Baby Care

Born An Explorer! The babies are born explorers and are curious to every new thing that they see,hear,taste or touch and it is a wonderful experience to study their eager eyes and ever-ending curiousity to things that have become almost a second habit with us.Many-a-times we wonder how come we don't even acknowledge the existence of many of these things while these small eyes and hands get so excited about them that they almost burst with happiness and apprehension about every things that crosses their path for the first time.The arrival of a train or noises of the airplanes flying above our homes are enough to fill our little boys and girls with wonder.Here are some interesting things and reactions that newborn babies and infants do and give from the very first week of their lives that you are likely to witness:.Inrly leaving phases,the reflexes and innate survival mechanisms of the baby are the most eadominant ones that you will witness..Even a new born baby blinks the eyes,when you flash light on them.Do not overdo it or you may hurt the little eyes..Stroking the cheeks of newborn babies make them seek your finger that they try to suck as if to feed on it..If you hold the baby from under their arms in upright positions and there is no hard,solid ground for them to rest their legs,they often move their legs frantically to look for the support that will eventually develop as walking skills..Babies tend to hold everything tightly that is put in their hands from your fingers to carrots and to coins.When they become a little older,they will try to clutch on everything and put it in their mouth to taste it.One needs to pay attention that there are no small or sharp-edged things near the babies in this phase so that they won't choke on them or hurt themselves..A sudden noise that startles the baby will get them to shoot out their arms and legs to grasp the mom's dress to feel secure and if unable to find it,would curl himself or herself like a ball in a fetal position..Tracking moving things and sound with eyes are some other reactions that kids give that indicate early learning phases of more complex and advanced skills..Imitating your facial expression such as sticking out tougue and raising eyebrows are the favorite kid actions enjoyed by parents.Smile and loving expressions and rude and angry expressions are all learnt from parents so be careful how you act and react in front of your babies and toddlers.Babies Communicate By Crying Infant communications is mostly limited to crying and it is the only way that babies can attract the express attention of their parents and let them know that they need something.The art of interpreting their wails and moans and figure out why the baby is crying depends on the skills of parents.Here are some problems of cranky babies and their possible solutions:.Hunger is the most common reason for crying babies and easiest to solve too.Feeding the babies may soothe them almost instantly..Baby wailing just after the feed may indeed be asking you to help him pass the wind.Hold him in the upright position against your shoulder for the purpose..Babies try to attract your attention after wetting their nappies for a diaper change.Do not delay it long for it may cause nappy rash..Babies may cry if they are feeling too hot or too cold.So,use an appropriate blanket and monitor the room temperature according to the baby's needs..Some mischievous naughty infant may just feel neglected,if you leave them alone for long and cry to be held.Carry them in a sling or baby carrier so that you can move about with your baby and yet get the work done..If the babies are very tired,they might cry themselves to sleep.Massaging them can help them soothe too,in such cases.They are usually their happy self after the restful nap..It has been observed that cranial osteopaths can gently massage baby's head and neck to soothe them after a difficult birth experience..Very high-pitched tones or frantic crying may mean that your baby is really ill and needs professional medical help.Go and see the doctor immediately..Some babies do not like to come out of womb and cry incessantly because of new experience,lights,noises and stimulations or may be precocious enough to try to do things they are still not capable of physically and cry in frustration.Such crankiness of babies usually disappears with age,maturity and development..If the crying baby is getting on your nerves,you may need to vent out your feeling by punching a pillow,have a warm bath,talk to someone who would listen patiently to you,ask somebody to take care for the baby for a few hours and take a short break and ask advice from the doctor.An Angel Is Born!The first week with the newborn baby can be quite taxing for new moms who are still weak and recuperating from the tiring and painful labor experience and are burdened with the chores of the newborn.The constant steam of friends and relatives who come in to see the new child and congratulate the parents and the need to feel dressed while entertaining them and the shyness in feeding the baby in front of them can only lead to baby blues for many couples.In such a scenario,support from partner or spouse and other friends and family can relieve the stress on the mother to a great extent and leave her free to enjoy her new delightful angel and watch their curious reactions.Experience moms advise to new moms that staying in a fashionable button-down grown for first two weeks and have lots of people around to help you with your chores can be a great relief.Neighbors who will help you wash and iron dirty laundry and traditions such as those prevalent in Asian countries,where mother has to do nothing for 40 days in the household,except for looking after her baby and herself,feeding the baby and having a good,healthy and nutritious diet are actually quite useful for new mothers and allow them to rest and recover well.Spouses and partners that take good care for you and are prepared to share parenting responsibilities are real gems. For the first week husbands should try to take as much leave from their work as possible and encourage and motivate the mum by praising her and telling her how well she is managing everything.Don't feel jealous of your child steering attention of your wife away from you and see it as a family-bonding phase.Dad and child bonding is as important as mom-child relationship,so be ready to do your share of work for the newborn including changing diapers and bottle feeding the baby.You may help with chores such a cleaning,cooking,attending visitors and telephone calls and be supportive of your wife's feelings.Know that shes may be susceptible to mood swings temporarily and be ready to face criticizing family and friends with a ready answer to ask for their support instead of advice. Embracing And Hugging The BabyHolding babies can be a puzzle for their dads who dread hurting their soft cuddly bodies and crushing them with their loving embraces.Mom's hugs and dad's embraces are the right of every child that enters this world and makes a new baby feel loved and cared for.The reassurance communicated by the firm and secure arms of a father and soothing touches of a mother is irreplaceable by anything else and plays an important role in the development of a child's reactions to the world.Similarly,swaddling the baby is also an ancient way to soothe a child when mothers cannot afford to hold or hug the child and have to leave it alone for sometime while finishing other household work.Here are some useful tips for you: 1.The head of the infants need a firm support,and the muscles of their neck are still not strong enough to hold the head in position.2.Pick the baby very gently and keep your movements slow and smooth.3.Be confident and do not pick the baby when your hands are shaking for you may drop the child accidentally.4.If the baby is sleepy,hold them upright against your shoulder.Rest their head against the shoulder;place one hand on their upper back and other on their bottom.5.To rock the baby or talk to them cradle them in arms while resting their little heads just above the crook of the arm and let the lower arm support the rest of their body.Use the other hand to rest their bottom and make sure that their head is a slightly raised position than the bottom.6.See,if your baby really gets soothed when being swaddled or becomes more frantic.However,most babies do calm down by swaddling as they feel as if they are being held securely.7.To swaddle the baby,lay them on a cotton blanket or sheet spread on a flat surface.The neck of the baby should be in line with the long edge.One side of the sheet should be passed diagonally across the baby's shoulder and tucked under the body snugly.The arms of the baby should be free to move and sheet should not be very tight.Bring the other side across the other shoulder of the baby and tuck it under the other side of their body safely.The bottom of the baby may also be tucked under baby's feet. 8.If you have tightly swaddled the baby and the little one falls asleep,keep and eye on the temperature and breathing pattern of the baby for overheating may cause a problem.