Single dad

If you’ve ever been to a coed baby shower, you’ve probably winced in agony over the bad jokes and painful party games. You probably hadn’t had so much fun since your wedding shower. Well, you may get your chance to attend another one soon, with yourself in hot seat this time. Here are our tips for survival.

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You want to keep your baby safe when she sleeps. Most babies are healthy and have no problems when sleeping. But sometimes babies die in their sleep. This is called Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or crib death. Doctors have not found out what causes SIDS.

Research shows that babies who sleep on their backs are less likely to die from SIDS. If your baby has a health problem, your doctor may tell you to put her in another position. Otherwise, always put your baby to sleep on her back.

Other factors in lowering the danger of SIDS are:

• Breastfeeding–Your breast milk is the perfect food for your baby. Breast milk helps protect your baby from many illnesses, as well as SIDS.
• Smoke-free environment–Do not smokes around your baby. Do not take her around others who smoke. Babies in smoke-free homes have fewer colds and infections.
• Closeness – Keep your sleeping baby nearby. It is good for your baby to learn to sleep in her own crib. Be sure you can hear her if she cries or is in distress.
• Bedding–Be sure your baby is sleeping on a firm mattress. Do not put your baby to sleep on soft or fluffy things, such as a pillow, quilt or waterbed. Keep stuffed animals out of the crib at sleep time.
• Temperature–Make sure your baby is warm but not too hot.
• Doctor visits–Take your baby in for her regular checkups. Any time your baby seems sick or has trouble breathing, take her to the doctor or clinic.

• Looking after twins usually means more work for the parents. It also often presents parents with tricky situations. One of these is putting a pair of twins to bed. Here are tips to help parents of twins cope with this situation:
  

• Maintain fixed bed times: Helping your twins, sleep at the same time everyday will ensure that they will form good sleeping habits. A fixed bedtime will help them fall asleep without fuss as soon as you put them to bed.
  

• Devise a pre-bed routine: This could be a warm bath, some massage and cuddling, or a story telling or lullaby session. When repeated daily, this will help your twins anticipate and get into the mood for sleep.
  

• Swaddle your babies: Swaddling or wrapping your twins in a blanket, or sheet will help your twins sleep more snugly. This will make it less likely that they will get up at night.
  

• Teach your twins to sleep: Help your twins to learn to fall asleep. You can do so by putting them to bed while they are drowsy, but still awake. This way they learn to rely on their own ability to get sleep.
  

• Let them sleep together: Babies feel more secure when they can enjoy physical contact with their parents or siblings. Twins who sleep together are more likely to enjoy undisturbed sleep through the night. When they grow older and you decide to separate them, ensure that they can still see each other.
  

• Help the calm baby first: When twins wake up from sleep, parents tend to the one who is crying more. But this often leads to the calmer of the two being neglected. It is better to settle in the quiet baby first and then attend to the one who is fussing.
  

• Tackle frequent waking: Babies who are excited or stimulated have trouble falling asleep and are more likely to keep waking up at night. You can make them feel restful and ready to sleep by maintaining a calm and quiet atmosphere just before sleep. This may be done by keeping lights dim and keeping noise to a minimum. This helps babies to relax better and they sleep sounder.

• Looking after twins usually means more work for the parents. It also often presents parents with tricky situations. One of these is putting a pair of twins to bed. Here are tips to help parents of twins cope with this situation:
  

• Maintain fixed bed times: Helping your twins, sleep at the same time everyday will ensure that they will form good sleeping habits. A fixed bedtime will help them fall asleep without fuss as soon as you put them to bed.
  

• Devise a pre-bed routine: This could be a warm bath, some massage and cuddling, or a story telling or lullaby session. When repeated daily, this will help your twins anticipate and get into the mood for sleep.
  

• Swaddle your babies: Swaddling or wrapping your twins in a blanket, or sheet will help your twins sleep more snugly. This will make it less likely that they will get up at night.
  

• Teach your twins to sleep: Help your twins to learn to fall asleep. You can do so by putting them to bed while they are drowsy, but still awake. This way they learn to rely on their own ability to get sleep.
  

• Let them sleep together: Babies feel more secure when they can enjoy physical contact with their parents or siblings. Twins who sleep together are more likely to enjoy undisturbed sleep through the night. When they grow older and you decide to separate them, ensure that they can still see each other.
  

• Help the calm baby first: When twins wake up from sleep, parents tend to the one who is crying more. But this often leads to the calmer of the two being neglected. It is better to settle in the quiet baby first and then attend to the one who is fussing.
  

• Tackle frequent waking: Babies who are excited or stimulated have trouble falling asleep and are more likely to keep waking up at night. You can make them feel restful and ready to sleep by maintaining a calm and quiet atmosphere just before sleep. This may be done by keeping lights dim and keeping noise to a minimum. This helps babies to relax better and they sleep sounder.

