That would mean if the father is in bed or in a chair or a nursing rocker, he should always keep in mind that the head needs support. Hold your baby upright against your chest facing outwards. Wrap your arms around the child and gently kiss the baby and smell that fresh baby scent. Sleeping babies will also enjoy the closeness and security of the parents’ voice. So it’s good to talk to your baby while they sleep, or while they’re falling asleep. Dad can also enjoy the sight of his baby smiling and giggling in his sleep. It is said to be one of the most beautiful sights and new dads should keep looking for this.
Newborns also love to hear singing, reading, or chanting while touching each of the child’s toes. Changing the tone and volume of his voice will allow daddy to see how the baby appears alert and moves in sync with his speech. The child will eventually become familiar with dad’s voice since newborns can recognize familiar voices and sounds. Baby will also tightly grasp offered fingers. So, bonding is developed through close skin and eye contact during the first weeks of life.
Crying is a baby’s way of communicating. This means that something must be wrong or that something may be needed. Babies cry for a number of reasons and the most common reason is the need for a diaper change. Babies should never be left soaking in a dirty diaper for too long, especially if he or she is in daddy’s arms. Needing a bottle is also a common reason for crying. So it is important for a new father to learn to support the child while supporting the baby’s bottle. It is important to ensure that the bottle is at the proper angle for feeding the baby, and that the baby and the head are supported throughout the feeding.
There may be many reasons for a baby’s discomfort, and while holding the baby, daddy will make sure that the child is comfortable.
Dad should be aware that while changing the diaper, the child can urinate again and the urine will be bursting out like a fountain and perhaps get you wet. So when you change the diaper, you have to do it quickly and be sure that you are quick enough to cover it if necessary. This can be frustrating, but new fathers must not forget that it’s not the baby’s fault. Picking the baby back up after changing a diaper can be difficult for some new fathers. Many people like to use the lift and bucket method, in which the child’s legs are lifted, then the parent slides his hand under the baby’s body up to his head, and scoops the baby up with support from his forearm. Diaper changes can be difficult, but picking the child up with the lift and scoop method may make it a little easier.
You need to be aware of the temperature around the baby. A baby can quickly overheat if they have too many layers of clothing or bedding. A newborn baby is unable to control body temperature, so the parent must be sure to keep the baby in the most comfortable environment possible. When the father holds the child, it is important to make sure baby is wrapped up, but not wrapped up too much. On top of the head is called a soft spot fontanel. The soft spot is formed during the birth, but the four bones that make up the skull will fuse together in twelve to eighteen months. But in the child’s time as a newborn, the new father must be aware and be careful around this place. It is crucial for a new father to learn about this place at the top of the child’s head and to take extra care to avoid touching the top of the baby’s head while holding him or her.
Fathers are seen as strong and secure, so it is important that new fathers hold their children firmly and securely in their arms. Babies love to be wrapped in a baby blanket or cuddled up in adults’ arms. This certainly reminds them of a familiar womb environment and feels safe and comfortable with being all wrapped up. Babies also have a fear of falling or getting loose, so the new baby must be kept safe in his father’s arms. You may observe it when they give you that startle reflex at any time their arms and legs become loose.
This father’s guide to holding newborn babies is just the basics. Dad can learn more by reading lots of how to take care baby books, and certainly the best tool for learning is practice. So, new fathers, do not be afraid to get in there and hold the child. The more the new father holds the new baby, the more confident he becomes in his own ability to hold and protect his baby. Remember, babies can not exactly see you because of their shortsightedness, but they can definitely remember your scent, your voice, and the way you hold them. The child will eventually get to know her father’s arms and any sense of anxiety will be lost, and the father will have the pleasure of seeing an angelic smile come to her child’s face every time he picks him or her up.
Are you planning a baby shower? Are you trying to figure out what to do? If so, here are a few fun baby shower game ideas for you.
The key to great baby shower games is to be short and fun. The games will serve as ice breakers if the guests do not know each other, and the themes should always be babies. For a typical baby shower in which no full meals are served, expect to be able to play two or three games.
Icebreaker Games
These games will get your guests interacting.
