7 Parenting Tips for New Parents

With the first child, parents face new challenges - and need answers to completely new questions. How do I replace milk meals with porridge? Does baby water have any advantages? What should I pay attention to when looking for a baby swimming course?

How do you get the baby from milk to solid food?

Parents should introduce complementary foods to their babies in several steps. This means they first replace the milk meal at noon in favor of porridge. The Skin and Allergy Aid association explains the other meals follow every four weeks. Porridges made from vegetables, potatoes, and meat or fish are the beginning. Then there are milk-cereal porridges and then fruit-cereal porridges. Even if the child has an increased allergy risk, parents should not avoid certain foods that often cause allergies. Only cow's milk, as drinking milk does not belong on the menu until after the first year of life.

But aside from porridge, you can also feed your baby with purees made from meat and other nutritious ingredients like milk. These food options can be good for your little one since they’re the best sources of vitamins and nutrients, which help promote proper brain development and boost their immune system. Thankfully, many baby food companies like Serenity Kids offer ethically-sourced meat purees perfect for your baby’s consumption.   

Do babies need special baby water?

Many manufacturers offer special baby water as a thirst quencher or for porridge mixing for infants. In comparison to mineral or tap water, however, they have hardly any advantages but a higher price. This was the result of a market check by the Lower Saxony Consumer Center with seven glasses of water. Products advertised as baby water are up to three times more expensive than conventional mineral water, which is also suitable for preparing baby food.

What should the baby drink on the go?

Most baby water is sold in a 1.5-liter tetrapod or a PET bottle. This is impractical for the on-the-go, and parents should boil the liquid if it is open for more than two days. It is better to boil your water fresh at home as needed and take it with you in a thermos.

Baby swimming - does that make sense?

Baby swimming courses are offered almost everywhere. There are no fixed rules for quality assurance, course instructors do not have to have any special training. Parents should, therefore, inquire beforehand whether they have been trained at the Swimming Association. Baby diving is part of the program in many courses. The little ones are briefly kept underwater. They should be protected from drowning by the breath-hold reflex. In some children, this reflex can no longer be found four weeks after birth. For safety reasons, parents should, therefore better, avoid baby diving.

On the other hand, your baby should never be left alone to avoid the risk of drowning. Follow safety precautions to keep your babies safe while swimming. Check the water’s temperature to ensure your baby is comfortable while swimming. Look after the color of their finger, lip, and toe and take them out of the water if they turn purplish.

Does baby swimming strengthen children's immune systems?

According to studies, children who participate in baby swimming have more infections than non-swimmers. Researchers believe that the reason is that babies swallow large amounts of water and thus absorb viruses and bacteria. Before the course starts, the baby should, therefore, be completely vaccinated against rotaviruses, one of the most common causes of gastrointestinal diseases. After that, you have to wait 14 days: because in this period, 50 percent of children will still have vaccine viruses.

When does a baby sleep through the night?

Babies up to six months of age do not yet have a regular sleep pattern. The sleep phases usually last two to three hours; in total, they need around 14 to 16 hours of sleep within 24 hours. Short wake-up phases at night are entirely normal, explains the professional association of pediatricians (BVKJ). Most babies can sleep for ten hours or more for around half a year to a year. If the children are around 12 to 15 months old, the number of rest periods per day is reduced: an afternoon nap of one to two hours is usually sufficient.

How do you get a child used to bedtime?

There are various ways in which parents can show children that it is bedtime at night: for example, they speak in a muffled voice and create a calm and dark atmosphere. The presence of the parents can help you fall asleep: However, if you have difficulty falling asleep, you shouldn't take the child in your arms or take her to bed. Because then the child sometimes gets used to this ritual and no longer manages to fall asleep independently.

Moreover, you can get your child used to bedtime by trying soothing techniques like swaddling, swinging, shushing, and sucking. These techniques can be effective in helping your little one get to sleep when it’s bedtime. Also, keep a log of your child’s sleep patterns to develop a routine. Lastly, put your baby to sleep in the same place at the same time to establish regularity. Remember, consistent baby sleep patterns can provide comfort, which helps your little one to sleep during bedtime.   

Conclusion  

Ultimately, new parents panic during the early stages of childbirth since the entire experience can be overwhelming for them. While parenting comes with inevitable challenges, there are ways to help you navigate them more efficiently. Hence, if you’re a new parent, keep the information mentioned above in mind, and you’ll be able to handle your new parenting duties more efficiently.