After the excitement of birth is over and you head home with your baby, the anxiety will grow as you think of all the chores ahead of you that you have read about but perhaps never done before. Will I be able to feed my baby properly? What will I do if my baby will not stop crying? Did I change the diapers correctly? Am I holding him right?

Here are some basic tips every new parent must know:

1.A baby's head and neck must be supported at all times. No matter in which position you are holding him, in your arms or with his head over your shoulder, you must always ensure you hold his head and neck firmly but softly. Babies are very fragile and could be easily hurt or killed if you fail to do this.

2.Avoid any rough movement in the car, a stroller or when playing with your baby. A baby's body is so fragile that any sudden, strong movement can cause them to bleed in the brain. This is what is called the shaken baby syndrome and it can happen even by accident.

3.Talk to your baby often. This is how the baby will begin to bond with you, to recognize your voices and learn to respond to them.

4.When changing diapers, be careful with the boys as they tend to pee when exposed to the air, and with the girls clean them from front to back to avoid urinary infections. In both cases, after cleaning the baby use a diaper rash cream to prevent this common problem.

5.Babies need to be fed frequently and will have to be awakened sometimes for this. You will need to keep track of the last time the baby ate and also help him burp after each feeding time.

There are lots of more specific and useful information on books and the internet available for first time parents. Make no mistake it is not an easy task. Use anything that is available to you to help you take care of your little one in the best way possible.