The joy of a new baby is undeniable, but ensuring a smooth transition for you and your child is essential. You’ll also have to give some attention to your child’s eating and sleeping habits and schedules if you want them to grow up healthy. Check out the tips below to know more about the essentials.
1. Exposure to Germs
Always assess where your baby is going. Bear in mind how you can limit your newborn’s exposure to germs, from places like nursery centers to friends’ and family members’ houses. For example, you can avoid bringing your baby’s belongings like toys to a daycare center where they can possibly catch additional unknown infections. It’s also a good idea to stay away from any crowds for the first two months after your child’s birth.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that in the first 24 months of life, your toddler may experience up to ten colds. Making your baby stay away from socializing and playing because you’re overthinking about germs can backfire since infrequent germ exposure can help them build a stronger immune system. Hence, you must learn to build a well-balanced approach.
2. Homemade Baby Food
According to research, it has been shown that newborns are more open to sampling new meals than their older siblings; this is because they are still developing their palates. From the minute they first pick up a spoon, we should give our newborns fresh, delightful, and natural varieties of food.
If the meal is created from fresh, whole ingredients and nothing else, then that’s much better for the overall health of your child. Homemade baby food is often much healthier than commercially processed food. After rigorous scientific research, it has been proven that some famous brands are allegedly selling baby food tainted with lead; all parents should do their best to avoid pre-processed food in order to ensure their child’s wellbeing, as malicious ingredients can be life-threatening when ingested continuously. Cooking in large quantities saves money over purchasing individual servings. Another benefit of making your own baby food is that you can regulate the quality of the components. It appears that making baby food at home is the best choice!
3. Understanding The Sleeping Pattern
New parents are mostly astonished to hear that their infant, who seems to want them all the time, sleeps for up to 16 hours or more a night. Newborns usually sleep for 2 to 4 hours at a time, but this might vary. Do not anticipate them to sleep through the night, as their digestive systems are so little that they require nutrition every few hours, and should wake up if they haven’t been nursed for 4 hours.
In addition, your baby should be sleeping through the night at around 6 months of age. Yet, If your child doesn’t sleep through the night (between 6 and 8 hours) at 3 months of age, it’s not a problem as long as your baby is gaining weight and looks healthy. Then, don’t worry if your child hasn’t slept through the nighttime at the age of 3 months.
To lessen the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, known as SIDS, newborns should always be put to sleep on their backs. Sharing a room with parents for the first 6 to 12 months of an infant’s life is also a safe habit, as long as the newborn isn’t smothered by quilts, pillows, or any plushies. To avoid the formation of a flat area on one side of your baby’s head, be sure to alternate their sleeping positions from time to time.
Days and nights might become muddled up for many babies. At night, they are more attentive and awake, while at daytime they are more tired. Keeping them calm at night is one method to help them, you can try to maintain low light levels by using a nightlight or similar device. During the afternoon, converse and play with your infant. By talking and playing with your baby when they are awake throughout the day, you may keep them alert for a longer period.
4. Dressing Your Baby Right
Another thing you must ensure as a parent is that your infant is well-clothed, which may be a little warmer than you are. Keep in mind that wearing too many layers might lead to dehydration, which in turn increases the chance of being ill. It’s important to find the right balance, so consult your child’s pediatrician or other health care provider about how many layers to wear in different climates.
As a new parent, you’ll get a lot of advice from other individuals. Yet, what works for one family may not suit you and your baby, therefore, it’s vital to keep in mind that what succeeds for one family may not work for another. Being confident in your abilities to care for a newborn requires patience and experience.
