There can be no greater joy or delight than becoming a parent. Becoming a mother means to become responsible and a caring parent to fulfill the needs of the newborn. When it comes to parenthood, nurture and nourishment of the newborn become the priority and the baby requires a lot of attention and focus as well.
So, if you happen to be a new mom, it’s possible you might feel overwhelmed or a bit hesitant to fulfill the duty of the mother. However, a few tips and tricks can help you to handle your baby well and to manage the daily nursing, soothing and cleaning respectively.
1. Pacify the Wailing Infant:
If your baby starts to cry, then it means it needs to become more comfortable. You just have to pat its back in the rhythm of the heartbeat. This will help the baby to burp quickly and relax if it is crying out of insecurity. Yet, if the newborn is still crying you can try the 5 calming moves suggested by the famous Dr. Harvey Karp. They include swinging the baby from side to side, shushing, swaddling, and holding it on the side.
2. It Is Not Necessary To Be Silent Near A Sleeping Baby
Though it may sound strange, the reality is you don’t need to be quiet while the newborn is sleeping at any time. The newborns are used to the noise, so don’t worry much. You can manage your household chores like cleaning, washing dishes, and even watch television if you like. You can vacuum the baby’s room when it is sleeping, it won’t affect its nap time and it will be well-rested when it wakes up.
3. Prepare Your Newborn to Latch:
When it’s time for the baby to eat, it means that you will be breastfeeding it for a good amount of time. It may happen that you’ll have latch-on issues when breastfeeding your child, but there is a solution for it. You can use a breast shield to help with the process conveniently.
4. Manage your Time Well
You will notice after a few weeks that your newborn’s nights and days become predictable. This means you can focus on yourself and other important routine tasks. You can reduce your stress levels by preparing your food first and then making everything ready for your hungry baby as well. As soon as the first feeding is over, you can begin prepping for the next one.
5. Keeping the Infant Awake During Nursing Time:
Eating adequately and efficiently is vital for your newborn. Some parents try to manage the cheek of the baby t stimulate him or her to eat quickly. You and your husband can do the same trick when your baby is eating sleepily or slowly. When the babies eat sufficiently, they sleep well and for a longer time which will help you to rest well remain comfortable.
However, if you are having trouble breastfeeding, where the milk supply is not adequate, then it’s time to take some measures. One of the solutions to express breast milk more easily is to try warm compressing. This means using a heating pad or a warm and wet washcloth over the breast to clear the blocked duct inside. You can even use a flax pillow that is often sold with some natural beauty products. You can heat the pillow in the microwave and then place it over your breast.
6. Help Your Baby Bond With Dad:
Apart from you, you have to make sure that the newborn spends some time with its dad. His voice and touch are different so the binding process has to begin early. Just leave the baby alone with its father for a few minutes after it has been fed. If you happen to be nearby, ensure that the baby can’t hear or see you. When the baby spends more time with its dad, it will enable him to receive comfort apart from you, too, and will appreciate the presence of your partner.
7. Bath Time:
You can give your newborn proper bath after his umbilical cord falls off by the third week after birth. During the bath, you should put a warm washcloth on its tummy to make it feel comfortable and warmer so that it does not cry.It’s important to mind the temperature of the room where you will bathe the baby, so it’s best to turn the heat on before the bath.
8. Sleeping Trick
In the initial few weeks, the babies find it tough to sleep well or to sleep right after being fed. So, you can try rubbing the nose of your baby gently as it will make him fall asleep more easily. You can begin from the top of the nose, and stroke it smoothly down to the tip three or four times. This technique has surely worked for many parents across the globe.
9. Crib Comfort
The newborn will try to sleep with you or over you for many days. If you try to make her sleep in the crib, it will wake up for sure because it enjoyed your warmth and felt comfortable. However, you can try wrapping a blanket around a heating pad and then leave it to warm the crib while you feed the baby. When the baby falls asleep, you can remove the blanket so that he snuggles right into the bassinet.
10. Let the Baby Adjust Itself
Grandparents and close relatives are always full of tips or suggestions on how to handle the baby. To a certain extent that is fine, however, once your baby begins to settle with the routine, avoid any big changes. Since you the one who is dictating the schedule, it is wiser to stay put with it. When the baby learns to stick with your schedule, it will be much healthier and happier during feeding time and sleeping time as well.
