I recently asked a large group of pediatricians what 3 pieces of advice they wish all new parents knew. Life with a newborn can be surprisingly hard \u2013 what might make things easier? And how can new parents help keep their babies safer? The answers were remarkably consistent. We, pediatricians, seem to think alike!<\/p>\n
Vaccinate your baby.<\/strong> Every pediatrician<\/em> I asked started with that piece of advice. Every pediatrician<\/em> I know has fully vaccinated their family. New babies can\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u2019t handle exposure to diseases the way older kids and adults can, and they\u2019re especially susceptible to risks like influenza, and whooping cough. We also recommend that you ask that everyone caring for your baby be fully vaccinated.<\/p>\n Trust yourself.<\/strong> Several of the pediatricians I spoke with recommended that parents trust their own instincts. Some were applying that advice to medical concerns: if you think something is wrong with your baby, contact your pediatrician. Others were offering a broader perspective about parenting in general. Advice is cheap and plentiful \u2013 you\u2019ll hear lots of it from lots of people, like grandparents, friends, and neighbors. Take the parenting advice<\/a> that works for you and your family, and leave the rest.<\/p>\n Be patient with yourself.<\/strong> Your baby didn\u2019t come with an instruction manual \u2013 you\u2019re learning on the fly! And while you\u2019re learning, you\u2019re also trying to find time to take care of yourself too<\/a>. Start with sleeping when the baby sleeps, letting the housework go, and accepting all the help you\u2019re offered. If you\u2019re breastfeeding, your partner, family, or other helpers can find many ways to support you, such as by bringing you snacks, and water, and taking care of household tasks while you\u2019re busy. Welcome more help from dad<\/a>, grandparents, and friends whenever you need it \u2013 chances are they\u2019re more than happy to pitch in!<\/p>\n Seek<\/strong> medical attention right away for<\/strong> any fever in a child this young<\/a>. Fevers can be bad in the first 3 months.<\/strong> Fever at this age should be measured rectally. A fever is a temperature of 100.4\u00b0F degrees or higher.<\/p>\n Check the source of parenting advice from social media<\/strong>. There\u2019s a lot of scary, bad information out there! Make sure you\u2019re looking at<\/p>\n trustworthy science-based sites like those at the end of this post.<\/p>\n Gather your support system<\/strong>. A great way to do this is to join a new parents group. There\u2019s nothing like surrounding yourself with other new parents to help you feel less alone. This definitely got me through those tough early days when my firstborn wouldn\u2019t stop crying<\/a> \u2013 and the friends I made there are still my closest friends!<\/p>\n Look for the moments of joy, even when it all feels rough<\/strong>. It may not feel like it now, but the newborn stage is a brief period in your life as a parent. In retrospect, you may feel like the time has flown by. All the struggles and sleepless nights end \u2013 and then new challenges appear, which will also pass. So try to take a moment to savor the gifts each day has to offer.<\/p>\n\n Resources for Parents<\/strong><\/p>\n American Academy of Pediatrics<\/strong><\/p>\n Healthychildren.org<\/a><\/p>\n