Handling a newborn for the first time? Uff… it’s such a mixed bag of emotions. The happiness is unreal, but so is the fear and confusion. Trust me, I’ve been through it, and I totally get it.
When my baby was born, I was naturally excited—but also terrified! I had never even held a newborn properly before, and now suddenly, I was a mother. After my delivery, I was shifted to the room, and there he was—in my mom’s arms. Big curious eyes, soft thick curls, and that innocent little face looking around like he was already trying to understand the world. I still remember that magical moment when my mom placed him next to me. My heart was so full—gratitude, joy, and a sense of being truly blessed.
But then reality hit soon.
As friends and family started visiting, I made a classic new-mom mistake—I let everyone hold him. And I mean everyone! People had just come from outside, touching public transport, currency (coins, especially—so unhygienic!), and without thinking, I let them cuddle him, touch his cheeks, even pass him around. He was so tiny, and obviously, his immune system was still so weak.
That night, after all the guests left, my mother-in-law gently suggested we buy a sanitizer and keep it in the baby’s room. She told us to use it every time before touching the baby, and advised that we limit how many people hold him—just for his hygiene and safety.
And you know what? She was so right. It hadn’t even crossed my mind in all the excitement. But that little reminder from her was a big learning for me.
We don’t always pay attention to these “small things,” especially in India where guests come and go so frequently. But trust me mommies, keeping a hand sanitizer in the room is such a simple but powerful step to protect your newborn. It helps us and our guests maintain hygiene without making things awkward. For me, it was one of the earliest lessons of motherhood—and a valuable one!
