As a new mom, when you bring your baby home, it can be overwhelming to have such a little person dependent on you. Figuring out those baby care basics and how to best care for your newborn is not always something we just know. Whether this is your first child or fourth, the first few weeks with a newborn are both divine and exhausting.

There's a lot that goes into newborn care, and you'll receive advice from just about everyone. Here are some tried and true tips that have come in handy for new moms.

1. Trust your instincts.
No one knows your baby the way you do. If you feel something is not right, trust your instincts. If you believe your baby needs something in particular, go ahead and provide your newborn with the care you feel is right.

2. Get rest.
You will need all the energy you can muster to care for your newborn, especially in the first month or two after birth. Work out a schedule with your partner that allows you both to sleep and take care of your baby at night. During the day, rest when your newborn sleeps. Don’t be afraid to ask trusted family and friends to care for your baby for a few hours if you need to get some rest.

3. Ask for and accept help.
If you have friends and family close by, ask for help and accept it when offered. Let them do your laundry, bring you meals, and hold your baby. You need to put all pride aside and face the fact that you can't do it all by yourself.

4. Focus on your baby.
Concentrate on that precious baby of yours. Give him lots of attention and deepen your bond. If you have older children, include them as best you can in caring for their new sibling -- they also need your attention and love.

5. Sing to your baby.
Regardless of what you think of your singing voice, sing to your baby whenever possible. You can sing anything from classic lullabies to modern-day songs. The point is for your baby to hear your voice, which fosters healthy baby development.

6. Hold your baby a lot.
Cuddle with your newborn. Hold your baby close to your chest. Rock your baby. All these things will strengthen your bond and help your baby feel safe and secure.

7. Relax the rules.
Give yourself plenty of time to nurse, comfort, and bond with your baby, keeping other activities to a minimum. Don’t put pressure on yourself to cook every day and keep the house spotless. If you need to eat sandwiches or cereal for dinner one night, so be it. The key is to make this time as stress-free as possible -- there will be plenty of time later to return to your regular schedule.

Most of all, enjoy these early, precious days with your baby -- they pass too quickly.

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As every new parent knows, it can be challenging just to put your baby to bed, let alone ensure he gets a good night’s sleep, safe from harm. Follow these guidelines to help keep your sleeping baby safe and sound.

Choose firm over soft.

Have your baby sleep on a firm mattress instead of a soft, pillow-top surface. You'll also want to clear your baby’s crib of pillows, stuffed animals, and other soft bedding items. While you may think that cozying up your baby’s crib will make it more comfortable, doing so actually can increase the  risk of suffocation. If your baby falls asleep while out and about in an infant carrier or stroller, move him to a firm surface as soon as possible.

Keep him cool.

To ensure a safe and comfortable night’s sleep for your baby, dress him in no more than one more layer than you would wear yourself, given the room temperature. You can tell if your healthy baby is too hot during the night if he is sweating, if he has damp hair or flushed checks, if he is breathing rapidly, or if his chest is hot to the touch.  Remove any additional layers to help cool him down and be sure to set the room temperature at a level that is comfortable for a lightly dressed adult. 

Place your baby on his back.

Babies should always be placed on their backs to sleep for the first year of life. If your healthy baby is already able to roll from tummy to back and back to tummy on his own, it’s okay for him to do so in his sleep. No need to keep checking in and turning him on his back.

Bedtimes should be filled with sweet dreams. With these safety tips in mind, you are your baby are on your way for some well deserved rest.

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When you find out you're pregnant and you’re preparing for a baby, it's hard to resist the temptation to scoop up every adorable item you come across. From baby care basics like diapers, a crib, and a car seat to super-cute baby clothes and toys, you'll want to buy it all. But really, try your very best not to -- not every baby item you see is a must-have.

Tips on Shopping for Baby Care Basics

1. Wait for the baby shower: Your friends and family may want to throw a party to celebrate the birth of your new baby. Wait until after the shower passes before making any major purchase.
    
2. Make a list of the musts: It's easy to buy nearly everything you see in stores when preparing for a baby -- it's all so cute and looks useful, too! But to save time and money, make note of the things you feel are absolute necessities to get you through the first month at home with your baby. Create lists for different categories, such as “bath time,” “nursery,” “travel,” and “feeding” and jot down products as you think of them (keep the lists handy in your purse or on your phone!). Then stick to your lists while shopping. If you’re out and about and see something that’s not on your lists, jot down the name of the product. When you get home you can compare reviews from other moms or ask friends what they think before making your final decision about whether it’s a must-have -- or a purchase that can be put off.
    
3. Buy clothes one size up: Purchase a few outfits that’ll fit your newborn, but also consider buying some that are a size (or even two sizes) larger than you’ll initially need.
    
