Protecting your Baby’s Health around Other People

Protecting your Baby’s Health around Other People

April 24th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Babies, especially in the first few months of life, are susceptible to illness because their immune systems are not yet developed. When your baby has visitors or goes out in public, take precautions to make sure he doesn’t get sick. Even a simple cold can be devastating to a newborn, so keep your guard up at all times.

Clean Hands are Healthy Hands

Whenever someone comes to visit your new baby, be sure to ask them to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer prior to touching the baby. Don’t worry about coming off as rude or over-protective. Anyone who isn’t willing to clean their hands before touching the baby is probably not someone you want around your precious little one anyway! Keep hand sanitizer readily available, and remind visitors to use it regularly throughout the visit, especially if they have touched their eyes, mouth or nose, or have been petting your dog or cat. Be an example for others by making sure that you are just as fastidious about hand cleanliness.

When you take baby out, it’s best to simply ask strangers not to touch him at all. This might seem like common sense, but it’s surprising how many people think it’s ok to touch a baby they don’t know in public places like grocery stores and shopping centers. Be on your guard! It can be difficult to tell that well-meaning grandmotherly type to keep her hands off, but your baby’s health is more important than a stranger’s feelings. If you get tired of telling people not to touch, keep baby covered up by draping a blanket over her carrier. Some parents even put a sign on the stroller or car seat asking people not to touch the baby.

Keep Sick People Away

Again, it seems like common sense, but many people don’t realize the impact their little case of the sniffles or scratchy throat can have on a newborn baby. RSV, a very serious respiratory disease in infants, can appear as a mild cold in adults. A newborn can wind up in the hospital or worse over that “mild cold”, so it’s best to just keep sick people away from your baby altogether until they are completely symptom free.

It’s very hard to prevent any contact with someone who might be sick, especially if you have to return to work and your baby is cared for by someone else either at home or in a day care environment. You can’t always stay home to avoid sending baby to a sick grandma’s house. When your baby must be around someone who is ill, ask them to take extra precautions. Hand washing or sanitizing is even more vital in this situation. Caregivers should also take care not to leave used tissues lying around, and not to cough or sneeze too close to baby. In warm weather, spending time outdoors is a good idea to keep baby from being cooped up in a germ-laden environment. And if the caregiver is a family member, remind them not to give baby any kisses until they are feeling better.

You can’t protect your baby from every possible illness, but by making sure the people around her both at home and in public are as careful as you are, you can lower the risk considerably. Speak up for your baby, and insist on safe habits at all times.

What to Expect at Baby’s First Check Up

What to Expect at Baby’s First Check Up

March 12th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Your newborn will probably be due for his first in-office visit with his doctor at two to four weeks old. This first check up is a great time to address any concerns you might have as a new mother, and also an exciting chance to see how your little one is growing and changing.

At this visit, your baby will be weighed and have his head circumference and length measured. Then the doctor will give your newborn a thorough physical, and ask you some questions about his progress. Depending on your baby’s vaccination schedule, he may be due for immunization shots at this visit.

What the Doctor is Looking For

Your baby’s doctor will check his eyes, ears and mouth, and listen to his heart and lungs to make sure everything appears and sounds normal. The doctor will also check baby’s genitals to ensure everything is normal and also to check the progress of healing if your baby boy was circumcised. Next, the doctor will lay baby on his back and bicycle his legs to check for normal hip function.

Your baby’s weight and height will be recorded on a growth chart, which will track his progress throughout childhood. You will probably be given a percentile into which your baby falls for height, weight, and head circumference. The percentile simply tells you what percentage of babies fall above or below your baby at that age for these measurements. New parents are often concerned about percentiles, but there is no reason to be! As long as your baby continues to follow his growth curve, the percentiles are nothing to worry about.