Who Am I, the Baby Version – In this game, players are each given a piece of paper with the name of a famous person on it. They do not look at the name, but tape it to their forehead. They then must figure out who they are by the reactions of the other guests. In the baby version, consider using only famous celebrity mothers, or perhaps cartoon characters. Be creative!
Who Is That Baby? – Before the party, have guests send you photos of themselves as a baby. Have each guest try to match the baby picture with the correct adult. The person with the most matches wins.
Don’t Say It – When guests arrive, give them each a pacifier on a ribbon which they can wear over their neck. Instruct them that they are not allowed to say “baby” during the party. If another guest catches them at it, the can take their pacifier. At the end of the party, the guest with the most pacifiers wins.
Word Games
Baby Boggle – Come up with a fun sentence about the baby and the mother-to-be. See how many baby related words guests can make in three minutes from the letters. Everyone reads their list, crossing off duplicates, and the person with the most remaining wins. Use a phrase such as “So there’s going to be a new [parents' last name] in the world!”
Advice Poem – Have someone write down a short piece of advice to the new mother. Then have the next person write down a line to create a poem about advice they have for the new mom. Continue with each guest adding a line, but each time, fold the paper so that the only line visible is the last one that was written. At the end, have someone read the finished poem. It is sure to contain lots of good advice in quite a funny way. This can also be done with guests writing a poem about the mother-to-be. This is especially good at a “Pamper Mommy” themed party.
Time Capsule – Have each guest write a short note to the baby. Seal the notes in a plastic bag and place them in a box for the mother-to-be, telling her she can open them with her child on his or her fifteenth birthday.
Games with Gifts
Assuming everyone is bringing a gift, you can easily create a game around them.
Baby Box – Ask every guest to bring a small item such as a rattle or a pacifier. As they arrive, place the items in a box which has a small hole cut in the side. After all the guests have arrived, give each person 20 seconds to touch as many items as they can (no peeking!), then have them write down what they felt. The person with the most correct wins.
Active Games
These games will get the guests up off the couch.
Diaper Tower – Have guests stack as many diapers as they can without the tower falling over. Of course, the mother-to-be gets to keep the diapers!
Tree Planting – Have guests help plant a tree in honor of the baby. This is especially nice if the mother-to-be recently moved into a new home. (Of course, get her input on the type of tree she would like.)
Dirty Diapers – Buy ten different chocolate candy bars (Snickers, Hershey’s, etc.). Melt the bars and put each into a separate diaper. Hang diapers along a clothesline before the guest arrive. Give each guest a piece of paper and have them smell all the diapers (take lots of pictures!). The winner is the guest who correctly identifies each candy bar.
Other Games
Are You Hungry? – Before dessert is served, bring in a tray of various baby foods, with the labels removed. Number each bottle and have the guests look at each (no tasting or smelling!) and write down what they think it contains. The winner is the person who identifies the most correct foods.
Pacifier Pass – Have everyone put a pen or pencil (or chopstick) in their mouth. Place a pacifier on the end of one of the pencils. Guests must pass the pacifier around the circle without using their hands. If a guest drops the pacifier, they are out. The winner is the last person still in the circle.
Bottle Race – Time guests drinking juice from a bottle – the fastest time wins! This is best done as a race, with white grape juice or something else that won’t stain. And once again, the mother-to-be keeps the bottles.
Gifts for the Winners
Gifts for the winners of the baby shower games can vary, but something inexpensive like shower gel or coffee will do nicely. Or guests can rack up points for each game they play (100 to the winner, 90 to second place, etc.) and at the end of the night the grand prize winner can take home something a little nicer, such as a restaurant gift certificate or bottle of wine.
While you can buy baby shower games from most party stores, the games that are the most fun are those you create with the mother-to-be specifically in mind. A new mother will also appreciate it if any of the games result in baby items she can keep, and the guests will love a door prize. One way to get something every mother needs: tell guests that there is going to be a raffle, and the cost of entry is a pack of diapers. They can enter as many times as they would like. Then either buy or make a gift basket. For instance, the prize could be a bottle of wine, pasta, sauce, parmesan cheese, and some yummy cookies in a basket. It could also be a gift certificate to a restaurant or spa. This will keep the new mother in diapers for quite awhile!