A Message Brought to You by First 5 Sacramento

Blockbusters, barbecues and beaches may be the usual summer staples, but what about babies? According to the State Department of Health Services, more California babies are born during summer months than any other time of year. Along with newborns, this summer is sure to deliver thousands of first-time parents.

To help prepare new parents for the joys and challenges that lie ahead, First 5 Sacramento offers the following tips, adapted from the Kit for New Parents – a free comprehensive parenting resource available to all new Sacramento County parents.

Before Baby’s Birth

To ease the transition into parenthood, you can prepare to welcome your newborn by:

Packing a suitcase with items to take with you during your stay in the hospital.
Installing or checking smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to protect you and your newborn’s health.
Obtaining a cradle, crib or bassinet that meets the latest safety standards. Newborns spend the majority of their time sleeping – up to 20 hours a day – so you’ll want to make sure yours rests both comfortably and safely.
Stocking up on diapers. Since newborns can require up to 90 diaper changes a week, having plenty on hand will reduce your need to make frequent trips to the store or to do emergency laundry chores.
Bringing Home Baby

Before leaving the hospital, make sure you complete the following to help ensure a healthy start for your baby:

Install an infant car seat. California law requires parents to have an installed baby seat in their cars before they are able to take their newborns home. For more information or to register for fitting appointments or provider trainings call (916) 875-5869.
Select a pediatrician and schedule baby wellness appointments. Newborns should see the doctor regularly to help ensure their healthy growth and development.
Give breastfeeding a chance. Breastfeeding gives your baby the best start to life. A mother’s milk strengthens a baby’s immune system, helping fight off germs and disease early in your infant’s life. For more information about breastfeeding support services contact Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) at (916) 427-5500.
Baby’s First Week

Newborns are not just new to the world; they are new to you, too. During your baby’s first week home, consider
the tips below for easing your transition into parenting:

Only bathe your baby once or twice a week. A baby’s skin is very delicate and bathing too often can irritate and make an infant’s skin dry.
To avoid injury when changing diapers, never turn your back or leave your baby alone on a changing surface.
Always respond to your baby’s crying. During this early time in your baby’s life, you can not spoil your child. Crying is your newborn’s natural way of communicating and, with time, you will learn how to react to your baby’s different cries.
A Must Have For First Time Parents: The FREE Kit For New Parents

After bringing home your baby, it is normal to have questions and concerns. For additional parenting advice, parents and caregivers can pick up a FREE Kit for New Parents in English or Spanish at the North Highlands Family Resource Center located at 6015 Watt Avenue, Suite 2, main phone: (916) 679-3925. The Family Resource Center is open to anyone in the community and offers a variety of free family support services including: parenting classes, family activities, and home visitation services.

Options are also available to become a Kit for New Parents distributor. Information and guidelines are available at www.first5sacramento.net by clicking the Kit icon.

Looking for information and resources to help with the first five years of your child’s life?

Visit First 5 Sacramento’s Online Parents Resource Center at www.first5sacramento.net. Click on the icon on the right of the screen.

First 5 Sacramento encourages parents to use resources available to them. For local childcare resources and referrals call ChildAction, Inc. at 369-0191 or online www.childaction.org.