Newborn childcare: What dads can and should do

Unlike mothers, whose awareness and determination to become mothers grows as their bellies grow, many fathers find it difficult to feel like they are becoming fathers. Let's think about how to interact with your baby and what you should do, using specific examples.

What is newborn care?

A newborn refers to a baby within 28 days of birth.
Many moms and dads may feel scared to hold their babies because they are small and unreliable. Newborns are squishy because their muscles and skeletons are not yet developed. When picking up your pet, be careful not to arch your neck or lower back too much, and be careful not to bend or extend your arms or legs too much.

Newborns sleep about 15 to 20 hours a day. She wakes up every 2 to 3 hours, so I take care of her by feeding her and changing her diaper. It's difficult because they don't know the difference between day and night yet, but 24-hour care is only necessary for the first few months of childcare. Let's work together as moms and dads to get through this while enjoying the cuteness that is unique to newborns.

Are there any situations where dads can play an active role?

There are some things that I want dads to do when caring for their baby.
The best thing to do is take a bath. To take a bath.
Newborns have a low immunity to bacteria, so they should be bathed in a special baby bath rather than with adults. Although the baby is small, it weighs between 3 and 4 kg, so there are high expectations for the father's success. If you come home from work early and take charge of the baby's bath, you will be able to have physical contact with the baby and get to know them better, and the mother will also appreciate it.

Carrying your baby is also a great way to raise your child. This will give your baby a sense of security and help build a relationship of trust, so please actively hold your baby as needed.

Changing diapers is one of the things that even non-mothers can do. It is a good idea for fathers to do this when possible, in order to support mothers who are busy with housework and childcare 24 hours a day.

What should you remember?

Newborns' bodies are underdeveloped and delicate. There's no need to be more scared than necessary, but if you don't handle it with care, it may lead to unexpected injury or trouble, so there are some things to keep in mind.

When holding your pet or giving it a bath, you need to be careful not to fall, but you also need to firmly support your pet's head so it doesn't wobble. The basics are to hold your dog on your side, as if you were laying him down. When you sit up and hold your pet, be careful not to place your hand on the back of the dog's head and cause its neck to snap.

When your baby won't stop crying or when you're putting him to sleep, it's a good idea to gently shake your baby as this will have a relaxing effect, but shaking your baby too hard is strictly prohibited. If the neck moves jerkily, the brain may shake inside the skull, causing damage or damage to the nerves in the neck.

In addition, babies receive ``transitional immunity'' in their mothers' wombs, but their immunity is weaker than that of adults, so it is important to take thorough measures against infectious diseases to prevent them from bringing viruses into the home.

What else can you do besides taking care of your baby?

Some fathers may not have the opportunity to take care of their baby due to work commitments or other reasons.
Even in such cases, there are many situations where dads can play an active role.

For example, shopping. It is said that mothers should refrain from going out during the newborn period, so if there is no family to leave the baby with while the baby is away, daily shopping can also be a problem for mothers.
Pregnancy and childbirth also place a great burden on a mother's body. It takes several months to recover from the damage, so during the newborn period, the baby's body is in a state of tatters and is struggling with the unaccustomed task of raising a child. Even just taking care of shopping after work or on holidays can reduce the burden on mothers. It's also helpful if you can help with small household chores such as cleaning, laundry, and taking out the trash.

Housework and childcare require a lot of effort. Even more so when it comes to balancing work with work. In addition to sharing housework and childcare responsibilities, it can also be helpful to listen to each other, offer words of support, and care about your health. Raising a child is something that mom and dad do together. Let's work together to overcome this.

Childcare is a joint effort between mom and dad

When it comes to child-rearing, there is no sure-fire manual or correct answer. When raising a child for the first time, there are many things you don't understand, and you may feel anxious and confused.
We recommend that you attend parent classes, gather information, and study during your pregnancy until your baby is born. The important thing is to be interested in and know your baby.
And to understand and be close to the body and mind of the wife who will become a mother.

Dad's participation in housework and childcare is not "helping". Running a household is a joint effort between husband and wife, father and mother. Fathers are also encouraged to participate in housework and childcare as part of their own duties.
As children grow up, they gradually become less demanding, but childcare is a long-term challenge. Don't get too excited and have fun walking along with mom and dad.