Questions the Doctor May Ask You

Much of the discussion will revolve around baby’s sleep and feeding patterns. The doctor will want to know how often baby feeds; you will be asked how long she stays on the breast if nursing, or how much she takes in a bottle if using formula. Although it might seem like a strange question, your doctor will want to know how many wet and dirty diapers your baby has every day. This is important to ensure baby is getting enough food and liquid. You will also be asked how long her stretches of sleep are, and what type of pattern they follow.

In addition to checking her ears and eyes, the doctor will ask you some questions regarding sight and hearing. You will likely be asked whether your baby turns her head at the sound of your voice, and if she startles at loud noises. Sight questions might include whether baby makes eye contact with you or follows an object with her eyes. These questions will help your baby’s doctor to determine that your baby’s eyes and ears are functioning properly. Finally, you will be asked about baby’s strength and gross motor skills, such as ability to lift her head.

Questions You May Have

When your baby’s doctor has completed the examination, it will be your turn to address any concerns you might have. It’s a good idea to keep a list of the questions that have come up since bringing your baby home, so that you don’t forget what you wanted to ask. Don’t be afraid to speak up even if you think a question is silly. Your baby’s doctor is there to help you to understand your new baby’s development.

This first visit will set the tone for all your baby’s future check ups, which will follow the same pattern. Your doctor will probably want to see baby again at two months old for her next check up.

Equality and Family Responsibilities: How to Share the Load

Equality and Family Responsibilities: How to Share the Load

March 11th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Whether you are a two-income family, or one is the breadwinner while the other stays home with the children, finding an equitable method of sharing the family responsibilities can be a challenge. All too often, one parent winds up feeling they are bearing most of the burden. It’s not long before a feeling of being overwhelmed and underappreciated can set in. Keeping family life running smoothly is a task best shared, and the best place to start is by sitting down and formulating a plan.

Take It Seriously

If your partner comes to you complaining of feeling overwhelmed, the first instinct might be a defensive reply outlining just how hard you are working too. That might be true, but try your best to see it from the other side. Especially in a family where one person works outside the home and the other stays with the kids, things really can get off-balance in a hurry. The working parent often feels that because they have to leave the house and earn a paycheck, they aren’t responsible for doing as much around the house.

Bear in mind that a stay at home parent isn’t just doing one job, but multiple jobs every day. The tasks of caring for children, keeping the house clean, preparing several meals a day, and running all the various necessary errands keep this parent who “doesn’t work” going from dawn until dusk. There are no weekends from this job, no vacations, and no sick days either.

If you both work outside the home, you will have a limited number of hours when you are at home to make sure all the household tasks get completed. Both partners need to do their fair share to keep one person from becoming overwhelmed.

Figure Out What Needs to Be Done

Make a detailed list of the daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. Include everything from emptying the dishwasher to taking the kids to check ups. Seeing all the tasks laid out in this manner makes it easier to see just how much there is to get done! Split it into categories: housework, childcare, and errands.

Once you have your list, divide it fairly. There may be some tasks more suited to one partner or the other, and there is nothing wrong with that. It makes sense for a stay at home parent to take the kids to their doctor’s visits. But there is no reason that both parents can’t take turns making dinner.

If there is a task your partner just really can’t stand doing, offer to take it on, but pass on one of your more hated chores in return. You could also decide on a monthly or weekly rotation of chores, so no one is stuck with the same jobs all the time. Don’t forget the kids! Even toddlers can take on a few small chores, and it’s never too early to start teaching responsibility.

Post the list of regular jobs and who is responsible for each in a visible place as a reminder that everyone is accountable for their fair share. You might want to purchase a white board so that the jobs can be changed according to a rotation, or erased when completed.

Compromise is the key to harmony in the home. You will find that everyone is a lot happier when no one feels overworked and underappreciated!

What to Ask when Choosing a Pediatrician

What to Ask when Choosing a Pediatrician

March 10th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Your child’s pediatrician will play an important role in her life from the day she is born. You will want to find someone you like, trust, and can depend on to listen to your concerns and always help you make the right decisions for your child’s health. Most pediatricians are available for prenatal interviews, to help you in your decision prior to baby’s birth. Asking the right questions will make it easier to narrow down the choices.

