New parents want to make sure that they do everything possible for the safety of their newborn. Babies are extremely delicate, especially during the first six months of their lives when their bones are weak and they need to be handled with great care.
If you want to make sure that your newborn remains safe, follow these effective tips.
1. Co-Sleep With Care
Co-sleeping with the newborn might be one of the most dangerous things a parent can do. Newborns are very delicate and if you are not careful, you might hurt the baby. It would be better to invest in a cot or a bassinet.
As adults, we hardly know what we are doing in our sleep. We might accidentally put our hands on the baby’s mouth or put our weight on them. This can cause trouble breathing. However, if you are more alert during your sleep and you know that you are sleeping with the baby, co-sleeping can be quite helpful as well. Whatever method you choose, keep in mind the safety and comfort of your baby first.
2. Invest In A Car Seat
Traveling with the baby can be the most difficult thing to do especially in their early days. You should not hold the baby in your arms and sit on the passenger seat. It can be highly dangerous. Putting the baby directly on the car seat is not safe either.
The best thing to do would be to look for baby car seats in NZ. For newborns, you should look for a seat that buckles facing the rear of the car. It is much safer and provides more support to the delicate neck and backbone of your baby.
3. Never Leave Your Baby Unattended
Newborns should never be left alone even when they are sleeping. Newborns learn new things every day and you never know when they learn to roll. Leaving your baby unattended means giving them a chance to fall.
Even if there is no place to fall, leaving alone is not a good option because newborns spit milk and it can cause trouble breathing. Make sure you always leave someone with the baby. If that is not possible, get yourself a baby monitor and keep an eye on your baby when you are away.
4. Never Shake Your Baby
New parents sometimes do not know the safe handling of the baby. If you do not have an adult parent in your home to guide you, such as a baby’s grandparents, you might not know the safety protocols to handle the baby. You should always support the neck and head of a newborn.
Never shake your baby in anger or during the play. Babies are still developing after their birth and any shaking or abrupt jerking may lead to permanent and serious damage to the brain of your baby.
5. Avoid Everyone’s Opinion
Lastly, as a new parent you will hear a lot of advice from different people. Everyone’s opinion is different when taking care of a child. Some might advise you to go exclusive with mother feed, others might suggest your formula is more life-saving for the mother. Make sure to shut your ears to such colorful opinions.
Parents know their babies better. You should know what is better for your child. If you don’t, consult a pediatrician.
