There are different situations in life. If suddenly you had to be alone with the baby: friends asked to look after an hour or two, or you were left alone with a child in your arms, having no idea how to deal with such a baby, first of all, keep calm! Caring for a baby is not as difficult as it might seem at first.
Children, especially the little ones, especially keenly feel the emotional background of an adult. Tune in to a positive mood, put all problems and worries to the far corner of your mind. The baby should come first now!
The first thing you will have to face: feeding.
How to feed your baby properly
Who is a baby and how to feed him? An infant is a human child from birth to one year old. And he feeds mainly on milk. Maternal or artificial. If your friends and relatives left you and your baby to sit, they should have left bottles of milk as well. Mom usually pumps her milk into a bottle. If the child is bottle-fed, the parents had to clarify where the mixture is and how to prepare it. If no one specified anything for you, that's okay! The formula can be bought at your nearest pharmacy, after consulting your pharmacist about the child's age. Currently, the availability and variety of infant formula for food pleases: Nutrilon, Nan, Nutrilak, Agusha and others. Some formula manufacturers claim that their formula tastes and contents are no different from breast milk! Let's take their word for it and buy a mixture, guided by the age of the child and whether he has contraindications (if you know about them). If you are afraid to leave your child alone, ask your friends and acquaintances to run to the pharmacy.
The formula bottle must be sterilized before feeding. Make sure the bottle is labeled with high temperature tolerance! The bottle can either be boiled in a saucepan of water for 10-15 minutes, or placed in a bottle sterilizer, if available. When the baby got worried, frowned and began to move his lips (like smacking his lips), then it's time to feed!
Dilute the mixture according to the instructions on the box of the mixture. Make sure that the finished drink is at the optimum temperature! To check the temperature of the mixture, place a drop on the crook of your elbow. The mixture should be warm, not hot.
When you start feeding, choose a convenient location for yourself. You can, of course, feed the child while standing, but it is better to sit down in a chair, leaning the elbow of the hand with which you are holding the child on the armrest. Once full, the baby will release the nipple from the bottle from the mouth by itself. It is not necessary to shove the mixture again by force, it is better to feed it even later.
After feeding, be sure to put the baby in an upright position on your shoulder, after placing a clean napkin or towel there and supporting the baby's head. This is necessary for the baby to regurgitate excess formula or milk.
And now, the baby is fed. Next, you should look at his behavior. If he is lethargic and a little capricious, then he wants to sleep.
How to lull your baby to sleep
First of all, if possible, eliminate the extraneous noise. You can play soft instrumental music like Mozart or Kenny G. Think of some lullabies and hum them softly. You can take the baby in your arms and rock it slightly from side to side, or you can put it in a cradle or stroller and swing it. It's as convenient for you.
Some children fall asleep when they lightly stroke their eyebrows from nose to temple with a thumb (in the event that the child has already closed his eyes, otherwise he may be frightened, especially if you are not a family member, but an acquaintance). Stroke the back and tummy, say tender words - children love affection, the more the better! Make sure that the baby is not heavily swaddled or dressed. While rocking, relax the diaper, remove excess clothing. The baby should be comfortable sleeping.
After the child has fallen asleep, you can take a nap on your own. Or redo your business.
It happens that the child does not want to sleep, and with his whole appearance indicates the desire to play: he smiles, grabs the air with his little hands, fiddles with his legs.
What to play with a baby?
Toddlers love to play "Ku-ku". When you cover your face with your palms, then you open it, smile and say: "Ku-ku!"
Also, the attention of the baby can be attracted by bright toys-rattles. And chewing gum for teeth called teething. The toys must be clean! Therefore, if the toy falls to the floor, hurry up to wash it with baby soap and rinse well.
Use touch as a game: Goat walked (with two fingers) or turn massage into a game. You can tell your kid a fairy tale using the tools at hand: the same toys, drawings. Best of all, kids at this age perceive poems - remember your favorite rhyme written by the children's writer Agnia Barto and voice it to your child.
But the most important condition: you yourself must be in the mood for play and fun, otherwise nothing will work out.
And the most important question to consider when caring for a baby:
How to change the diaper correctly?
If the baby is fed and is still screaming and grimacing, it's time to check the contents of his diaper. It may be full. To change a diaper, you will need: a waterproof diaper (or any diaper), baby wipes, a trash bag, and baby powder.
Ideally, if you place your baby on a changing table. But if there is no table, you can change the diaper on a regular adult bed or even in the baby's crib (the latter option is not entirely convenient, since the walls of the crib will interfere).
Wash your hands, place a diaper under the baby, carefully remove the diaper and throw it into the prepared garbage bag. Wipe the baby's bottom and crotch with wet wipes (you can, of course, wash it under the tap, but if you don't know how and are afraid to hold the baby with one hand, you shouldn't risk it). The girl should be wiped in the direction from the pubis to the anus to avoid infection.
Do not rush to put on a new diaper right away, let the baby's skin breathe a little for a few minutes. At these minutes, talk to your baby or do a tummy massage, knead your legs. Then lightly dust the buttocks with powder and only then put on a new diaper. Everything, the child is fresh and ready for sleep or wakefulness again!
When caring for an infant, remember that this is a small, but still Personality. Consider his interests and desires when planning joint leisure! And do not forget to have the phone numbers of your parents and anyone else who can help you with your care. Suddenly they will agree to brighten up your privacy with the baby with their presence. You alone will undoubtedly cope, but help is never superfluous. Raise healthy and smart babies!
