How to Behave When Meeting a Friend's Newborn

A bundle of joy has arrived at your friend's house. You are ready to head on over to play with the newborn for a little bit and then pull out the deck of cards for a rowdy game of poker with the parents. Wait a minute. You need to know how to behave when you visit a friend's newborn--their life has changed and you will need to change, too. Read on to learn how to behave when meeting a friend's newborn.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Thoughtful gift
• Pre-cooked meal

1. Call first to set up a time to visit. New parents have no control over their schedules since their lives now revolve around a five to 10 pound newborn that doesn't know how to tell time and thinks eating every two hours is perfectly normal.
2. Stay home if you have the sniffles. Newborns are more susceptible to germs and even little illnesses in a baby can turn serious very quickly. Wait to visit until you are 100 percent healthy.
3. Wash your hands before holding the baby. A newborn's immune system isn't mature yet and any little bugs on your hands might be tempted to make a new home on fresh, tender, baby skin.
4. Give a small gift certificate to the baby superstore or local department store. New parents often discover that they didn't get everything they needed at the baby shower. Another gift option is to ask what they need or bring something you know they can use, such as diapers or formula.
5. Offer to watch the baby while mom takes a much deserved nap. Lack of sleep is one of the worst problems for new parents. Grabbing sleep whenever possible is the only way to keep up.
6. Cook a meal for the family of the newborn and take it over. New parents are focused on the baby and having a pre-cooked dinner in the fridge frees them to spoil their little darling during those first few weeks at home.
7. Offer to help with cleaning, maybe just washing dishes or doing a few loads of laundry. The new mom needs to rest after delivery, but may feel the need to be a supermom. Let her know that you want to help so she doesn't feel like she can't keep up.
8. Offer to take the siblings on an outing, since they may be feeling a little left out, jealous or just overwhelmed. Mom and dad will appreciate the break from trying to balance attention between numerous children.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the visit short. Save longer visits for when the baby is a couple of months old.
• Be especially gentle with newborns. If in doubt, ask the parents to show you how to hold the baby.
• Newborns sleep a lot so you mostly will be visiting the parents.