NEWBORN TIPS 

Having a newborn is as frightening as it is exciting.  New parents are entering uncharted waters and need to proceed with caution and get as many tips as possible to help them along the way.  Although, every baby is different, every mother is different, and every circumstance is different, there are some new mom tips that are helpful and beneficial to all moms.
It is very important for the baby, and the mental stability of the mother, to get the baby on a schedule.  The baby is moving into your life, and they need to learn to live around your schedule; therefore, you need to work hard to develop a schedule for the baby.  Many will tell you to wake the baby up every two hours, and this is good in the daytome; however, this is not a good practice at night.  During the night hours, let the baby sleep as long as possible.  The baby will get up on their own when they are hungry or need to be changed.  During the day, however, it is important to wake the baby every so often during the day and try to keep the baby awake for periods of time.  This is hard work, but consistency will pay off, and you will find that a schedule for your newborn will result in a long-term schedule.
Mothers need to remember that babies cry and sometimes, they are crying for no apparent reason.  If the baby has a full tummy and has a clean diaper, the baby is more than likely just be tired and having a difficult time falling asleep.  In some cases however, many newborns and babies have colic, and that will cause the baby to cry out of pain, often, the baby’s tummy becomes tight and hard because it is filled with gas bubbles.  Unfortunately, there is not much you can do to help the baby through the pain.  Typically, pain comes when those gas bubbles are broken up, and there are some over the counter medication that can help alleviate the pain and break up the bubbles.  Massaging the baby’s tummy also helps to break up the gas bubbles and relieve the pain.
Do not get into bad habits with your newborn because they are hard to break.  When it is time for the baby to sleep, put the baby in their crib.  For many parents this can be very hard because they want to be near the baby; however, it is important to develop healthy sleeping patterns.  The crib should be free from anything that can harm them, or any food items.  Never put a baby to bed with a bottle.

It is okay to play with the baby during the daily feedings, however, when the baby wakes up in the middle of the night feedings should be all about business.  Keep the lights dim or off, do not coo or talk with the baby, and if you can, throw their receiving blanket in the dryer so you can swaddle them in a warm blanket to help relax them.
Unfortunately, babies do not come with instructions so read as much as you can and seek the advice of those that have had babies.  Babies do not stay little for very long, so enjoy every moment possible.