Probably each of us remembers the first time we left our baby in
someone else's care. Whether it was Grandma, our best friend, or our
neighbor's son or daughter, we felt those tugs on our heartstrings. If
you're a new parent, be prepared to experience guilt, concern, or baby
deprivation during the first few times you're apart from your baby.
To
set your mind at ease about the care your baby receives, it's important
to find someone you and baby like, trust, and can depend on. Begin by
asking trusted friends and neighbors their recommendations for
babysitters, and what arrangement worked best. Also, check out
professional organizations such as Zero to Three
for information about childcare resources and guidelines. Keep in mind
a "childcare provider" reflects the high level of professionalism of
anyone providing care for a baby vs. the term "babysitter."
Once
we feel confident about the person we've chosen to care for our baby,
we then want to build a healthy relationship with that person. Here are
a few guidelines to help establish such a relationship:
Track the milestones and developments of your five-month-old baby.
Our guide to the basics of your baby's vaccines.
Everything you need to prepare your baby's nursery.
The content on these pages is provided as general information only and should not be substituted for the advice of your physician.
