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No matter how many times you’ve spent around kids, being an adoptive parent comes with unexpected challenges. As a new parent, you may need to learn new things like feeding your baby, diaper changes, among other crucial tasks.
Sometimes the baby may not be feeling well, and that might be worrying. You might also have no idea of some baby products to use at different stages of your baby. Having all the knowledge of handling a baby is crucial in your motherhood journey. By the end of this post, you will have some idea on the dos and don’ts while taking care of the baby.
Preparing to Bring Your Baby Home
Just like any parent, you need to prepare to bond with your newborn. For this reason, you might want to get some essential items that your baby will need. You might want to participate in some new parent classes and learn how to care for a baby.
Most of these classes teach other important things, such as when to go to the clinic, feeding the child, and knowing when they are uncomfortable or unwell. Some new parent books offer this guidance.
Getting Essential Products
Where will your baby sleep? Have you organized a small bed and other necessities? The following is a new parent checklist that can help you get what’s needed before bringing the baby home.
A Crib and Bedding
Ensure that you get a soft and comfortable small bassinette or crib for your baby. There should be an excellent mattress and bedding to keep him or her warm.
Clothing
Also, you’ll need to get clothing for your new baby. Ensure that you have enough warm clothing like socks, sweaters, and jackets, among others. Clothes are among the most common new parents’ gifts you can get from friends.
Other essential products
Analyze and get safe products for your baby like soap, diapers, and body oil. You might want to reach out to other parents for new parent advice regarding these products.
Formula
If you aren’t breastfeeding, you’ll want to research what is the right formula. A registered pediatric doctor can recommend what to feed your baby. Many new parents have also found it helpful to stock their freezer with meals, since caring for a newborn may not leave you with much time. Other essential stuff that shouldn’t miss in your new parent survival kit includes a baby book and a journal to record your memories.
Choosing a Pediatrician
After getting everything ready, you’ll want to identify the pediatrician who will take care of your baby’s medical needs. Try asking around to see if friends or family living in your area have any recommendations. Remember, you need to visit them at least two weeks after taking the baby home.
Health Insurance
This baby is going to be yours for the rest of your life. Consider getting in touch with your health insurance provider to find out how to add your baby to your insurance plan once you adopt him or her. Your provider will let you know the documents needed to add your baby’s details.
How to Bond With Your Newborn
With birth parents, bonding starts during pregnancy. You might wonder if it’s possible to bond with an adopted child. Fortunately, it’s possible.
Once you bring your baby home, you should as well spend some quality time bonding. Becoming a new parent can be challenging. The following tips are helpful to help you bond with your little one.
Skin Contact
Did you know that you can create a bond with your newborn by keeping them close to your body? Studies show that skin contact with newborns creates a special relationship.
Ensure that you have skin-to-skin contact with them throughout infancy. This allows your baby to get used to your hormones and scent as well.
Through your warmth, they feel relaxed, loved, and secure.
Eye Contact
The easiest way to allow your baby to recognize your face is by regular eye contact with them. Babies feel a sense of comfort and even smile every time you keep eye contact with them. You can do this while feeding them, bathing, or anytime you hold them.
Talking
Even though small kids start taking a certain age, you should familiarize your voice with them. Anytime you focus on your child, talk while facing her to help them associate your sound with you. Eventually, your baby will learn to respond and learn to talk too.
Always Be Responsive
Babies develop trust when you respond to them and to make yourself available whenever they need you. A simple example is that when they cry, you go to them and find out why.
Learn to respond to them rapidly when calling you to create a sense of comfort and safety. Doing this increases the bond between the two of you as they grow.
Establishing Routines
Would you like to establish trust with your child? Children learn through repetition. Provide their basic needs consistently and in a loving way as a caregiver. Get new parent advice from other mothers to find out their daily routines. Have a schedule for time to take meals, bathing, playing, and bedtime as well.
Daily routines are crucial as they help you achieve a secure attachment. As they grow, they get to learn the right time to wake up, brush their teeth, playing, and even go to bed. Some new parent apps can help you get a good routine as you start.
Preparing to welcome a newborn through adoption shouldn’t be stressful. With these tips on gathering the essential items, choosing a pediatrician, obtaining health insurance, and bonding with your baby, the journey becomes much smoother.
Have you ever adopted a newborn? How did you prepare to welcome your baby? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
