Equality and Family Responsibilities: How to Share the Load

Equality and Family Responsibilities: How to Share the Load

March 11th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Whether you are a two-income family, or one is the breadwinner while the other stays home with the children, finding an equitable method of sharing the family responsibilities can be a challenge. All too often, one parent winds up feeling they are bearing most of the burden. It’s not long before a feeling of being overwhelmed and underappreciated can set in. Keeping family life running smoothly is a task best shared, and the best place to start is by sitting down and formulating a plan.

Take It Seriously

If your partner comes to you complaining of feeling overwhelmed, the first instinct might be a defensive reply outlining just how hard you are working too. That might be true, but try your best to see it from the other side. Especially in a family where one person works outside the home and the other stays with the kids, things really can get off-balance in a hurry. The working parent often feels that because they have to leave the house and earn a paycheck, they aren’t responsible for doing as much around the house.

Bear in mind that a stay at home parent isn’t just doing one job, but multiple jobs every day. The tasks of caring for children, keeping the house clean, preparing several meals a day, and running all the various necessary errands keep this parent who “doesn’t work” going from dawn until dusk. There are no weekends from this job, no vacations, and no sick days either.

If you both work outside the home, you will have a limited number of hours when you are at home to make sure all the household tasks get completed. Both partners need to do their fair share to keep one person from becoming overwhelmed.

Figure Out What Needs to Be Done

Make a detailed list of the daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. Include everything from emptying the dishwasher to taking the kids to check ups. Seeing all the tasks laid out in this manner makes it easier to see just how much there is to get done! Split it into categories: housework, childcare, and errands.

Once you have your list, divide it fairly. There may be some tasks more suited to one partner or the other, and there is nothing wrong with that. It makes sense for a stay at home parent to take the kids to their doctor’s visits. But there is no reason that both parents can’t take turns making dinner.

If there is a task your partner just really can’t stand doing, offer to take it on, but pass on one of your more hated chores in return. You could also decide on a monthly or weekly rotation of chores, so no one is stuck with the same jobs all the time. Don’t forget the kids! Even toddlers can take on a few small chores, and it’s never too early to start teaching responsibility.

Post the list of regular jobs and who is responsible for each in a visible place as a reminder that everyone is accountable for their fair share. You might want to purchase a white board so that the jobs can be changed according to a rotation, or erased when completed.

Compromise is the key to harmony in the home. You will find that everyone is a lot happier when no one feels overworked and underappreciated!

Great Games for the Youngest Babies

Great Games for the Youngest Babies

March 11th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Even in the earliest months, there are games you can play with your baby to engage, stimulate, and encourage development. While baby isn’t really ready yet for much in the way of toys, she is taking everything in and will soon start responding to your efforts to communicate. Simple games, although they start out one sided, are a great way to motivate those responses.

Remember when you are talking to and playing with your new baby, especially in the first three months, that her eyesight is still developing. She sees best from a distance of about a foot, and is best able to make out high contrast colors, especially black and white. So keep games up close and personal to allow baby to see what’s going on.

Making Faces

Young babies respond best to human faces. There is nothing they would rather look at, so using your face to play games with baby is a great way to get started. Start with the most basic baby game – peek-a-boo. First hide your whole face in your hands, then try hiding just half, covering one eye and then the other, or just your mouth or eyes. Next, drop down out of baby’s sight and then reappear.

Make different faces for baby by changing your expression, sticking out your tongue, and raising your eyebrows. You can combine this game with peek-a-boo by varying the expression on your face every time it reappears. Eventually, you will notice that she starts smiling or trying to imitate your expressions, but for the first few months she is just taking it all in. Don’t be disappointed if there isn’t as much reaction as you had hoped for; your baby is just too young yet to respond, but she is definitely paying attention.

A Little Anatomy Lesson

In the first months of life, your baby is just learning that he even has a body, never mind what to do with it. Discovering body parts like hands and feet are great fun for baby, and games that point out body parts are a great way to help baby locate and learn all about his own body.

A classic game like “This Little Piggy” is a great one for young babies. It’s best done with baby lying on his back, so his feet can be up in the air and within his range of sight. Kneel over him and grab each toe as you play the game. Stick with the traditional tale of the piggy that went to market and the one who stayed home, or make up your own words. Just make sure to include the grand finale, tickling your fingers up baby’s body!

