Congratulations! You’re a daddy! Now it’s time to bring baby home…GULP!
The months and weeks preparing for bringing home baby is finally here. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. You just couldn’t wait to hold that cute, cuddly baby with the sweetest scent close to your heart. Then you realize, I don’t know how to hold a baby!! Daddy, you won’t drop the baby, don’t worry. Your daddy instincts will kick in. Just make sure that precious little one’s head is resting on your chest and slide your hand up to make sure the neck is supported. Little babies are fussy, they wiggle and they are like a little bobble head doll. So please, always remember to support the baby’s head. Use a cradle hold to gaze into your baby’s eyes and stare lovingly for as long as you like. Or…until the baby starts crying.
Once you conquer your fear of holding your baby, it will probably be replaced by another: changing the little munchkin’s diaper. Now comes the fun. The first step is to decide whether to use cloth or disposable diapers. Whatever your fancy, there are adorable options for both to make the process a little more bearable. You will be changing diapers for a long time and you will become a pro in no time. You’re probably going to wonder how a cute little creature could possibly need so many diaper changes per day. Just wait for the dirty diapers. Those poopy diapers will be the subject of many conversations to come.
The basics to changing a diaper is simple. First, lay your baby on his back and remove the soiled diaper. Gently, lift your baby’s bottom up to scoot the diaper away from his body. Use baby wipes to clean the area wiping front to back. You can add diaper ointment to your bay’s skin before putting on a new diaper. Place the diaper under the baby and bring the front up to the stomach and secure the tabs by the waist. Dress the baby and now you’re done. Now repeat every couple hours or when the baby soils the diaper and change it promptly. It’s a good idea to put your baby down in a safe place – like on the floor or bassinet – while you clean up the diaper mess and wash your hands.
Now comes the time to bathe the baby for the first time. Generally, to bathe in a bath tub, you need to wait until after the umbilical cord stump dries up and falls so the area is be fully healed. Until then you can sponge bathe the baby in the kitchen sink using a small plastic tub. Bathe the baby in warm water and gentle baby soap every other day to not dry out his skin.
Daddy you got this!! Whether you’re doing this solo or with your partner, you will be a wonderful caretaker to that beautiful baby. Trust us, everyone has fears when it comes to newborns. There are always tutorials available on the internet to answer any question you have.