"There were so many snaps in the crotch area that it must have taken me a half an hour to figure it out," says Shoemaker of Chester, Va. "It's funny now, but wasn't then. I was home alone with my new baby and I cried after not being able to handle all those snaps."

Nearly every new parent knows the feelings of insecurity that set in once their newborn comes home from the delivery room. Somehow, infants always seem much larger in the hospital, less fragile when surrounded by well-wishers and a medically-trained staff. Once taken home and parked in a way-too-big infant carrier on the middle of the living room floor, what new parent hasn't stared at their newborn and thought, "Now what?"

Shoemaker, whose son is now 13, remembers her own trial-and-error early days of parenthood. Today, Shoemaker is a nurse and writer and has two other sons, ages 10 and 5. She says her early mistakes were all part of becoming a seasoned parent.

"The best advice I could give a new mother is to not worry about what you don't know," says Shoemaker. "The important things, like hugging and loving, will come to you. The other things aren't hard to learn. And, as long as a baby is always handled gently and with love, parents don't need to be afraid of making mistakes. These mistakes make for great memories and wonderful stories when the kids are older."

Holding Baby
"People are always afraid they're going to spoil a baby by holding it too much," says Carrie Siebenmark, a registered nurse in the Wichita, Kan.-based Wesley Medical Center's postpartum department. Siebenmark, who sees more than 400 new mothers each month, always tells her patients this simply isn't true. "Hold your baby," she says. "It isn't possible to spoil a baby by holding it too much."

Siebenmark cautions parents to always support the baby's head and neck, regardless of the position in which he is being held. What's more, Siebenmark encourages parents to try different holding positions with their infants until they find the ones they and baby are comfortable with.

One of the most popular holding positions is the cradle hold, in which Baby is nestled in the crook of a parent's forearm, supported by the opposite forearm underneath. Siebenmark says this is a natural position, one that many new mothers instinctively use. And, by swaddling the baby in a couple of blankets before holding, new parents can help their infant feel calm and warm. "Swaddling can make a big difference," says Siebenmark. "And after you do it yourself a time or two, it's not difficult at all."

To swaddle a baby, spread a receiving blanket on a flat surface with one corner folded down about 6 inches. Place Baby on the blanket diagonally with her head above the folded corner. Then take the corner near Baby's left arm and pull it over the arm and across Baby's body. Lift the right arm and tuck the blanket corner under Baby's back on the right side. Lift the bottom corner and bring it up over Baby's body. Before lifting the last corner, bring it over Baby's right arm and tuck it under Baby's back on the left side.

Burping Baby
According to Dr. Steven Shelov, editor of the American Academy of Pediatric's book, Caring for Your Baby and Young Child (Bantam, 1998), young babies naturally fuss and get cranky when they swallow air during feedings. Although this occurs in both breastfed and bottle-fed infants, it is more likely to occur with bottle-feeding. "A good strategy is to burp her frequently, even if she shows no discomfort," says Dr. Shelov.

There are a number of techniques used to burp a baby. According to Caring for Your Baby and Young Child, the most effective positions include holding the baby upright with his head on your shoulder, supporting his head and back while you gently pat his back with your other hand. Another technique is to sit Baby on your lap, supporting her chest and head with one hand while patting her back with your other hand. Or, lay the baby on your lap with his back up. Support his head so it is higher than his chest and gently pat or rotate your hand on his back.

"If he still hasn't burped after several minutes, continue feeding him and don't worry," says Dr. Shelov. "No baby burps every time."

Diapering Baby
It's a good idea to have everything on hand before removing Baby's diaper. This list includes, of course, a clean diaper, diaper wipes, a change of clothes (just in case) and diaper rash ointment, if needed.

Gently lay Baby on a changing table. Or cover a draft-free area of the floor with a protective pad and lay Baby on the floor. In either case, do not leave Baby unattended. Unfasten the diaper. If there has been a bowel movement, use the diaper to wipe most of it away. Then, fold the diaper under Baby with the unsoiled side up to act as a protective surface and clean Baby's front thoroughly. Next, lift both legs and clean Baby's bottom. Finally, slip the soiled diaper out and a fresh diaper under Baby's bottom, and fasten the diaper.

Dressing Baby
Dressing your floppy bundle of joy can be a daunting task for most parents. With a head that is invariably the largest part of Baby's body, and arms and legs that are curled up, dressing Baby can definitely be a challenge. However, with the right technique, it can become less like a wrestling match.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the most efficient way to dress Baby is to first support Baby on your lap, stretching the garment neckline and pulling it over Baby's head. Be sure to use your fingers to keep it from catching on Baby's face or ears. Instead of trying to push Baby's arm through a sleeve, put your hand through the sleeve from the outside and grasp Baby's hand to pull it through. To undress, reverse the process, taking the sleeves off one at a time, before gently lifting the clothing free of Baby's head.

Other parents worry about dressing their baby to suit the temperature. A good rule of thumb, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, is to dress infants as you would dress in order to be comfortable in the current temperature range.

"The biggest challenge for me is knowing how to keep her dressed at a comfortable temperature," says Isabel Viana concerning her 10-week-old daughter. Viana, who lives in southwestern Colorado, is in a climate with fall weather fluctuations ranging from warm temperatures to snow fall. "I can't wait for her to be able to tell me what it is that she feels," says Viana. "Then I won't have to guess how it is that she's feeling from moment to moment."

All the Details
Tiny babies sport even tinier eyes, ears and fingernails, each of which need a good cleaning once in a while. In the first few weeks, clean Baby's eyes during her sponge bath, recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics. Use a cotton ball or a clean, warm, wet washcloth to gently wipe from the inside of the eye to the outside. Use a new cotton ball or washcloth for each eye.

As for the ears, most pediatricians advise new parents to never stick anything larger than an elbow in your child's ear. Steer clear of cotton swabs and never insert them into Baby's ear canal. To clean Baby's ear, simply use a thin washcloth.

The only care a baby's nails require is trimming. To do so, parents can use a soft emery board or baby nail clippers. Many parents find it easiest to trim fingernails when a baby is sleeping. By keeping Baby's fingernails short and smooth, he won't be able to scratch himself. In the early weeks, Baby's fingernails grow quickly and may need to be trimmed once or twice a week.

Before long, even the most inexperienced parents can diaper, burp and dress their little bundles like a pro. Some, like Shoemaker, are even convinced that inexperience can be a real asset, something that spurs new parents to become educated. "It hasn't mattered at all how inexperienced I was then," Shoemaker says. "I think having my son at an early age and learning with him is the best thing that has ever happened to me."