If new parents read too much, they will be so freaked out about taking care of Babies.  If they are lucky, they (new parents)  probably have grown up in a home where they have older siblings whom had babies and they had the opportunity of playing the proud uncle/aunt to the nephews and nieces.  This first hand of handling babies certainly give many new parents a lot of confidence in the care of their newborns.

Both my hubby and I had countless nephews and nieces as we grew up because both of us are the youngest in a family with siblings which are much, much older.  So, when we had our own babies, we treated them like rubber dolls, only much more fragile.  I bathed, massaged, carried and exercised the babies with no hang-ups at all.

Putting our babies to our chest to sleep is part of our routine.  During the post-natal weeks, my hubby often placed the Baby on his chest while he went on watching TV.   This gives me a lot of free time.  So, parents, don’t forget the tummy time.

Read this for more expert advices why tummy time is important.

Positioning babies predominantly on their backs can mean they miss new experiences such as lifting their heads against gravity and learning to develop their arms by taking weight on them.

Physiotherapists warn that a baby spending too long in carriers, baby seats and swings can also be detrimental.

They recommend that mothers introduce “tummy time” from birth, two or three times a day for a few minutes or longer, so they get used to lying on a different position.

Go on, venture out a bit and have fun.  But remember to hold on to the back of your baby’s head and neck.  Always supervise and never leave a newborn alone on his/her tummy as this may be dangerous.  Also don’t put a baby on your  chest and (you) fall asleep on the sofa.  Baby may slipped to the floor.  Baby will love it if you put his/her ears near to your heart.  That thump-thump-thump will be comforting for baby.

You can also place baby on the tummy on a firm (never soft!) mattress.  But don’t over do it, though.

Originally posted 2006-07-02 23:10:03.