Practical tips for a safe start as a parent: an insight into our parent driving school
May 27, 2025
8 min
The first few weeks after the birth are an exciting but also challenging time for many parents. We would like to provide valuable support during this important phase with our Parent Driving School - a free weekly programme offered by the Neonatology Clinic and the Women's Clinic. To give you an exclusive insight into the content and benefits of the Parent Driving School, we spoke to Dr Lena Pfender, our experienced paediatrician on the Parent Driving School team.
How does the Parent Driving School help new parents to adjust well to the new stage of life?
In the Parent Driving School, we address parents' questions and concerns directly on the one hand, and provide them with important information about their baby's stage of development and the next developmental steps on the other. We address the topics that most parents are concerned with and often unsure about in the first few weeks, as well as individual questions that often have a lot to do with the parents' own experiences.
In the parent driving school, you offer parents valuable insights into the needs of their newborn babies. Which topics are addressed in particular?
The main topics are "reading" the signals that the baby sends, drinking and sleeping behaviour as well as issues relating to restlessness and crying. Based on the encounters with the newborns who are usually present, it is shown how these interactions with the awake and content child take place, what opportunities the newborn babies have to express their needs and how we as adults can try to understand the babies and support them, for example, in finding peace and quiet. This also involves very practical body positions that most babies like.
What challenges or uncertainties do many parents experience in the first few weeks with their newborn, and how does the parent driving school help to overcome them?
Especially when the newborn is the parents' first child, a whole new phase of life begins for the family. Although most parents have a good intuition about what their child might need, there is also a certain amount of uncertainty. As caring for the little baby and the "aftermath" of pregnancy and birth place great mental and physical demands on the parents and the child has to adapt on several levels, everyone involved is vulnerable to internal and external stressors during this initial period. Being able to "get to know each other in as relaxed an atmosphere as possible" and adjust to each other is important for the coming months and even years. This is where the parent driving school can help. By recognising the child's needs, it helps to promote togetherness and thus also contributes to the well-being of the parents. How can parents adapt to their child and care for them sensitively without losing sight of their own needs? Because the better the parents feel and the more they feel able to cope with the demands, the more they can enjoy being together with their child and the magic of the first days and weeks and grow into their role as parents.
There are so many sources of information out there - from online articles to general advice videos. What makes the parent driving school at Zollikerberg Hospital particularly valuable for parents?
Firstly, everyone - participants as well as us paediatricians - appreciate the personal contact and the opportunity to observe the babies together, understand their signals directly and interact with them. Furthermore, all the information that is buzzing around in the parents' heads is categorised. It is also about getting involved in the encounters with the child, being able to leave the "adult point of view" behind and looking at the world from the baby's perspective. In this way, the baby's needs can be felt and a common understanding can develop.
Instead of dogmatic information, it is more about understanding how babies and parenthood "work" and what developmental steps the baby will soon take. This knowledge automatically influences parents' expectations and attitudes. Ultimately, however, this should only be given to the parents as a suggestion in their rucksack; they then go on the journey with their child themselves and in their own way. There is often an interesting exchange between the parents. Sometimes the parents also become aware of overriding issues as they develop their attitude towards their child - for example:
- What is important to us in life?
- What has shaped us?
- How have we organised ourselves and where are there perhaps still "construction sites" that are important to work on so that we have enough freedom to be parents?
In the Parenting Driving School, such important "processes" can be initiated in the dialogues, which is of course much more individual and personal than reading articles or watching a how-to video.
Parents ask themselves how they can best promote their child's development. What factors do you think are crucial for healthy development in the first year?
Relationship and security. Building a relationship with your child that is sustainable, that provides support and understanding, orientation and love are important, supporting pillars for the child - for a lifetime, but especially at the beginning, when the child is completely defenceless and dependent on sensitive support. Of course, the most important information about a healthy lifestyle and certain developmental steps of children are also important, for example in relation to sleeping, eating and playing behaviour as well as favourable influencing factors such as a variety of play and exercise opportunities, experiences in nature or unfavourable factors such as (too) early media consumption.
However, if we could only name one factor, it would certainly be the presence of a reliable, familiar, preferably relaxed and attentive caregiver living in a secure environment - or even better, several such caregivers or a social network that supports and relieves the parents in their new role. In any case - and in the beginning actually all the time - the children need someone who is present, who engages with them, takes them as they are, gives them support and guidance and accompanies them through the ups and downs of everyday life.
So how can parents deal with these challenges while keeping an eye on their own well-being?
It helps if parents feel comfortable in their new role. This is sometimes not so easy - especially when changing nappies and changing clothes feels like the first day of teaching, when you don't know anything yet and can't shine, when comforting the crying baby doesn't work straight away and your own stress levels are constantly rising or you're sleep deprived. It is essential that parents accept these challenges - and in our experience, they definitely want to - and grow into their role. They learn how to divide themselves up well, when to take a step back and let the child do it, when to seek advice or help - because sometimes you need it - how to recover and what to do with the feelings of helplessness that sometimes arise in the new role.
It all sounds like a lot of effort and work, but the great thing is that we humans are made to be parents. It's in us and, in the best-case scenario, everything happens almost automatically and very intuitively. To a certain extent, you just have to work out the framework conditions - sometimes with some effort. And of course, parents don't have to be perfect. Nobody can always be relaxed, present, self-assured and confident and they don't always need to be, but it is important to be "there", to get involved and to develop with the child or in your role as a parent. Becoming a parent also offers wonderful opportunities to get to know yourself better. Through our experiences with the child, we adults often experience the world in a completely different way and learn a lot. In a way, the child, even the newborn, "teaches" us a lot.
How can parents register for the parent driving school?
All parents on the postnatal ward with a newborn will receive information about the Parent Driving School, including a registration card. They can take part in the parent driving school during their stay or up to four weeks after their stay on the postnatal ward.
The parent driving school is currently run by Dr Peter Reinhard, Dr Till Gerber and Dr Lena Pfender.
Weitere Beiträge
Offer
Gynaecological care for impaired women: A new service at Zollikerberg Hospital
Impaired women often have no access to specialised gynaecological care. This leads to unwanted pregnancies, pain and suffering. Dr Karin Lindauer, gynaecologist at Zollikerberg Hospital, has therefore set up a special consultation for women with cognitive and physical impairments. This service is the first of its kind in Switzerland.
Offer
Our visiting clowns in action: how Pippa-Jolie and Ina Schnusel bring a smile to people's faces
The two visiting clowns Pippa-Jolie and Ina Schnusel offer a fascinating insight into their work at Zollikerberg Hospital. With music, magic and humour, they visit patients on various wards every month to create moments of lightness and joy. They talk about people's touching reactions and share moving stories of encounters that have left lasting impressions.
Offer
Our social counselling as a travel agency for life
The social counselling service at Zollikerberg Hospital is available to our patients as well as to anyone seeking advice and support. In this interview, Claudia von Ow, Head of Social Counselling, explains the areas in which she can offer you advice, the specialist services she works with and dispels some common preconceptions.