All About Baby

The American Dental Association, the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children have their first dental visit by age 1 or within 6 months of the eruption of their first tooth. Early and regular visits ensure the opportunity for anticipatory guidance and education for parents and early prevention and treatment for dental disease.

CAR SEATS SAVE LIVES

Protect your precious cargo by buckling up the little ones you love! It only takes a moment to strap in your child, and that moment could make all the difference in the world. A properly installed car seat or booster seat can significantly help prevent injury and death in the event of an accident.

All you need is:

• Your Vehicle

• Child Safety Seat

FREE Child Safety Seat Fit Station

• Your Child (your child’s presence is recommended for proper fitting)

Our certified child safety seat technician will do the rest. For more information, contact Trinity Birth Center at (515) 574-6052 or Webster County Public Health at (515) 573-4107

Helping

Before Bringing Baby Home

What do you need in those first few weeks after you bring your baby home? You’ll read what the experts had to say, and then checked in with parents - and find that people have very different ideas of what’s essential. And, when you consider that humans raised babies for thousands of years without plastic bottles or rubber crib sheets, it’s clear that “need” is a fuzzy concept.

Still, your baby will require a few basics: A place to sleep, a safe seat in the car, clothes to wear, diapers and some key items for eating, getting around, and staying safe.

CLOTHING:

•One-piece outfits (4-7): One-piece bodysuits dramatically simplify dressing. Look for clothes made in a soft fabric with wide head openings and loose-fitting ankle and leg cuffs. Also, look for finished seams so there are no rough or scratchy parts, and avoid zippers, which can pinch tender skin.

•One-piece pajamas or nightgowns (4-7): Nightgowns with drawstrings at the bottom are useful because you won’t have to fuss with snaps during nighttime diaper changes. Make sure that whatever you choose is warm so your baby is more likely to sleep comfortably.

•Cotton shirts (4-7): Choose soft shirts, preferably with snaps at the neck for easier fitting. Undershirts are good for layering and also will protect your

newborn’s skin from any seams or roughness in his outer garments. Choose undershirts that snap under the crotch so they don’t ride up.

•Sweater or jacket (1): Most babies don’t like having clothes pulled over their heads, so warm up your baby with a sweater or jacket that buttons down the front.

•Fleecewear or snowsuits: If you have a winter baby, we recommend finding a one-piece fleece suit to keep her warm on your outings. They’re often hooded and come in many styles. Snowsuits are a little more expensive and not necessary since your baby is unlikely to be playing in the snow. In either case, buy big.

•Sock and booties (4-7): Stores may sell shoes for newborns, but you don’t need them for the simple reason that your baby isn’t walking. So, warm your baby’s feet in socks or booties.

•Cap or bonnet: (1-3): You’ll want a broad-brimmed hat for a summer baby, or a soft, warm hat that covers the ears for a winter baby.

DIAPERS:

Much about your life in these early weeks involves changing diapers. You’ll want to be prepared. About 80 percent of parents opt for disposable diapers. Other choose a professional diaper service, and even fewer wash their own at home.

Decide which kind of diapers you want to use and stock up ahead of time. Keep in mind that you’ll be going through 10 to 12 diapers each day during the first few weeks. If you do plan to use disposables, we recommend buying at least three large packs (about 150 diapers). If you plan to use cloth, you’ll need six to 10 packs (12 diapers per pack) of pre-folded diaper-service-quality diapers. For cloth, you’ll also need a diaper pail, diaper covers, and rubber pants. Go with diaper wraps made with Velcro otherwise you’ll be stuck using pins or clips.

Front pack or sling: Newborns love being held close; the warmth of your body and the thump of your heart will soothe like nothing else. A pack or sling also leaves your hands free to do other things.

Stroller: For a newborn, you’ll want a stroller that reclines — babies shouldn’t be propped upright until they’re about 3 months old or until they’ve developed strong neck muscles. If you’re shopping for a new stroller, look for wide wheels, adjustable straps and easy steering.

