It can't be that hard to look after a baby can it? I just get scared if they cry
Ahh Becks, you'll be fine honestly!
You just need to fix your mind in that if it's one thing that babies do, is cry (and sh1t, but we'll come onto that later
). It's not necessarily a sign that anything's wrong, they just need a cuddle, or to be rocked, or just a small change in their surroundings or position. The chances of it being a material problem you can fix is negligible, Mum and Dad will have briefed you on food and poo times, and at 6 months they should be a little bit predictable. So that shoudl rarely be the cause.
Hopefully it won't be a case of M&D are going to come round, see you on your doorstep, hand him over and say cheerio! They (should!) be able to sit down with you for 10 minutes (pen and paper might be handy, silly though it sounds!), and go through each and every outcome and eventuallity, and I'm sure at only 6 months they'll still not expect you to not to be able to call them if there are any problems.
I would defintitely go through (ask in advance so they don't change him just before they come round) a nappy change with the M&D, as they ARE the one thing that can set him off that you can (and will need to!) fix. I'm not going to pretend one of those is either pretty or easy neither! I would say a feed (or the burping after a feed) is the trickier of tasks, and certainly something I haven't mastered yet.
Don't be surprised if it doesn't come naturally - it's hard when I saw my brother and his wife (fully briefed thorugh a long session of ante-natal classes and with even a few weeks of 24 hour experience!) and my M&D (I think they might have done it once or twice before
) do everythign so easily and confidently, though that's always to be expected. I can assure you in no time you'll be the same.
For the first few times it really broke my heart to see my niece bawl her eyes out infront of me, and I took it really personally!
But then 30 seconds later she'll be as happy as Larry Levan, and be chuckling as you tickle her chin.
There's certain things you just pick up, and the sooner you get stuck in and learn about your nephew the better. For example my niece doesn't like her head touched (no f*cking way!), and moving her is like Indiana Jones swapping the stones at Raiders of the Lost Ark. I'm sure talking to them helps (you more than them, can be very theraputic!), and rocking does them the world of good too.
A lot of the time it's like tuning a radio to see where they are the comfiest -for example cradled in your arms/being rocked/facing you on your front with their hands resting on your shoulders.
Oh, and NEVER underestimate the power of the dummy! I recommend you have at least 3 lined up ready for plugging if they become unstuck (as of course if they drop on the floor it's quite a palaver to clean them etc) - they are genuinely lifesavers!
All I can advise is to just get stuck in, get used to him, and more importantly have him get used to you.
The sight of them staring up at you is genuinely one of the most beautiful experiences in the world! I wish I could sit there forever with my niece sometimes! (especially when she's quiet!)
(Though equally sometimes giving them back is pretty damn releiving sometimes too!)
(Oh, and PS, sorry went off on one a bit there, apologies if I'm going over stuff you clearly already know!)
.
Cheeky sod !! I bloody mother you when you pop up for a debaucherous weekend,