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).
Continue to play games such as pat-a-cake, “so big”, peek-a-boo, hide and seek.
Play with cause-and-effect toys. Roll balls back and forth. Blocks can be put into a container and dumped out.
Sing songs (with clapping and gestures). This helps your baby learn to imitate.
Teach your baby what you expect. Describe the behavior that is desired such as “time to sit” instead of “don’t stand”.
Teach the importance of “no” for important things such as hot objects.
Copy sounds your baby makes and listen for him to repeat back to you.
Ask your baby to show you “peek-a-boo” or “bye-bye” without showing her first how to do it.
Ask your baby to give you a toy or to throw a ball or toy to you.
Offer dolls and stuffed toys to hug.
Show your baby how to scribble on paper.
Allow your baby to feed himself or herself a cracker or cookie.
Introduce drinking from a cup (while you help hold it).

KEEP YOUR BABY SAFE

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 has contact with something that could be poisonous, call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 immediately.
Do not make your child vomit unless directed to do so by the Poison Control Center.

Burns

Check the bath water temperature 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.
Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be installed on every level of the home and near sleeping areas.
Keep electrical cords out of reach and cover electrical outlets with safety plugs.

General Safety Tips

Place gates at the top and bottom of stairways.
Keep furniture away from windows. Have window guards on second story (or higher) windows.
Lower your baby’s crib mattress to the lowest setting.
Never use baby walkers.
Keep small or dangerous objects out of your baby’s reach (including latex balloons).
Watch your baby constantly whenever he/she is on a raised surface or is near water. Always stay close by.
Do not let young children watch your baby near water. Babies can drown in only a few inches of water!
The kitchen is the most dangerous room for children. Put your baby in a playpen, crib, activity center or high chair if he/she cannot have your full attention.
To prevent choking, limit finger foods to soft foods not much larger in size than a Cheerio. Children younger than 4 years of age should not eat nuts or popcorn.
Review child care and safety with baby sitters. 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 visit. 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 car.
Do not allow others to smoke around your baby.

Hands

Wash your hands often and wash your child’s hands before meals and snacks.

Nutrition

Breastmilk or formula is still needed for your baby’s nutrition. This is also a time to introduce additional solid foods.
Introduce one new food at a time for several days to a week. It may take 10-15 tries before your baby accepts a new food.
Offer three meals a day plus mid-morning, afternoon, and bedtime snacks.
Let your baby decide how much to eat. Do not force your baby to eat or finish foods.
Provide a variety of textures. Slowly introduce solid textures and table foods.
Do not give your baby honey before one year of age.
Encourage drinking from a sippy cup.
Juice is not needed. If you do offer it to your baby, limit the amount to a maximum of 2-4 ounces a day.
The optimal time for weaning from the breast or bottle varies from child to child.
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 regarding fluoride levels.
Ask your baby’s health provider if a fluoride supplement is needed.
Clean your baby’s teeth by using only water and a soft toothbrush or cloth.
Do not put your baby in bed with a bottle.
Do not let your baby constantly sip on a bottle or walk around with one.

Sleep

Having a sleep routine helps a baby to relax and get ready for sleep.
If your baby continues to awaken during the night, briefly check on him and then settle him back to sleep. This routine can help your baby learn to self soothe and learn how to put himself back to sleep.
Do not feed your baby if he continues to awaken during the night. Briefly check on him and allow him to settle back to sleep. You may allow him to cry himself back to sleep.

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