Where to Start

Choosing doctors to interview out of a phone book is both tedious and overwhelming. Rather than wasting your time, ask for recommendations from family, friends and your obstetrician. You can then shorten this list by checking it against your insurance company’s list to cut out any doctors not covered under your plan. You might also want to strike off the list any doctor who lives too far away from your home.

Questions to Ask About the Office

When you call to make an appointment with the doctor, you can get a few important questions out of the way over the phone. Important general things to know about the office:

  • What are the office hours, and do they offer any evening or weekend appointments?
  • Does the office have separate waiting rooms for well and sick children?
  • How far in advance do they require well-child visits to be made, and how quickly are they generally able to schedule a sick child?
  • Do they offer a 24-hour on call physician?
  • Do they have advice nurses available for questions, and will you also be able to speak to the doctor over the phone should you need to?
  • Do they have plentiful parking, and is it free?

When talking with the staff member who answers to phone you can learn a lot about the practice. If you don’t find them friendly and helpful over the phone, they aren’t likely to be that way in person. Think of this phone call as an additional screening tool.

Questions to Ask the Pediatrician

When you head out to meet with a potential doctor for your baby, it’s a good idea to write down a list of the questions you would like to ask. Think of questions that will help you to determine whether or not you and the doctor are on the same page when it comes to decisions about your child’s health. Here are some questions to consider:

  • What is the doctor’s view on topics like breastfeeding versus formula feeding, alternate vaccination schedules, circumcision and natural or alternative treatments?
  • What type of continuing education do they pursue to keep up on current research and treatments?
  • How long have they been practicing?
  • What hospital(s) are they affiliated with?
  • Do they generally come to the hospital to see the baby at birth or will you come to the office for the initial visit?
  • Will your child always see his own doctor, or will other doctors at the practice be involved in his care as well?

You can learn a lot from this initial visit to a potential pediatrician; not just from the answers to your questions, but from the doctor’s demeanor as well. Is the doctor friendly, responsive, and open to your questions? Did you feel you were heard and taken seriously? The way a doctor responds to you in this initial interview will likely be the same manner they display in visits with your child. If you didn’t feel comfortable, felt rushed or that your questions weren’t important, keep looking.

Finding the right doctor for your child might take some time and effort, but knowing you can trust this person with your child’s health is well worth it.

Keeping your Baby Healthy

Keeping your Baby Healthy

March 7th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Few things concern new parents more than the health of their baby. Although babies are delicate and have much weaker immune systems than adults, there are a few simple things you can do as a parent to ensure your baby stays healthy.

Baby’s Immune System

Newborns enter the world with no immunity to any of the many viruses and bacteria we come into contact with every day. They must build immunity over time, and the number one thing that you can do to help baby’s immune system grow stronger is to breastfeed. Breast milk, especially the early colostrum, contains antibodies your baby can’t get anywhere else. These will strengthen her immune system and give her an edge in fighting off common childhood illnesses.

Although there has been much controversy surrounding vaccinations in the past several years, the truth is that getting your baby immunized is a vital step in keeping her protected from potentially fatal illnesses. The reason so many childhood illnesses are practically non-existent in the US today is the strong push for vaccinations. If you are interested in an alternate vaccination schedule or have concerns about vaccines, talk to your baby’s doctor.

Well-baby Check Ups

Seeing your baby’s pediatrician regularly is vital to keeping your baby healthy. Well-baby check ups are scheduled at gradually widening intervals throughout your baby’s first two years, and yearly thereafter. These visits allow your baby’s doctor to monitor his health, and catch any signs of a problem early, before it can become serious. Well-baby visits are also the time when immunizations are usually scheduled.

