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Baby Basics for New Parents

Becoming a new parent is one of the most transformative experiences in life. Suddenly, you have this new tiny person that relies on you for everything from food to shelter and protection. That's an awful lot of responsibility for any person to accept. Therefore, it is only natural for a new parent to feel a bit overwhelmed. In this article we will discuss a few baby basics that will hopefully take some of the pressure off.

One of the first things that new parents worry about is if their babies are getting enough food. When the mother breastfeeds, she must trust her baby to know how much to eat. As most new mothers eventually discover, you cannot and should not force your baby to eat or to sleep with a children's duvet.

The same is true when you feed your child with a bottle. If he only wants six ounces of an eight ounce bottle, you shouldn't force him to drink those last two ounces. But if you are truly concerned that your baby isn't eating enough, you should contact your pediatrician immediately.

Another common question for new parents has to do with bathing. They often wonder if they should bathe their newborn babies every day. After all, most babies do not enjoy having water poured all over them.

Fortunately for the babies, most pediatricians agree that newborns do not need a full bath each and every day. It is perfectly acceptable to wash your baby with a soft sponge or a damp cloth instead of putting him in the tub.