Baby Parenting Tip
“Take a baby parenting tip or two from those who know.”
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Newest Articles
A new baby is a source of joy. But for a new parent who doesn’t have all the answers, ensuring her well-being can sometimes be a source of stress as well.
A Little Shut-Eye
The average newborn sleeps a lot; up to 18-20 hours a day, according to experts. But after the first two to four weeks, she begins to have longer wakeful periods.
Unfortunately, typical babies continue their evening wakings for quite some time (between three and eight more months), leaving you awake, overtaxed and overtired.
One essential tip is to make your infant’s nighttime wakings as non-stimulating as possible. In fact, you should aim for a nighttime atmosphere that is downright boring, baby experts say.
Your baby is less likely to come fully awake if the atmosphere is quiet and non-stimulating. Be sure to keep your face neutral and your voice quiet. Over time, she should wake less frequently during the night and for shorter periods of time since there is nothing exciting to be awake for.
Another baby parenting tip that can be a help to new parents seeking a little shut-eye is to have a regular bedtime for your baby. Give baby a bath, read her a book, brush her teeth gently if she has them yet and then put her down with a cheerful “Night-night!”.
Whether or not she cries and you decide to pick her up after this time, you are beginning to establish the idea that bedtime is quiet time and that there is a clear definition between day, which is active, and night, which is a time for rest.
Perhaps the best sleep-related baby tip is to nap when your baby does. For working parents, this may be impossible on certain or most days, but on weekends or your day off, tag-team with your spouse or a good friend with nap-taking turns for the grownups. You’d be surprised how little sleep it can take to take the edge off your grumpiness and make you feel like yourself again.
Food for Thought
Given its biological necessity, it’s surprising that food should be a source of stress for either parents or babies. Yet for some mysterious reason (or perhaps a combination of several reasons), the “food wars” have been fought--and not always won--by parents of every culture and every generation.
One important baby parenting tip to keep in mind when mealtime stress hits is that eventually, everyone gets hungry, and this includes babies. If your baby is not yet eating solid foods, rest assured that unless she looks dehydrated, she is probably getting enough fluids, and if she is gaining weight appropriately, she is receiving enough calories.
Important note: Always consult a pediatrician to determine that your infant’s growth and hydration are on schedule.
Once you know your baby is healthy, stop worrying about the actual quantity of food she is receiving. Instead, focus on making mealtime as stress-free as possible. This is particularly important if you are breastfeeding, as your body will respond positively or negatively to your emotions. You and your baby both deserve a strife-free feeding experience.
If your baby is older and has begun solid foods (the current recommendation among pediatricians is a minimum of six months of age), continue the idea of food being fun. Don’t set the stage for your baby digging her heels in before you’ve even opened the baby food jar and handed her the spoon.
If she hates peas, let her eat cereal instead; if she dismisses the yams she so eagerly ate only yesterday, give her apples or green beans instead. Up until the age of 12 months, babies receive the majority of their calories and nutrition from breast milk and/or infant formula. The actual nutritive content of her solid foods are not important yet; the experience of eating without needing to oppose, is.
Most of all, keep this baby parenting tip in mind: Babies grow up. She may awaken three times a night now and spit out apple sauce as if it‘s poison--but soon enough, your baby will outgrow both stages, only to go through new ones. Get rest whenever possible and be refreshed and happy for a brand-new day with your baby, every day.
If you have a baby parenting tip, share it with other parents.
Return to the top of Baby Parenting Tip, Baby Parenting, or Parenting Advice.
.
