Are you a father of a newborn baby? Read on to find tips for caring for and bonding with your newborn baby. It is common for a new mother to get overwhelmed with newborn care tips from people around her and for a new dad to just grope in dark. New dads too need newborn care tips. Here is a quick guide for new fathers to care for and bond with their newborn babies.
Holding Your Baby
The first thing you need to learn as a new father is how to hold the baby. Babies are very delicate and must be held with extreme care and caution. Nurses and doctors can guide you on how to hold your baby. Make it a point to always support the neck and head of the baby properly. Once you have this figured out, you can do things like play with him, carry him around, put him to sleep etc. Remember that babies love to be held.
When Your Baby Cries
It is possible that the baby may cry a lot immediately after birth as he is just getting accustomed to his surroundings. Babies cry due to a variety of reasons and your duty is to calm him down; you must do it patiently. Also try and find out why your baby is crying. Consult an elder relative if need be. Common reasons include hunger, sleepiness, soiled diapers, etc.
Sometimes babies may cry without any reason. In such a situation, try to distract the baby from whatever it is that is making him cry. Try playing with him gently but do not scare him with fast movements or loud noises. Once the baby is comfortable with you, he will respond quickly to your methods of consolation.
Bathing the Baby
Bathing a baby requires kid gloves. In Indian homes, the baby is usually washed by elder relatives or a hired nanny. If you do attempt to
bathe the baby, make sure that there is someone to supervise it the first few times. Be gentle, use the recommended baby products and make sure that the baby does not slip from your grip. Remember that babies are very uncomfortable with bathing and may squirm a lot, initially.
After bathing, dab the baby's body gently with a towel to dry him. Make sure you dry him properly to prevent colds. Then you can apply baby powder or baby oil so your baby feels fresh and comfortable. After this, you can put a diaper on him and dress him in clean clothes.
Changing Diapers
Contrary to popular belief,
changing diapers is not a science. You just need to know a few basic things to change diapers effectively.
1) Newborn babies soil diapers frequently, so make sure you pay attention to your baby. It is important that you change the diaper as soon as your baby soils it because leaving a soiled nappy on your baby can cause infections.
2) After you remove the soiled diaper, you must clean the genital area thoroughly and then use a gel or cream to prevent nappy rash.
3) Follow the instructions on the nappy wrapper to put it on your baby properly. Once you have done this, make sure that the nappy is not too tight or too loose.
That's it!
Putting Your Baby to Sleep
Babies have irregular
sleep patterns. Due to this, you may find yourself up at odd hours, trying to put your baby to sleep. Attending to your baby at night is as much your responsibility as it is the mother's. Do not always expect your wife to attend to the baby. You must understand that your wife too is recuperating after delivery, and needs her quota of rest.
Sometimes the baby may take time to fall asleep and it may be tiring for you after a long day at work. But remember that you must be patient and keep trying. Try and find out what is most effective at putting your baby to sleep. Different babies respond to different methods. Some babies fall asleep after a bit of playing, some fall asleep after a small bite to eat, and some babies even fall asleep on listening to gentle music.
It takes some time before your baby starts sleeping all night. Try to put him to sleep at the same time every night. Regulating your baby's sleep is good for both you and your baby, as he will sleep better and so will you.
Bonding With Your Baby
Bonding with the baby emotionally is no more the mother's domain alone. Fathers too have realized the importance of bonding with the baby.
Bonding sessions are good for both you and the baby. It helps you become comfortable with fatherhood and brings out the right instincts in you. Similarly, it helps your baby feel secure with you. The times you spend interacting with your baby will play a big role in the relationship you will share with him later.
Other Important Tips for Baby Care
1) Never smoke if your baby is in the room. Cigarette smoke can harm the baby greatly.
2) If you put your baby to sleep, do not cover him with a thick blanket. Always cover your baby with a light baby blanket. Ensure you do not cover the head.
3) Avoid letting your pet, if any, get close to the baby. You can never predict how animals will react to babies. Also, it is possible that your pet could pass on infections.
4) Do not let your baby sleep with a pacifier in the mouth.
5) Never leave baby care to your wife completely. It is important that you know all about baby care too. There are many dos and don'ts to baby care that fathers must be aware of, to avoid an unintentional error. Also, knowledge of baby care will keep you prepared in case of an emergency, for e.g., if your wife has to be away for a while.
6) Make sure that the baby's crib is in a safe, quiet place so that no loud sounds or lights will startle him.
7) Always be by your baby's side when somebody is visiting. This is to ensure that they do not harm the baby accidentally.
8) Take time out for your baby. Being a father is almost a full-time job, and it is vital that you spend time bonding and playing with him.
There are many new experiences that will come with a newborn baby. Feeding the baby, playing with him, travelling with the baby etc. can all be exciting times for you. Enjoy these moments with your newborn so that you have fond memories of the times you were a new father.
Did you recently have a baby with your wife? How well did you do as a new father? How much do you know about being a good dad to a newborn baby? To share your tips, views, and experiences, click here.
