By Claire James


Being a new parent can be overwhelming, because newborn babies do not come with an instruction booklet. A new mother cannot be expected to understand and or deal with all this new information immediately, but there are a few important fundamentals that she needs to know

Giving your baby a bath: Although this sounds archaic almost, the baby's umbilical cord is still attached when you take it home and until it comes off within the first two weeks you can only give your baby sponge baths. You should use a cotton swab and lightly dab at your baby around the umbilical. Use clean water and lightly clean the area - do not be alarmed by the dried blood, this is completely natural.

Transporting your baby: When leaving the hospital it is important that you protect your baby and wrap them snugly, not just for the comfort and warmth, but to protect them from the sun and the elements. If you are unable to carry your child or simply choose not to then I recommend the Maclaren strollers range for amazing safety and convenience, and this is most important when dealing with your newborn baby.

Circumcision: Circumcising the baby is sometimes not a choice that you make but dealing with it something that some new parents may find hard. But this is something that should not. The reasons for circumcision are to erase nearly all chances of penile cancer and reduce risk of urinary tract infection, so it is only a good thing.

Crib death (SIDS): Many studies have been done regarding SIDS. Although the cause of SIDS has not been definitely defined, there are some correlations that have been made between SIDS and the following things:

Transporting your baby from the hospital and everywhere after that, it's all about comfort and safety. Make sure that the baby car seat has a cover and is fitted correctly for the safety of your new baby

Prematurity makes it more likely that your child will suffer sudden infant death syndrome, but as mentioned, this is something that is on the decrease

Bath time with your child is all about encouraging the bond between mother and child, but remember that during the first few weeks whilst the umbilical cord is still attached ,extra care needs to be taken at bath time.

Enjoy the time with your baby. All the seriousness that comes with being a new parent can often overshadow what is really important, and most important of all is to take the time to enjoy your new baby

If you are a smoker or there are smokers in your house, then sharing it with a newborn baby is only going to increase the risk of SIDS. I touch on this important subject again because I really want to alleviate the concerns by shedding light on the subject

Some parents believe that sleeping with your baby reduces the risk of SIDS, but the American Academy of Pediatrics disagree with this statement and go on to say that there is a greater risk of SIDS in babies who co-sleep. Besides, this is a really bad habit to get your baby into because breaking it will be a whole new chapter in your life!

Sleeping your baby on their back is the best way to reduce the risk of SIDS but If you have concerns, talk to your pediatrician.




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