40 | JULY & AUGUST 2019
Image: Gallo Images/Getty ImagesMOST FIRST-TIME parents feel very
anxious about caring for such a tiny
being, particularly during the first six
weeks. Read on and find some sound
advice and tips, as we show you how
to cope in these early days of your
parenting journey.
GOING HOME
There is nothing more exciting than
packing up to leave the hospital. The
most important item you’ll leave with –
apart from your baby – is a car seat. This
is an item you’ll have chosen before your
due date. Safety is paramount whenever
your baby is in the car. Statistics show
that motor vehicle accidents kill or injure
hundreds of babies and young children
each year, so your baby must be securely
and safely buckled into a quality car seat
of the right size for his weight whenever
he is in the car. In South Africa, it is
now law that all children under three
Welcome to the
The arrival of a precious new baby can
be both exciting and daunting – read our
guide and learn how to copeyears old have to be strapped into a
seat when travelling in a car. Before,
everybody older than three years had
to be buckled up, but there was no
stipulation enforcing drivers to ensure
that those younger than three were
safely restrained in a car seat. A child
was recognised as a person between
three and 14 years, but there was no
provision for an infant in the seatbelt
legislation. This is a non-negotiable part
of travelling with children, so get him
used to being in a car seat from the start,
since he will need to sit in one until he is
at least about 12 years old.
Never put your baby on your lap when
the car is moving.
Babies are particularly vulnerable to
head, neck and spinal injuries because
their heads are disproportionately larger
and heavier than their bodies.
This puts additional strain on their
tiny necks.SAFETY TIPS
❋ Shop around for the safest quality car
seat you can afford. Ensure that you can
operate the car seat before you have to
use it.
❋ Adjust the straps to fit your baby
perfectly. Heavier or bulky clothing
means you will need to re-adjust
the straps.
❋ Never place a baby car seat in the
front passenger seat. Apart from the
added risk during an accident, air bags
pose a serious danger should they inflate.
❋ Car seats that face backwards are
considered to be the safest.
❋ Ensure that straps are not twisted, lie
flat and are comfortably secure.
❋ Don’t wrap your baby in a blanket
before strapping him in. Place the blanket
over the car seat once he is secure.
❋ Use the seat’s head support to stop
your baby’s head from rolling around.FIRST DAYS
Don’t expect anything to make sense
in those early weeks. This is a time
of adjustment, and it doesn’t matter
if the house is a mess or your friends
are furious that you haven’t posted
photographs on Facebook yet.
This is your “babymoon” –
a honeymoon period for mom (and dad)
to get to know baby. It’s also a time of
hard work, as you’ll be learning how
to handle, bath, feed, change, burp and
cope with your little one.
Bear in mind that your body is now in
its fourth trimester, which means you’re
still recovering from pregnancy and
birth. Take your time! Surround yourself
with supportive friends and family who
can help with housework, meals and
your baby, giving you space to heal and
your body and mind to rest.
❋ Sleep when your baby sleeps. Don’t
use this time to rush around doing
chores or catching up on emails.
❋ Accept help from friends and family.
❋ Drink and eat healthy foods, take
a doctor-recommended supplement, and
change your sleeping schedule, so you
can go to bed early.
❋ Don’t believe everything you hear.
People give new parents loads of tips
and advice, all of it well meant, but much
of it conflicting or confusing. Find one
person whose opinion you trust.
❋ Have lots of healthy, easy-to-grab
snacks on hand, such as fresh and dried,
sulphur-free fruit, biltong, rooibos tea
and fresh, diluted fruit juice, nuts and
seeds, wholegrain bread or oat cakes.
❋ Your partner needs to get involved in
caring for your baby, so allow them to