Babies Tale

For a new parent who has had no experience with infants either within his or her own family or during the course of a babysitting career, simply picking up and holding a baby is a little scary, dressing one is frightening, and bathing one is downright terrifying. Luckily, infants aren’t able to squirm about much, so you don’t have to worry right away about yours twisting out of your arms or escaping from your grip on the changing table. And babies are tough; they don’t break under the stress of normal handling [Don’t worry about emotional fragility, either. Your baby’s psyche won’t be damaged for life if you are cross, in a hurry, or preoccupied once in a while].

It will be necessary to support your baby’s head with one hand foe about three months when you pick him up and to hold your baby against your shoulder so his head won’t fall backward when you carry him. It used to be common to swaddle babies loosely in receiving blankets, and some parents like to enclose their infant’s arms and legs this way until they are used to holding and carrying them. You’ll soon find yourself going smoothly through the tasks that involve moving and handling your baby subconsciously avoiding the sudden movements and loud noises that frighten or startle babies.

The Importance of Touching

This statement bears repeating: Picking up and holding your baby will not spoil him. The importance of touch to an infant cannot be stressed enough, a fact now recognized to be part of the bonding process encouraged by doctors, it is even said that mothers who are separated from their newborn infants during the first hour after birth are somewhat less confident about their intuitive mothering skills than those who go through the bonding process. Your baby’s skin in his or her most well developed sensory organ immediately after birth, and the largest organ of the body, its stimulation can have a profound effect on the baby’s behavior. Your gentle, confident, and firm touch, will calm your baby as well as assure him of your love.

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