Things You Can Do To Relax

Parenting Tips

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.

These tips were reproduced from the U.S. Department of Education.

View more Infant Parenting Tips.