Your baby’s first year is a precious time that will pass all too quickly — in retrospect. To help calm your new-parent jitters, cover the basics: Make sure that you have a list of essential phone numbers handy, know what symptoms dictate that you call the doctor immediately, and understand the many reasons your baby cries. And for yourself, repeating an affirmation or two can help you keep your perspective and your sanity.
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Phone Numbers to Have Handy during Your Baby’s First Year
As a new parent, you’re nervous enough during your baby’s first year, and the last thing you need is to not be able to find a phone number when you need it. Make a list of key phone numbers and post it in a prominent place — or several places — so that you don’t add to your stress at a stressful time. Some of the numbers to put on your list include those for the following people and services:
Pediatrician
Local emergency room
Local poison control
Poison Control Emergency: 800-222-1222
Daycare/Sitter
Mom’s cell phone
Dad’s cell phone
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Baby Emergencies: When to Call the Doctor Right Away
Your baby’s first year is a time of wonder, joy, and uncertainty. You’ll learn not to panic every time your baby cries, but there are times when your bundle of joy needs a doctor’s attention right away. If your child experiences any of the conditions in the following list, get in touch with your doctor immediately:
If a baby less than 3 months old has a temperature of 100.5 or higher, call immediately.
In older babies, fever is okay and can be treated at home. Do call if the fever is over 101 and/or lasts longer than three days or if the baby has other symptoms.
Baby is having difficulty breathing.
Baby has a cut that is still bleeding after you’ve applied pressure for ten minutes; or the cut has jagged edges, is a puncture wound, is significant and located on his face, or is in an area where it’s unlikely to stay closed by itself (a joint, for example).
Your child has sustained a head injury and has lost consciousness; has dilated or uneven pupils; is extremely irritable (inconsolable) or lethargic (unable to wake him); is very pale; seems confused or unable to perform his usual activities; or has discharge from his ear(s).
Your child has been vomiting for several days or has had a case of projectile vomiting.
Baby has had a severe allergic reaction to a food or medicine (hives or swelling of the tongue, lips, or eyes).
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Tears during the First Year: What's Causing Baby to Cry?
During your baby’s first year, you’re still getting used to her needs, her moods, and her method of communication — which most often is a healthy yell. No need to panic, just run through the following list to discover the reason for your baby’s distress, which can help you find the way to alleviate it.
Is her diaper full?
Is she hungry?
Did you burp her after her last feeding?
Is she tired?
Is she frustrated or angry (by trying and not succeeding at a new skill, for example)?
Is she hurt?
Is she overstimulated (too much going on around her)?
Is she frightened?
Is something (a tag, or a toe stuck in a sock the wrong way) irritating her physically?
Is she sick (fever, diarrhea, runny nose)?
Is she cutting a tooth (general crankiness, drooling, blue spot on her gum)?
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Affirmations to Use during Your Baby’s First Year
Being a new parent can make you feel more than a little frazzled. During your baby’s first year, take advantage of whatever helps, including the affirmations in the following list. Repeat them whenever the need arises. And expect the need to arise often.
I am a responsible person, even though I may not always feel like I know what I’m doing.
Just because my child has crying jags (and/or doesn’t sleep through the night at 3 months), it doesn’t mean that I’m doing something wrong.
I will not always be so tired.
I will not feel so old a year from now.
My breasts will not always feel like they’re going to crack off and/or explode.
Fatigue is just a state of mind.
I really am fortunate to simply have a healthy child.
Eventually, Baby will learn to walk, feed himself, and have a life that is all his own — these infant days are fleeting and precious.
My house doesn’t have to be picture-perfect (or spotless) to ensure that my baby has a wonderful childhood.
My child doesn’t need the most expensive clothes, toys, or baby accessories to be happy.
Yelling at my baby only scares him: He doesn’t grasp my intended message.
My working outside of the home is not going to damage my child emotionally.
I can’t sanitize the entire world; my child will get sick from time to time.
When the time comes, I will allow Baby to safely explore the world instead of hovering over him, biting my nails.
I will not compare my child to my friends’ kids, or take stock in comparisons other people make.
I will try to read to Baby every day.
My pediatrician will not think I’m unintelligent for asking questions about my child’s development.
Baby-proofing is a job that’s never truly finished.
I can and will find a responsible babysitter so that I can have some one-on-one adult time once in a while.
I am really learning about myself by caring for my child.
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dummies
Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/your-babys-first-year-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html
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