With a young baby, you may be feeling
extra stress. You can find some ways to relax.
Every day, you should take 15 or 20 minutes
to relax. The first thing to do is to put your
baby in a safe place.
Notice what part of your body is tense.
Perhaps you feel tense in your shoulder
muscles or in your arms or legs. Stretch that part of your body out and
relax it gently. Keep it relaxed while breathing in and out. Flex and relax
each part of your body.
You can do breathing exercises almost anywhere. Slow down your breathing.
Count slowly up to four when you breathe in. Then count slowly up
to four when you breathe out. Or pause slightly after you breathe in, and
pause again after you breathe out.
These breathing exercises help you through periods of waiting. You can do
them when stuck in traffic or when you are on hold on the telephone.
Take a moment to do them when your baby is crying and won’t stop.
Other things you can do to help you relax:
- Schedule time for phone calls to people you enjoy.
- Have lunch once a week with a special friend.
- Plan a special time to be with your child’s father.
- Walk or do aerobics.
- Get or give a backrub.
- Listen to calming music.
This content has been provided freely by CMC. Click Healthy Start, Grow Smart—Your Three-Month-Old for your free download. Click GreatDad Free Ebook to download the entire Health Start, Grow Smart series.
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