Up until the birth of your baby, the focus of your pregnancy was probably on labor and delivery. Perhaps you painted the nursery and had a baby shower. But the truth is, all of this was just leading up to the big moment when your baby entered the world.

It's not uncommon to get home from the hospital with your baby and suddenly panic. After all, here is this tiny little helpless person, and he/she is relying on you for everything. That's a tall order! Fortunately, billions of parents have done this before and a wealth of information has accumulated which you can tap to answer your specific questions. In the following sectioins of this article, we'll cover the basics of caring for your newborn.

• Your Responsibilities and Bonding With Your Baby
  
  Caring for your baby starts from day one. What can you expect from your baby, and what will your baby expect from you? We descrcibe your primary responsibilities as a new parent, including supplying your baby with the basic requirements. We'll discuss discarding some advice while accepting other and employing a trial-and-error method to decide what's best for your family. In addition, the bonding process between mother or father and baby is introduced. You'll also find an explanation of the benefits of bonding through touching and through feeding.
  

• Handling and Diapering Your Baby
  
  These are two of the most basic -- and important -- tasks you'll perform as a new parent. In the handling portion of this section, we'll address the fears and anxieties a new parent might experience when picking up and holding a baby. There are some general guidelines on how to support your baby's head and even a tip on swaddling your baby's arms and legs to increase your comfort level. In the diapering and dressing portion, we supply simple guidelines on changing both disposable and cloth diapers. Finally, we touch briefly on how to dress your baby and what types of garments are easiest to put on, take off, and change.
  

• Helping Your Baby Sleep
  
  Sleep can be a complex issue when it comes to newborns. This section explains the sleeping patterns of infants, including how long they sleep, how often they sleep, how much sleep they need, and when they sleep. There are suggestions on inducing your baby to sleep by soothing him/her with baths and rhythmic sounds. We discuss swaddling your infant and give how-to instructions on creating a snug wrap. You'll also find information on a baby's sleeping position, as well as the pros and cons of pacifier use.
  

• Helping Your Baby Stop Crying
  
  Nothing can fray a parent's nerves more than a baby who won't stop crying. We list both common causes of crying, like hunger and tiredness, and less common causes, like pain and illness. You'll find out how to understand what a baby's cries mean based on pitch, rhythm, and volume. There is an explanation of joint crying cycles, in which you and your baby both seem unable to stop crying, and some suggested remedies. Also detailed in this section are ways to comfort your baby, like cuddling and rocking.
  

• Bathing Your Baby
  
  Bath time can be enjoyable for  both you and your infant. You'll read about caring for your infant's umbilicus before it falls off ten days to two weeks after birth. Because your baby cannot be immersed in water until the umbilicus is gone, he/she should be cleaned with a sponge bath. There are instructions on giving your infant a sponge bath and guidelines for bathing frequency. You'll also find a step-by-step guide to bathing your baby in a bathtub and some tips about using baby powders and oils.

• Cradle Cap and Diaper Rash
  
  These are two common skin conditions for infants. Seborrheic dermatitis, or cradle cap, has easily-recognizable symptoms that are described in detail. You'll learn about different treatment methods, including daily shampooing for mild cases and ointments for difficult cases. Next, we'll look at the different types of diaper rash: simple diaper rash, ammonia rash, and rashes caused by allergies, infections, and diseases. Finally, there are treatment and prevention suggestions.
  
  This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.