Don't be afraid to hold your newborn as much as you want. They cannot be spoiled at this age and most infants need the extra cuddling as well as a soothing touch. For some reason, a myth has developed that babies should not go outside for a few weeks to months after they are born. A baby who is dressed appropriately can be taken outdoors almost anytime. After all, the baby already was outside once when they came home from the hospital.
Many parents still believe that the safest way for their small infant to travel is in their arms.
Unfortunately, this is the most dangerous way so make sure the child always rides in a car seat during each and every trip. Therefore, the first phone call parents should make after arriving home with their newborn is to their child's doctor to schedule the first checkup. This visit also will reassure parents that their newborn is getting enough to eat, since most infants should have regained enough weight to be back to their birth weight. Most parents have read about what it takes to be a good parent and what to expect when they come home with a new baby. In the beginning a lot of this seems more like fiction than fact.