How To Dress Your Baby For The First Time
Don't be afraid of hurting your baby. They may look fragile, but they're not going to get hurt easily. Feed your baby some food before dressing him or her. It's easiest to dress a relaxed infant with a full stomach than it is to dress a figity hungry baby. Believe it or not, a newborn doesn't have many needs. They feel comfortable in warmth, need to be fed, and want to be loved. Being loved comes from within and will always grow over time. Feeding, either by breast feeding or by bottle, is acceptable. Warmth, whether you baby was born in the middle of winter or in the dead heat of summer, you baby wants to be warm and wrapped tight in comfortable fabric clothing.
You'll probably dress your newborn in a onesie at the hospital and around the house. They are comfortable for the baby and easy to manage for the parent. For those who have not dressed an infant before, the easiest way to put it on is to unbutton the bottom half and then roll up the back and front and open up the neckline. This will create a circle opening at the top where you can easily pull it over the baby's head. Gently put the baby's hands through the arm holes and roll the baby onto his/her side and then pull down the other side. Roll the baby back onto his/her back and finish by pulling down the front. Now just button the bottom between the legs. This is the simplest way to dress your baby in a onesie as it prevents them from getting tangled in it. As the baby learns to focus its eye, maintaining eye contact with him/her will help keep the baby relaxed while being dressed.
Come time to leave the hospital, your baby is going to need some extra layers on. A baby hat made from organic cotton with a snuggle-suit is a good choice. Put the hat on from back to front. Place it under the head and then pull it forward. The neck of a newborn is weak and pulling it from front to back can strain the neck of your baby. Place the snuggle-suit flat on the surface and lay your baby on top. Push the baby's hands through the arm holes and then button it up the front.
With that, you can begin feeling comfortable when dressing your baby! Relax and enjoy the experience.