Raising your first baby

Babies need a lot of stimulation and interaction, and they need to experience everything. The way they learn is through playing. So you guys have to prepare to be silly, even in front of total strangers. You are going to have to relearn nursery rhymes, even those that you dislike. You're also going to have to make up the words to a lot of songs and music, even classical ones like Mozart or Beethoven. It's not too difficult, you can cheat and make something that don't make sense. I'm pretty sure your baby can't tell the difference yet.

Learn to make funny faces, but skip the scary ones. You are bonding with her and entertaining her, not give her nightmares. But hey, to your baby, you're the funniest guy in the world.

Your baby is too young to be tossed in the air, so handle her with care. I always made sure her neck, spine and hips are secure when I'm holding her. She is the most precious person in the world to me. And be really careful with her head. A baby's skull isn't solid yet, and what's inside is still growing.

Baby toys and rattles are useful, it helps to develop her motor skills. Select them with care, it's going into her mouth and she'll probably drop them on her face as well. Make sure it is baby-safe. Properly designed baby toys are soft, and free from harmful chemicals. No parts should be coming off, and clean them often. Needless to say, packaging and wrapping aren't toys.

In my case, my baby girl enjoyed playing with her face towel more than any other toys. She covers her face with it, and then starts laughing. Takes it off, and cover her face again, starts laughing again.

Before my baby was 12 months old, my wife was the one who bathed her. I probably bathed her no more than 10 times. Handling a slippery baby was just too scary for me. My idea of a baby bath was to dunk her into warm water and then dry her off. I thought using a handheld shower might work better but I had no place to put her.

If you have to bath your baby, make sure the water is not too warm. The nurse advised us to test it with our elbow and not your hand. Your hand is a lot tougher, and you can tolerate a lot more heat than your baby. Dunk your elbow into the bath, if it feels warm to you, it is probably hot to your baby. Or you could try out the water with any other sensitive part of your body.

You really should get expert advise. You need to know how to hold your baby, what soap to use, and how to wash her head (this I just couldn't do. Her head is soft!). Even getting a towel around a baby is a challenge for guys.

Getting clothes on to a baby is a little easier. Baby clothes open at the front, so you basically just roll her from side to side until the arms go where they should. To put a diaper on your baby, just grab both her feet in one hand, lift her up and slide the diaper her. Easy.

We use mittens to keep her from scratching her face. It's tough trying to cut a baby's nails. Sometimes you can't see what's what. If you're clueless about when to cut her nails, do it when she is sleeping.

Being alone with my baby for the first time was a scary experience. Mommy need her day off, and she is off to get her hair done. I always asked how long it will take and very often it is 2 hours or more. That translates to one feeding session, and probably means taking her for a walk as well. That is what happens to guys, we have to break it down into manageable activities, and the big question, what if she poops?

This is natural and really, there is no need to feel stressed out. Firstly, your baby will just want to enjoy your company, and you don't have to do more than talk to her once in a while. She will be perfectly happy just lying there and will likely be entertaining herself.

Secondly, just keep an eye on the clock, if it's time to feed, prepare her milk in advance. At the first sign of hunger, pop it in her mouth. I noticed that my baby is always in a better mood when I could anticipate her needs. It is less stressful for me too, being pro-active, so to speak, and I really dislike baby or children crying. So be prepared and it makes it easier for everybody.

Thirdly, when she has finished her feed, gently hold her in an upright pose, against your chest and burp her by rubbing her back in an upward caress. My baby had to be burped twice, and when she is done, she will probably be sleepy. Just make sure you burp her, then she will rest comfortably.

When your baby has confidence that you can take care of her, she will be easier to handle, and be less demanding. This also means that you have to focus more on her and have less time for yourself. But that's okay, she may be little but she understands the meaning of reciprocal love, and will show her appreciation with a smile.

All too soon you will find her all grown up, and then you will miss the days of being number one in her life. This is your time to be a good role model to her, and hopefully impart some of your finer points to her. You will find yourself to be a better man, you gain patience, and understanding of what it is to love.

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