You should also use these check ups as an opportunity to discuss any concerns you may have regarding your baby’s health. Remember that you are the first line of defense for your baby; because you spend more time with him than your doctor does, you are more likely to notice a problem. Don’t hesitate to bring it up, even if you aren’t sure it’s worth mentioning. Anything that concerns you should be taken seriously by your baby’s doctor.

Protecting Baby’s Health

A simple precaution you can take to avoid exposing your baby to harmful germs is to make sure you wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer before you touch her. Make sure that anyone else who wishes to touch her does the same. Don’t be afraid to stand up to strangers in public who want to touch your baby! It is your job to protect her while her immune system is not yet up to the task.

Make sure to ask friends and family to avoid visiting when they are sick. A cold that might be a minor inconvenience to an adult can hospitalize a newborn, so take this seriously. Your doctor may recommend avoiding busy public places with your newborn for the first few months, especially if your baby is born during cold and flu season. This doesn’t mean you are house-bound! Just try to keep your outings to less crowded places, and again, be cautious of strangers who want to check out your precious little one. Remind them it’s ok to look, but please don’t touch.

In spite of your best efforts, it’s likely that your baby will come down with several colds in the first year of life. However, if you have done your best to bolster his immune system and keep him healthy, hopefully they will be short-lived and infrequent.

A healthy baby is a happy baby, and that makes for happy parents too!

Your Baby’s Car Seat: What You Need to Know

Your Baby’s Car Seat: What You Need to Know

March 6th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

The car seat may be the most important safety product you can buy for your new baby. The number one cause of death in children is car accidents, and a properly installed and used car seat can reduce your child’s risk of death or serious injury in a crash. Unfortunately, as many as 70% of car seats in use today are either improperly installed or not used correctly. Learn the basics of car seats before you take your precious cargo on the road.

Types of Car Seats

There are two types of car seats for babies. The first is the bucket style infant seat, which has a handle for easy carrying and often has a permanent base that is left in the car. The seat latches into the base for travel, and can easily be released. These car seats are popular for young babies, as they allow the parent to remove the entire seat from the car without disturbing a sleeping infant. Infant car seats can only be used in the rear-facing position, and generally have a weight limit of 22-35 pounds.

The second type of car seat is a convertible seat. These car seats have a larger weight range, and can be flipped from the rear-facing position to the forward-facing position when baby is big enough. Although far more expensive, with some models carrying weight limits ranging from 5-100 pounds, it might be the only car seat you ever have to buy. Convertible car seats are not portable and remain in the car at all times.

While most states mandate that a child remain rear-facing until they are both one year old and weigh 20 pounds, it is now the official recommendation of the AAP that you keep your child rear-facing up to the limit of the car seat, which is 35-40 pounds on most models.

There are a wide variety of car seats on the market with a range of price tags, but all car seats, no matter what the price are subjected to the same safety tests. The only exception to this rule is European seats, which are put through side impact tests as well as front and rear. At this time US car seats are not tested for side impact.

When choosing a car seat, the most important factor is how well it fits in your car. Most stores will allow you to test-fit a floor model before you buy.

Car Seat Installation and Use

Before your baby is born, you should make sure the car seat is installed properly in your vehicle. The car seat should always go in the back seat, in the middle if possible. Newer cars offer the LATCH system, which is a series of built-in tethers specifically for car seats. Check your car’s manual to find out if you have LATCH, and follow both the vehicle and car seat manufacturer’s directions to install the seat. If you don’t have LATCH, follow the directions for installation using your car’s safety belts.

Even if you are sure you have the seat installed right, it’s a good idea to double check. Many children’s stores and also local police or fire departments offer free car seat inspections. Visit www.seatcheck.org to find a free inspection clinic near you. Experts will review the installation of the car seat with you, and also go over how to use it properly.

Every time you put your baby in the car seat, make sure that the harness is properly latched and is tight enough. It might be tempting to skip the car seat on very short trips, but even at low speeds and on short trips, accidents can happen – and your baby could get hurt. The car seat is the most important tool you have to protect your baby on the road, so use it correctly every time!

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