Parents the world over experience mixed feelings when it comes to holding their little bundles of joy for the very first time. Happiness, apprehension, excitement, and fear are just some of the emotions that one would feel while his or her arms are wrapped securely around a tiny and helpless human being. The plethora of My First Baby guide books, however, always say the same thing about the matter-that you should lighten up and simply enjoy the whole experience.
Following your nurturing instinct is definitely the most excellent way to go about it. Nonetheless, having a working knowledge and learning a few tips on how to hold your little one could also come in handy.
The Truth About Holding A Baby
Holding your baby is, in fact, one of the most delightful aspects of parenting. Many parents actually love the task. Needless to say, it certainly calls for some getting used to and confidence on the way you carry your baby is an integral part of adapting to this new task.
If you wish to prepare yourself for the arrival of your newborn, make an effort to read up on the subject and perhaps rehearsing with a tiny pillow can help boost your self-confidence. Pay a quick visit to the parenting section of your local bookshop or simply surf the Internet for some much-needed advice on caring for your first baby.
Tips On Holding A Baby
As a first-time parent, you need to be aware of the fact that certain situations may call for different ways of holding your baby. Here are some useful techniques on how to hold your little one.
Cradle Hold - This technique is probably the simplest and most natural way of carrying a baby. Basically, you have to position your baby’s head on the crook of your dominant arm. After that, wrap the other one around his or her body or simply use it as support. This is an excellent position if you wish to just watch or talk to your little one. Many babies also sleep better when held this way.
Belly Hold - Just lay your baby chest-down on top of your forearm and, using your other arm, secure him/her by placing it across his/her back. As an alternative, you may also position the baby transversely on your lap. Gassy babies will surely benefit a lot from being held in this manner.
Hip Hold - You may utilize this technique as soon as the baby develops a certain amount of neck and head control. Simply place the baby, facing outward, on a seated position on either your left or right hip. Using your same side arm, secure your baby by wrapping it around his/her waist. This does not only provide you with a free arm, it’s also a terrific way for the baby to perceive the world around him/her.
Shoulder Hold - Lean the baby against one of your shoulders while providing necessary prop using your same side arm. Be sure to wrap your supporting arm around the baby’s buttocks. Using your free arm, secure the baby’s neck and back. Babies normally snooze well in this position.
So there you have it, your "holding my first baby" essentials. Although, the task may appear to be daunting at first, you shouldn’t be afraid of trying it out. Just keep in mind that the joys of holding your baby definitely overwhelm the angst.
Babies certainly can’t live on milk alone. Even though it’s essential to feed your little one with milk for the first few months of life, you also need think about solid foodstuff once the baby shows certain indications of readiness. You can find out about the different signs of digestive system preparedness by reading My First Baby books or by surfing the Internet.
Cooking for your baby is pretty much like cooking for grown-ups. The only difference is that preparing baby food calls for extra attention and care in the preparation and handling of ingredients.
Pre-cooking Basics
As a rule, you need to wash your hands with soap and lukewarm water prior to preparing your baby’s meal. Be sure to dry them up using a clean towel before touching any of the ingredients. Similarly, you also have to thoroughly wash your cooking utensils beforehand.
Preparing The Ingredients
Fruits/Veggies - Wash, peel and cut up fruits and vegetables prior to cooking. In addition, remove the stones and seeds if you see any.
Fish - Take out the bones, fat and other tough parts before cooking. Once the fish is done, take it to bits and do away with any left over traces of skin and bones.
Meat - Cut all the fat away before cooking. Once the meat is done, slice it into tiny portions. Don’t forget to get rid of any bone and other tough bits.
Cooking Baby Food
Fruits/Veggies - Except for bananas and avocados, all types of fruits and veggies should be cooked before feeding them to your little one. You have the option to microwave, boil or steam them. Some varieties of fruit (e.g. pear or apple) can even be oven-cooked. Nonetheless, steam cooking remains to be the most excellent choice since it preserves a greater amount of nutrients.
In case you don’t own a steam-cooker, don’t be bothered about it. Microwave cooking and boiling are fine alternatives so long as you keep the water to a bare minimum and make an effort not to overcook or undercook the food.
As for carrots, turnip, spinach and beet, you must boil them at all times rather than using the microwave or steam-cooker. These vegetables normally contain potentially detrimental nitrates that are largely removed in the course of boiling.
Meat and Fish - You may cook them any way you like. Just see to it that they are well done and that you take out all the fat and tough bits prior to serving. If you wish to roast or to fry meat or fish, aim to avoid putting in fat or at least keep it to a minimum. Also, bear in mind that it’s not necessary to add any sugar, fat or salt to your baby’s food.
Serving Suggestions
Make use of a mashing fork-or a food blender, if you have one-to mix up the food to its appropriate texture. If your baby is still in the early stages of taking solids, then the food must be totally liquefied. As his/her tolerance to solid food increases, you can slowly transition to slightly thicker and chunkier servings. Needless to say, you need to give your little one some time to adjust at each stage of the progression.
In case you have cooking water in handy, you may put in some in order to smoothen or moisten it up the food. Keep in mind that your baby’s mouth is more receptive to heat than yours. Therefore, the baby food should be warm and not hot.
To sum it all up, the two most vital tips to remember when cooking for your little one are:
(1) Do no prepare foods that are not suitable for his or her age, and
(2) See to it that he/she is able to tolerate the consistency of the food. Everything else is simply plain cooking. All you need to do now is to get hold of My First Baby Food recipes so that you can start practicing for your most precious one.
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