First time parents are in for the experience of a lifetime!

After surviving 9 months of pregnancy, a wardrobe of maternity clothes, baby showers, and decorating the nursery with care, you have gone through the exciting, heroic experiences of labor and delivery. You are ready to leave the hospital to begin your new life as first-time parents!

Handling the First-Time Parent Jitters

For many first-time parents, bringing a baby home from the hospital is an exciting experience mixed with apprehension. Silent questions such as “How will I know…,” “How will I cope…,” and “But, what if…” mingle with exuberant joy as you look down at the precious bundle sleeping in your arms. You’ve got the first-time parent jitters!

Not to worry! Siblings and friends with children, parents, and in-laws have been waiting for this moment, too. They will offer expert advice on feeding, diapering, and proper baby care. Books galore are also available, written by baby doctors and psychologists offering guidance on parenting, and the latest in child development research.

When it comes to reading material, be prudent about book selection. And, don’t be afraid to set down boundaries on visiting times for over-eager friends and relatives. While you can learn proper baby care from the expertise of others, you and your spouse also need time alone with your baby, to bond.

Bonding with Baby

More frequently than not, bonding with baby will include touch. This is important, because it is through touch your baby will come to know you.

Cradling your baby in your lap, and gently stroking him or her is the most basic form of bonding between baby and parent. Nestling the newborn at your neck is another bonding-touch that provides baby with a sense of security. Support the baby’s head and neck with one hand, and his or her bottom with the other.

Forget the old wives’ tale that holding a baby too much will spoil the child. Yes, it is true a baby should not be picked up each and every time they cry. As long as they have been adequately fed, are clean and dry, warm and comfortable, a baby does need to learn there are times when they should rest, or entertain themselves.

However, quiet moments alone with baby without distractions are necessary to form the emotional connection between parent and child, essential to a healthy attachment. An important bonding process noted by pediatricians in the late 1970s. This process has been proved vital for both parent and child.

Parents who form this type attachment with their newborn make better parents. They are better equipped and more willing to make the necessary sacrifices to care for their child; during infancy as well as through childhood.

Newborns provided the benefit of gentle contact and tender touch by parents feel loved and secure. This sense of well-being impacts both their emotional growth and physical development.

The Importance of Touch

The importance of touch – gentle, loving contact when holding your baby, cannot be emphasized enough. Rough handing and harsh jostling, especially with a newborn, can not only frighten your baby, but be life-threatening, as well.

Always be careful to support your newborn’s head and neck when you pick them up, or lay them down. If you need to wake up your newborn, don’t startle them by jostling or shaking them. Instead, gently tickle their feet, softly blow on their cheek, or tenderly rub the side of their head while speaking softly and saying their name.

Relish time with your baby. Gently cradle him or her in your arms, and tenderly rub his or her back using slow, wide circles. Or, caress your baby soothingly as you rock them.

Talk in a low, comforting tone, or quietly sing to them. When eye contact is made smile, even if you aren’t sure whether or not their eyesight has developed enough yet to see clearly.

At Savvy Baby Gear.com we care about you and your child! That is why we offer the very best in baby-related items, as well as child development tools, and articles of interest for parents of young children. Visit http://www.savvy-baby-gear.com today.

While it is true the importance of proper baby care (bathing, adequate nutrition, a safe, clean environment, play and nap time, and comfortable, warm clothing) cannot be over emphasized, neither can the healthy-bonding process between parent and child and the importance of touch.

Both vital ingredients that say, “You are loved!”

Lori S. Anton
Savvy Baby Gear editor
Writers Write Now

Lori Anton has been a published writer for 30 years. She is founder of Writers Write Now. She is also an editor for Savvy Baby Gear at Savvy Baby Gear your one-stop shop for everything today’s parents of infants need: clothes, educational and fun toys and activities, care and safety products, clothing, nursery supplies, and educational aids for mom and dad…essentials for happy babies and parents.

[first time parenting]

As your child grown from infant to toddler and beyond, you will find you are constantly thinking in the back of your head ” Is everything safe around my child?”. Here is a quick list to help you get organized and childproof your home. Remember at times, when the child gets in the medicine cabinet or drinks half a bottle of shampoo. We all have been there. You are a good parent and enjoy the journey of being a parent.

Car Seats:
1)Make sure the brand has a good safety record.

2)I also recommend it is a carseat that you can easily wash and confortable for the little one.

3)5 point safety harness.

4) ALWAYS buckle your infant or child. Also make sure if they are going to be with someone else that they know how to work the carseat properly and that they know you expect the child to be buckled.

Burns:
1)Buy wash to add to your first aid kit for burns.

2)The best thing to do on a 2nd degree or 3rd degree burn is to get a rag of cold water place on the wound and get to the hospital. Do not put anything on the burn.

3) Clean burns with soap and water.

4) Keep burns very clean! Look for streaking. If you see red marks around the burn call your doctor.

Outlets
1) Make sure you have plug protectors in the electrical outlets

Changing Table
1) Make sure the safety belt is installed correctly

2) Make sure your supplies are within reach. Dont leave the baby by himself.

Blinds
1) Make sure ALL blind cords are out of reach for the child. Also make sure drapers are out of reach.

Smoke Detectors
1) Make sure all detectors work.

2) Make sure you have smoke and carben monoxide detectors installed in the house. I recommend you put one in every bedroom.

Medicine
1) Make sure you have child resistant caps on the bottles

2) Put them in a rubbermaid container or a box that you can lock.

3) Find thenumber for your Poison Control Center. Keep this number by medication plus on the refrigerator.

Car:
1)Never leave your child in the car while you go pay for gas. Never leave a running vehicle with them in it also. You never know when one will figure a way to “move” your car for you. My neighbors 3 year old son did this to her.

2) Check to see if your car has child safety locks

3) Lock the door while you are driving

4) If you have the windows down make sure they have thier hands in before rolling them up.

5) Never put your child in the front seat if you have air bags.

6) Always wear seatbelts.

Always think about the saftey of your child.

Article by:

Chaele is a mother of three. She owns Mom State University (www.momstateuniversity.com)

[babyproof]

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