Another simple anatomy game is to lay your baby on the floor and kiss each body part in turn, naming them as you go. Start at the feet and work your way up so you can finish by kissing his soft little cheeks and lips! This is a wonderful post-bath game when you can get at all those little parts before putting clothes on again!

Remember that your baby is learning even when he is very young and doesn’t appear to be involved in what’s going on. His developing mind is working overtime absorbing information and trying to make sense of it. Before long, baby will start playing his part in the games as well, and you will realize he was paying attention all along.

What to Ask when Choosing a Pediatrician

What to Ask when Choosing a Pediatrician

March 10th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Your child’s pediatrician will play an important role in her life from the day she is born. You will want to find someone you like, trust, and can depend on to listen to your concerns and always help you make the right decisions for your child’s health. Most pediatricians are available for prenatal interviews, to help you in your decision prior to baby’s birth. Asking the right questions will make it easier to narrow down the choices.

Where to Start

Choosing doctors to interview out of a phone book is both tedious and overwhelming. Rather than wasting your time, ask for recommendations from family, friends and your obstetrician. You can then shorten this list by checking it against your insurance company’s list to cut out any doctors not covered under your plan. You might also want to strike off the list any doctor who lives too far away from your home.

Questions to Ask About the Office

When you call to make an appointment with the doctor, you can get a few important questions out of the way over the phone. Important general things to know about the office:

  • What are the office hours, and do they offer any evening or weekend appointments?
  • Does the office have separate waiting rooms for well and sick children?
  • How far in advance do they require well-child visits to be made, and how quickly are they generally able to schedule a sick child?
  • Do they offer a 24-hour on call physician?
  • Do they have advice nurses available for questions, and will you also be able to speak to the doctor over the phone should you need to?
  • Do they have plentiful parking, and is it free?

When talking with the staff member who answers to phone you can learn a lot about the practice. If you don’t find them friendly and helpful over the phone, they aren’t likely to be that way in person. Think of this phone call as an additional screening tool.

Questions to Ask the Pediatrician

When you head out to meet with a potential doctor for your baby, it’s a good idea to write down a list of the questions you would like to ask. Think of questions that will help you to determine whether or not you and the doctor are on the same page when it comes to decisions about your child’s health. Here are some questions to consider:

  • What is the doctor’s view on topics like breastfeeding versus formula feeding, alternate vaccination schedules, circumcision and natural or alternative treatments?
  • What type of continuing education do they pursue to keep up on current research and treatments?
  • How long have they been practicing?
  • What hospital(s) are they affiliated with?
  • Do they generally come to the hospital to see the baby at birth or will you come to the office for the initial visit?
  • Will your child always see his own doctor, or will other doctors at the practice be involved in his care as well?

You can learn a lot from this initial visit to a potential pediatrician; not just from the answers to your questions, but from the doctor’s demeanor as well. Is the doctor friendly, responsive, and open to your questions? Did you feel you were heard and taken seriously? The way a doctor responds to you in this initial interview will likely be the same manner they display in visits with your child. If you didn’t feel comfortable, felt rushed or that your questions weren’t important, keep looking.

Finding the right doctor for your child might take some time and effort, but knowing you can trust this person with your child’s health is well worth it.

Fall for Fun: Great Autumn Activities!

Fall for Fun: Great Autumn Activities!

March 9th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Fall is a great season for family fun; the temperatures may be cooling off, but the great outdoors still has a lot to offer before winter sends us in to hide!

Gathering Fall Treasures

The cooler weather is great for getting out there and doing some hiking and exploring. Walk a nature path and examine the changes that the fall season is bringing. Gather fallen leaves and make a game of finding leaves from as many different trees as possible. Don’t lose them! You can bring them home for some fun autumn crafts. It’s also a great time to gather pine cones, also perfect for crafts.

Fall is pumpkin season, so find a pumpkin patch to explore! Let your kids choose their own pumpkin to turn into a jack-o-lantern. Look for a pumpkin patch that offers lots of fun family activities. Some have hayrides, farm animals for petting, corn mazes and more. It’s a perfect way to spend a fall day.

Pumpkins aren’t the only produce to go in search of in the fall. If you live in the right part of the country, you can go apple picking as well. Find a local orchard and pick your own apples. Take them home to bake an apple pie, dip them in caramel for a real fall treat, or just enjoy them as they are, fresh and delicious.