MEALTIME:

Bibs (4): Bibs keep spit-up and drool off clothes — need we say more?

Bottles and nipples: Even if you plan to breastfeed exclusively, having a few bottles and newborn nipples at home is a good idea. If you plan to use formula exclusively, you’ll go through roughly 10 four-ounce bottles a day.

SLEEPING:

Crib: You can get by without a crib at first — your newborn can sleep in a padded laundry basket or drawer if necessary. But, unless you plan to have your baby share your bed, you’ll need a crib eventually. You’ll also need a firm mattress, a couple of sheets and blankets.

Receiving blankets (4): Use this versatile item to swaddle and comfort your baby, as an extra layer for warmth, in place of towels, for catching spit-up or whatever else you can think of.

SAFETY:

Car seat: The law requires that your child sit in a car seat while riding in any car —even on the way home from the hospital. For a newborn, you have two choices: an infant seat designed to be used until your baby weighs 20 pounds or a convertible seat designed to be use by both babies and older children (though not at the same time).

Plastic bathtub: Using a tub specially designed to hold a wriggling baby will keep your baby safe an give your back a break as well.

Guide to Feeding Your Baby Baby’s First Year:

A Guide to Feeding Your Baby from Birth to 12 Months of Age

BREAST-FEEDING

Your breast milk is the most important food for your baby’s first year. It is the best food to meet your baby’s nutrition needs. It also helps protect your baby from some common childhood illnesses, such as ear infections, and it may reduce your baby’s risk of allergies.

GETTING STARTED

Expect your baby to be hungry every 2 to 4 hours at first. Let her, not the clock, be your guide. Relax and enjoy this time together. You’ll know your baby is getting enough to drink if there are 6-8 wet diapers each day.

VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENT

Vitamin D is produced in our bodies when we are outdoors and our skin is exposed to daylight. Older children and adults get vitamin D from milk. However, for breastfed babies, a daily supplement of 400 I.U. of vitamin D is recommended. Other vitamin supplements are not needed. D-Vi-Sol provides the vitamin D recommended.

FORMULA FEEDING

A commercial iron-fortified infant formula is recommended if your baby is not breastfed. Commercial infant formulas are nutritious, but don’t protect your baby from common childhood illnesses the way breast milk does.

Evaporated milk formula is not recommended because it is not as nutritious as breast milk or commercial infant formula. Also, the protein and fat in evaporated milk formula are not as well suited to your baby’s needs.

PREPARATION

Read can labels carefully for sterilizing, preparation and storage directions.

Sterilize all equipment for the first 4 months. Follow mixing instructions closely.

Keep open cans in the refrigerator. Once opened, use liquid formula within 48 hours and dry powdered formula within one month.

Store prepared formula in the refrigerator and use within 24 hours.

Cuddle, look at and talk to your baby while feeding. Discard formula left in the bottle after a feeding.

Don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle of milk, juice or any sweet liquid. This practice promotes tooth decay.

FORMULA FEEDING GUIDE

Below are guidelines to the amount your baby may drink, but let your baby’s appetite be your guide. Don’t coax your baby to finish a bottle. If she seems hungry, feed her more often.

*As your baby eats more solids, she may drink less formula.

0-4 months

Your baby isn’t ready to digest solids yet; Breast milk or commercial iron-fortified infant formula meets all your baby’s needs. It is best for your baby to continue mainly on breast milk or formula for the first year.

4-6 months

Can transfer solids from front to back of mouth. Can sit up, supported. Ready for spoon feeding; Infant cereal — Introduce one type of grain at a time. Start with rice, then try barley or oatmeal and then wheat, soy and mixed grain infant cereal.

Infant cereals are fortified with iron and are an important source of iron for the first 18 months. Do not put infant cereal in the bottle at any age. Infant cereal should not be given before 4 months of age. All babies should be given infant cereal by 6 months.

