A Special Note to Mom and Dad

About this time, many babies seem to settle down. Some don’t cry as much, and they are easier to comfort. This makes you feel more confident as a parent. And the more confident you feel, the more you will relax.

By spending less time crying and fussing, your baby has more time to learn. She can get her hand to her mouth and suck on her fingers, but your baby still doesn’t have full control over her arms and legs. She may get angry or frustrated when she can’t make her body do what she wants it to.

If your baby reacts with fear or anger to new situations, adapts slowly to any change in schedule, or doesn’t keep a regular schedule… then you could easily get angry,impatient, or confused.

But your baby really needs you to:

• Be patient
• Introduce new things, gently and slowly
• Offer several chances to get accustomed to new things
• Make life simpler, quieter, and less stimulating

When you react in these ways, your baby can learn to deal with her feelings of fear or insecurity.

Take Excellent Care of Yourself

When you’re on an airplane getting ready to take off, you will be reminded that in the event of an emergency, you should secure your air mask before you secure the mask for children.

When it comes to parenting, that basic idea of taking care of yourself so you can take care of others is likewise important. Unless you take really good care of yourself, you won’t have the energy, stamina, or creative brain power to meet the challenges that parenting brings.

Stress is contagious. Your baby is becoming aware of your moods. He will sense when you are tense, as well as when you are calm and happy.

Do everything you can to manage stress well. Have realistic expectations for yourself. Prioritize what you want to get done each day.

Exercise! With everything you have to do, exercise is one of the easiest things to leave out. But it’s one of the most important things you can do as a parent. It’s great to walk or swim, if you have someone to watch your baby. What exercises can you do without leaving home?

Here are two simple exercises that take just a few minutes and help to loosen up your body.

1. Lie on the floor, on your back, and point your toes.

• Raise your right leg slightly and stretch your left arm toward your raised leg.
• Repeat with opposite arm and leg.
• Repeat six times.

2. Lie on the floor, on your back, with arms stretched out to shoulder level.

• Bend your knees and lift your feet.
• Swing bent legs toward right, making sure your shoulders and arms are flat on the floor.
• Then swing legs to the left.
• Repeat six times.