Fabulous Fall Crafts

Those treasures you gathered on your walk in the woods can be put to good use in some fun fall crafts. Leaves can be glued into a scrapbook, or used to make a colorful centerpiece for your table. Fill a clear vase with leaves to display them beautifully as a fall alternative to flowers.

Turn your pine cones into little animals; pull pipe cleaners through at the top and bottom, and twist them underneath to make two sets of legs. Then glue on craft eyes, and add various finishing touches to make different types of animals. A pig might have a curly pipe cleaner tail and perky felt ears. Add wings for a bird, or a cotton ball tail for a rabbit. The possibilities are endless.

Your kids will have fun making their very own scarecrow to watch over the yard. Bring it down to kid size by using outgrown baby clothes or old doll clothes. Put sticks through the arms and legs of the clothes, and stuff with leaves. A larger piece of wood will form a backbone to help your little scarecrow stand. Top it off with a miniature pumpkin for a head, and draw on a face with markers.

Get in the Game

Autumn is football season, and kids will really enjoy the fun of attending a game. Skip the expensive tickets for the pro teams and go support your local high school team instead. The smaller venue will give you a better view of the game, and the community camaraderie will warm the atmosphere even on a cool fall evening. Snacks and hot chocolate in a thermos complete a fun family night out.

You don’t have to be spectators all the time! Spend a fall afternoon in the back yard or at the park playing a friendly game as a family. Keep it safe for young kids by skipping the tackles and playing touch football instead. You’ll get some exercise and have a lot of fun at the same time.

Fall offers endless opportunities for fun with your children. Enjoy the outdoors before it gets too cold, and share the beauty and wonder of the changing natural world.

Super Games for Summertime Fun!

Super Games for Summertime Fun!

March 8th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

There is no season quite like summer for family fun. School is out, the sun is shining, and everyone is ready to get out and enjoy the warm weather. Keep your kids entertained all summer long with great games that keep them active and occupied. And don’t forget to get out there and play with them! You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy the summer, so grab the sunscreen and get out there.

Keep Your Cool

Not everyone has a pool in the backyard, but that shouldn’t keep you from cooling down and playing in the water. Turn your hose and small kid’s pool into your very own water park with a few simple adjustments.

Set up a small pool filled with water at the base of your play structure’s slide. Place the spout of the hose at the top of the slide and turn it on to create your very own waterslide. Add extra pizzazz by using a sprinkler next to the slide instead of the just the hose, giving kids a spray of water to slide through into the pool below.

Take a cue from a birthday party classic and make a summer pinata – only instead of candy, this piñata will shower down cooling water. You can make your own with a trash bag full of water suspended from a rope. Make your piñata prettier by using leftover orange trash bags from fall leaf collecting. Let the kids take turns being blindfolded and using a broom handle or stick to assault the bag until it bursts. Or, they can all go at it at once, and share in the downpour! Skip the blindfolds if you go this route, to make sure they don’t hit each other. For extra fun, add assorted waterproof prizes, such as small plastic toys.

Summer Sports

Summer afternoons were made for sports, and you don’t need to be an athlete to have fun. Nothing says summer more than a game of baseball. Get the family out to the park and take turns pitching and hitting. Or, simply play catch and get everyone in the game by playing in a circle, rather than back and forth between only two people.

No visit to the beach would be complete without a Frisbee. This classic beach toy is a must for family fun. Kids will have a blast chasing it through the sand and into the water too. In fact, there is nothing quite as cooling and fun as tossing a Frisbee around in the water. A diving catch is also a chance to take a dip and cool off! The family dog can join in this game as well, to your children’s delight.

Carnival at Home

Summer often brings a trip to the state or county fair, but you can have the same fun right at home. Turn your backyard into a carnival by setting up booths with fun games such as a ring toss, fishing game, and balloon-popping dart throw (save this one for older kids). Visit the dollar store for small prizes to award to the winners.

Put the finishing touches on your summer carnival with classic foods such as popcorn, hot dogs, corn dogs and cotton candy. And don’t forget the ice cream!

Summer days should be filled with memories your children will look back on fondly when they are grown. Make the most of your summer and head outside with the family for some of these classic summer games.

Keeping your Baby Healthy

Keeping your Baby Healthy

March 7th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Few things concern new parents more than the health of their baby. Although babies are delicate and have much weaker immune systems than adults, there are a few simple things you can do as a parent to ensure your baby stays healthy.

