First Time Parents Tips

He has survived nine long months of pregnancy. Has overcome the nerves of the birth and the birth of her first baby. And now she has to leave the hospital or maternity clinic to start their new life at home with the newborn. But when closing the doors of the hospital behind you, Be aware that it still has much to learn and insecurity pervades!

If this is your first child, this article will find recommendations on how to help burping the baby, how to bathe, how to establish a link with him and other aspects related to the care of young.
Asking for help after childbirth

You may want to ask family and friends who miss him a hand during the days immediately after delivery. While in hospital, benefit from the experience of having people around him. Many hospitals have feeding specialists in neonatal nursing and that can help you begin to breastfeed or to give the baby a bottle. Nurses are also an excellent source of information to indicate how best to sustain, transport, to burp, change diapers and take care of the baby.

Once at home, you can either irle hire a nanny who has experience with babies, or any responsible couple in her neighborhood who offers to do kangaroo, for help during the first weeks of baby's life. Relatives and friends also can help you. Probably be willing to help, and while you may disagree with them on certain things, do not underestimate their experience. Anyway, if you are not wanting to receive visits or forces or have other concerns, not culpabilice to establish certain restrictions on visits.
Manipulating the newborn

If you have not connected much with babies, you might be intimidated by its fragility. Here are some basic rules to consider:

* Be careful to hold the head and neck of the baby. When you take the baby in her arms, make sure you hold either the head and neck, and do the same when you incorporate it out of the crib or lay.
* Be careful not to ever shake the baby, is playing or frustration. Vigorously shaking a baby can cause a brain haemorrhage and even death. If you need to wake the baby, do not let them shake-tickle on the feet gently on the cheek or sóplele smoothly.
* Make sure your baby is securely attached when you take the seat, the carrier, the stroller seat or the safety car. Limit car rides or any activity that is too abrupt or involves shaking or bouncing to the baby.
* Remember that the newborn is not yet ready to play "a gross," so as not to throw your mind through the air, make the "horse" or the like.

Techniques to promote the formation of the bond with the baby and to reassure

Establish a bond with your baby will probably be one of the most pleasant little care. The "training bond" is a concept introduced two pediatricians Klaus and Kennell, in the late seventies. Suggested that a sensitive period, from the first hours and days after birth, during which it is important that parents establish a link with the baby. Physical contact between parent and baby during this time helps to create an emotional connection between them (bond formation). The resulting attachment allows parents to make the sacrifices necessary to take care of the baby.

The attachment also facilitates the emotional development of infants who, in turn, affects their development in other areas such as physical growth. Another way of viewing the formation of the link and attachment is consistent as a "love" the baby. Children who do not have a parent or other adult who love unconditionally are more likely to have serious problems when ripe.

To begin to establish such a link so important to your baby, the little place in your lap and gently acaríciele in different ways. If you and your partner take him in her arms and caress frequently, the baby will soon learn to distinguish between caressing each. They should also establish a contact skin to skin "with the newborn, so baby's skin comes into direct contact with it while you rock or feed.

Babies, especially premature babies and those with medical problems, often respond positively to infant massage. Medical research has shown that certain types of massage to relax babies and help to form the link between parents and children, while improving the digestive process and the growth of babies. Infant massage was introduced in the U.S. in the seventies following the work of Vimala Schneider McClure, from India, found that first-hand the beneficial effects of the massage. There are many books and videos that deal with infant massage, talk to your child's pediatrician to recommend a massage that suits both their characteristics and the baby. Anyway, remember that babies are not as strong as adults, so that when giving the massage to the small, proceed with great delicacy and softness.

In general, babies love to listen to vocal sounds, for example, they talk, babble, sing or lull. Perhaps your baby also likes listening to music. Try several different types of music to identify their preferences. The rattles and musical mobiles are other ways to stimulate an infant's hearing. If your baby seems restless or nervous, try to sing lullabies and nursery rhymes, poems to recite or read while you rock gently.

Some babies are particularly sensitive to touch, light or noise. These babies are crying and shock easily, sleep less than usual and / or turn your face away when someone speaks or sings them. In these cases it is desirable to maintain low noise and light.

