baby care tips

It s been six weeks since our daughter, Clementine, was born. She s finally sleeping better and going longer between feedings. She s also becoming more alert when she s awake. My husband and I, on the other hand, feel like we ve been hit by a truck. I m amazed that we ve muddled through. Here are tips from seasoned parents and baby experts to make your first month easier.

Babies eat and eat and eat. Although nature has done a pretty good job of providing you and your baby with the right equipment, in the beginning it s almost guaranteed to be harder than you expected. From sore nipples to tough latch ons, nursing can seem overwhelming.

Think of ways to ensure success before you even give birth, suggests Stacey Brosnan, a lactation consultant in New York City. Talk with friends who had a good nursing experience, ask baby s pediatrician for a lactation consultant s number, or attend a La Leche League (nursing support group) meeting (see laleche.org to find one).

Kira Sexton, a Brooklyn, New York, mom, says, I learned everything I could aboutbreastfeedingbefore I left the hospital. Ask if there s a nursing class or a lactation consultant on staff. Push the nurse call button each time you re ready to feed the baby, and ask a nurse to spot you and offer advice.

At home, you ll want to drop everything to feed the baby the moment she cries for you. But Heather O Donnell, a mom in New York City, suggests taking care of yourself first. Get a glass of water and a book or magazine to read. And, because breastfeeding can take a while, she says, pee first!

if your breasts are engorged or you have blocked ducts. A heating pad or a warm, wet washcloth works, but a flax pillow (often sold with natural beauty products) is even better. Heat it in the microwave, and conform it to your breast, says Laura Kriska, a mom in Brooklyn, New York.

if your breasts are sore after nursing, try a cold pack. Amy Hooker, a San Diego mom, says, A bag of frozen peas worked really well for me.

introduce it after breastfeeding is established but before the 3 month mark. Many experts say 6 to 8 weeks is good, but we started each of our kids on one bottle a day at 3 weeks, says Jill Sizemore, a mom in Pendleton, Indiana.

If yourinfantisn t eating, he s probably sleeping. Newborns log as many as 16 hours of sleep a day but only in short bursts. The result: You ll feel on constant alert and more exhausted than you ever thought possible. Even the best of us can come to resent the severesleep deprivation.

There s only one goal right now: Care for your baby. You re not going to get a full night s sleep, so you can either be tired and angry or just tired, says Vicki Lansky, author ofGetting Your Child to Sleep...and Back to Sleep(Book Peddlers). Just tired is easier.