Welcoming a baby into the world can be a delightful experience, but at the same time, it can also be quite stressful. If you want to make sure that you are not making your life harder than it has to be then all you have to do is take a look below, so you can effectively plan.
Get the Car Seat Ready
One of the first things you need to do is make sure that you have a car seat ready. Your newborn’s first car trip is quite the experience, but you do need to make sure that you have the right equipment and that you have the right clothing ready for them. Having rear-facing car seats installed is so important, and a lot of the time, the hospital must make sure that you have one. If you haven’t installed a car seat before or if you are new to the idea of car seats then it is so important that you take the time to plan out what you need for the baby. Remember that a newborn baby has never seen the outdoor world before, and they have also never felt the breeze of the wind. Make sure that you shield them from the wind and also make sure that you give them a hat as well. This will help you to keep them warm when you bring them home from the hospital, so be sure to keep that in mind.
A Safe Sleeping Space
Another thing you need to do is create a safe sleeping space for your baby. Newborns will sleep up to 17 hours a day, so you need to make sure that you account for this. You also need to make sure that you take into account what risks things like SIDS are. Based on extensive research, it is a good idea to make sure that your baby is sleeping on a firm surface and that it is flat. Having a crib or a bassinet is critical here. Before you make your investment, however, you may want to look into the bassinet age limit, so you can make sure that you are not overspending on something that isn’t going to last you. Make sure that you do not put any pillows or blankets in the bed either because if you do then this may end up disrupting their sleep, and it will also cause them to wake up more often too, which is the last thing you need.
Feeding
Another thing that is so important to consider, would be feeding. If your baby happens to arrive prematurely or if they have certain medical conditions then it may be that you need to do more scheduled feedings. Full-term newborns can easily be fed on demand and this is known as responsive feeding. How you end up feeding your baby is up to you, but there are some signs to look out for, including rooting, lip licking, or sticking their tongue out. You may also be noticing them getting more cranky as well. If you can educate yourself on signs like this then you will soon find that it is easier for you to not only help them but for you to make sure that you are always taking care of them.
Jaundice
You also need to look out for things like jaundice. Watch out for signs like this as it means that you may need to monitor them for another condition. Jaundice, although a very common condition in newborns, will gradually go away on its own. If you notice that yours doesn’t or if your baby seems to be declining in skin color then this is a sign that you need to get this checked out. Some babies have higher levels of bilirubin in their livers as it helps them to cleanse their bodies of toxins. Although again, this isn’t usually anything to worry about, you do have to remember that some cases are dangerous and you will need to make sure that you call your doctor if you aren’t sure of anything. If you can keep things like this in mind then you will soon find that it is easier than ever for you to not only give your child the help they need but also make your doctor aware that there may be an issue that needs looking at.
If you can keep things like this in mind then you will soon find that it is easier than ever for you to take care of your baby while having the confidence you need to feel empowered as a parent.
