Helping New Parents and Infants Transition

>confused becaused you have unanswered
questions.
Of all the research done on childcare and early7. A good transition relieves stress. You asked all
childhood education you'd think someone would doof the questions from the books and those your
studies on the fear that make couples looney infamily and friends told you to, now you feel
the head after they become parents.The biggestbetter.
thing for a new parent is fear. Fear of what they8. A good transition consist also of getting to
would do if anything happened to their little Johnnyknow the individuals that will be personally caring
or little Sue.This advice was given to them byfor your infant. Communication is number one.
their loving and caring family, friends, experts andThe caregive should be informed of the activities
professionals that never had a child. Truly all ofof your infant for the past three months.
that wonderful advice was meant to help the newCompare it with what will become the new
parents, but it set off a stampede of stuff insideschedule and work with the new caregiver to
of them even they didn't know they had.assist with the transition for your infant.
So for three months they are homebound with9. As you develop a relationship with the care
their new baby while entertaining their family andgiver you will be re- leiving yourself of the
friends, hearing all of the protection laws for thequestion as to the kind of care your infant will get.
infant from grandparents, aunts and uncles,10. Remember, it is ok to cry as many time as
godparents and admirers while the parntsyou feel like it because you are being seperated
forgetting they have a world of other livingfrom you infant. Three thing happens when
awaiting them when they come up for air.parents go back to work: a. Parents are
When they do come up for air to breath backseparated from their infant, the infant is
into the rest of living they are confronted withseperated from their parents and the cargiver
questions that begin to shake the fabric of theirand the infant are alone with no clue as to how
existance.things will work out.
They have to return to work, they must find the11. Speak to other caregivers that will care for
perfect caregiver and they must begin the "Act"your infant. Some individuals are hired that cannot
of parenting.read or write, some barely can read or write. In
So now where are they?They have read all theemergencies this could be a problem. Slow reading
books on how to care for their baby, how tocould cause a childs death so could no reading. It
teach, exercise, feed and love their baby.Whatmay be true that good workers are hard to find
not to let others do or not do around the babyand there are good workers that are illeterate so
and all the wonderful advice from the family andwhere should they be placed for working in a child
best friends and experts.development center. Love, yes and no are
Behind the doors of a child development center:teaching tools yet caregivers should be able to
The notebook of a child "Caregiver".The way toteach through plans and also developing plans for
choose a child care center, what to look for thatteaching.
is never revealed and things that are hid that a12. One major thing to look for when doing
center may not want you to know.interviews at a center, watch out for the kind of
1. Always have more than one visit.thin skin of information you get from a director
2. Ask if you may make a random visit.and if you don't feel the meat and potatoes you
3. Donot pretend to smile. If you are nervous, beneed ask more questions and watch where the
nervous so it can pass easily.answers come from.
4. Do not be embarassed, write all of your13. Ask to see guidelines for the center that
questions down you will remember to ask them.governs the directors, curriculum director,
Once you enter a room with infants you looseteachers, cooks, houskeeping and traffic in the
your thinking power because infants take yourbuilding.
mind off why you are there.14. Anyone apprehensive about answering any of
5. When you find a center you are comfortablethose questions you should take another look at
with, the TRANSITION is the sealer to you andthat facility.
your baby beig happy there.15. The infant room should be kept clean at all
6. A poor transition creates stress. It will leavetime because infants crawl on the floors. Check
you uninformed, nervous, in a state ofthe floors and behind the beds if you are brazen
emergency at all times, fearful, worried andenough and you will see just how dusty they are.