WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR BABY

Each baby has a different temperament and personality. Learning about your baby’s temperament can make parenting more enjoyable.
Talk, sing and read sturdy books with bright pictures and different textures. Have the baby touch the pages. Use both active (playing with toys) and quiet play times (reading, singing).
Babies need physical contact. Hold, cuddle and rock your baby often but also allow them to learn self-calming skills by letting them cry at times. Gentle infant massage by you can help calm and relax your baby.
Hold toys and allow your baby to follow the toy movement back and forth, up and down.
Change your baby’s position often when awake (stomach, back, infant seat or on your lap) to allow the baby to wiggle, kick, exercise and keep from getting bored. NEVER LEAVE CHILD ON A RAISED SURFACE UNATTENDED.
To prevent flattening of the head, rotate your baby’s position while in the crib.
Allow your baby to suck on a pacifier or fingers to satisfy the need for sucking.
Regular routines will increase your baby’s sense of security.

KEEP YOUR BABY SAFE

Your baby will continue to move around more. Providing a safe environment for exploration and curiosity is very important.

Car and Bike Safety

Your baby is safest if he rides rear-facing in the back seat until he reaches the weight and height limits allowed by the manufacturer of your car seat. He should remain rear-facing until two years of age or 30#.
Check for proper installation with the manufacturer’s instruction manual.
Never leave your baby unattended or alone in a car.
Model safe behavior by wearing your seatbelt.
Require ALL members of your family to use booster seats, seatbelts, bike helmets and protective sports gear.
Do not put your baby in a bicycle seat before he/she can sit unsupported.
Everyone in your family should always wear CPSC-approved helmets when bike riding.

Poison Control

Keep household cleaners, soaps, medicines and vitamins locked up and out of reach.
If your baby eats or comes in contact with something that could be poisonous, call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 immediately.
Never make a child vomit unless directed by the Poison Control Center to do so.

Burns

Check the temperature of the baby’s bath water on your wrist to make sure it is not too hot.
Your water heater should be set no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use appropriate barriers around space heaters, wood stoves and kerosene heaters.
Keep your child away from hot stoves, fireplaces, grills and fire pits.
Use cool mist humidifiers.
Have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of the home and near sleeping areas.
Keep electrical cords out of reach.

General Safety Tips

Use gates at stairways.
Lower your baby’s crib mattress to the lowest setting.
Do NOT add props to keep your baby on his/her back or side.
Never use baby walkers at any time.
Check that there are no small or dangerous objects near your baby’s reach, including latex balloons. Babies like to explore by putting things in their mouth.
Never leave your baby alone in the bath water or on high places.
The kitchen is the most dangerous room for children. Put your baby in a playpen, crib, activity center or infant chair if he/she cannot have your full attention.
Review child care and safety with babysitters. Always provide a contact number where you can be reached and emergency number instruction such as 911.

Guns and Sharp Objects

The safest thing is to never have a gun in the house.
If you have a gun, store it unloaded and locked away. Ammunition must be locked separately away from the gun.
Keep knives, scissors and other sharp objects out of reach.

KEEP YOUR BABY HEALTHY

Fever

Fever at this age is a normal response to illness. You may give acetaminophen to relieve any discomfort. Please call our office for an appointment if your baby’s fever lasts more than 72 hours or there are symptoms that concern you.

Vaccines

Keep your baby vaccinated on the schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and your doctor. Splitting doses can be risky and is NEVER recommended by your doctor! Check with your insurance company before each well physical. Ask about deductibles, maximum benefits and if they pay for ANY PART of the cost of vaccines.
It is normal to have a fever for a couple of days after vaccination.

Smoking

Do not smoke.
Consider stopping smoking.
Do not smoke in your house or your car.
Do not allow others to smoke around your baby.

Hands

Wash your hands often.

Nutrition

Foods: Breastmilk or formula is essential for your baby’s nutrition.
If your baby is taking an adequate amount of iron-fortified formula for growth, you do not need iron supplements in his/her diet.
Iron-rich foods are best absorbed when paired with foods rich in Vitamin C, such as baby fruits.
Introduce a new food one at a time and watch for reactions over several days to a week.
Offer solid food 2-3 times a day and let your baby decide how much to eat. Do not force your baby to eat or finish foods. Do not offer honey before 1 year.
Refer to the handout for more helpful information and timelines.
Juice is not needed.
Vitamin D supplementation (400 IU/day) should be given to breastfed babies until they transition to taking more than 28 ounces of formula or are weaned to whole milk at one year of age.

Dental health

City water contains fluoride which is important for dental health. If you have well water, check with the health department for fluoride levels.
Ask your baby’s health provider if a fluoride supplement is needed.
Do not put your baby in bed with a bottle.

Sleep

It is normal for your baby to be fussy or irritable at times.
Regular daily naps and a variety of short play activities can help as well.
Place your baby in the crib when he is sleepy so that he will learn to sleep on his own. Give your baby the chance to learn self-calming skills by letting him cry at times.
Always place your baby on his back to sleep.
Be sure that all sides of a crib or playpen are all the way up.
Do not use bumper pads.

Skin Protection

Your child’s skin is sensitive and burns easily. Avoid direct sunlight and use sunscreen (SPF 30) and a hat.
If needed, insect repellents with a DEET concentration of 30% or less may be used.

NEVER SHAKE YOUR BABY. THIS CAN CAUSE PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE.

Adapted from Bright Futures Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents—Third Edition: Joseph F. Hagan, Jr. MD, FAAP; Judith S. Shaw, RN, MPH, EdD; and Paula Duncan, MD, FAAP