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Is this the ultimate baby how-to instruction manual?

A former nurse has written a book that attempts to give bewildered new mums a sense of calm.
Mother holding a baby

In the 50-plus years since Lyndsay Morgan trained as a Karitane nurse, she has met and helped hundreds of parents who wished their babies came with an instruction manual.

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So she has finally got around to writing one. Lyndsay hopes her book Baby on Board – Mother is Driving will prove to be a lifeline for parents in those confusing few months with a new baby.

A mother of three herself, Lyndsay, from Tauranga, says it’s crucial for new parents to remember that babies need boundaries to feel secure and sticking to a routine is vital.

“They also need to quickly understand that you are the boss,” she says.

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“What routine means to me as a Karitane nurse is that the same thing happens every day at approximately the same time. Very soon a routine is in place, and you and your baby will know what is going to happen next. Allow for a little give and take – let’s not get too hung up about clock-watching to the extreme.”

She says it is also important for mums to remember that they still have a life to live that doesn’t purely revolve around the baby.

“You are a very important person and need some time each day to call your own,” she says. “You will be a better mother for it.”

Here are some of Lyndsay’s top tips:

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  • Aim to stay at home for the first few weeks to enable your baby to become settled into a routine and for you to rest.

  • Feed your baby well. Fill its belly, don’t just give it a snack.

  • Swaddle your baby firmly. They should feel secure.

  • Teach your baby to self-settle.

  • Settle baby into their own bed – never co-sleep with a baby.

  • Don’t keep a new baby up after a feed. An over-tired baby is very difficult to settle.

  • Get your baby used to sleeping in a room with a door that has been pulled almost shut. When they go into a single bed at around two and half years old, and the door is then shut properly, they will not get out of bed and go into your bed.

  • Bath your baby every day. Babies love their bath.

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