Parenting Your New Baby

 Love to Give

“Am I safe?”

This is the one major question your newborn is asking during this first incredible year in a world where…

…no one speaks their language

…they are unsure how to coordinate their movements.

…they have limited control over their next meal, next bath, or next nap.

The best way to answer that question is by embracing their physical needs.

The way you show up hour after hour, day after day, to feed, change, and soothe your baby is establishing a foundation of trust that will follow them for the rest of their life.

Ways to Love

1. Schedule your day. Write down all you do for your baby on a typical day, and include how much time each task takes. Now take a minute to celebrate what a good parent you really are. It will be especially helpful to revisit this list on a bad day.

2. Pay attention to what your baby likes. What does your baby seem to enjoy the most right now?

3. How are you taking time for yourself? It’s impossible to love anyone with the relentless effort a baby demands unless you are refueling each week. What are some ways you can take care of yourself so you are able to give your baby the love they need?

4. Who do you have around you supporting you this year? Family? Your Missional Community? Your DNA? Other friends?

 Milestones to Achieve

Follow moving objects with their eyes
(2-4 months)

Hold their head up
(tummy time, 3-4 months)

Reach, grasp, and hold on
(4-6 months)

Roll over
(4-6 months)

Sit up
(6-8 months)

Crawl
(6-10 months)

Pull up on furniture
(9-10 months)

Clap their hands
(8-10 months)

Stand up
(11-12 months)

Point
(9-12 months)

Take a first step
(11-15 months)

 Words to Speak

Hello, Mama, Daddy, All done?, Nap, Baby, I love you, Night-night, More milk?, Bye bye, Good job!

1. Talk to your baby—the more, the better.

2. Speak slowly and clearly.

3. Make eye contact.

4. Point at objects when you name them.

5. Repeat the same word a lot.

Blogs & Resources