Parenting Principles for Preventing Problems Part 6

The previous Great NEWS post shared Parenting Principles for Preventing Problems Part 5 – Pregnancy and today we continue the series with Part 6 – Newborn Parenting Challenges. Parenting demands attention to details and organizational skills especially during the newborn and infant transition. Personal experience and observing other parents indicates many parenting issues result from lack of skills and sleep for new parents. Parenting Principles for Preventing Problems – Part 6 will cover key strategies and suggestions to help parents with newborns.

Parenting requires both parents to learn new skills, strategies and systems to help things run more effectively and efficiently. Without some prior proper planning and teamwork dealing with a newborn can easily result in chaos and confusion.

Parents and newborns both deserve the very best chance for each day to go well and enjoy an amazing adventure and experience together.

Many parenting problems with newborns are the result of uneducated and unprepared parents. Finding great guidance from books and online resources as well as great role models is essential to maximize the pleasure and minimize the problems. Parents and newborns both deserve the very best chance for each day to go well and enjoy an amazing adventure and experience together so please read on to learn some great strategies and suggestions.

Couples need great support systems and team work to help plan things out and think ahead in order to have things run smoother. Many couples are shocked when they run into challenges with newborns that could easily be avoided or dealt with earlier for prevention or treatment. Little mishaps can result in major emotional and financial issues in addition to excessive strain and stress in the relationship.

Newborn Parenting Challenges

Before a couple becomes too complacent or confident that they will be ready by their due date they may want to plan on being ready at least 90 days early. Many babies are being born premature and this can be extremely tough when parents are not totally mentally and physically prepared and ready. Be sure to have the car seat, clothes, diapers, furniture and supplies on hand early.

Also make sure all the clothes, curtains, furniture and toys are safe and have minimal chemical coatings and treatments. Many flame retardant fabrics and stain free fabrics are treated with toxic chemicals. Rooms should be painted with low VOC paint and items should be aired out for months in advance. New plastic bottles, diaper pails and toys are real areas of concern since they often contain and leach BPA, BPS, phthalates, and other chemical additives. Read the labels carefully and avoid unnecessary exposure to harmful substances.

Many items in a nursery contain potentially harmful chemicals, choking risk, heavy metals and injury potential. Carry cases, changing tables, clothes, decorations, plastic bags and toys can all have significant risk for harm and injury.

Keep the baby’s nursery clean from toxins or other harmful elements.

Keep pets out of the nursery and away from newborns. The last thing you want is a cat scratch, fleas or parasites from your pet affecting your newborn. As simple as this sounds it happens all the time. Insects such as bed bugs, bees, flies, mosquitoes, sand flies, scabies, scorpions, spiders and ticks are other risks to be extremely careful to avoid around newborns.

When you register for baby gifts and showers be very specific as to what items are acceptable and which ones are not. It is a real pain and time consuming to return gifts so it is much easier to be clear and concise up from with what your specifics needs and standards are. There are a lot of cheap and potentially harmful products out there so it is up to the parent to remember “caveat emptor” which means “buyer beware”.

Bacteria, fungal and viral infections are a serious concern for moms and newborns. Whether the birth is a Cesarean section or normal delivery there are significant risks from exposure to equipment and other patients at hospitals. Today antibiotic resistant bacteria are one of the greatest risks a person can face and hospitals are one of the top exposure risks. Learning about essential oils as an antibacterial agents may be one of the best things parents can do for themselves and their newborn.

Many newborns develop rashes and reactions to chemicals and compounds they come in contact with. Many cleaners, soaps and treatments contain harsh chemicals that can irritate a newborn. Avoid the majority of the baby lotions, shampoos, soaps and wipes that contain chemicals. Only use products (lotions, soaps) made with natural organic and safe foods, oils and plants. Check out the use of natural products like: aloe vera, calcium bentonite clay, coconut oil, Dr Bronner’s soap, essential oils, neem oil and vinegar.

Only use products (lotions, soaps) made with natural organic and safe foods, oils and plants.

Another important decision revolves around medications and vaccinations for mom and the newborn. When you do your homework you will see there is a lot of controversy around the number and types of vaccinations given to newborns and the potential risks and side effects. Autism and crib death are two of the most debated risks from vaccinations for newborns and infants.

Another controversial decision revolves around circumcision for boy newborns. This one is very delicate so do your research before you make that important decision.

This is a great time to double check all your baby care products, body care products, cleaning products, clothing, cosmetics, foods, furniture, household, work area and garage for any harmful chemicals or compounds that could harm you or a newborn.

Processed foods for adults and infants are often loaded with harmful chemicals in the form of additives, colorings, dyes, flavorings, preservatives, seasonings, synthetic compounds and synthetic vitamins. You must be very diligent before you buy a product to research the ingredients. Once it is in your house it is much more difficult to protect your health and an infant.

All water should be filtered to avoid chlorine and fluoride exposure. Also check the quality of the air, building and land around you. Make sure your home and work place do not put you and your infant at risk for harmful exposure.