• Looking after twins usually means more work for the parents. It also often presents parents with tricky situations. One of these is putting a pair of twins to bed. Here are tips to help parents of twins cope with this situation:
  

• Maintain fixed bed times: Helping your twins, sleep at the same time everyday will ensure that they will form good sleeping habits. A fixed bedtime will help them fall asleep without fuss as soon as you put them to bed.
  

• Devise a pre-bed routine: This could be a warm bath, some massage and cuddling, or a story telling or lullaby session. When repeated daily, this will help your twins anticipate and get into the mood for sleep.
  

• Swaddle your babies: Swaddling or wrapping your twins in a blanket, or sheet will help your twins sleep more snugly. This will make it less likely that they will get up at night.
  

• Teach your twins to sleep: Help your twins to learn to fall asleep. You can do so by putting them to bed while they are drowsy, but still awake. This way they learn to rely on their own ability to get sleep.
  

• Let them sleep together: Babies feel more secure when they can enjoy physical contact with their parents or siblings. Twins who sleep together are more likely to enjoy undisturbed sleep through the night. When they grow older and you decide to separate them, ensure that they can still see each other.
  

• Help the calm baby first: When twins wake up from sleep, parents tend to the one who is crying more. But this often leads to the calmer of the two being neglected. It is better to settle in the quiet baby first and then attend to the one who is fussing.
  

• Tackle frequent waking: Babies who are excited or stimulated have trouble falling asleep and are more likely to keep waking up at night. You can make them feel restful and ready to sleep by maintaining a calm and quiet atmosphere just before sleep. This may be done by keeping lights dim and keeping noise to a minimum. This helps babies to relax better and they sleep sounder.

• Looking after twins usually means more work for the parents. It also often presents parents with tricky situations. One of these is putting a pair of twins to bed. Here are tips to help parents of twins cope with this situation:
  

• Maintain fixed bed times: Helping your twins, sleep at the same time everyday will ensure that they will form good sleeping habits. A fixed bedtime will help them fall asleep without fuss as soon as you put them to bed.
  

• Devise a pre-bed routine: This could be a warm bath, some massage and cuddling, or a story telling or lullaby session. When repeated daily, this will help your twins anticipate and get into the mood for sleep.
  

• Swaddle your babies: Swaddling or wrapping your twins in a blanket, or sheet will help your twins sleep more snugly. This will make it less likely that they will get up at night.
  

• Teach your twins to sleep: Help your twins to learn to fall asleep. You can do so by putting them to bed while they are drowsy, but still awake. This way they learn to rely on their own ability to get sleep.
  

• Let them sleep together: Babies feel more secure when they can enjoy physical contact with their parents or siblings. Twins who sleep together are more likely to enjoy undisturbed sleep through the night. When they grow older and you decide to separate them, ensure that they can still see each other.
  

• Help the calm baby first: When twins wake up from sleep, parents tend to the one who is crying more. But this often leads to the calmer of the two being neglected. It is better to settle in the quiet baby first and then attend to the one who is fussing.
  

• Tackle frequent waking: Babies who are excited or stimulated have trouble falling asleep and are more likely to keep waking up at night. You can make them feel restful and ready to sleep by maintaining a calm and quiet atmosphere just before sleep. This may be done by keeping lights dim and keeping noise to a minimum. This helps babies to relax better and they sleep sounder.

A new baby in the house means a whole lot of fun. On the flipside, it also means a whole lot of work. In the case of twins, this means not just double the fun but also double the work.

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You are truly ecstatic about the impending birth of your baby. But, deep down, you are also grappling with fears regarding your new status as a father. Understandably, you are not quite comfortable discussing these issues with anyone—not even your partner. Actually, this is quite normal. It might help you to identify and evaluate your fears, and take steps to overcome or deal with them.

Financial anxiety: This is one of the most common of fears associated with fatherhood. Childbirth means more than an additional member in the family. In most households, it also means that the dad will now be the sole breadwinner. Reviewing your budget plans is one way you can overcome this fear.

Fear of mortality: There is nothing like the birth of a baby to bring home the fact of one’s own mortality. Suddenly, the realization sinks in that you are not as invincible as you used to believe. This awareness brings with it a growing sense of responsibility. Your family needs you and you cannot take your life as granted any longer.

Relationship insecurity : You may have always thought your partner loved you more than anyone else in the world. Now suddenly you find that there is danger of your special position being usurped by the baby. You also realize that your spouse shares a bond with the baby—one that you are not sure you would be able to equal. It is important for you to face your doubts and come towards an understanding that bringing up a baby is a joint responsibility between both parents. The sad fact for dad is that mom will likely no longer dote on you by making you breakfast or buying your clothes, or at least not as often. Moreover, the baby will come before time with you and even your lovemaking.

