New Baby Rules

Bottles, burps, bedtime and beyond - learn the ins and outs of caring for a new baby.

Not much is cuter than a new baby (except maybe a puppy, but since you're in the Babysitter Library, we'll just go with the kid for now). Anything that tiny and angelic is hardly invincible; in fact, babies are extremely fragile. If you're not sure what you're doing when handling a baby, you might do more harm than good.

Until this newborn morphs into a crazy toddler, you'll need to be aware of special tips for handling the baby. It's not always intuitive, so read carefully to bulk up your expertise on the littlest little ones.

HOLDING THE BABY

• Because newborn babies haven't had a chance to develop the muscles that toddlers use to crawl, stand or even hold up their heads, she'll need you to do even the simplest tasks for her - especially supporting her neck and head.
• A good way to pick up the baby is to start with the baby lying on her back. Use both arms to cradle the baby; one arm will slide under her bottom, while the other will gently slide under her head and neck.
• You can also hold the baby snuggled against your chest. Baby's head will rest at your neck while you support her head and neck with one hand and the other hand supports her bottom.

MEALTIME

• How often a baby eats will depend upon the age of the baby and its normal schedule. Be sure to have a written list of all feeding times from Mom or Dad.
• Ask the parent if baby prefers warm milk. You can warm a bottle in a pan of hot (never boiling!) water or by holding the bottle under warm water coming from the faucet. Do NOT use the microwave to heat a bottle because it can heat unevenly and possibly burn a baby. Test the temperature of the milk on your wrist before you serve it to baby.
• The baby will let you know when she's full, usually by turning away from the nipple or bottle. Don't force her to have any more - it's a losing battle.

EXCUSE YOU! BURPING THE BABY

• Because a baby is fed with an upright bottle, air can be swallowed during mealtime, causing the baby to become uncomfortable. Look for signs that she needs to burp to ease this discomfort, such as squirming, grimacing or a painful expression on her face.
• One way to burp the baby is to use one arm to support baby's neck and bottom against your chest (similar to the snuggled position above), and gently pat the back of the baby with your other hand.
• Another way to burp the baby: you can sit the baby upright on your lap, letting her lean forward on your arm while supporting her head and neck with your hand. Use your other hand to give a few gentle pats on the back.
• You should burp the baby for a couple of minutes halfway through her bottle and also when she has finished his bottle. You will usually hear a loud burp when the baby expels the air. Feel free to say, "Excuse you!"

NIGHTY NIGHT

• A newborn baby can sleep hours and hours every day, and most of them do! (It's the nights when they like to stay awake with Mom and Dad.) Be sure to ask the parents about the normal sleeping patterns of the baby.
• Make sure that the baby has a full belly and a clean diaper before putting her down to sleep. Some babies like to be rocked before bedtime, but some just like to be put down in a crib, so ask Mom or Dad what their baby prefers.
• Always place the baby on her back to sleep. Make sure there are no items like pillows, stuffed animals or blankets in the baby's crib. Even though we are used to sleeping with our heads on a pillow, baby will be most comfortable flat on the mattress, and this will reduce the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

CALMING A CRYING BABY

• There are three main reasons a baby cries: they are hungry, need to burp or need a diaper change. Before you start trying anything else to calm the crier, make sure you've fed, burped and changed her. If the baby continues to cry, you can try some of the tactics below.
• If you have Mom or Dad's OK, load the baby up in her stroller and take her for a walk around the block. Both the movement of the stroller and the low sound of the rolling wheels might have a comforting effect - comforting enough to lull her to sleep.
• Rock the baby in a rocking chair or sway her from side to side in your arms. Try talking to the baby or singing to her. Remember that what you say isn't as important as how you say it. And for all you tone deaf sitters, don't worry. You don't need a perfect voice, just a soothing one.
• Another thing you can try (again, with Mom or Dad's permission) is a lukewarm bath. A product like lavender-scented baby soap can calm baby. NEVER leave the baby unattended in the bath for even a second. Make sure you have your soap, washcloth, lotion and anything else you might need before placing baby in the water. If the phone rings, let it. That's what answering machines and voicemail are for.
• If you become frustrated with a crying baby and feel like you're losing your cool, the best thing you can do is to set the baby in her crib and walk out of the room. Once you've regained your composure, you can go back and see to the baby's needs. Never let yourself get overly frustrated with the baby and NEVER shake the baby under any circumstance.
• If a baby cries for three hours solid, it's time to call the pediatrician and, of course, the parents.