2. FEED THE BABY

If babies could talk, 95% of their speech would probably consist of, "Feed me!" Hey, when your body weight is expected to triple by your first birthday, you gotta eat, right? (By the way, those of you who are wondering what the other 5% of their speech would be, the answer is: "Feed me NOW!")

There are two options when it comes to feeding a newborn infant - breastfeeding and bottle-feeding. If you're a baby-sitter, we sincerely hope that the parents expect you to use the second route. Yes, as a baby-sitter you won't be expected to breastfeed, but it never hurts to show off your expertise in babydom:

Breastfeeding

  1. Take a seat on a comfortable chair or against the headboard of a bed with the baby, and hold her so that her head is in the crook of your arm.

  2. Stick the baby's arm around your side so it doesn't get between your bodies. Your abdomen and the baby's abdomen should be aligned.

  3. With your free hand, hold your breast behind the areola (the dark part around the nipple) with your thumb on top and your fingers underneath.

  4. Pull the baby close to your breast and tickle his mouth with your nipple until the baby opens up.

  5. Make sure the baby's lips are centered on the nipple. When she latches onto your breast, her bottom lip should curl out. (And there should be some boisterous sucking noises going on!)

Bottle-Feeding

  1. Hold the baby in your lap with one arm around her, so that her neck is in the crook of your arm.

  2. Brush a finger across the baby's cheek closest to your body, and the baby should turn her face towards you and her lips should part slightly.

  3. Gently push the nipple of the bottle into the baby's open mouth, keeping her head and upper body raised at a slight angle so that it's easier for the baby to swallow.

  4. Tip the end of the bottle up as you're feeding so that the baby doesn't swallow air as the formula disappears.

  5. To burp the baby, hold her with her head over your shoulder and rub her back softly until he lets out a satisfied little belch. Keep a hand towel on your shoulder in case more than excess air comes out of the baby's mouth.