Good Tips For Good Parenting

So, you are the parents of a new baby! Congratulations!! For those who planned ahead, it is likely that you have all the necessary items ready to use to welcome home your new bundle of joy. If not, the following list of items just might be helpful in making the transition to a new addition to the family a little easier.

* Diapers: More mothers are choosing to breastfeed their babies today. Should this be the case with you, keep in mind that most babies fed using the PDF method usually need a diaper change at each feeding time. This means that your baby will need about 6-8 diapers a day or more. Many new parents time the diaper changes with the after dinner bowel movement, but if you miss it, you will just have a few more diapers to change during the day.

* Diaper rash: This is not as uncommon as many would like to believe. If this is the case with your newborn, take heart. Sensitive skin is a common problem for some babies and they may get a diaper rash due to a food allergy, yeast infection, sitting too long in a wet or messy diaper, or teething. If you notice your baby beginning to get a diaper rash, talk to your pediatrician about which diaper rash medicine will work for your baby.

* Growth spurts: It is a fact that a newborn experiences its greatest growth spurt in its first year of life. Growth spurts can start as early as 10 days after your baby’s birth. Growth spurts usually are preceded by a sleepy, lethargic day and a big jump in appetite. Growth spurts may happen again at 3, 6, and 12 weeks and again at 4 and 6 months. If you begin to notice that your child is not as satisfied with the amount that you have been feeding them previously, then they may be beginning a growth spurt period. If you are breastfeeding, you may want to add a feeding or two to satiate your baby’s appetite and to help increase milk production.

* Immunizations: This word and the hot button issues that come with it call for careful consideration before moving one way or the other when making a decision regarding immunizing your baby. With all of the conflicting reports on immunizations, you may be unsure about whether or not you want your child to receive immunizations. If you are unsure, then it would be wise to do some research about the variety of immunizations available and to talk with your pediatrician to get their professional input as well.

* Pacifiers & thumb sucking: Again, if you choose to breastfeed your baby, it is not advised you allow your child to use you as their pacifier. If your baby seems to have a need to suck beyond eating, then you need to give them a pacifier. There is no “nipple confusion” between a breast nipple and a pacifier as they are very different in feel and taste. Babies will know the difference between the two. Some infants do not want a pacifier, but will suck on their thumb. If you don’t have a problem with it, then let them.

* Spitting up: Should you experience your newborn spitting up, it is very common, and some babies do it more than others. If your baby is growing normally, then there is no need to worry about it. However, projectile throwing up is not the same as spitting up. Projectile throwing up is a violent reaction to reject the contents of the stomach and not just “burping” up a little milk. If your baby does this frequently, consult your pediatrician.

Hopefully, this list of items and concerns will help you, the new parents, settle into one of the most wonderful life experiences known: a brand new addition to your family, the image of two.