Bringing Your Newborn Home

Birth is not easy on anyone. You are worn out and stressed, and your newborn is learning to cope with a new bright and noisy environment. Even if the birth was a smooth one, you are both going through a lot of changes and will tend to be out of sorts for the first few weeks. The important thing is to just stay calm and take things slowly during this adjustment period. Some of the tips below may help ease the transition.

Talk and sing to your newborn

Your baby grows used to the sound of your voice while he is growing inside of you. Therefore after he is born, your voice will continue to have a soothing effect on him. So sing lullabies, talk to him and read rhyming stories so he can be calmed by your familiar voice.

Make eye contact with your newborn

Your newborn may not have perfect vision but he can still see you. Most mothers will tell you their newborn can look into their eyes and that they show signs of recognition. Get your newborn familiar with your face by talking to him and looking him in the eye while you massage him and interact with him.

Touch your newborn often

It's natural and common sense. Stroking your newborn's arms, legs and head will relax him and enhance your bond. You might want to learn infant massage techniques so you can help him fall asleep and relieve stress. Hold your baby next to you and carry him in a baby sling if possible. This will help to reassure and calm your newborn and help him to thrive. Using a baby sling will keep your baby close but allow you to move your arms around and do other things at the same time. This can have a calming effect upon you too. The first few weeks of life is not the time to let your baby cry it out alone in his crib.

Respond to your newborn's cries

Crying is the only way your newborn has to communicate. It could mean he is hungry, old, in pain, sick, or just bored. At this young age, the best thing for you to do is respond to his cries by picking him up and cuddling and trying to determine the reason behind his cries. It won't be long until you are able to decipher his cries and will be able to soothe him quickly. Don't worry about spoiling your newborn. At this young age, babies need to be tended to in order to help them feel secure and to develop trust and enhance maternal bonding.

Don't try to be perfect

During those first few weeks, you may be out of sync with your newborn and feel like crying yourself. Don't expect perfection from yourself or your newborn. Just take it slow and communicate your love and let everything else fall into place.

SWAG BABY: Preview night offers plenty of goodies, lines - San Diego Union Tribune

SWAG BABY: Preview night offers plenty of goodies, lines San Diego Union Tribune, United States - 12 hours ago ... the new drama from JJ Abrams, tonight was the first chance to check out the booths, and the free stuff was (almost, kinda, sorta) worth the wait. ...

Win Free Sex! - Reason Online

Win Free Sex! Reason Online, CA - 19 minutes ago Along with the infantile paralytic and the thalidomide baby, that female eunuch once haunted the American landscape; a walking, joyless rebuke to our ...

40 ways to keep food costs under control - MiamiHerald.com

40 ways to keep food costs under control MiamiHerald.com, FL - 9 hours ago The last week in May when I checked prices at a local supermarket, an ounce of regular carrots cost 3.5 cents and an ounce of baby-cut carrots cost 19.8 ...

Gossage credits former skipper - MLB.com

Gossage credits former skipper MLB.com - 2 hours ago Like a baby. The Goose -- aka Richard Michael Gossage -- admittedly a sentimental sort, swells up whenever his button is pushed reminding him of a very ...

Cheap Tip Thursday: saving on food - Baltimore Sun

Cheap Tip Thursday: saving on food Baltimore Sun, United States - 4 hours ago The same goes for baby food and baking mixes and umpteen other things. Plan your meals and use a list. Buy only what you need or will use up before it needs ...