Baby Care

When you are first learning about baby care, you may receive lots of solicited and unsolicited advice. Some of it will be good, some of it will be bad. Who should you listen to, and what do you really need to know about taking care of your baby?

Does Baby Care Experience Mean Wisdom?

Many young parents are so overwhelmed at handling the day-to-day tasks of taking care of their baby that they really don't know who to go to with questions about how to care for their infant. If you are expecting a child, or you are already a parent, you may find that everyone, even strangers, love to hand out advice on every subject pertaining to baby care. Your grandmother may have raised several children, and so she would be considered experienced, right?

Yes, in some respects she is experience, but that doesn't mean that you need to listen to everything she has to say. Many things have changed regarding the care of babies, and some changes have occurred as recently as the past ten years. Experience doesn't always mean wisdom.

Baby Sleep Positions

For example, it was only in the last ten years or so that pediatricians have started stressing to parents that their infants should be placed to sleep on their backs to avoid the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). In the past, parents were told to place their sleeping babies on their tummies, in case baby should spit up and choke while he was sleeping. The risk of SIDS, however, far outweighs this other risk, and this is a very important change that parents should heed.

Feeding Solids

Until the last decade or so, it wasn't uncommon for parents to be instructed by their doctors to fill their baby's bottle with diluted infant cereal when baby was as young as two weeks old. The theory behind this was that baby would sleep better and for longer periods of time. Today, pediatricians know that feeding a baby solid foods too early or too late may cause an increase in food allergies. The suggested age for beginning solids is between four and six months. Parents should wait several days in between introducing a new food to determine if their child has any food allergies.

Honey and Pacifiers

Don't be surprised if an older relative of yours suggests placing a little bit of honey on your baby's pacifier to encourage her to take it. This was a common practice several decades ago, but today it is a dangerous act that should be avoided! Giving an infant honey, even in small amounts, may give her botulism, a type of food poisoning that can cause severe illness or even death. Just don't do it!

Spoiling Baby

Most babies love to be held and cuddled. You may spend a good part of your day simply holding your baby. However, a well-meaning relative or friend may caution you against spoiling your baby by holding him too much. This just isn't so! When you hold and cuddle your baby, you are responding to his needs. He needs your love and your touch. You won't spoil him. In fact, you may discover that he becomes a much more satisfied and content baby if you hold him whenever he needs you to. Remember, all too soon your baby will become very mobile, and he won't have time for you to hold him for very long. Enjoy these special moments while you can!

Taking Care of Baby

You probably read many baby books and magazine articles that offered lots of great advice on how to take care of your baby. You should continue to do this to stay up-to-date on the latest baby information and tips.

Listen to Yourself

While it is always good to educate yourself by reading and listening to others, the best person to listen to is yourself. Only you will understand your baby's needs completely. You will know best how to respond to her needs. You will understand her cries, and you will know just how to comfort her. Trust your instincts!

Listen to Your Pediatrician

You will be taking your baby to see your pediatrician regularly during the first few years of her life. Your pediatrician should be the person you turn to when you have questions about taking care of your baby's health. Don't hesitate to ask!

Talk to Other Parents

Finally, some of your best sources for baby care tips and advice will come from parents of babies just like you! You can share all sorts of information with others. There are also many wonderful Internet forums that offer great parenting tips...just like this one! Taking care of your baby is a twenty-four hour, seven day a week responsibility. As you continue to make decisions for your child, you'll become the most experienced parent you know!