Over the last fortnight, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been welcoming visitors to meet their new son, Archie.
The first few weeks after a baby is born are a special time, but they can also be exhausting and stressful. So what should you bear in mind when visiting a newborn? We've compiled a few dos and don'ts:
- DO bring food: whether it’s a packet of biscuits or a lasagne to stick in the freezer, edible provisions will ease some of the burden of shopping, cooking or finding something to serve guests.
- DON’T bring your own small children, unless they are guaranteed to behave. A grabby toddler, however loved, may become a further source of stress for already-stressed new parents.
- DO admire the baby’s name – even if it’s Bilberry Meadowsweet. Ditto its looks, however reminiscent of a potato.
- DON’T visit if you have a heavy cold or other contagious illness.
- DO help to make tea and wash up.
- DON’T wear strong fragrance. It’s disconcerting for a parent to find their newborn reeks of Chanel No. 5 after a day of cuddles.
- DO resist giving advice, unless it is explicitly asked for. However well intended, you risk causing serious offence by correcting a new parent’s way of holding/ feeding/ winding/ dressing their child.
- DON’T stay too long. New parents may be entertaining a steady stream of visitors, so a policy of short-but-sweet is usually a safe bet.
Any advice we've missed? Share yours in the comments below.
