Parenting an Infant Comes with Big Rewards and Challenges
All infants:
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Love to explore the world around them,
so you have to make your home safe.
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Have their own personalities, which may be different from their parents'.
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Put new and stressful demands on
parents, so parents may need to ask for help.
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Need routines that match their unique
abilities, and parents may need to adjust their schedules to fit
this new individual.
Your baby is now smiling and cooing and will soon start to
move around more. These are signs of your baby's personality and the
start of a lifelong learning process.
Infants do Talk
When infants begin to babble, they like the people
around them to talk back. Have fun talking with your baby.
This is the way your baby learns how to talk.
Enjoy playing and talking with your
baby and watching your baby learn about the world!
Infants Love to Explore
You may have noticed that your baby is becoming
interested in everything within reach, especially simple toys with bright colors
and ones that make noise. It seems that whatever infants grab, it finds its way
into their mouths.
By age 3 or 4 months, infants are drooling and
chewing on the things they put into their mouths. This is how they learn about
the world around them.
Make sure that you never give infants a toy so small
that it fits entirely in their mouths or a toy with parts that can break off
easily. This can lead to choking!
Infants Have Personalities
Even very tiny infants act in very individual ways.
Some are loud and active, others are quiet and passive. Some are easygoing and
cuddly, others are very serious. Some are relaxed, others are more high-strung.
As a parent, you already know your baby's unique personality.
Think about this personality when you are caring for
your baby.
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If your baby is naturally fussy and has
difficulty calming down, avoid too much stimulation.
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If your baby is sensitive to changes in
routines, make sure that your days are not too busy or filled with lots
of changes.
If your baby's personality is different from
yours, remember that what makes your baby comfortable and happy may not feel
right for you.
Independence is Starting
As infants get older, they:
This is the beginning of independence, but babies do
not know what might put them in danger. Keeping your baby in a safe place, such
as in a crib or in a playpen, will prevent falls, burns, poisoning, choking, and
other injuries. Childproofing your home can also help keep your baby safe.
Some Common Problems
Most infants will go through the following
difficulties, which can be very frustrating for parents, but they will soon
outgrow them.
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Colic. This is not caused by anything you have
done. This usually goes away at about age 4 to 5 months.
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Trouble
sleeping. Some infants will have trouble either
falling asleep or waking up often during the night.
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Clinging
to parents. When infants don't see certain
people (even close friends and grandparents) very often, they may become
afraid of them.
Even though these problems will go away, it can be
very upsetting while they are occurring. Talk with your pediatrician about ideas
that will work for you and your baby until these problems go away.
Babies are not trying to be a pain or difficult
on purpose; they are just exploring and trying to talk with you in the only
way they know!
Never yell at, hit, or shake your
baby!
Infants Thrive in Happy
Families
Just like adults, infants do best with happy and
healthy people around them. Look for parent/baby groups, support groups, or
organizations in your community where parents with common interests can meet and
get to know each other.
If things are not going well in your family, if you
need help finding groups in your neighborhood, or if you are worried about your
baby, talk with your pediatrician. You are not alone; many other parents have
these same concerns.
Starting new Routines
Now that you are beginning to know your
baby's patterns, your family, like many others, may be starting new
routines. Here are some tips to help you.
Taking care of yourself is
important.
Even though infants usually are lovable, most
parents have moments of frustration, and even anger, with their baby.
Feeling this way is common and normal. What is important is how you deal
with these feelings. When this happens to you, place your baby in a safe
place like a crib or playpen and do something to relax and calm
down–have a cup of tea or coffee, listen to music, call a friend or
spouse, read, or meditate. These feelings of stress are natural and will
pass.
Reach out to family and friends, or make
new friends with other parents.
Having other adults to share the experience of
raising a child can make all the difference in the world. If you are at home
with your baby every day, it is a good idea to leave your baby with another
trusted adult once in a while. Use this time to take care of yourself or be
with your partner. Babies are delightful, but all parents need a break!
Let your baby learn about being with
other people early on.
Besides helping you out, having other adults in
your baby's life will teach your baby how to relate with others. As
infants get a little older, they begin to cry and feel restless when left
with another adult. Developing a relationship with an adult other than you
early on will help your baby have less of this discomfort later on.
If you need child care, find a setting
where the same 1 or 2 adults will be caring for your baby every
day.
Find a place that is safe and nurturing, where
the adults really enjoy being with infants. Your pediatrician can help you
think about what to look for in child care.
