New Parent Etiquettes

Etiquettes for the new parent:-

New parents should feel entitled to take the first week or so with their new baby to themselves. If you don't feel like entertaining guests, no one will hold it against you. It's exhausting having a newborn, and you and your spouse should take care of each other and the baby first before taking care of your friends and family needs.
Speaking of needs, if anyone asks if they can get you anything or do anything to assist you, take them up on the offer.
Before you get all excited about handing the baby around to everyone, you'll need to really be considerate of how interested people are going to be in your baby or whether it's a good idea to have so many strangers interacting with him or her.
If you want to make time with your new baby enjoyable for all involved, make sure you pack enough clothes, diapers and wipes for any quick changes you might need to do. Similarly, don't take your baby out when he's wet, tired or hungry because all he'll do is cry. If you think ahead of time of how you can structure your day so that you're out in public when your baby is happiest, you'll be happy too.
Remember, if you're out and about with the baby and loaded down with baby equipment, don't be shy about asking someone to help you board the train or hold the door open at the mall.
When you find yourself in a social situation and want to share your baby with others, don't just hand her over and say, "Here, hold her." What if the person is afraid he'll drop the baby? Or what if a person is uncomfortable with the notion of babies in general? You really haven't given the person a choice. Rather than force your baby on someone, ask instead, "Would you like to hold the baby?" While most people will say, "Yes," if the person answers, "I'm not sure," or, "Not right now," or, "No," then back off.
On receiving gifts for your new born baby you should never feel that you have to keep a gift you don't like, don't need or that doesn't fit your baby, just because you received it as a gift. Returning gifts is always OK to do, as long as you don't broadcast to the gift giver that you've done so. If you decide to return a gift but can't figure out which store it came from, you should not ask the person who gave it to you. If you can't return the gift, you can always keep it as a back up, recycle it to someone else or donate it in charity.
Whether you love the baby gift or need to take it back, you have to thank the gift giver. Do not take the easy way out and send a mass e-mail as a thank-you or use pre-printed cards. Handwrite each thank-you note to the people who were kind enough to send you a baby gift.
When you've invited friends and family to share in your baby's religious ritual, you should do the right thing and host those guests for a meal after the ceremony.
Just as you don't want people dropping in on you unexpectedly to see your new baby, you shouldn't do the same when going out and about with the baby. It's equally rude for you to show up on someone's doorstep and expect that they'll be able to invite the baby and you in right away.
Plan ahead to deal with any diaper disposal issues by bringing recycled plastic grocery bags that you can wrap the dirty diaper in and dispose of in your friend's garbage pail outside. If there isn't a receptacle you can use outside, then you should put the "package" back in your car and take it home with you to throw out.
It's not reasonable for you to expect someone to activate the cone of silence in their home, simply because you showed up with a sleeping baby. If your baby has fallen asleep and you've determined that now is a bad time for you to go visiting, pull over to the side of the road and call your friend to cancel, postpone or reschedule your visit.
Little babies are especially susceptible to germs and you're going to have to get used to asking everyone who wants to touch your baby to please wash their hands first. You aren't being rude or acting like their mother in telling them to wash up; you're just trying to protect your baby. If someone declines your respect, you have to put your baby first and refuse to let that person hold the baby.

Etiquettes for the people around the new parents:-

It's always considerate to call before dropping in on new parents. The last thing you want to do is show up out of the blue and assume that they'll have the time or inclination to sit and visit with you. A sudden visit might seem like a good idea, but think about what you might be interrupting before doing so (like a nap or feeding time).
Remember that when offering to help out the parents of a new born; don't just assume you know what they need. Always ask first if and where they need help, and then honor their request.
If you are on the receiving end of an overly excited new parent who is thrusting her baby at you, you can politely refuse with, "I'm just getting over a virus and don't want to get your baby sick," or "I'm afraid I'll drop the baby." Hopefully, the parent will get the hint. If she doesn't, then you're going to have to be blunt and say, "Please don't make me hold the baby. I don't feel comfortable doing so."
There's no set rule on how soon after a baby's birth you should send a gift or what kind of gift you should send. Most people tend to choose baby clothing as a gift. Clothing is practical considering babies can wear and then soil a handful of out fits in one day.
Always include a gift receipt with a gift (Not the regular store receipt). That way if you misjudged the baby's size or development stage, you've given the parents an option for returning or exchanging the gift.
If a new parent has planned to visit you with the baby and you come down with an illness, cancel the visit. You'll be doing that person and her baby a favor by keeping them away until you're no longer contagious.