Learning begins immediately after a child is born. An infant takes in every interaction and experience around them, which in turn affects their brain development. Proper infant care requires input from not only the caregivers but also the physicians. Family physicians have in- depth knowledge about the health complications that affect infants. If you are living in Colorado, you should visit a Westminster family physician who is highly trained and has specialized in infant and child care.
Infant care for first-time parents can be overwhelming, mainly due to the fear of making mistakes. In this article, I provide some excellent tips that will help first-time parents feel confident about infant care.
Consider Getting In-Home Help After Birth
Once parents leave the hospital, the responsibility of taking care of a newborn finally dawns on them. Therefore, if you can afford it, you may hire a postpartum doula or baby nurse to help you with bottle feeding. You should ask your doctor to recommend organizations that offer in-home help. Additionally, you could ask your family members and friends for help.
Basics For Handling A Newborn
You must always wash your hands before handling a newborn baby. Remember, they have a weak immune system and are therefore susceptible to infections.
Always make sure that you support the baby’s neck and head when carrying it and when laying your baby’s head down.
You should never shake your baby. Shaking their head can lead to bleeding in the brain or even worse death. If you are trying to wake your baby, tickling their feet always works.
An infant is very delicate, so you must make sure you always fasten your baby’s car seat or pram. Additionally, avoid walking or passing through rough terrain than could lead to frequent bouncing.
When diapering your newborn, make sure you have all the supplies close by. Make sure to wipe their bottoms to prevent infections correctly.
You should begin giving your baby sponge baths during the first few weeks. Remember to never leave your infant alone in the tub to prevent them from falling and getting hurt.
Building A Secure Attachment Bond With Your Baby
An attachment bond is the emotional ties between you and your baby. It involves creating a healthy and secure environment to promote early childhood development. The secure attachment bond consists of communicating with the baby, establishing trust between you and your baby as well as teaching the baby to love themselves and others.
A secure attachment bond is also suitable for parents as it helps them deal with the fatigue and stress experienced during parenting. Parents must, therefore, take care of themselves to be able to offer the best care for their infants.
They can do this by ensuring they get enough sleep, teaming up, and also scheduling some time away from their newborn to help them parent more effectively. Parents need to try and understand their baby’s cues. Each baby is different with their preferences and personality. It’s safe to say that there’s no single formula for successful parenting.
Parents should, therefore, examine how their baby communicates and try to understand what each expression could mean. Some of the signs that show that your baby is communicating with you include tightly closing their eyes, frantic movements, curling up fists as well as an arched back.
Parents should become familiar with their children’s sounds to know when they are hungry or in pain. Also, pay attention to the kind of sounds and motion your baby enjoys. Some babies enjoy music, while others prefer rocking.
