You love your baby but, sometimes, even the littlest things can leave you seething with rage. DR RICHARD C. WOOLFSON singles out ways to keep a handle on your emotions.
You love your baby but, sometimes, even the littlest things can leave you seething with rage. DR RICHARD C. WOOLFSON singles out ways to keep a handle on your emotions.
You are exhausted, but Baby just won’t sleep. You feel you might even doze off while on your feet.
Remember, losing your temper will simply make you and Baby more agitated – and both of you will be less likely to sleep. Instead, calmly work through a list of practical strategies to soothe your crying newborn.
These can include gently rocking him in your arms, playing soft background music or singing a lullaby. You can also try taking him for a walk in his pram, and even allowing him to cry for several more minutes to see if he nods off by himself.
You have expressed milk, but she wastes it by barely touching it, or you accidentally drop the bottle on the floor.
These “I can’t believe it” moments can happen as your precious expressed milk literally goes down the drain. Don’t panic.
First, check if you have any more in the fridge or the freezer (to defrost, submerge it in warm water or hold it under running warm water).
Many breastfeeding mothers also keep formula milk in the cupboard for emergencies like this.
You have fastened your child into the car safely when you suddenly realise you have forgotten your purse.
At that moment, you sink your head on to the steering feel, ready to explode. But that won’t magically transport your purse into your hand.
Instead, gently take your baby in your arms, lock the car, and make the five-minute journey back to your apartment, and back into the car. There’s no other way.
Resist any temptation to leave your baby alone in the locked car while you try to make a hurried dash to your house and back again.
You’ve had a long day, and your spouse cheerily asks: “Was everything fine at home today?”
Don’t simply lash out or nod acquiescently. Explain you have had a dreadful day: The washing machine broke down; your baby vomited over that new outfit you just bought him; or the car had a flat tyre.
In other words, be honest with your husband, and tell him the sort of day you’ve had. Then ask him to tell you about his day.
That way, you both can share your experiences with each other, and you understand each other better as a result. A trouble shared is a trouble halved.
Your mother-in-law drops in at the exact moment you are changing a soiled diaper. The house is a mess, and you aren’t even dressed yet.
Turn this to your advantage – see it an opportunity, not a threat. So, forget about how your mother-in-law might rate your domestic skills. Instead, ask her for help.
Tell her: “I’m so glad you’re here because I need two pairs of hands right now.” Almost certainly she will respond immediately by offering to help you out. Assign a specific task to her, like dressing your baby while you tidy his room. And when she has supported you like this once, she’ll be ready to do the same again.
"Forget about how your mother-inlaw might rate your domestic skills. Ask her for help instead and assign her a task."
ILLUSTRATION CHENG PUAY KOON
