Take Time to Care for Yourself and Your Baby

Mom, make and keep the appointment for your own six-week doctor’s checkup. This is very important!

During the first few weeks after your baby is born, it is not unusual to feel tired or depressed or to find yourself on the verge of tears for no apparent reason. Both mothers and fathers may experience a letdown — similar to what most of us feel after any long-awaited moment has come and gone.

New mothers may go through “the baby blues,” or postpartum blues. The baby blues come from the many changes your body goes through after your baby is born. You may feel discouraged, tense, or sad. These feelings are normal. Rest assured that many new parents have such feelings and that they are usually only temporary.

To deal with the baby blues, keep your daily routine simple. Talk to your partner, a family member, a good friend, or your doctor about your feelings. It helps to talk to someone who is close to you and cares about you. If you have a partner, remember you're in this together. The information in Parenting Partners can help you start a conversation with your partner.

Ask nothing of yourself except what you must do. Plan a nap for yourself around the baby’s schedule. Eat healthy foods and take relaxing breaks.

Try to be flexible. You will feel less worn out at the end of the day if you can relax more during the day. Give yourself a chance. Pretty soon you will feel better about yourself and parenting.

Give Your Baby a Kick Start to Healthy Eating and Fitness

One of the most important things that parents can do for their children is to teach them how to be healthy. Children should learn how much to eat, how it feels to be full, and how to be physically active.

Your baby uses signals to “talk” to you. Learn to read those signals so he can learn to depend on you. It helps for you to be there for your baby when he needs you.

When your baby is hungry, he may:

• Begin to move his mouth
• Rapidly move his eyes in his sleep
• Try to suck on his hand or tongue, your shoulder, or anything he can touch
• Bob his head and search around
• Be fussy, squirm, stretch, and clench his fists or toes

When your baby has had enough food, he may:

• Push away the bottle or breast
• Turn his head away
• Put his hands in front of his mouth
• Cry and fuss
• Forcefully move his entire body away from you
• Smile and relax his body
• Fall asleep with the nipple in his mouth

Help your baby learn to enjoy moving. With your baby on his back, hold his ankles and gently move his legs as if he is pedaling a bicycle. Sing a song and keep rhythm with the movements. Lift his arms gently up and down over his head — and then in and out. With your baby on his back, hold a toy above his body. Encourage him to try to reach for it.

Give your baby a gentle massage after his bath. Touching him helps you bond.

Want to Learn More about Child Care and Development?

Check out this Web site: Zero to Three for Parents on development in the first three years of life.

If you have questions, contact your local Extension office.

When reading this newsletter, remember: Every baby is different. Children may do things earlier or later than described here. This newsletter gives equal space and time to both sexes. If he or she is used, we are talking about all babies.

Credits: This newsletter was adapted from Extension Just In Time Parenting Newsletters in California, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Tennessee, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin.