3 Must-Knows for the Baby Stage: Essential Tips for New Parents

Becoming a parent is a HUGE deal and a life-changing experience. The baby stage is a whirlwind of cuddles, learning new things, and adjusting to the new “normal”. Navigating this exciting yet challenging season is difficult at times, so I wanted to share a few essential tips for new parents that can make a big difference for you and your little one. These are tips that I WISH someone would’ve written down, or told me about, before I became a mom, so I am thankful they are here for you!

These simple, practical tips for new parents focus on common areas of concern and offer guidance for parents to encourage learning and development from the very start. These are 3 things I am super passionate about as a pediatric OT specializing in infants, so let’s dive in 👇 

First things first - try repositioning techniques before considering baby helmets

As new parents, it’s common to hear about concerns with “flat head syndrome” (positional plagiocephaly/brachycephaly) in babies, which affects almost 50% of babies. While baby helmets can be effective in some cases, there are proactive steps you can take before considering that option.

No, these proactive steps aren’t “tummy time” or “use a baby carrier” to correct the shape of your infant’s head. Although these techniques are great for PREVENTING “flat head”, they are not effective in CORRECTING “flat head”. 

Some helpful tips for new parents to correct their baby’s flat spot through repositioning include:

• Experiment with different positions – A top tip for new parents is to rotate the direction your baby sleeps in the crib and try various holding positions during awake time. Once your baby has developed a flat spot, this is imperative to combat the flattening. If your baby prefers their right side and has developed flattening, we want to always approach and position the baby to be looking to their left.This relieves pressure on the flattened area of their head and encourages a more rounded shape.
• Stretch your baby’s neck – You may find that even when you switch your baby around to encourage turning in directions they don’t prefer they still turn their head towards their favored side. This is likely due to neck tension and in addition to experimenting with different positions, it’s imperative that you stretch your baby’s neck and body to relieve any tension present. This will help your baby freely move the head in all directions and encourage turning to non-preferred directions.
• Get your baby ON THE HEAD – I know… this is totally opposite of what you’ve heard, but once a baby’s head shape is flattened, opposing pressure has to be completed to return the shape back to round. This may look like lying your baby on their play mat with their head turned opposite of the flattening, or having them lie on the areas that bulge on the head most. Getting your baby ON THE HEAD is how you will round their head. Tummy time, baby wearing, and keeping them off the head will only prevent further flattening. Learn how to get your baby on the head strategically in order to do what a helmet does through the Infant Insights “Flat Head” Correction course.

By following these simple “flat head” tips for new parents, you’ll be helping your baby, helping your baby avoid a helmet and encouraging movement and milestones too. If you have concerns about your baby’s head shape, don’t hesitate to ask your pediatrician for advice. You can also reach out anytime at [email protected]. 

The second essential tip for new parents is introducing whole foods when your baby is ready for solids.

Starting solids is a huge milestone, and one of the best tips for new parents is to introduce whole foods when your baby is developmentally ready. Baby-led weaning (BLW) is a popular approach that lets babies self-feed with whole, natural foods. Some tips if you’re interested in a BLW approach include:

• Look for readiness signs – One of the top tips for new parents is to wait until your baby shows signs of readiness, like sitting up independently and showing interest in food. Introducing solids when your baby is ready is key to an enjoyable feeding experience for everyone. 
• Offer a variety of soft, whole foods – A wonderful tip for new parents trying BLW is to start with easy-to-grasp, hand-held sized foods like steamed veggies, ripe fruit, or soft proteins. Whole foods in their natural form expose babies to real textures and flavors from a sensory perspective and establish foundations for a healthy relationship with food.
• Practice safe feeding – Safety is a major consideration, and one of the most valuable tips for new parents is to become familiar with safe food sizes and textures for early eaters. Hand-held size is best to start and ensure the foods pass the “squish” test, meaning they can be easily mashed between your thumb and index finger. Always keep an eye on your baby during mealtime to ensure safe exploration.

These feeding tips for new parents make introducing solids less intimidating and allow your baby to develop self-feeding skills and a love for nutritious food. For an easy to follow plan, check out the Infant Insights Mastering Starting Solids course.

Lastly, support your baby’s learning from day one is HUGE

The baby stage is full of opportunities to support learning and development. And your baby is developing SO quickly in the infancy stage! Many tips for new parents emphasize early engagement as a foundation for emotional and cognitive growth. Fortunately, you don’t need special toys or fancy activities to help your baby learn; they benefit most from daily interactions with you!

• Talk, sing, and read aloud – One of the simplest tips for new parents is to talk, sing, and read to your baby as often as possible. Babies love hearing your voice, and these activities foster language development and bonding. It may seem silly to sing, or read to your newborn, but adding these activities into your daily routine will support your baby’s learning now and later.
• Offer sensory experiences – Another great tip for new parents is to let your baby explore textures, sights, and sounds. Providing safe, sensory experiences helps them learn about the world while developing important skills. The best way to offer sensory experiences is through self-feeding tasks. That’s why it’s so important to approach solids from a BLW perspective.
• Encourage tummy time and movement – A classic tip for new parents, tummy time helps babies build muscle strength and prepares them for important milestones like rolling, crawling, and sitting up. Avoid containers as best as possible (although in moderation is totally okay!), and offer lots and lots of free floor play. A safe floor space is the best place for your baby to be!

By focusing on these simple, engaging tips for new parents, you’ll be giving your baby a strong foundation for growth and development. Babies are natural learners, and supporting their curiosity with love and attention can help them thrive. If you want to learn how to encourage all milestones- motor, social, speech and more - check out the Infant Insights Mastering Milestones course created by a pediatric OT and SLP.

Following these essential tips for new parents can help make the baby stage a more positive and rewarding experience. From repositioning techniques to whole foods and early learning support, these tips are my tried-and-true for new parents as a developmental expert and mom.

Becoming a new parent can be overwhelming at times, but it is such a rewarding experience. There are a lot of voices in the parenting space, but trusting yourself and voice is the best thing you can do for yourself and your baby.