In addition, in the short run, for all your sacrifice, you’ll likely only get to hear, “I want mommy.” You have to learn not to take this personally and realize that your big role, at least from what you can discern, in their life will only start to really form after about two years of age.

Commitment anxiety: Perhaps at the back of your mind you’ve always harbored the idea that if things got really bad with your spouse, you could always consider running away. Those thoughts might be fleeting and none at all serious. However, with a baby on the way, there is no more “running away.” The baby is 24/7/365 for the rest of your life. That’s a good thing, but it is also a major change in how you view your independence.

• Dads Are Important for the Integral Development of Kids
  Research has revealed that interactions with a father are as important as interactions with a mother in a child's integral development. A father's influence starts to be important from very early on. One study, conducted in Germany, showed that dads who interacted with their kids in sensitive, supportive, and challenging ways, starting from the age of two, continued to have a good rapport with them through their teen years. Dad is important to a baby's social development 5, 10, and 20 years down the line. Researchers found that kids less attached to their dads at age 5 were more anxious, withdrawn, and less self-confident at age 9. This resulted in lower acceptance by peers and made them less well adjusted at school. Another study revealed that kids from families where dads work together with children on household chores, proved to be better adjusted and more socially aware. This provides a win-win situation for dads, moms, and kids. It might interest sex-deprived dads that this same research also found that dads who did more housework fared better in their sex lives with their wives.
  

• How Are Dads Different from Moms?
  In our culture, mom is looked upon as the expert in child rearing, because she usually is the one to stay home with the baby and takes a more natural intense interest in the baby due to her specific personal experience. Moms and grandmothers often patronize fathers about their role ("isn’t that cute how he tries to change the diaper") or worse; criticize dads outright for their approach to parenting. It’s very important for couples working as a team to understand that yet again, Mars and Venus look at their roles as parents differently. One is not better than the other. In fact, research has revealed that kids develop more completely when the parenting styles of dads and moms complement each other. It is important to understand that fathers parent differently because dads don't always think like moms.

By now, you are enjoying your baby’s smile. You can help your baby have a beautiful smile by taking care of his mouth before he gets his baby teeth. Even though his baby teeth will fall out, it is important to keep them healthy. Healthy baby teeth lead to healthy permanent teeth.

Before you can even see your baby’s teeth, they need care. Clean your baby’s mouth every day. Wipe it out with a soft clean cloth. This will help remove germs and keep his mouth healthy.

Protect your baby from the pain of “baby bottle tooth decay.” Always hold your baby when feeding him. Never put your baby to sleep with a bottle. Formula or juice that stays in his mouth while he sleeps can harm his baby teeth. When his baby teeth appear, continue to gently wash them with a soft cloth. Do not use toothpaste until he is about three years old and able to spit it out.

When he is about one year old, you can start to brush gently your baby’s teeth with a soft, baby-size toothbrush.

Your baby should get his first dental checkup when he is one year old. You may have questions about how to protect your baby’s teeth. If you have questions, ask your doctor or dentist.

A playpen can be a big help. You can have your baby in the same room where you are working so that he will not be alone while you do what you need to do.

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A one-month-old baby may sleep two to three hours between feedings. Sometimes babies this age will sleep as many as five hours at a time at night.

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Sometimes you must find child care even for young babies. This happens most often when the parents work outside the home. You may have many choices when it comes to choosing child care for your baby. You may have a neighbor or relative who can take care of him.

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Make sure your baby is ready for solid food before you give it to her. Don’t rush her into eating solid food. Some babies are ready for it at four months. Some babies aren’t ready until they are older. Your baby’s weight or age alone does not determine her readiness for solid food.

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Your baby is already beginning to show you how he feels. This means that he has ways to tell you when he is happy, sad, excited or even angry. Babies are tuned in to what people do and say to them. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to their feelings.

Your baby has been learning how to show you what he feels since he was born. The way you respond to his feelings helps his emotional growth. It also helps him learn to trust and enjoy you and the other people who care for him.

Your baby has been watching your face closely. He is learning to read the look on your face. In addition, he is learning to respond to the look on your face. He is learning also to notice small changes in your voice. By reading and responding to these cues in others, he is learning to care about other people and their feelings.

Your baby has a personality at birth. Research shows some ways to help him develop his emotional and social skills. You can do this by tuning in to your child's behavior. Take an interest in the things that interest him. Try to figure out what your baby is trying to tell you when he laughs, cries or shakes his arms and legs in excitement. It helps your child when you are happy and interested in life, too.

Your baby's ability to think and learn is closely tied to how he is feeling. When he is alert and feeling good, he is more likely to observe, explore and play. He is more likely to learn and remember new things when people pay attention to what he likes. You can help your baby when you show him your love.