With all the baby merchandise available, preparing for your new little one can seem like an overwhelming task. However, once the baby is home, you may come to realize that all the fancy merchandise can be a distraction from what baby really needs, a parent's love. When preparing for baby, start by focusing on the most important things because you can always pick up the "extras" later on.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the most natural way for a mother to feed and bond with her new baby. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding until the age of 6 months and the continuation of breastfeeding up to the age of 2 years and beyond. It is important for a mother to have the support of her spouse and extended family throughout the entirety of the breastfeeding relationship. Breastfeeding has its challenges, but for a family to nurture this relationship benefits the health and well-being of the baby.
A Baby Carrier
Invest in a quality baby carrier that accommodates the baby from birth and beyond. Try the carrier on prior to purchase to confirm whether you would feel comfortable wearing it with a heavy child. If possible, choose your carrier after the baby is born, as she will also have a preference for different styles of carriers. Benefits of "wearing" your baby include giving her greater involvement in your day, therefore providing a superior learning experience than she would have by simply leaving her in the crib. In addition, babies that are left too long lying down may end up having a flat or misshapen head, a medical condition called "plagiocephaly."
Family and Friends
Time for baby to bond with family and friends is important at all stages of life. Expect your relatives and neighbors to be enamored with your little one, so much so that they may even want to wake baby up from a nap to spend more time with him. Take this in stride, as eventually family and friends can be relied upon so you can get some "me" time. Special time with family and friends helps baby develop new relationships beyond Mom and Dad. Take the time to mend any important relationships before baby arrives, as holding onto resentment and keeping distance from family members will be a disservice to your little one.
Play with Baby
Playing with your baby helps her learn about the world around her, teaches social interaction and develops motor skills. Playing with baby can include encouraging interaction with age-appropriate toys, reading to her, singing to her and gently encouraging movement. Get out of the house and let your baby experience new things, such as holding items at the grocery store, playing with fallen leaves, going for a swim or meeting other babies. During early life, it is important to not rely on television and other electronic devices to entertain baby, as this can have negative effects on the development of your child. Keeping the TV off also helps Mom and Dad by eliminating distractions and allowing them to tune into baby.
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