New parents face many problems and issues that they are expected to understand and deal with immediately. Unfortunately, newborns do not come with an instruction book so here are a few topics that you may need to know about.

New parents face many problems and issues that they are expected to understand and deal with immediately. Unfortunately, newborns do not come with an instruction book so here are a few topics that you may need to know about.

Bathing your baby: Until your baby's umbilical cord falls off one to two weeks after their birth, only give her sponge baths. A cotton ball or cotton swab dampened with alcohol can help to dry the umbilical stump or follow your pediatrician's directions. After the stump falls off, you can give him a bath in a sink or shallow tub.

Leaving the hospital: when you leave the hospital with your newborn baby you will want to make sure they are wrapped up nice and snug. Obviously you do this for the baby's comfort first and foremost but this is also to protect them from the elements like the sun and to keep them warm - new babies are not able to keep themselves as warm as you and I. If you are not carrying your child then I highly recommend looking at the Maclaren strollers range as they are the most highly respected brand and safety must come first with your baby.

Circumcision: Circumcising the baby is sometimes not a choice that you make but dealing with it something that some new parents may find hard. But this is something that should not. The reasons for circumcision are to erase nearly all chances of penile cancer and reduce risk of urinary tract infection, so it is only a good thing.

SIDS, Crib death, sudden infant death syndrome is something that could never fully be explained or understood but is on the decline in a dramatic way. Studies have obviously worked because measures have been taken by informed parents to reduce it happening. All you need to know is to always sleep your baby on her back, wrapped snugly and not too hot.

Utilizing the safety of Maclaren Strollers for your new baby will be the safest and most enjoyable way to get to and from the hospital - or anywhere for that matter

You are more likely to suffer from SIDS if your baby is a premature baby, but this is something that is trending down and is almost no longer a major concern

Bathing your children right is important for bonding and the nurturing process, but remember that in the very early days when the umbilical is still attached, you must take extra care during the cleaning process

Have fun with your baby. First and foremost you need to remember to enjoy your time as a new parent. These moments will not last forever!

If you are a smoker or there are smokers in your house, then sharing it with a newborn baby is only going to increase the risk of SIDS. I touch on this important subject again because I really want to alleviate the concerns by shedding light on the subject

It is a common belief that sleeping with your baby reduces the risk of SIDS, but the American Academy of Pediatrics disagree with this statement and go on to say that there is a greater risk of SIDS in babies who co-sleep. It is also a really bad habit that can be very hard to break later

As I mentioned earlier, the primary way to massively reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome is to sleep your baby on his/her back. This is still debated and I honestly don't know why. If you have concerns, talk to your pediatrician.