Make a well adjusted lullaby is another way to soothe a baby that you, as a first time parent, you should learn. When the body is wrapped in a baby blanket or a sheet, the arms are left stuck to the trunk and legs tight. This not only ensures that the small is good warm, but also the pressure of the blanket on her body seem to help them feel secure and comfortable. Here's how to make a lullaby:

* Spread the sheet or blanket and fold inwards a small portion of a corner.
* Lay the infant face up with his head on the fold.
* Wrap the baby's body to the left corner of the blanket and finish securing the end of the blanket under the body of the young.
* Fold the bottom corner of the blanket up on the baby's feet.
* Wrap the baby's body with the right corner of the blanket, leaving the head and neck exposed.

Diapers-what should and should not do

Probably, before taking the baby home, you will have decided whether to use disposable diapers or cloth. Regardless of the type of diapers you use, you will need to switch about 10 times a day or 70 a week.

Before changing diapers for the baby, make sure you have everything you need to avoid having to leave the baby alone in the changer. Need:

* A clean diaper
* Pins (if you use cloth diapers)
* Special cream for your intimate parts, if the baby has nappy rash
* A bowl or basin with warm water
* Cotton balls
* A clean washcloth or glove is soft, or disposable cloths.

After each deposition or if the baby has wet the diaper, acuéstelo face up and remove the dirty diaper. Use water, cotton balls and disposable towel or cloth to gently wipe the baby's genital area. If the baby is male, use caution when removing the diaper, since the contact with air may make you urinate. If female, wipe from front to back to avoid urinary tract infections. If the baby has a rash in the area that is in contact with the diaper (known as diaper dermatitis), put cream on the affected area. Do not ever forget to wash your hands after each diapering.

Diaper dermatitis is quite common. This rash usually disappears red granite with a hot bath, a little cream and leaving the baby without diapers for some time to getting the air in the affected area. In most cases, this rash occurs because the baby's skin is very sensitive and becomes irritated when in contact with the wet diaper. If you give your baby juice, his stool could become acidic and cause a rash. To prevent or treat diaper dermatitis, follow these tips:

* Change diapers frequently to the baby, especially not late to change it after the stools.
* After cleaning the area with soap and water or a disposable cloth, apply a cream or ointment "barrier" on the affected area. The ointment containing zinc oxide are better because they form a barrier against moisture.
* If you use cloth diapers, wash them with detergent containing no dyes or perfume.
* Leave the baby completely naked during the day to give the air and can "breathe" the skin.

If the nappy rash persists for more than 3 days, call your pediatrician, could be caused by a fungal infection to be treated with a specific drug.
Toilet: fundamentals

Should be clean without bathing the baby until:

* He was the umbilical cord falls (1-4 weeks)
* You cure the foreskin, if it is male and I have surgically removed (1-2 weeks)
* Keep the belly button healed completely (1-4 weeks)

During the first year, you only need to bathe the baby two or three times a week. If you bathe more often, you could dry the skin.

Before bathing or grooming the baby out of the tub, make sure you have the following:

* A towel or a glove soft and clean
* Baby soap and shampoo soft and non-perfumed
* A soft brush to stimulate the baby's scalp
* Towel or blanket
* A basin or a bathtub full of water babies warm, not hot (check water temperature with your elbow or wrist). Bañerita a baby is a plastic tub that can be placed inside the tub, and better adapted to the size of the baby, makes the bathroom.
* A clean diaper
* Clean clothes

To clean the baby when they can not bathe, pick a heated room and a flat surface, like the changing table, soil or SUPPORT of the kitchen. Completely naked baby. Start by cleaning the eyes with wet washcloth in water only, starting with one eye and move the commissure from inside to outside. Use a clean corner of the washcloth to clean the other eye. Then clean the nose and ears. Then, rinse the washcloth wet and back, this time in water with some soap, wash your face gently and dry them and then acláresela. Then a bit of foam pouring shampoo especially for babies in the basin with clean water, gently enjabónele head and then acláresela. During the cleaning, pay particular attention to the folds to be formed in the armpits, behind the ears, neck and genital area. After asearlo, be sure to dry well before putting a clean diaper and clothing.

When baby is ready to swim, the first baths should be gentle and brief. If your baby seems very upset, then asearlo outside the bañerita for a week or two before attempting to bathe again.

As regards to the toilet itself, once you've stripped the baby, place it in water immediately so they do not take cold. Hold the head with one hand and place it in the bañerita with the other, starting with the feet. Go habándole will gently while slowly lowering the body until it is fully inserted into the bañerita. Use a glove or a washcloth to wash his face and head. Then, with your fingertips or a brush for the hair especially for babies, masajéele the scalp, including the area covering the fontanelles. When you clarify the soap or shampoo, ahueque the hand on the baby's face to prevent him from soap in my eyes. After the bath, immediately wrap in a towel from head to toe. Special wipes or baby bathrobes, fitted hood, go very well for either the baby warm after bathing.

