Smart Baby Care Advice For New Moms and Dads

From the moment you bring your little one home from the hospital (and maybe even before), there will be no shortage of advice regarding her care. Your friends and family will offer unsolicited suggestions. Meanwhile, your book shelves will likely have at least a few baby and parenting books sitting on them. The question is, is the advice sound? Will the suggestions of others work as well with your infant as they seemingly did with their own?

The answer is maybe. Every baby is unique, and comes with his or her own temperament. Your little one will respond to some things, and not to others. During the first few months, when she is cranky or otherwise bothered, you'll need to try different methods to comfort her. The following suggestions are merely a place to start. They may work; they may not. All are pragmatic, however, based on the experiences of moms and dads who went before you.

Don't Be Afraid To Spoil Your Infant

A lot of new parents are hesitant to "spoil" their babies. They've heard or read that doing so may set the stage for behavior problems down the road. While this advice is true, it is less relevant (if it's applicable at all) during the first few months. It is during this time that your infant needs to know you're nearby. If she cries, pick her up and comfort her. If she is frightened, let her know she can count on you.

Turn The Monitor Off (Or At Least Down)

Baby monitors have become ubiquitous. Every mom and dad owns at least one set. With them, they are able to keep tabs on their infants' well-being from another room in the home. But are the monitors always necessary? In truth, no. Yet most new parents keep them turned on and nearby in case a problem develops.

If your little one needs you, she will cry for you. You will hear her, even if she is in another room. On the other hand, if you and your partner are outside while your infant is sleeping indoors, a monitor will be valuable. Otherwise, set aside your concern, and turn the volume off.

Follow A Schedule, But Be Flexible

Babies tend to fall into a regular eating and sleeping schedule as they approach sixth months. Many moms and dads, however, try to implement a rigid schedule when their little ones are much younger. They feel doing so is necessary in order to smooth the transition later.

There's no need to do this if your infant is resistant. During the first three months, let her choose her own schedule. Feed her when she's hungry. Put her to sleep when she's tired. Be flexible. By month six, she will follow a routine that is reasonably consistent.

Encourage Your Baby To Soothe Herself

A crying infant is almost too much for new parents to bear. Moms and dads understandably want to comfort their babies, and remove whatever is ailing them. But there is value in occasionally letting your little one soothe herself. In fact, many experts suggest this is an important lesson to teach infants because it helps them develop the tools they need to cope with stress.

There are many ways to approach this strategy. For example, you and your partner can let your little one cry for short periods that slowly lengthen over time. Or, you can gently pat her back when she cries rather than picking her up. You and your partner can also allow her to cry while making appearances every few minutes so she'll know you're nearby. Eventually, your baby will begin to cry for shorter periods as she learns to soothe herself.

Trust Your Instincts

Remember, nothing can take the place of your own instincts. The advice you learn from baby books and baby-focused websites will be valuable, but should only be considered a set of loose guidelines. The suggestions you receive from friends and family should be viewed from a similar perspective.

Try everything that seems reasonable. Keep what works, and discard what does not. You and your partner will make mistakes along the way. That is a given. But trust yourselves, and be willing to accept that some things can only be learned through experience.