baby care tips

Many first time dads hesitate to get involved for fear of doing something wrong and incurring the wrath of Mom. Moms need to allow their husbands to make mistakes without criticizing them

afterall the relatives leave. That s what Thad Calabrese, of Brooklyn, New York, did. There was more for me to do, and I got some alone time with my son.

Mark DiStefano, a dad in Los Angeles, took over the cleaning and grocery shopping. I also took Ben for a bit each afternoon so my wife could have a little time to herself.

I used to take my shirt off and put the baby on my chest while we napped, say Bob Vonnegut, a dad in Islamorada, Florida. I loved the rhythm of our hearts beating together.

No matter how excited you are to be a mommy, the constant care an infant demands can drain you. Find ways to take care of yourself by lowering your expectations and stealing short breaks.

In the end, you re the parents, so you decide what s best, says Julie Balis, a mom in Frankfort, Illinois.

Forget about houseworkfor the first couple of months, says Alison Mackonochie, author of100 Tips for a Happy Baby(Barron s). Concentrate on getting to know your baby. If anyone has anything to say about the dust piling up or the unwashed dishes, smile and hand them a duster or the dish detergent

Accept helpfrom anyone who is nice or naive enough to offer. If a neighbor wants to hold the baby while you shower, say yes! says Jeanne Anzalone, a mom in Croton on Hudson, New York.

Got lots of people who want to helpbut don t know how? Don t be afraid to tell people exactly what you need, says Abby Moskowitz, a Brooklyn mom. It s one of the few times in your life when you ll be able to order everyone around

Changing a diaper takes two minutes. You ll need others to do time consuming work like cooking, sweeping floors, and buying diapers.