The document provides information to new parents on caring for a newborn to help alleviate stress and prevent neglect. It covers topics like preparing financially for birth, choosing a safe car seat, different stroller options, understanding a baby's cries, identifying postpartum depression symptoms, and help resources like doctor contacts and crisis hotlines. The goal is to educate parents through the "basic care book" to help reduce stress and the high percentage of infant neglect cases.

1. So you’re going to be a
parent!?
By: Jennifer Purdy, Margaux Haines, Jessica
Stevens, Ashley Bernhagen

2. Table of Contents
Prologue……………………………………… pg. 3
Alleviating stress……………………………….. pg. 4 -5
How to get your newborn around in a car
seat………………………………………..
pg. 6
How to get your newborn around in a
stroller………………………………………. pg. 7
When my newborn cries………………….. pg. 8- 10
Post Partum Depression………………… pg. 11-13
Who to call…………………………………………. pg. 14
2

3. Prologue
Infant abuse can be emotional, neglect, physical, or sexual. The most common
type is suffered neglect, with 78.3% of cases falling under this category. Abuse
by a primary caregiver damages the basic need of trust. If you can’t trust your
parents whom can you trust? We decided, while doing an action plan for our
Community Leadership class that there are many new parents out there that
are poorly educated about how to care for a newborn. This causes stress for
both the parent and the child which can lead to neglect on the parents end.
Because neglect holds 78.3% of the cases, our solution to this problem is to
create a “basic” care book. Inside this book will be informing the public on
dealing with stress pre- and post-birth. Hopefully more education will lead to a
smaller percentage of infant neglect. Please read our book and answer the
questionnaire at the end.
3

4. How to Prepare for the Birth of your Child
To prevent the stress and anxiety of a child it is good to think of ways to prepare
yourself for
The birth prior to it actually happening.
Being by saving money where you can, borrow from friends, buy used from
consignment shops, Or even on eBay. It can relive the stress of bills piling up.
4

5. Another way to reduce the stress on the arrival for your child, is to prepare ahead of time for
Maternity leave. Start saving early, make lists of what necessities you will be needing over the
9 months and after the arrival of your child.
By making a calendar of bills, things needed to be purchased, and additional ways you can
Cut costs here and there to make the transition to having a newborn an easy one.
5

6. Which Car Seat Should I Buy for my Child?
 Newborns up to 35 lbs should
use an infant rear facing car
seat
 Babies up to age 2 should
continue to use a rear facing
car seat
 Children over age 2 should
continue to use a car seat but
can move into a forward
facing seat
 Older children up to 125 lbs
should use a belt positioning
booster seat
6

7. What’s the difference in strollers?
 Travel Systems
• Combines a car seat and a
stroller, making it possible
for you to use the system
throughout your baby’s
infancy and toddlerhood
 Traditional Strollers
• Anything from high-end
brand lightweight
strollers to inexpensive
umbrella strollers
 Prams
• Elegantly curved
lightweight bassinet
carriage on wheels
7

8. Cry Baby
Your Dream Reality
8

9. Your babies cry is telling you something
I’m Hungry I’m hot
I Don’t like that
I’ve had enough My tummy hurts
It’s just that time of day I’m wet
I’m lonely I need to move
I’m Tired
9

10. Learning to listen
Learning your babies different cries will help you cater better to his or her needs.
Listen for different sounds and what comforts them to stop crying
And remember some babies just need to cry it out
10

11. Post Partum Depression
What is it?
Many new moms experience
what is called the baby blues
after giving birth. This
includes mood swings,
sadness, and crying spells. It
usually fades quickly. When
it doesn’t or it is more
severe, this is called post
partum depression.
11

12. Post Partum Depression
What Causes it?
According to sources post
partum depression is usually
caused by an imbalance in
hormones after birth, still-
birth, or even miscarriage.
You are more likely to have
post partum depression if
you have had depression in
the past.
12

13. Post Partum Depression
How to Get Help?
Women with post partum
depression might feel
sad, hopeless, and worthless
they might feel cut off from
their babies. They might
have thoughts of suicide or
harming their baby. If you
think you can’t keep from
hurting yourself or your
baby call a doctor RIGHT
AWAY!
13

14. Who to Call.
The Doctor. Hotlines
First call your local doctor. Call the There are a few national hotlines
one who delivered your baby or that you can call should you
maybe one you know and trust. have these feelings.
The national suicide hotline
1-800-273-TALK
The national child abuse hotline
1-800-4-A-CHILD
14

15. Don’t let things get
worse. Whether you are
having these thoughts or
know someone who is
having these thoughts.
Call your doctor, call a
friend, call a hotline. Help
us decrease the
percentage of abuse and
neglect in the U.S.
Did you learn
anything? Please
fill out our survey.
15

16. Thank You!