8 Tips For Visiting A Newborn
How should I behave when visiting a newborn baby ? I don’t want to bother the parents or the baby.
Visiting a newborn
To make the visit a positive time for the new parents and not something that makes them uncomfortable, here are a few useful tips.
Avoid visiting a newborn baby when you are sick
Parents will be happy to show and introduce their little baby to friends and family. But the fact is that all parents want to make sure that their baby doesn’t get sick.
Therefore, if we are sick, it is best to postpone visiting a newborn, even if it is just a minor cold. The parents will be extremely grateful and look forward to your visit as soon as you are healthy again.
Call ahead
With a simple phone call or text message, you can be sure that your visit doesn’t come at an inopportune time. Perhaps it is time to breastfeed the baby, the family is catching up on lost sleep, or they already have visitors in the house.
The first few days of a baby’s life are an especially delicate time, and surprise visits aren’t exactly the best idea. Make sure you get parenting OK before you just stop by.
Have respect when you see lots of other visitors
Before entering the hospital room or the newborn’s house, make sure that there aren’t a ton of other visitors already there. Sometimes it is difficult to influence this because friends and family want to be around and unfortunately not everyone always calls in advance.
So leave if there are more people in the room than expected and you feel that your visit is more overwhelming than welcome. Perhaps you can arrange to see the newborn at a later date.
Don’t wake the baby
This should go without saying. Nobody likes to be disturbed and woken up while sleeping. Newborns need their sleep and we should respect that.
You should never wake up a sleeping baby, nor should you suggest doing so. You may be curious about what color the baby’s eyes are, but the baby’s needs should come first.
Avoid giving unsolicited advice
Unless the parents ask you directly about it, you should never give them your opinion about what you would and would not do in their place. Your advice will only make the new parents feel uncomfortable and may remind them of their inexperience.
Remember that there is no one right way to raise a child, so be respectful of methods that are different from yours.
The baby’s parents will quickly become more experienced and discover what works best for them and their child. Have respect and you can never be wrong.
Always wash your hands before visiting a newborn
If the parents don’t offer to hold their baby, resist the temptation to pick it up yourself. Depending on the situation, you might even want to avoid asking the parents to hold their baby so that you don’t make the parents uncomfortable.
It is true that newborns reveal our gentle side and with it our desire to hug them. But you should leave the baby alone as long as you don’t have permission to touch it.
But if you do get the chance to hold the baby or even to touch it, make sure that you have washed your hands beforehand, because they have to be clean. Our hands are full of bacteria and the last thing you want is to infect the little one.
Kiss where
You should try to suppress the urge to kiss the baby when you are holding them. Some parents don’t mind, but others do. So, to be on the safe side, you should avoid kisses.
If you do give the baby a kiss, the newborn’s feet are the best place to go. Kissing the baby’s face or hands could unknowingly spread infections.
Offer a helping hand
Aside from making the parents uncomfortable, you could offer your help as well. Without a doubt, the new parents are exhausted and will not have the time and energy to do all that there is to be done.
Perhaps you can take care of the older brothers and sisters, run the grocery store, deliver food, or do some of the household chores. You will certainly take a burden off the parents’ shoulders with it.
If you take the initiative and help wherever it is needed, you will give the tired and stressed parents a chance to rest and an opportunity to enjoy the addition of their families.