Never leave a baby alone in the tub. If you need to leave the toilet, wrap in a towel and take it with you.
The care of the foreskin and umbilical cord

Immediately after the removal of the foreskin, usually the glans (tip of the penis) the baby is covered with a gauze impregnated with petroleum jelly to prevent the diaper from adheres to the wound. When you change the diaper the baby, clean the glans gently with warm water. The redness and irritation of the penis should send in a few days, but if you increase the redness or inflammation and / or pus-filled blisters form, you may be infected wound, so you should immediately call the pediatrician.

The care of the newborn umbilical cord is also important. To avoid infection, some pediatricians recommend disinfecting the area with alcohol or other antiseptic on each diaper change until the cord dries and falls off, usually after 10 days or 3 weeks. The baby's navel area should not be immersed in water until then. Before you discard, the umbilical cord will change color from yellow to brown or black. This is normal. However, you should consult with a pediatrician if the baby's navel area becomes red, it starts to smell bad or suppurativa.
Help feed and burp the baby

The first decision to be taken in regard to infant feeding decisions is whether you prefer to give the breast or bottle. Once you have made this decision, you may be surprised how often they need to feed their newborns. In general, we recommend feeding the baby when it seems to be hungry, what is known as "power on demand." Your baby will tell you that crying is hungry, taking their fingers in their mouths or to broadcast the sounds that occur when you suck.

A newborn baby may need feeding every 2 hours or maybe more often. If you have opted for breast-feeding, let the baby nurse on each breast for about 10 to 15 minutes. If you have opted for artificial feeding, it is likely that the baby ingested between 50 and 90 ml of infant milk in each shot.

Some parents have to wake up their babies every few hours to make sure they are eating enough. Call your pediatrician if your baby needs to wake up often or if he shows no interest in the breast or bottle.

If you've opted for the bottle, it's easier to know if the small is eating enough, but if you breastfeed, you may have doubts about whether you are drinking enough milk. If your baby seems satisfied, about six wet diapers and defecate several times a day, sleeps well and is gaining weight regularly, it's likely you're eating enough. Talk to your pediatrician if you have any questions about the growth or pattern of feeding your baby.

Babies often swallow air during the shots, which may cause them concern. You can avoid this by helping to burp the baby frequently. If you get a bottle, burp ever help him to take between 50 and 90 ml of milk. If you get the chest, help him burp every time you change your breast. You can use any of the following:

* Place the baby upright on your lap and support the head on his shoulder. Hold your head and back with one hand while giving him gentle pats on the back with your other hand.
* Feel the baby in her lap. Fasten the chest and head with one hand and gently wipe the back with the other.
* Lay the baby facedown on your lap. Support them in the head fold of the elbow of one of his arms and use hands to be free to give gently patting or rubbing his back.

If the baby did not burp after a few minutes, making terminated. Then, try to make you burp again and keep it upright for 10 to 15 minutes to prevent regurgitate milk.
The dream: fundamentals

As a first time parent, you may be surprised that her baby, who appeared to need every minute of every day, in fact, spent about 16 hours or more a day sleeping. Usually, babies sleep for periods of 3 to 4 hours. Do not expect your newborn to sleep all night because your digestive system is so small that you need to eat frequently, and you should wake him if he has been 5 hours without eating.

How can you expect from when the baby sleeps through the night at a stretch? About 90% of babies sleep through the night (between 6 and 8 hours) at 3 months of age, but if yours does not, do not worry. Like adults, babies need to establish their own pattern and sleep cycle. If your baby is gaining weight normally and looks good, do not worry if after 3 months still does not sleep all night at a stretch.

It is important that the infant on her back to sleep to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). You should also remove any soft object and / or padding of the baby's crib, including quilts, comforters, stuffed animals, cushions, pillows or cushions. When the baby bed to sleep, should also make sure to change the position of the head, alternating between right and left side in consecutive nights, so you are not flatten one side of the head.

While far enough to manipulate it to her newborn, in a few weeks will have their own routine and pamper you like a true professional. If you have questions or doubts, call the pediatrician, he can clarify many things and provide a list of centers in your area where they can advise and help you and your baby grow together.