Handling A Baby A baby requires a huge amount of physical care.
Changing, Feeding, Bathing, Dressing, Cuddling, etc. A newborn’s neck muscles are not strong enough to support their head. Must support their head at all times. By 4 months babies can hold up their head without support.
Bedtime Routines Sleep is essential for growth and development.
Necessary for the brain to work properly. Sleep releases chemicals in the body to contribute to growth. Some infants sleep more than others. Generally, a baby who is active needs more sleep than an inactive baby. As harmless as sleeping may seem, there are safety precautions to follow. Indy Kids Daycare takes this very seriously and follow all the care for safe sleeping.
Babies should be placed face up when put to bed
Prevent death from sudden infant death syndrome .Consistent Bedtime Routine is one of the best ways to get kids to calm down and go to sleep easily. Find a Routine that works best for you. The amount of time a baby spends sleeping decreases greatly during the first year. Newborn may sleep hours a day .By One Year 2-3 sleep periods including naps.
Responding to Cries: It is important to respond to a baby’s cries.
Doctors say that a prompt response to a very young baby does not spoil the baby. Only time it may be advised to let a baby cry is at bedtime, when they are trying to establish good sleep habits. At other times, the reason for crying may be as simple as a wet diaper or feeling cold or hungry. Pain or Sickness may also cause crying.
Shaken Baby Syndrome: NO ONE should ever vigorously shake or jiggle a baby. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! Shaken Baby Syndrome: is a condition that occurs when someone severely shakes a baby, usually in an effort to make her stop crying. Can lead to brain damage, cerebral palsy, or blindness. Sometimes breaks bones, or injures neck/spine. Can even cause DEATH.
Feeding an Infant: Mealtime provides babies with the nutrients they need to grow and develop. Opportunity for babies to interact with others, learn more about their world, and practice skills.
Nutritional Needs: In the first year, a baby’s basic source of nutrition is break milk or formula. For the first 6 months needs can be met solely through breast milk or iron-fortified formula. At about 6 months, solid foods can be introduced. By their first birthday- most nutrition comes from solid foods.
Breast Milk : If a mother is capable, nutrition experts recommend breast-feeding. There are many advantages to breast milk: It contains all the nutrients a baby needs. It also contains antibodies. An antibody is a substance produced by the body to fight off germs. It is germ-free and easy to digest. Get fewer ear infections. Breast milk lacks vitamin D, a nutrient important for bone growth. Sunlight provides this- skin produces Vitamin D.
Baby Formula: Many babies are fed formula for part or all of their infancy. Not every mother is physically able to breast-feed or just by personal preference. Baby formula is specially made to meet babies’ nutritional needs. Milk-based formula is used most often. Formula comes in three forms: 1. Ready to use 2. Concentrated Liquid that is mixed with water 3. Powder that is mixed with water
Feeding Schedules : A newborn’s schedule of eating and sleeping is unpredictable. Pediatricians recommend that newborns be fed as much and as often as they want to eat. They will generally stop eating when he or she is full. Frequent feeds are necessary because their stomach can only hold a small amount at a time. In the first few weeks; breast-fed babies may want to eat 8-12 times a day . Formula –fed babies may eat every 3-4 hours. By the 2nd or 3rd month- Babies are eating on a regular schedule. Wake for feeding every 3-4 Hours. Eventually they will not need to wake for a late night feeding.
Bottle-Feeding: There are certain guidelines for bottle-feeding.
First deals with preparing the formula. Usually a powdered or concentrated formula mix it with a sterile bottled water; or water that has been boiled. Bottles should be washed in a dishwasher or with HOT soapy water followed by a boiling water rinse. Bottles with disposable liners are a popular alternative. Bottles should be warmed to about room temperature. Always test the temperature of formula before giving it to baby.
Burping the Baby: Babies often swallow air as they drink whether they are breast-fed or bottle-fed. To feel comfortable, a baby must be burped from time to time. Without burping they may spit up, become irritable, or have gas.
While feeding : Burp at least twice during a feeding. Find a comfortable position, pat gently on the back . Protect your clothing. It is also common for babies to spit up from time to time.
Introducing Solid Foods
Babies are typically given their first solid foods around the age of 4-6 months. It is not unusual for a baby to have a bad reaction to a certain food. Skin rash, digestive trouble, or an allergic reaction. Introduce new foods at least 4 days apart .Easier to distinguish which foods are causing the problem.
Weaning: Sometime around their first birthday, they are ready for weaning. Weaning: is changing from drinking a bottle or breast to a cup. An important sign of a baby’s increasing independence. Best to approach gradually- signs from the baby to let you know they are ready.
Self-feeding: When babies can sit up steadily in a high chair, they can start to eat with their fingers and reach for a spoon. Usually 8-10 months , Finger Foods helps to encourage self-feeding. Important to provide foods that will not get stuck in a babies throat.
Foods to Avoid; Raw vegetables, hot dogs, nuts, peanut butter, whole grapes, candy, chips, pretzels, and popcorn.
Foods to Encourage: Dry toast, cereal pieces, small pieces of chicken, cooked pasta, chunks of banana. Break up easily.
Nutritional Concerns: Just like adults, babies who are eating solid foods should eat nutritious, well-balanced meals. They should be able to eat when they are hungry; rather than on a rigid schedule. Babies have very specific nutritional needs: Enough calories to provide for activity and rapid growth. Foods that provide key nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. Adequate amounts of liquids.
Allergies: An allergy is an oversensitivity to a particular common substance that is harmless to most people. When a person has an allergy, the body’s immune system attacks the substance. The reaction may be mild as puffy, itchy eyes or as severe as anaphylactic shock-a life threatening condition which makes it hard to breath. It is important to watch for signs of allergies in babies. Signs of a food allergy: excessive crying, vomiting or 8 or more watery stools a day. Babies SHOULD NOT eat eggs, citrus fruits, honey, peanut butter, corn, shellfish during their first year. All of which are common allergy foods.
Dressing A Baby: Babies lose heat more easily than adults, but they are sensitive to overheating. As a general rule, doctors recommend dressing babies in one more layer of clothing than an older child or an adult would wear. Take into account the weather conditions example- winter vs. summer.