Parenting is scary, complicated, time consuming, yet it is an opportunity you will enjoy and that you will never regret. Even when times are tough, there will be no greater feeling than getting to your home just to see your little bundle of joy smiling back at you. That innocent look will make you forget about all the troubles in your life, how complicated and stressful your job is and will even reduce the stress due to the relocation you will soon go through. All this emotions are flying everywhere, just like a 15 year old with no control over his/hers hormones; especially for first time parents.
Before you start worrying about childproofing your home, you still have a couple of month to take care of that, and before you choose to move to a bigger home, this guide will help you cope transitioning to your new lifestyle with your baby at home.
1. Get extra help. Although in this technological era we are used to find any information we need online, or if you went a little bit more old school and got a ton of books at the library, when you have to put into practice everything you have read, it might not be the same. You will be going through a new experience and there are a million things you won't know. Getting help for those first days, weeks or even months is nothing but a good idea.
2. Rely on your motherly/fatherly instincts. Trust in your instincts. You will know what to do. Although their fragility may prove to be intimidating, you just need to be careful and everything will be alright. There are several things that can give you a good start:
• Wash your hands and disinfect them frequently. Since newborns do not have a strong immune system and haven't got their vaccines yet, they will be more susceptible to infections.
• Head and neck support. Just like their immune system, the head and neck are extra fragile. Always make sure that you have support if the neck.
• Do not shake the baby; not even playing. Even a "gentle" shake may have devastating results on a newborn. You have to be extremely careful not to make any abrupt movements as they will be exposed to brain damage, bleeding, or any fractures. They are not ready for rough play.
• Fasten your seatbelts. When traveling, make sure that your baby is securely fastened and that they are safe and comfortable.
3. Feeding your baby. This is one of parents main concerns. Make sure you ask all the question you have on this topic to your doctor. While each baby has a different body structure and might need to go through a specific diet, typically newborns usually eat every three to four hours. There are others that feed as often as every two hours. If you are breastfeeding your baby, keep in mind that the hours will be shorter as they feed more frequently than bottle-fed infants given that breast milk is easier to digest. As your baby grows, the interval between meals is going to be longer, but so will the duration of it. Do not worry about overfeeding your baby; they will let you know when they are full, usually by turning away from the nipple or bottle.
4. Burping Your Baby. It is completely normal for your baby to have gases after or while eating. They swallow air while feeding and this is what causes them to spit, be uncomfortable or even stop eating while still hungry. Therefore, it is very important for you to burp your baby frequently. Follow this techniques:
• Hold your baby upright against your shoulder. Once you have a good grip, use one hand to gently pat their back until they burp.
• You may choose to sit your baby upright on your lap for more comfort. While supporting his/her chest and head, pat their back gently.(not recommended for newborns)
• Lay your baby on your lap facedown and gently pat their back.
5. Plan Your day out. If you want to make sure that you have everything that you need to get done without overlooking not even a minor detail, make an itinerary of your daily routines. This will help both you and the baby to get used to an itinerary.
• Sleep when your baby sleeps. The first days you will be extremely ecstatic of having your baby at home; but you need to get used to getting some rest when your baby feels like sleeping. Now it is going to be the time for you to establish a routine for your baby and stick to it.
• Set up a time for breakfast, snacks, and dinner.
• Set up the time when you will put your baby to sleep. Take some time to talk to your baby, read a story or watch some Baby Einstein videos together.
• Start developing a bond. Being close to your baby is a must. Doctors have proven that having a close skin to skin contact will help you create that bond. Also have lots of eye contact.
• Do not over worry. First time parents tend to be too overprotective and they do not see that in fact, they are doing them wrong. Just relax, and take a deep breath, you will be great.
No one is born knowing how to crawl, let alone walk. The same thing happens with parenting. As much as you can search online and read thousands of books, it is something you will learn to do with time and practice. In fact, you will never be done learning. It is an eternal process from the moment your baby is conceived until you cease to exist. Regardless if your kid turns 30 and hires movers to relocate across the country, you will always be their parent and they will always rely on you. So, just be patient and enjoy every single moment; the good and the bad.
