That gaping cavity of fear that swells to overflowing in the very core of your stomach, as, for the first time you are faced with the daunting new world of looking after your baby for the first time.

But really, this can be the most amazing experience, like the first time you rode a push-bike with no training wheels, nobody holding you from behind, doing it all by yourself. The beauty part is no skinned knees and elbows, unless you are doing it really badly!

You need to know what you are up against. Babies are creatures of habit and routine. So succeeding when you are given the privilege of losing those training wheels, depends firstly on whether the baby is in a routine or not.

If they are in a routine, it is probably easier, but even if they are not, there are a few fundamentals that you should know. Young babies only cry for a few reasons. Hunger, if they have wet or dirty diapers, if they are tired, if they are suffering from gas and its associated discomfort, or just to let you that they want to be comforted.

When you know that these are the main things that a baby will want you to attend to, you can generally use the process of elimination to find what is being communicated to you, through the only means available to a baby: crying.

All that remains now, is having the external tools all prepared for your journey of bonding and discovery. Make sure you have enough bottles prepared. Having enough clean diapers and wipers are obviously essential. Also have some changes of clothes, just in-case of any diaper leaks or blowouts. Pacifiers are also a great tool to have if you believe in using them.

I would recommend doing this at home for the first few times, just until you find your feet. Then the only other things you really need are tolerance, patience, and most of all, lots and lots of love. That and Moms cellphone on speed-dial!

Learn more about this author, Michael Whye.
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