4. Consider secondhand items: Babies tend to outgrow items really fast, which makes buying used items a great option and a way to save some money. Of course, there are certain items that you’ll want to purchase new, like baby diapers and car seats. However, other baby care basics like clothes, baby swings, and bouncers (to name a few) can definitely be bought secondhand if in good condition. With a little cleaning, you'll have something nice for your baby without breaking the bank.
    
5. Your baby doesn't need much: Contrary to popular belief, your baby really doesn't need much. Other than a few baby care basics like Pampers diapers, a crib, a car seat or stroller, and clothes, most baby items are useful but not an absolute must.   

Your priceless baby comes with some big costs, but every new mom quickly learns strategies for keeping to a budget. One simple strategy to remember: Save those receipts! If you go overboard with shopping for baby products only to realize you don’t really need the gear when you get home, you’ll be able to easily get your money back. Now that’s smart shopping!

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Location: Indoors or outdoors

Promotes: Motor skills

Baby games don’t need to be a bore! You and your 10- to 12-month-old baby will have a blast with this age-appropriate spin on the time-honored tradition of catch. It's a great way to bond, and the motion of simply pushing a ball can boost his motor development as it promotes coordination and strengthens upper body muscles. Get started with these tips.

What you’ll need
Balls of different sizes, colors, and textures that your baby will be able to grab. Any soft or cloth-covered ball will do the trick.

How to play
Gather up some soft balls -- preferably of various shapes and sizes -- and roll one to your baby. Encourage him to roll or throw it back to you, helping him if he needs it. Be sure to talk about the objects and what you’re doing, telling your baby, “You just threw the green ball!” or “I am rolling the spotted ball to you.” Try to add some structure to this baby activity as your child gets older, asking him to roll or throw a specific ball.

Tricks and advice
At this age, your baby’s aim won’t be accurate. He's still working on his hand and finger motions, and will be swatting or slapping the ball at first. Expect that you’ll need to help him with these early motor development skills and that he’ll need lots of practice. The goal of the game is to help your baby gain control and coordination through the repeated actions of grasping, rolling, and throwing the ball.

Learning and growing
The repeated motion of this baby activity encourages your little one to use his body in new and different ways, giving him a sense of power and control. It’s an amazing sense of achievement when a baby realizes, “I made that ball roll!”

As your child grows, it will be fun to see how the game develops into him truly tossing -- and eventually catching -- the ball. And if he ever takes to the field or basketball court as an older kid, you’ll always remember where his ball skills began!

Traveling with a baby on an airplane can seem like an impossible task, but it really doesn't have to be. With a little preparation, air travel with your baby can be pleasant and successful. If your partner, spouse, or a friend is coming along, then baby travel is even better.

These tips for baby travel will help you make those first few outings with your little one a smooth ride.

Ask for help.
If you're traveling alone, you'll definitely want to ask for help from friendly travelers. Accept offers to help load the stroller onto the security belt or place your luggage into the overhead compartment.

Try to keep calm and do your best.
There may be times you feel completely overwhelmed with the various aspects of traveling with your baby. You have a lot to handle, after all, from getting checked in and through security to soothing your baby on the trip. Remember that the calmer you are, the more likely it is that your baby will stay calm, too.

Do what you must.
Creativity is nothing new for parents -- we're constantly thinking up ways to get things done when it comes to our babies. Baby travel is no different. You may find you need to do something a little different to help your baby get through his travel experience as smoothly as possible. Try singing a new song to catch your baby’s interest, or break out a toy he hasn’t played with in a while.

What to pack.
Diapers, diapers, diapers. Your baby will need a lot of coverage, depending on how long and how far you’re traveling. You can never go wrong packing extra diapers for a long trip. Other key essentials include: a diaper changing pad, blankets to keep him warm, his favorite toys, pacifiers, extra clothes (just in case), some plastic bags to throw dirty diapers in, and baby wipes to keep him clean and comfortable. If you're feeding your baby formula and/or baby food, bring extra just in case your plane is delayed. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to carry everything you pack. When in doubt for how much to bring, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Don't hesitate to nurse on the plane.
If you're breastfeeding your baby, then you'll probably find yourself needing to feed him a couple of times on the plane. While it's a little tricky to do so in such a small space, your baby needs to eat. Nursing will also help soothe him if he is cranky or if his ears hurt from the cabin pressure.

Change your baby's diaper before boarding the plane.
The plane bathrooms are very small. Even with a fold-down changing table, you may find it uncomfortable to change your baby there.

Traveling with a baby isn't all that bad when you do some planning and preparation. Enjoy your trip!

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