All dental/ medical procedures, over the counter medicines, prescription medications and vaccinations have a degree of risk and harmful side effects that can affect your health and that of a newborn. Did you know that synthetic supplements and vitamins can have adverse reactions?

All water should be filtered to avoid chlorine and fluoride exposure.

Elector Magnetic Frequencies (EMF) is a big concern today because of the wide spread application and use in everyday life. Cell phones, cell phone towers, computers, cordless phones, electronics, high power lines, microwave ovens, smart meters, transformers and WiFi constantly bombard us with various forms of radiation. Be sure there are no electronic devices in the infant’s room or within close proximity. Also check the areas that adjoin the newborns room for potential exposure.

Newborns need mother’s milk for optimal growth and nourishment. Avoid the advertising hype that formula is just as good as breast feeding. There is also a temptation to use formula as a convenient alternative to free the mother from the responsibility and time of breast feeding. It is also promoted to shorten the duration of breast feeding. It is important to know that breast feeding has been shown to help the newborn to increase weight faster, provide a stronger immune system and develop higher mental capacities.

Infant formula is an artificial and synthetic combination of ingredients that can have harmful effects. Soy based formula could have Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) soy and sugar beets, herbicides, High fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) and pesticides. Many doctors and scientists now believe that the excess sugar in formula is causing infants to become addicted to sugar early which leads to health and weight problems early in life.

Baby foods are another major concern. In spite of great advertising and commercials baby foods are not much better than other highly processed foods. Excessive additives, heat, sugars and treatments destroy the enzymes, nutrients and vitamins in baby foods. While vitamins may be added back in they are usually synthetic vitamins which are not the same as natural ones.

Juices are another concern because they contain significant amounts of sugars (fruit sugar and often HFCS) that are not good for infants. Many pediatricians are recommending against giving juice to newborns and infants because they need high quality nourishment for development and growth and not sugar.

The next issue to decide is what beverages and foods to allow your children to have. Juices, milk, sodas, and sports drinks have been found to be very unhealthy for children for a long list of reasons.

Modern society is releasing w wide range of synthetic antibiotics, chemicals, fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides and other toxins into our air, land and waters. These chemicals find their way into our environment and food supply.. Most newborns in the US have over 100 harmful chemicals in their body at birth.

Being extremely cautious regarding the risks from accidents, animals, alcohol, chemicals, insects, medications, smoking and toxins is vital for the health and safety of a newborn.

One of the key things a mother can control for her health and that of her newborn is the food she puts into her body while breast feeding. Nutrition is a key component of health and must be a primary focus. What a mother and father eat affects every aspect of your body, mind and spirit so please choose wisely. Infants and toddlers will begin to role model their parents so it is essential to begin setting the foundation for a healthy household. Source the best foods you can find and buy the least processed local organic whole foods. To preserve their peak nutritional benefits use fresh foods with minimal heating and processing.

In order for a mother to provide high quality breast milk she needs healthy foods with the enzymes, fats, minerals, phyto-nutrients, trace elements and vitamins necessary for her body and enough to feed the newborn. This will impact her energy and health and impact her newborn becoming a healthy child.

After going through pregnancy and childbirth a woman can accumulate a lot of excess harmful products and toxins. This might be a great time for focusing on some light cleansing, detoxing and being sure to eliminate any harmful substances and toxins from her life. Eating high quality foods and super foods as well as juicing are great ways to naturally eliminate toxins and unhealthy choices. This will help replenish the mothers body and also insure great breast milk foe the newborn.

Mothers and fathers must focus on giving even better care to the mother first. It is imperative to give better care to the mother first in order for her to give better care to a newborn.

Mothers and fathers must focus on giving even better care to the mother first. It is imperative to give better care to the mother first in order for her to give better care to a newborn. It requires great skills, strategies and support systems to be great parents and provide great care to newborns.

Peak parenting starts with both parents being happy, healthy and in harmony for themselves and the well being of the newborn. You deserve this and so does your child.

Continue investing the time to read, reference, research and role model outstanding parents before conceiving is essential for healthy children and parents. Now that the newborn is here avoid the temptation to watch TV or chat mindlessly on the phone so you can focus on learning the best techniques and tips for being a great parent. Invest the time to read out loud to your newborn everyday to help them develop into happy and healthy children.

It is important for both parents to discuss and decide on key ground rules for all family and friends to follow. When a couple maintains direct, honest, open and safe communications they are able to sustain their relationship and resourcefulness. This will help reduce and resolve many potential disagreements, distractions and disruptions that could affect them. Recruiting family and friends to become a part of the support team rather than a sabotage team helps to make raising children much easier.

This Great NEWS post offers simple suggestions to help with Parenting Principles for Preventing Problems. Peak parenting is an art and a science that requires flexibility and foresight. Like any area of your life you want to master it is essential to find resources and role models. This post on Parenting Principles for Preventing Problems Part 6 is designed to help parents get a great start with their newborn to set the stage for parenting great children.

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Next week the Great NEWS blog will share:

Parenting Principles for Preventing Problems Part 7 Infant Parenting Challenges