If you’re the mother of a new infant, no doubt you know that
it’s a lot of work. Mom’s as well as dad’s can find the work
of caring for a brand-new baby very overwhelming. Before you
even think about such far-off events at college, first, you
need to make sure just to get through those 2:00am feedings,
then the first year.

If you’ve just gotten your baby home and you feel
overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Most parents feel this way
and are not at all sure they have the ability to be up to
the task of caring for such a tiny, demanding, dependent
infant. Rest assured, however, that for the vast majority of
parents, they are not only equipped to do these things, but
they do a very good job and you will, too.

First, you should remember that you don’t need to know
everything all at once. Simply getting through the first
weeks and months of your child’s life with 2 a.m. feedings,
diaper changes, and the constant physical demands of a very
tiny infant will be all you need to do right now. As your
baby grows and matures, so will you, as a parent, and you
will both learn skills together. For example, as your child
learns to sit up and then crawl, you, too, will find
yourself as a parent taking those extra measures you need
to, to ensure your child stays safe when he or she is
mobile.

Simply put, parenting is a “learn as you go” process. As
your child grows, so will your parenting skills. No doubt
you will make some mistakes and even some decisions you
regret, but those will come later. For now, what you need to
think about is getting the child fed, and keeping him or her
warm, safe, fed and diapered.

Whether you choose to breast or bottle feed as a parent is
entirely your decision, although most doctors agree that
breast milk for at least a little while is highly
recommended because it gives babies immune protection and
other benefits they simply can’t get from formula feeding.
This is something you can do even if you don’t happen to
produce enough milk to entirely feed your child without
giving him or her formula. For example, you can breast-feed
until your own milk supply runs dry and then supplement with
formula to make sure your baby gets enough calories and is
satisfied.

Of course, once your baby starts to eat, he or she will need
to be burped. Probably the best way to do this is to rest
the baby either on your shoulder or on your knees, with your
baby facing down, and gently rub the baby’s back until the
air comes up. (Of course, a little formula or breast milk is
likely to do so, too, but this is normal and not to worry.)

Diaper changes are also important and this is something
you’ll learn how to do easily as well. You can either use
disposable or cloth diapers, your choice. If you do choose
cloth diapers, a diaper service might make your life easier,
at least in the first few months while those midnight
feedings are going to be part of the course.

Finally, babies will need to be bathed regularly as well, of
course. Some parents just sponge bath babies between baths
and give children a full baths every other day or so. To
help keep your baby’s skin from getting dry, make sure to
moisturize well afterward.

With a little time to practice, you be handling your baby as
if you’ve been doing it your entire life; in fact, you
probably won’t even remember what life was like before the
little infant arrived in your life. Above all, have fun with
each other, trust your own instincts, and relax. As long as
your newborn is safe, happy, well fed, and warm, clean and
dry, you’re doing your job as a parent. The rest will take
care of itself later.

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