Before you start worrying about childproofing your home, you still have a couple of month to take care of that, and before you choose to move to a bigger home, this guide will help you cope transitioning to your new lifestyle with your baby at home.
1. Get extra help. Although in this technological era we are used to find any information we need online, or if you went a little bit more old school and got a ton of books at the library, when you have to put into practice everything you have read, it might not be the same. You will be going through a new experience and there are a million things you won't know. Getting help for those first days, weeks or even months is nothing but a good idea.
2. Rely on your motherly/fatherly instincts. Trust in your instincts. You will know what to do. Although their fragility may prove to be intimidating, you just need to be careful and everything will be alright. There are several things that can give you a good start:
• Wash your hands and disinfect them frequently. Since newborns do not have a strong immune system and haven't got their vaccines yet, they will be more susceptible to infections.
• Head and neck support. Just like their immune system, the head and neck are extra fragile. Always make sure that you have support if the neck.
• Do not shake the baby; not even playing. Even a "gentle" shake may have devastating results on a newborn. You have to be extremely careful not to make any abrupt movements as they will be exposed to brain damage, bleeding, or any fractures. They are not ready for rough play.
• Fasten your seatbelts. When traveling, make sure that your baby is securely fastened and that they are safe and comfortable.
3. Feeding your baby. This is one of parents main concerns. Make sure you ask all the question you have on this topic to your doctor. While each baby has a different body structure and might need to go through a specific diet, typically newborns usually eat every three to four hours. There are others that feed as often as every two hours. If you are breastfeeding your baby, keep in mind that the hours will be shorter as they feed more frequently than bottle-fed infants given that breast milk is easier to digest. As your baby grows, the interval between meals is going to be longer, but so will the duration of it. Do not worry about overfeeding your baby; they will let you know when they are full, usually by turning away from the nipple or bottle.
4. Burping Your Baby. It is completely normal for your baby to have gases after or while eating. They swallow air while feeding and this is what causes them to spit, be uncomfortable or even stop eating while still hungry. Therefore, it is very important for you to burp your baby frequently. Follow this techniques:
• Hold your baby upright against your shoulder. Once you have a good grip, use one hand to gently pat their back until they burp.
• You may choose to sit your baby upright on your lap for more comfort. While supporting his/her chest and head, pat their back gently.(not recommended for newborns)
• Lay your baby on your lap facedown and gently pat their back.
5. Plan Your day out. If you want to make sure that you have everything that you need to get done without overlooking not even a minor detail, make an itinerary of your daily routines. This will help both you and the baby to get used to an itinerary.
• Sleep when your baby sleeps. The first days you will be extremely ecstatic of having your baby at home; but you need to get used to getting some rest when your baby feels like sleeping. Now it is going to be the time for you to establish a routine for your baby and stick to it.
• Set up a time for breakfast, snacks, and dinner.
• Set up the time when you will put your baby to sleep. Take some time to talk to your baby, read a story or watch some Baby Einstein videos together.
• Start developing a bond. Being close to your baby is a must. Doctors have proven that having a close skin to skin contact will help you create that bond. Also have lots of eye contact.
• Do not over worry. First time parents tend to be too overprotective and they do not see that in fact, they are doing them wrong. Just relax, and take a deep breath, you will be great.
No one is born knowing how to crawl, let alone walk. The same thing happens with parenting. As much as you can search online and read thousands of books, it is something you will learn to do with time and practice. In fact, you will never be done learning. It is an eternal process from the moment your baby is conceived until you cease to exist. Regardless if your kid turns 30 and hires movers to relocate across the country, you will always be their parent and they will always rely on you. So, just be patient and enjoy every single moment; the good and the bad.
MovingCost.com is your ticket to finding trustworthy, professional movers for all of your relocation needs. Each of the moving services that our team of moving companies provides is customized and individually planned to be stress-free.
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