Novelty of a New Baby
When you're finally up for visitors, you'll probably feel like the proud father or mother who wants his or her new child to meet the world. But before you get all excited about handing the baby around to everyone, you'll need to really be considerate of how interested people are going to be in your baby or whether it's a good idea to have so many strangers interacting with him or her.
Baby-Centric Life
Keep your relationships healthy by making sure that your conversations include topics of discussion other than your baby. Baby or not, you've got to include others in the conversation. If you're in a social setting where all you can say is, “Isn't he precious? ” or “Can you believe how beautiful she is?” you're going to lose the interest of other people really quickly. Make an attempt to inquire about other people's lives; ask them what's going on with their jobs or their children or spouses. It may have been a long time since you've spent a considerable amount of time with them, and it's likely that they'll have some news for you. While your baby's birth was a significant change in your life, acknowledge that it most likely was not the major point of focus for most of your friends or coworkers.
Being Prepared
As a new parent, you'll find that there are some supplies you'll need to have with you at all times. You may not yet be used to the idea that you've got to bring a diaper bag and stroller with you everywhere you take your baby, or that your life may revolve around your baby's sleeping and eating schedule. Adjusting to these changes will take some time, and it might not be the easiest thing to get used to at first.
If you want to make time with your new baby enjoyable for all involved, make sure you pack enough clothes, diapers, and wipes for any quick changes you might need to do. Similarly, don't take your baby out when he's wet, tired, or hungry, because all he'll do is cry. If you think ahead of time of how you can structure your day so that you're out in public when your baby is happiest, you'll be happy, too.
If you're out and about with the baby and loaded down with baby equipment, don't be shy about asking someone to help you board the train or hold the door open at the mall. It is better to err on the side of asking for assistance than to try and juggle everything yourself and end up bumping into someone in the process.
Sharing Baby
As mentioned earlier, you don't want to be the parent who thrusts her baby at anyone and everyone she meets. You'll want to make sure that the people you encounter while you're with your baby are genuinely interested in meeting her.
New parents may have a hard time believing this, but not everyone loves babies. When you find yourself in a social situation and want to share your baby with others, don't just hand her over and say, “Here, hold her.” What if the person is afraid he'll drop the baby? Or what if the person is uncomfortable with the notion of babies in general? You really haven't given the person a choice. Rather than force your baby on someone, ask instead, “Would you like to hold the baby?” While most people will say, “Yes,” if the person answers, “I'm not sure,” or, “Not right now,” or, “No,” then back off.
If you're on the receiving end of an overly excited new parent who is thrusting her baby at you, you can politely refuse with, “I'm just getting over a virus and don't want to get your baby sick,” or “I'm such a klutz. I'm afraid I'll drop the baby.” Hopefully, the parent will get the hint. If she doesn't, then you're going to have to be blunt and say, “Please don't make me hold the baby. I don't feel comfortable doing so. ”
