New Parent Jitters: Don't Be Scared, Dad/Mom!

Nervous about bathing or carrying your newborn? We'll help you feel at ease during the early days of parenthood.

By Sally Wadyka   parents.com

True confession: When it came time to leave the hospital with my baby girl and care for her on my own, I was convinced that I'd do everything wrong. Even the most basic tasks (carrying Amelia around the house, changing her diaper, driving her to the pediatrician) terrified me. It's a classic rookie-mom reaction. "New motherhood brings an enormous sense of responsibility," says Diane Sanford, Ph.D., coauthor of Life Will Never Be the Same: The Real Mom's Postpartum Survival Guide. "You're also exhausted, which makes everything nerve-racking."  

Below are seven topics discussed in this article.  Read more

Cleaning the Umbilical Stump
Carrying Baby
Caring for a Circumcision
Driving With Baby
Bathtime With Baby
Taking Temperatures
Clipping Baby's Nail