Baby’s Immune System

Newborns enter the world with no immunity to any of the many viruses and bacteria we come into contact with every day. They must build immunity over time, and the number one thing that you can do to help baby’s immune system grow stronger is to breastfeed. Breast milk, especially the early colostrum, contains antibodies your baby can’t get anywhere else. These will strengthen her immune system and give her an edge in fighting off common childhood illnesses.

Although there has been much controversy surrounding vaccinations in the past several years, the truth is that getting your baby immunized is a vital step in keeping her protected from potentially fatal illnesses. The reason so many childhood illnesses are practically non-existent in the US today is the strong push for vaccinations. If you are interested in an alternate vaccination schedule or have concerns about vaccines, talk to your baby’s doctor.

Well-baby Check Ups

Seeing your baby’s pediatrician regularly is vital to keeping your baby healthy. Well-baby check ups are scheduled at gradually widening intervals throughout your baby’s first two years, and yearly thereafter. These visits allow your baby’s doctor to monitor his health, and catch any signs of a problem early, before it can become serious. Well-baby visits are also the time when immunizations are usually scheduled.

You should also use these check ups as an opportunity to discuss any concerns you may have regarding your baby’s health. Remember that you are the first line of defense for your baby; because you spend more time with him than your doctor does, you are more likely to notice a problem. Don’t hesitate to bring it up, even if you aren’t sure it’s worth mentioning. Anything that concerns you should be taken seriously by your baby’s doctor.

Protecting Baby’s Health

A simple precaution you can take to avoid exposing your baby to harmful germs is to make sure you wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer before you touch her. Make sure that anyone else who wishes to touch her does the same. Don’t be afraid to stand up to strangers in public who want to touch your baby! It is your job to protect her while her immune system is not yet up to the task.

Make sure to ask friends and family to avoid visiting when they are sick. A cold that might be a minor inconvenience to an adult can hospitalize a newborn, so take this seriously. Your doctor may recommend avoiding busy public places with your newborn for the first few months, especially if your baby is born during cold and flu season. This doesn’t mean you are house-bound! Just try to keep your outings to less crowded places, and again, be cautious of strangers who want to check out your precious little one. Remind them it’s ok to look, but please don’t touch.

In spite of your best efforts, it’s likely that your baby will come down with several colds in the first year of life. However, if you have done your best to bolster his immune system and keep him healthy, hopefully they will be short-lived and infrequent.

A healthy baby is a happy baby, and that makes for happy parents too!

Your Baby: The Third Month

Your Baby: The Third Month

March 7th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

In the third month, you will start to see your baby’s personality emerging. Along with this new insight into who this little person is, you will also watch her strength and interaction with the world around her grow by leaps and bounds. As routines become established, the early sense of chaos a new baby brings will subside, and life with baby will become a little smoother.

Growth and Feeding

Rapid growth continues into the third month of life, but you may find that your baby isn’t waking as often at night wanting to eat. As your baby gains weight, she is able to sustain herself for longer periods of time without needing food. Night feedings will continue however, as she isn’t ready to go all night without eating yet.

Sleep Patterns

Your little one should have her days and nights straight by this point, and is starting to understand that night is for sleeping. Daytime sleep will settle into a routine in the third month as well, and you will be able to predict more accurately when your baby will need to take a nap, and when it’s safe to head out of the house. Encourage the sleep routine by sticking to the schedule as much as possible. You might find that disruptions to the routine will result in a very cranky baby.

Physical and Cognitive Development

In the third month your baby will gain muscle strength swiftly. He may be able to support his weight on his feet with your assistance, and will also be able to sit up with support. Neck control becomes much better; although when upright you will probably notice his head wobbling and when tired he may lose control and drop his head down on your chest or shoulder.

Your baby will discover a new favorite plaything sometime this month: his hands! You may see him waving them around before his eyes and putting them in his mouth. He will also use his newfound tools to hold objects and move them about. In the third month your baby will really start to enjoy brightly colored toys, especially if they make noises. Different textures will also fascinate him, and he may hold items and squeeze them, exploring the way they feel. Mirrors are another great toy at this age, as baby will be utterly fascinated by his own reflection.