5-7 months

Ready to try new flavors and textures — Pureed or mashed vegetables, pureed or mashed fruits. Your baby may be more willing to eat vegetables if she tries these before trying naturally sweet fruits. Both of these start your baby on good eating habits. Pureed foods are needed only for a short time, perhaps a few weeks. Then go on to mashed table foods, which promote chewing skills.

Can drink from a cup: Unsweetened fruit juice. There is no need to use “baby juice”.

Introduce juice when your baby can drink from a cup. Don’t serve juice in a bottle. Your baby may keep the bottle in her mouth too long, which can promote tooth decay. Give your baby no more than 60 ml (2 ounces) of juice a day. You want to make sure she has room to take enough breast milk or formula.

6-8 months

Growing rapidly. Grabs spoon. Ready to chew. Pureed or ground meat, fish, poultry, and meat alternatives (beans, peas, lentils). These provide additional protein, vitamins and iron for rapid growth. No salt meat or salt fish.

Teething: gradually change to mashed table foods without sugar, salt, seasonings, butter or margarine. This introduced firmer textures to help your baby develop chewing skills.

Egg yolks, plain cheese, unsweetened yogurt, cottage cheese.

Egg white may cause an allergy if given at an early age, so wait until 12 months.

Grasps food: For finger food, use toast, plain unsalted crackers, soft fruit, lightly cooked vegetables, unsweetened ready-to-eat cereals. They encourage chewing and help develop your baby’s coordination. Unsweetened ready-to-eat cereals are fine as finger foods, but your baby should still have iron-fortified infant cereal as her main cereal.

9-12 months

Eats a variety of foods. May begin feeding whole milk from a cup (not 2 percent, 1 percent or skim milk) When your baby is eating 180 ml (12 tbsp.) of solid food (including infant cereals, vegetables, fruits and meats, fish and poultry), you may start giving whole cow’s milk in place of some breast milk or formula.

“Adult” chewing motions (side to side). Finely cut table foods provide more texture and variety. Your baby does not need to be on pureed or commercial “junior” foods at this age. These foods are too soft and don’t promote chewing skills.

After 1 year

Gets better at using the spoon, but still spills most times. Continue milk feeding with whole milk until at least age 2; egg white may be offered; Variety of nutritious foods from the four food groups. Milk continues to provide an important source of protein and fat.

Great ways to bond with your new infant

A parent’s job begins the moment a woman learns she is pregnant. Upon receiving such news, women typically make important changes to ensure the well-being of the fetuses growing inside them.

Once a child is born, the first few weeks with baby certainly can be a whirlwind. During this period, pediatricians note how important bonding with parents is for a baby’s development. Parents may be unaware that the touches, cuddles and feelings of safety and security provided by them help set a foundation for emotional well-being, which can last throughout their child’s life.

According to Jeff Simpson, Ph.D., adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota and an author of a study about childhood attachment, babies who were securely attached to their mothers by 12 months old (turning to her for comfort when exploring an unfamiliar place) were more likely to come out of an argument in their early 20s still feeling connected to their partners. Simpson surmises that the ability to trust, love and resolve conflict develops in part from how people are treated as infants.

The Australian parenting website Raising Children Network says repeated human contact like singing, cuddling, talking, touching, and gazing into each other’s eyes enables a newborn’s brain to release hormones that help his or her brain to grow. This, in turn, helps to develop memory, thought and

language.

New parents may wonder what they can do to foster strong bonds with their babies. The following are some strategies to build those bonds.

• Breastfeed baby. Breastfeeding provides more than nutrition. The close contact during nursing helps the child to hear Mom’s heartbeat and gets skin-to-skin contact.

• Make eye contact. Parents should keep eye contact with baby when engaging in feedings and other care. This helps the baby remember who their parents are and reassures them that their parents can be trusted.

• Read baby’s messages. A child who wants to engage will make little noises, such as cooing or laughing sounds. He or she also may look relaxed and interested, while some may seek out their parents. React to these messages promptly.

