’t inadvertently insert something into the light sockets and get shocked. Child restraints and locks can be purchased and installed to afford more safety.

Baby Health
Taking care of baby is definitely a full time job. Here are some guidelines to make the path just a bit smoother:

Bath Time
Before you bathe your baby, make sure that you have everything you need nearby including soap, towels, crèmes and a hair brush. Remember that you should never leave a baby or small child unattended in the bath, not even for a minute. Babies do not have the balance or strength to lift their head and tragically babies can easily drown in as little as an inch of water. So you must be vigilant and keep a watchful eye.

The Sun Can Be Harmful to Sensitive Skin
A baby’s skin can be up to 20 times more sensitive than yours so it’s important to cover up baby and provide a sunscreen for a baby when going out doors. Even if it is overcast outside, remember that invisible UV rays can be harmful to baby’s skin. So liberally apply sun block of SPF 40 and/or keep babies arms and legs covered up with clothing.

First Impressions of Baby
When you see your baby for the first time his head will probably be a bit misshapen and his skin may be a bit blotchy. This is normal and is due to the birth and having been kept in wet, cramped conditions for the last 9 months and then been through a fairly traumatic birthing process. But don’t worry, baby’s head will normalize and skin patches tend to clear up. So your baby will be even more beautiful than he was at birth.

Sibling Jealousy
If you have an older child, you may find that following the birth he shows signs of jealousy and resentment, especially when he realizes that the baby is a permanent fixture in the home. One approach is to give lots of attention to the older sibling and try to let them help out with baby. Include him in the care of the baby, praise him for being helpful and let him help out. Show him when the baby is watching and smiling at him and encourage him to talk to her. Doing this will make the older sibling feel important, and this sense of responsibility can make them feel good about baby and themselves too. Kids like being the big brother or sister! Finally, try to include your other children with the family discussions about the new baby as soon as possible. By getting them involved in the process, you will make them feel like they have a say in things and they will value their role. Always make the child feel loved and cared for and make a game of taking care of baby.

Taking Time for Yourself
Sometimes the stress, hormones and sleep deprivation you encounter after having baby can be a drag on your emotions. So try not to let things overwhelm you. Try to keep things in perspective and don’t aim for perfection. Here are some other helpful pointers:

If you can, leave your baby with the grandparents or a trusted friend for a trip out with your partner or friends. It only has to be for an hour, so you can work it around feeding. While you may still feel pangs of guilt, the time spent out can help you take a bit of a breather from the stress of parenthood.