Because your baby is able to stay more upright, he may show more interest in books at this age. Choose sturdy board or cloth books with contrasting patterns and large, colorful images. As you turn the pages, he may reach for the book or even vocalize in response to certain images. A familiar book will begin to elicit even more response. While the instinct might be to keep the book out of baby’s reach while you read, go ahead and let him touch and explore. You may never reach the end of the book, but he will be learning nonetheless.

Vocalizations will increase this month as baby adds new sounds to his repertoire. He may even try to imitate sounds that you make. At this point you may also be able to differentiate between different types of crying that indicate different needs. Your baby is beginning to understand better how to use his voice to communicate with you.

By the end of the third month, you may feel you don’t even recognize your baby anymore! The tiny newborn has been replaced with an active and interactive infant who is ready and willing to take on the world.

Your Baby’s Car Seat: What You Need to Know

Your Baby’s Car Seat: What You Need to Know

March 6th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

The car seat may be the most important safety product you can buy for your new baby. The number one cause of death in children is car accidents, and a properly installed and used car seat can reduce your child’s risk of death or serious injury in a crash. Unfortunately, as many as 70% of car seats in use today are either improperly installed or not used correctly. Learn the basics of car seats before you take your precious cargo on the road.

Types of Car Seats

There are two types of car seats for babies. The first is the bucket style infant seat, which has a handle for easy carrying and often has a permanent base that is left in the car. The seat latches into the base for travel, and can easily be released. These car seats are popular for young babies, as they allow the parent to remove the entire seat from the car without disturbing a sleeping infant. Infant car seats can only be used in the rear-facing position, and generally have a weight limit of 22-35 pounds.

The second type of car seat is a convertible seat. These car seats have a larger weight range, and can be flipped from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position when baby is big enough. Although far more expensive, with some models carrying weight limits ranging from 5-100 pounds, it might be the only car seat you ever have to buy. Convertible car seats are not portable and remain in the car at all times.

While most states mandate that a child remain rear-facing until they are both one year old and weigh 20 pounds, it is now the official recommendation of the AAP that you keep your child rear-facing up to the limit of the car seat, which is 35-40 pounds on most models.

There are a wide variety of car seats on the market with a range of price tags, but all car seats, no matter what the price are subjected to the same safety tests. The only exception to this rule is European seats, which are put through side impact tests as well as front and rear. At this time US car seats are not tested for side impact.

When choosing a car seat, the most important factor is how well it fits in your car. Most stores will allow you to test-fit a floor model before you buy.

Car Seat Installation and Use

Before your baby is born, you should make sure the car seat is installed properly in your vehicle. The car seat should always go in the back seat, in the middle if possible. Newer cars offer the LATCH system, which is a series of built-in tethers specifically for car seats. Check your car’s manual to find out if you have LATCH, and follow both the vehicle and car seat manufacturer’s directions to install the seat. If you don’t have LATCH, follow the directions for installation using your car’s safety belts.

Even if you are sure you have the seat installed right, it’s a good idea to double check. Many children’s stores and also local police or fire departments offer free car seat inspections. Visit www.seatcheck.org to find a free inspection clinic near you. Experts will review the installation of the car seat with you, and also go over how to use it properly.

Every time you put your baby in the car seat, make sure that the harness is properly latched and is tight enough. It might be tempting to skip the car seat on very short trips, but even at low speeds and on short trips, accidents can happen – and your baby could get hurt. The car seat is the most important tool you have to protect your baby on the road, so use it correctly every time!

Your Baby: The Second Month

Your Baby: The Second Month

March 6th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

In the second month of your baby’s life, great things will begin to happen. Your baby will begin to interact more with you, move around more, and you will likely even see that first smile.

Growth and Feeding

Throughout the second month, your baby will continue to require around the clock feedings to keep growing. And growth is still going strong this month, as your baby may gain another 1-2 pounds. You will also notice he is getting longer. Although babies gain in length in the first month as well, this will become more evident as the second month passes and he starts to stretch his legs more, allowing you to see him at his full length.

Sleep Patterns

While sleep will likely still be erratic, you can expect some longer stretches of sleep at night in the second month. Developing a bedtime routine and sticking to it will be greatly helpful at this stage, as he starts to learn the difference between day and night. Your baby still needs 15-16 hours of sleep a day, but towards the end of the second month he will start to get more of that sleep during the night hours and be awake more during the day. A simple bedtime routine consisting of a bath, feeding, and a song or story will help him to understand when it’s time to go to sleep.

