[blparent] Resources to learn hands-on about baby care?

[Star Gazer]

When my kids were babies, I didn't want anybody giving them baths or
changing them or carrying them, and it didn't matter how much I liked that
person. I just wasn't comfortable with it and I can't quite give you a good
reason as to why. What I did want was someone to hold them so I could eat or
shower and someone I could talk to. 
All this is to say that while you may want to help with taking care of these
babies, your friends may not want you to do that. 
A doll won't give you practical experience because dolls don't move, and
they don't pee or poop midchange. 
Many women don't have hands on experience with babies until they have their
own. 
I'd just focus on helping your friends in the way they want help. If they
want you to change a baby, they'll tell you. If you do need to change a
baby, I guarantee you, you'll figure it out. Ditto for a bath, though with a
newborn, you can just wipe them down with a warm cloth. All this is a long
way of saying that I didn't want help with the hands on care and feeding of
my girls.  
I've said it before on this list and I'll say it again, if you have a good
head on your shoulders, you'll keep that good head when a baby is involved. 
I never took the Hadley courses and I don't think they'd be helpful as it's
all book learning and babies haven't read those books. 
If you do want practical experience with kids, offer to help in a church
nursery or find a grandma who has her grandkids. Realize that these kids
will be older then newborns so will be different from your friends babies,
at least for a little while. 

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Arielle
Silverman via blparent
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2015 1:38 AM
To: blparent at nfbnet.org
Cc: Arielle Silverman
Subject: [blparent] Resources to learn hands-on about baby care?

Hi all,
As you may know, I'm not a parent, but I've been on this list for a while in
order to learn about nonvisual techniques for childcare since that's an area
where I am very inexperienced. So recently, a few close friends and
relatives of mine have told me they're pregnant and expecting to give birth
by the end of the year. I really want to get some practical skills and
confidence with baby care before their babies are born. I've never changed a
diaper, bathed or dressed a baby, or even carried a baby any distance (I've
just held them in my arms or on my lap). I'm also totally clueless about how
visual games with young infants, like Peekaboo, work. I didn't grow up
around babies and wasn't particularly drawn to childcare so I never learned
these skills. But the moms-to-be in my life are women I really care about
and I want to be there to help them out when they need it and I want to
connect with their babies without constantly worrying I'm going to do
something wrong and accidentally hurt them. So, I was just curious what you
would suggest so I can get some hands-on practice.
Would the Hadley preparation course be helpful for someone who's not
actually expecting her own child but just wants to learn these basic skills?
I have also considered practicing with a diaper and a doll (though I'm not
sure I want to buy a whole pack of diapers!) What else would you suggest? I
know the biggest way I can learn and gain confidence is just by jumping in
and spending time with babies, but I feel like I need to get a little more
basic knowledge first, and I also know that my exhausted friends probably
won't have the patience to teach me from the beginning when their babies are
born. Thanks for any help!
Arielle

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