The joys and challenges of life with your new baby
While
you have imagined what life would be like with this addition to your
family, you may not have anticipated that a baby could really be so
much work. It is a 24/7 job and you are always on call. Call upon the
assistance of family and friends as you work around the clock to take
care of and love your baby. Whether you are a first-time parent, or
bringing a new brother or sister home, you may find a valuable reminder
list of what to do and expect during the first year of life.
Surviving the joyful, magical, exhausting first year of your baby's life
* Help your baby develop a sleep routine. Create a sleep
time ritual. This includes keeping naptime and bedtime at a consistent
time each day.
* Learn as much about your
baby as you can. Find out which skills your baby will
develop and when. Spend time observing the way he looks at the world
and how he responds. Is he shy? Curious? Able to let you know when he
is tired or has had enough? This will help you understand all his
behaviors.
* Remember, every child is
unique. Be sure to follow your baby's lead to figure out
the best way to comfort, play, and communicate with him. While you may
have had experiences with other children, refrain from thinking that
your baby will respond in the same way as another. Even siblings in the
same family are different from each other, and these differences can be
seen as early as birth.
* Make family time a
priority. Play with and read to your baby every day. Plan time each day
to spend with your other children, if you have others, and let them
know that you love them equally. With a newborn, don't expect too much
from yourself. Housework may need to wait while you take
care of your family.
* When you have
questions, ask. Even when you know your child well, you may
still have questions and concerns. Ask your pediatrician when you need
advice. Seek a friend or relative to give you help when you
are tired, frustrated or just need someone to talk to. It helps to
share those special moments, or those difficult days, with another
adult.
* Take care of yourself.
Eat a well-balanced diet, exercise, get regular medical checkups, and,
most importantly, try to get enough sleep! Accept offers from those you
trust to baby-sit and take an occasional break. When your child goes to
bed, take time for yourself to relax, nap, read a book, listen to
music, take a bath, or call a friend.
This article appears courtesy of OneToughJob.org, a parenting website owned and operated by the Massachusetts Children's Trust Fund.
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