Physical and Cognitive Development

Your baby is making great strides in the second month! She will be able to hold her head up at a 45 degree angle when placed on her stomach. Regular ‘tummy time” throughout the day will help her to develop the neck strength necessary to do this, as well as for future endeavors such as pulling up and crawling. She will start to wiggle around a lot, kicking her arms and legs. If you hold a toy out to her, she might reach for it or bat at it, and may even hold it and shake it around a bit.

As eyesight improves, your baby is starting to take in the world around her. She will follow an object with her eyes, and will also start to respond to your facial expressions. When something tickles her just the right way, you will be rewarded with a smile. While you may have seen baby smile in her sleep previously, you will now be seeing responsive smiles. Your baby is truly starting to interact with you!

This interaction will also start to extend to baby’s vocalizations. During the second month, you will hear her make some new sounds to get your attention. While crying is still the main way of telling you she needs something, she will now start offering coos and vowel sounds as well. Responding to these sounds will encourage your baby to continue vocalizing and develop these early language skills.

While all this new interaction is very exciting, remember that your baby is still very young and can become over-stimulated easily. Watch for signs that baby is tiring, such as breaking eye contact, becoming fussy or crying, and pulling away. When you see any of these signs, it’s time to switch to a quieter activity.

Now that your baby is stronger and more alert, you will probably want to start taking her out to explore the world. At this age baby will enjoy riding in a stroller or front carrier and being able to take in the sights and sounds of the outdoors. Be sure to dress her for the weather to keep her warm but not overheated.

The second month is filled with exciting milestones and a new type of connection with your baby, and you will start to see the world in a new way as you see it through your baby’s eyes.

Your Baby: The First Month

Your Baby: The First Month

March 5th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

The first month of your baby’s life is a special time of bonding, cuddling, and adjustment to the major changes that have come into your home along with this new little person. While mom and dad learn to function on a lot less sleep, baby is doing more than it might appear.

Growth and Feeding

Shortly after birth, your newborn will lose up to 10% of her body weight. This is perfectly normal, and soon after she will get started on a newborn’s main task: gaining weight and growing. It’s not unusual for a baby to gain up to two pounds in the first month of life. In order to accomplish this task, your baby will eat frequently, and need to feed around the clock. Her small body requires regular nourishment, and that includes feedings in the middle of the night!

Sleep Patterns

In the first month of life, your newborn has not yet developed circadian rhythms. Simply put, she just doesn’t know day from night. Your baby will sleep and wake at what might seem to you to be strange and in some cases downright unpleasant hours. Some babies are often fast asleep much of the day and wide awake come nightfall. Most newborns sleep a total average of 15-16 hours per day, but this is usually broken up into 2-3 hour stretches of sleep, with wakeful periods in between. As your baby grows, her stretches of sleep will become longer.

Physical and Cognitive Development

Some babies are able to briefly lift their heads from birth, but most will slowly develop the necessary strength. Over the first month of life you will notice your baby’s increase in strength as he starts to lift his head for longer periods, especially when placed on his stomach. Newborns have limited eyesight, and see best from a distance of about 8-10 inches. Hearing is well developed and your baby will respond readily to the sound of voices, especially those that are the most familiar to him. He is already able to tell the difference between voices, and knows the sounds of mom and dad. He will start to respond to the sound of your voice by turning his head towards you and seeking for your face.

Much of your baby’s behavior at this point is instinctive. Hands will generally stay in a clenched fist, but he will grasp at a finger or object placed in his palm. The fetal position remains the most comfortable to a newborn, used to the confinement of the womb. This is why newborns often find swaddling to be comforting. Newborns startle easily, and your baby may jump at sudden noises or even in his sleep. This is called the Moro reflex, and he will grow out of it in time.

Newborns cry reflexively to communicate their needs, and your baby will probably cry fairly frequently in the first month. Soon, he will come to understand that crying elicits a response from mom and dad, and will begin to do it with more awareness. Towards the end of the first month, your baby will begin to understand that you will be there to fill his every need, and he has only to cry to get your attention. This is the beginning of trust and security.

The first month is a time to settle into life with your newborn, and to begin the bonding process. Enjoy this special time of cuddling and getting to know your little miracle, who wants nothing more than to be in your arms.

Page 7 of 9« First...56789