Healthy Kids, Happy Kids

Advocare is a partnership of the top doctors in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including pediatricians, family practice doctors and specialists, each of whom has strong bonds to the children and adults, families and communities they serve. The doctors of Advocare promise to bring each patient their vast experience, a pursuit of continuing education and a true love for the practice of medicine. They are proud to provide the highest-quality healthcare with a personal, caring touch that focuses on the health, safety, well-being, and overall needs of their patients and their families. Advocare doctors offer medically-integrated excellence for every healthcare need in life.

We want you to have a happy relationship with your child, as does everyone else. Undoubtedly, you will get lots of well-intentioned advice from parents, friends and neighbors. Although everyone has your best interest in mind, sometimes the well-intentioned advice you receive is conflicting, which could leave you confused.

The best single piece of advice we can give you is to trust your own judgment. Over the years, there has been a tradition of passing along advice on baby care, feeding, etc. Much of this advice may not make sense to you. If something does not make sense, reconsider it. You may call us 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday-Friday to speak with one of our telephone nurses.

It is only normal that in the face of all this advice, there are times that you are unsure of yourself. Don't worry. Remember that every parent was a parent for the first time. All of us are here now and doing well, and the human species is thriving after several million years. With love, warmth and care our infants will do fine. Trust your instincts.

With a new baby at home, your life will become intimately entwined with your baby's. You will find that your day now revolves around feeding periods, clothes washing and diaper changing, and hopefully some rest for you when your baby is resting. It may not be unusual, especially if you worked at a job until you became a parent, for an entire day to disappear. But if you ask yourself, "What did I do today?," you may not be able to answer this question. Don't worry: this is a normal part of early parenthood. Your new "job" is taking care of your baby.

We think that raising your baby and providing for his* physical and emotional needs is the most important job that you will ever have. It is also the most rewarding and most frustrating job you will ever have. Remember, there is no "right" or "wrong" way to raise your child. If you try your best and use common sense, the time you spend with your baby will be richly rewarding.

The first few months of your child's life are a period of growth and change for your new family. Having an infant will perhaps be the single biggest and most sudden change that will ever happen in your life. However, do not overlook your own needs during this period. Get all the rest you possibly can. When your baby is awake, give her attention. When she is hungry, feed her. But when she sleeps, you should try to get some rest too. You should not be scurrying around cleaning the house or baking bread to entertain those who will be coming over to see your new baby. Remember, when night comes and your baby wants to feed, the people who visited you during the day will be home snugly asleep in their beds. It is very important for you and your family to get plenty of sleep whenever you can. Your priority should be to take care of yourself and your baby.

* We will vary the gender pronouns throughout this content.

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