NEW PARENTS
10 THINGS NO ONE EVER TELLS NEW PARENTS
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1. Baby may cry more the second week of life than the first...
now recovered from birthing and understands that crying will get action! PARENTING 101 p. 1-3
2. Always feed a hungry baby. PARENTING 101 p. 5-2
3. 100% of Baby's nutrition comes from his breastmilk/formula the first 6 months of life.
The second six months, 75% of his nutrition STILL comes from his breastmilk/formula. PARENTING 101 p. 5-3
4. Wiping Baby's gums after feedings with a dry washcloth over your finger keeps milk from pooling in mouth, and gets Baby used to your fingers in his mouth
for later dental hygiene. PARENTING 101 p. 2-37
5. Putting Baby on her tummy often during waking hours helps her develop much needed neck and shoulder strength. Even if she doesn't like it, she needs it. PARENTING 101 p. 2-42
6. When Baby's feet are cool and her tummy's warm, she's okay; when her feet and her tummy are cool, she's cold.
7. Dads are for play and pleasure. Moms are for food and comfort. Babies know this.
8. 3 big mistakes new parents make: not getting sleep; not getting help; not getting out. PARENTING 101 p. 2-19
9. Clockwise tummy massage relieves trapped gas pain, also balancing on a 24" beach ball. PARENTING 101 p. 5-5
10. Maalox (on bottom) helps diaper rash...really! PARENTING 101 p. 2-20
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DISCIPLINE When you say "yes"...
to your child as often as possible and "no" only when necessary, you:
- automatically make it easy for your child to behave and difficult to misbehave.
- allow your child to experience freedom to succeed
- limit your "noes" and "don'ts" so that when you need them, they will mean something
- discount all the small mistakes that are so exhausting to discipline
- give your child freedom to be a child with reasonable limits
- boost your child's self-esteem
Instead of saying "No, you can't have a cookie now," say "Yes, you can have a cookie after dinner."
Your child will get the idea that many more things are possible than impossible.
"You can do this and this and this," not "You can't do that."
PARENTING 101 p. 11
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HOMEMADE TOYS SHAPE CAN PUZZLES
The most popular toy of all, and every age seems to enjoy it. |
 Your child's first puzzle can be a simple "fill and spill" toy- made by you!
Store-bought form puzzles are too complicated, too frustrating, and built for failure. These are simple, built for success.
Take a clean, smooth (coffee) can with a plastic lid and cut a hole in the lid slightly larger than plastic whiffle golf balls (from discount or sports store),
favorite blocks, clothespins (non-spring), or frozen juice can lids. Demonstrate how to put the balls in once, WITHOUT LID for beginners, with lid for older child, and then let your child take over.
After the can is filled, help your child take off the lid and/or spill the contents. In order of difficulty they are: balls; blocks; clothespins; juice lids. Later, make another shape can and let your child discover that only the correct shapes will fall through their
respective holes. Optional: Cover the can(s) with contact paper. This toy helps: visual-motor skill (eye-hand coordination);
visual discrimination of shapes; cause and effect; small muscle dexterity.
PARENTING 101 p. 6-20
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NEW SIBLINGS
DR.
MELANIE'S
TIPS FOR SIBLING BONDING
BEFORE THE NEW BABY ARRIVES
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- Make sure Big Sib knows there is plenty of love to go around. "I will still always love you
no matter what." Jealousy is caused by feeling there is a scarcity of love.
Encourage and be prepared to answer queries about having enough love to go around.
- Promote pleasure in having a "baby sister/baby brother." Talk about "our baby" and read
books about babies. Get Big Sib a baby doll to care for early--a no frills, immersible doll, not a stuffed toy.
- Move Big Sib out of crib early if you need it for the baby. Work on concept of
abundance in daily activities. Ask Sibling to make artwork for Baby's room. Describe how Baby will look and act. Choose clothes for "our baby."
- Get out and look at Sibling's own baby clothes.
- Describe how Baby will look and act.
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Look at Sibling's own baby pictures. Attend Sibling Class.
- Get a Big Brother/Big Sister tee shirt.
- Listen to Baby's heartbeat at OB visit.
- Teach the word "gentle" early and demonstrate it a lot. Discuss how Big Sib may not always love the baby at first. Discuss how the baby won't be able to play with Big Sib for some time and how much Big Sib can do in comparison.
- Plan activities for Big Sib to do while Mom is in hospital.
- Make a tape of Mom's voice for Big Sib to listen to while Mom is away.
- Give Big Sib a responsibility to take care of something while Mom is in hospital.
- Buy or make a gift for Baby from Big Sib.
- Have a present waiting at home from the baby to be given to Big Sib at Baby's birth with a special note.
- Convey the feeling that Big Sib is very special to you.
- Represent the New Baby accurately. Things will change, and being a Big Sibling has its good parts...and its bad parts.
- Allow Big Sib to vent negative feelings in acceptable ways.
- Have someone else carry Baby into house after you come in to rebond with Sibling.
Read more tips in:
Parenting 101 Because Kids Don't Come With Instructions
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© Copyright
Dr. Melanie Bazarte
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