After nine long months, the greatly anticipated moment has finally arrived; your child has finally been born

There is nothing quite like the moment that you welcome your newest family member with open arms, and hear that first tiny cry. You have been given one of the most incredible gifts life offers, and it is an awesome, amazing responsibility.

In preparation for the big event, you've decorated the nursery, and the miniscule layette has been artfully arranged in the drawers. The newborn diapers are stacked, ready to be used, on the changing table, and the bottles are sterilized and ready. You have probably pored over baby name books and pregnancy books, and pondered whose eyes your baby will have. And a few days following your baby's birth, all will be put to test as you bring your beloved newborn home to be with his new family. Now what???

This e-book is written with new parents like yourself in mind; those who are not totally sure of what to expect in this first eventful months of their baby's life, and want to now more. Consider this book your welcoming guide into the intricate world of infants, and how to properly care and nurture your own. Keep in mind that while these suggestions can be helpful and insightful, they are by no means set in stone, iron-clad rules. Every baby is unique and will react differently to a given set of circumstances, so there is no “foolproof�, guaranteed way of handling every issue or dilemma that you face. But that ambiguity is the essence of what parenting is all about: finding out just who your baby is, and nurturing that personality with tender loving care. With patience, love, and the knowledge offered in this book, you are certain to devise a method that works for you and your baby!

Some of the issues and suggestions discussed on this site include the following:

1. How to handle those first few weeks at home, and the accompany emotions.

1. Sleep routines; what to do, when to do it, and how.
2. Music as a soothing aid.
3. Developmentally appropriate feeding advice
4. Discussion of your baby's height/weight.
5. Baby's mobility and movement.

6. The development of infant sound and language.
7. When/how your baby will develop motor skills.
8. Socialization: when, where, and why.
9. Teething: why it happens, and how to help.
10. Immunizations and why they are necessary.
11. How you can help your baby through the dreaded first cold.
12. Developmentally appropriate toys and playthings.
13. The value of seeking help when needed.

This site provides some basic guidelines for what to expect in your baby's first year of life. Volumes could be written about the physical, emotional and intellectual changes that occur during this critical time, but for the sake of simplicity, sometimes less is more. Rather than overwhelm you with an excess of information, consider the topics handled here as the some of the more important details to consider. Trust your own instincts; if you get a sense of what your baby responds to favorably, then by all means, do it. You are the parent, and through experience, you will gain the needed confidence to trust your own judgment in these areas.