Congratulations- you are the parent of a newborn! Whether this is your first or your fifth child, it is always good to learn about parenting. This article will cover the first month of your new child’s development and offer some parenting tips to help you along the way. So buckle up and get ready for the ride!

In the first month of your baby’s life, she will be doing quite a lot! She probably will seem to sleep all the time, she will be eating often and she will probably cry frequently! Your job as her mother or father might feel somewhat "robotic" at times. Not to worry, this stage will pass soon and you might find yourself years later looking back favorably on how "things used to be" and thinking about how she has grown up "way too fast".

In this first month your newborn will have her first pediatrician visit where her vitals will be checked and she will be measured for growth and weight gain/loss. Don’t worry if she’s lost a few pounds from her birth weight- this is perfectly normal for many babies a few days after they are born.

At this stage many of her physical movements are simply reflexes, but that will soon change. Head movements are often the first to be developed, so be ready for that.

During the first month there are a number of ways you can help to develop your baby emotionally, mentally and physically. Singing to her helps develop sound detection and (as some studies show) can even help them read at an earlier age. Making funny facial expressions and sounds can also help develop her intelligence. Physical touch is also vital for a child, so hold your baby often and enjoy her company!

Another great thing to do as parents is to learn how to soothe your crying baby. Perhaps you would benefit from making a "to do" list for when baby cries. Some of the things to consider are

• Is her diaper messy?

• Is she cold?

• Is she hungry?

• Is she sleepy or tired?

• Would she benefit from being held, rocked and sung to?

Finding ways to soothe your crying baby at this stage will help her be more secure in the long run and help you keep your sanity when baby seems to cry all the time!