Baby is home for the first time and now you have a brand new family of three. So many new things come to mind on how you both will raise your child. You can buy books on parenting and take advice from your friends who are parents, but you’re still bound to make mistakes. Don’t worry, these little ones are pretty resilient. Beyond that here’s a few common mistakes that can be easily overcome as you raise baby.
1. Hovering Parent – One of the most common mistakes new parents make is trying to comfort their child every time they start crying. After all, when we hear our children crying it’s natural to assume something is wrong and impulsively want to help our child. But, most times we need to realize that crying is just a normal part of being a newborn baby. If a parent coddles their child every time they cry, they risk making baby dependent on coddling, as they get older. So, if you’ve checked their diaper, gave them a good feeding and burped them, then you may want to let your child just cry until they tire and fall off to sleep. We cannot solve all of our children’s problems not even when their new borns. The hard fact is parents and children need to begin to realize that.
2. Car Seat Safety – Another mistake parents make is not properly installing a car seat for their baby. This is actually a mistake that can get them a citation by the police if they happen to see it. Make sure to consult with the store clerk or manufacturer so you can learn the best practice for proper car seat installation.
3. Feeding and Sleeping – When it comes to breastfeeding a newborn, moms often wake their baby in the middle of the night for feeding. This is an OK practice for the first couple of weeks, but soon you should start allowing baby to sleep through the night. It’s also best to get your own rest. You need it to remain strong and healthy so you can provide proper nourishment. So, try to feed while baby is awake during the day. Then, before you go to sleep offer one final feeding before bed and try to get your sleep.
4. Bond Your Way – Sometimes caring for your newborn can cause some heated debate in the home. Dad may want to do it one way and mom may have another method. But with everything you do, whether it’s feeding, changing a diaper or wrapping baby up for nap, the most important part for the child is quality time with her parents. So, although your styles may differ, don’t concern yourself with “how” things are done. There is always more than one way to do something. Allow each of you to have your own personal way to love on baby. This will make for a much stronger bond with your new born and much more peace in the home.
5. Seek Good Advice – Be sure to get parenting advice from reliable sources. Even though the internet allows us easy access to information, not all of the information is legitimate or accurate. Sites like Wikipedia may offer information, but those articles are usually written and edited by just anyone from the general public. Therefore, you should always verify what you find there against other reliable sources. Try websites like WebMD, American Academy of Pediatrics and the Federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and us, of course. And be sure to check your own pediatrician before trying anything you learn from the internet or even trusted friend. When it comes to baby’s health, it’s always good to be thorough.
Like we said before, these newborns are rather resilient. You may not get it perfectly right every time or even very often, but your love and care will see you baby through. Children have been raised in times when technology and information was very scarce if none at all, and somehow moms and dads still did it. You can to, so don’t worry baby will be walking out the door for college before you know, try to enjoy these times while there is still time.
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