No mention of post-partum depression or the traditional emotional tug-of-war Maltese families are wont to play when there is a new baby in the family.
In fact, a new baby can be the reason, and the excuse, to miss out on the calorie-laden excesses that are an integral part of the festivities. However, such an innocent gesture could easily be misconstrued by otherwise well-meaning maiden aunts whose sole purpose in life is to spoil rotten any new baby in the family.
You don't have to grit your teeth as he's passed around like a tube of Pringles. He's your child; so take a stand and say something on the lines of "I would rather you didn't kiss the baby's face or put his hands in your mouth, please..." Be warned that you thus risk being cut off without a penny from the Last Will and Testament of all those present.
The mother of a firstborn - never mind that she could have worked in a nursery or taken care of young siblings or cousins for years - is usually he recipient of unwarranted advice from others who have been there, done that, before her. Not all babies take to the sudden increase in noise, smells, and other incommodious issues when several people are gathered in one place at the same time.
Most babies end up crying; and this creates yet another vicious circle. If the mother does not appear flustered, well, then, she is uncaring. If she does, well, then, she is not a good mother because she does not know how to take care of the poor defenceless infant - who is in fact crying just to indicate that he is not poor and defenceless.
So it's not a matter of people "competing" to see who can stop the bawling; one person can probably manage to do this without interference, as she probably does when she is at home and there is no one to interfere.
The magic word is "change".
1. Obviously, the first thing this word brings to mind is "nappy"; a child who is uncomfortable will cry in order to draw your attention to this.
2. The rest follows automatically - you need to "change" what a baby has been feeling, seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and experiencing in order to "change" his attitude.
3. Try feeding the baby. If he is being breastfed, and you feel uncomfortable doing this in front of certain people, ask for privacy. Be confident in your choice - do not allow anyone to tell you that he is "too old for that now" or that you "should give him some water" or "teach him to wait" or "switch to a bottle".
4. The baby might be feeling too hot; remember that in a closed room, with several people present (and perhaps a fireplace or the central heating turned up) the temperature will rise.
5. It is always advisable to dress a child in layers of clothing to remove or add as necessary, rather than having a fur-lined all-in-one over a baby-grow.
6. Sometimes, babies benefit from having their face wiped with a cold flannel; sometimes, all they need is someone to give them undivided attention. Strangers putting their face close to his will frightened a baby and make him feel powerless. Some children take late to socialising, and some simply hate a change in their routine.
7. A child, placed in a carrier or chair for long periods while the adults chat and eat, is bound to become irritable - and if he has needs to be burped, this will make him even more uncomfortable.
8. Do the opposite of what would have been the baby's experience when he began crying; inside/outside; light/dark; noise/silence; immobility/movement - and vice versa. Some babies get tetchy when they want to sleep; others cry when they need stimulation.
9. Never, but never, dip a soother in anything other than water. If the baby is teething, do not allow anyone to give him anything from which bits might break off and choke him.