Tips For Parents

Enjoy your baby.  

Take the time to enjoy being a parent. Play with your baby and have fun.

• Hold your baby, sing to them, rock them and cuddle them.  
• Go for walks and talk to them.  Play gentle games like peek-a-boo
• Do not be afraid to show love for your child and remember it's always the small things that count – a smile, a hug or just being with your baby.

 They grow and change so quickly – enjoy every moment.

Turn off the T.V.

Every research study shows that there is absolutely no benefit in TV viewing for children under 3 years of age. No baby can turn on a televsion set so please don't do it for them.

Many parents say that their baby enjoys certain shows. This is not true. Babies have a physiological reflex called the 'Orienting Response' which draws them to flickering lights and rapid movement. Television programmes take advantage of this by using rapid image changes and bright colours to appeal to young children. A baby isn't relating to a character or show, but is responding to the moving lights.

Many parents have been convinced that TV shows will make thier children more intelligent. Pretty much all research on cognitive development and intelligence in infants proves that this is not the case. What has been proven is that in order to boost intelligence, the following activities are more far valuable than TV ever will be;

• Playing with your child
• Talking with your baby
• Loving, physical contact
• Smiling at your baby
• Allowing them time to talk/babble at you
• Eye contact
• Laughter
• Creating a predictable routine

Best of all, the things that are proven to improve intelligence and create happy children are FREE!

Preparing for Life urges parents and guardians to turn off the TV, get on the floor and interact with your children. You will be rewarded in the long run and your children will thank you.

Bathing your baby.

Bathing your baby for the first time can be an ordeal if you are not prepared.  The following tips may help you to enjoy this experience with your baby.
(Your midwife or public health nurse will show you how to bathe your baby.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help or to see it done once or twice before you try).

Plan for your baby’s bath – get everything ready before you start the bath.  This makes bathing easier and safer.

• Do not bathe your baby just after a feed as he/she may get sick.
• Organise your towels, creams, clothes etc
• Plan the bath for a quiet time of the day.
• Fill the sink/bath with cold water first then hot – test with inside of wrist or elbow.  The water should be comfortably warm not hot.
• The water should be just high enough to cover your baby’s tummy, when he/she is lying down.
• Use damp cotton balls or cotton pads to gently wipe your baby's eyes before you put him/her in the tub.
• Support your baby’s head while you wash him/her.
• Wash your baby's hair and scalp very gently, using soap or a baby shampoo. Do this only once or twice a week. Rinse with a damp cloth. Make sure that soapsuds don't get into his/her eyes.
• Wash his/her body, starting with the chest. After washing with a soapy washcloth, rinse the washcloth and rinse off. Pat your baby dry with a bath towel. Always keep him/her covered and warm when he/she is wet.

Never leave your baby alone in water. It's best not to answer the phone or the doorbell during your baby's bath. If you do, pick up your baby and carry her with you.

Do not rely on a toddler or another child to mind your baby in the bath.

• Use both hands to lift your baby in and out of the bath.
• A baby bath 2 or 3 times a week is enough to keep him/her fresh.

Don't argue, problem solve.

Children are incredibly sensitive to the moods of their parents and they pick up far more information than adults give them credit for. Children are natural worriers, concerned for the welfare of the people that they care about.

When parents argue in front of their children it can cause distress and disturbance. Children look to adults to show them how behave and how to manage their emotions. When children experience a chaotic environment it is much more difficult for them to feel secure and to manage their feelings.

If you are having an argument with your partner, please consider that what may seem trivial to you can have a strong effect on your child. Shouting, yelling, name calling and violence in front of your child is not healthy and can scare them.

However, showing your child ways of expressing themselves in a safe and healthy way can be empowering. Parents have the ability to teach their child how to solve problems and resolve disputes by showing them how to compromise, sacrifice and agree to disagree.

Good luck!