The goal of the program is to reduce child abuse and neglect by reducing parent stress and increasing knowledge about children's behavior. Because babies don't come with instructions, parents often have many questions about how to care for newborns. The demands of a new child in the home can sometimes leave parents, especially teen parents, stressed out.
Studies show effective parenting makes life better for children.
It has been associated with preventing poor school performance, premature sexual activity, substance abuse, and chlid abuse and neglect. The Baby's First Wish newsletter program, administered by NMSU's Cooperative Extension Service, provides free parenting information and resources to New Mexico families. Through the program, Baby's First Wish newsletters are mailed monthly to 12,000 homes in New Mexico. The newsletters focus on child stages and corresponding parenting techniques, beginning at one month of age and continuing through 36 months. Parents learn about how children behave as they grow and what they can do to provide appropriate experiences for babies.