• Respond to cries. Parents can do their best to always respond to cries for attention as it helps the baby to feel safe. This is key during the first three months of the baby’s life. As the baby ages and has already developed a bond, parents can encourage more self-soothing.

Bonding is important for babies and parents. Developing a connection early on can provide a safe and nurturing environment that can set the course for the child to feel loved and supported throughout his or her lifetime.

What to take with you

Diapers

One for every two hours you’ll be in transit, plus extras in case of emergencies or delays

Receiving blankets

Bring at least one for comfort, shade and warmth; some experts advise carrying three (one for your baby to lie on, one to cover her with, and one to protect your clothes from messy burps)

Plastic grocery or zip-lock bags

Carry a variety of sizes for storage, soiled diapers, clothes and shoes

Diaper rash ointment

Premoistened wipes

Sample-size containers of powder and lotion

Tissues

Extra pacifier

Clothes

One to two outfits per day. Cotton sack suits provide easy access to diapers and are great for travel

Washable bibs

Sun hat

Food, formula, water and juice

With extra bottles, nipples etc. Bring more than you think you’ll need, since you can’t predict travel delays

Breast pump

If you want time-off from breast-feeding

Nightlight

For performing nighttime diaper changes without turning on lights

Sling or child carrier for newborns

Lightweight and easy to pack. One study showed that babies who were carried in a sling or in their parents’ arms cried less than other babies

Lightweight, collapsible crib

Necessary unless you reserve one at your accommodations or your baby sleeps with you

Infant car seat for safe travel by car, plane, train or bus. It can double as an infant seat, too

Collapsible stroller

Lightweight, convenient and can be stored in the overhead bin of an airplane

PACKING TIPS

• Start preparing to pack a few weeks before you travel. Keep an ongoing list.

• Use a baby bag with a waterproof lining and shoulder strap

• Pack an extra shirt for yourself in your carry-on bag

• Prevent leaks by packing medicines and toiletries in re-sealable plastic bags

How Fast They Grow

1 month

Things your baby might be doing during or by the end of month one

• lift head briefly

• likes looking at faces

• respond to a shaken rattle in some way, such as startling, crying, quieting

• follow a moving object in an arch about 6-10 inches above face

• vocalize in ways other than crying (cooing)

• hold head steady when upright

• smile spontaneously

• laugh out loud

• squeal in delight

• follow an object from one side to another

• recognize breast or bottle

2 months

Things your baby might be doing during or by the end of month two

• respond to rocking and change of position

• see clearly objects that are about 10 inches away from their faces

• prefer frequencies of the human voice

• turn toward sound of human voice

• turn head toward bright colors and lights

• lift and turn the head when lying on its back

• bring both hands together

• say ah-goo or similar vowel-consonant combination

• pay attention to a very small object

• reach for an object

3 months

Things your baby might be doing during or by the end of month three

• cooing and babbling

• hold head steady when upright

• smiling back at you

• quieting down in anticipation of being lifted or when spoken to or held

• roll over (one way)

• following a moving object or person with his eyes

• attempting or demonstrating the ability to grasp or maneuver objects

• keep head level with body when pulled to sitting

• turn in the direction of a voice, particularly mommy’s

• recognizing familiar faces and objects

4 months

Things your baby might be doing during or by the end of month four

• reacting to “peek-a-boo” games

• ceasing to cry when you enter the room

• simultaneously using both hands to accomplish desired goal

• sitting with support

• holding head up well

• communicating hunger, fear and discomfort (through crying and/or facial expressions)

• bear some weight on legs when held upright

• grasp a rattle held to backs or tips of fingers

• lift head 90 degrees

• sit without support

• object if you take a toy away

How Fast They Grow

5 months 6 months

Things your baby might be doing during or by the end of month five

• playing with toes

• recognizing own name

• biting and chewing

• stand holding on to someone or something

• look for a dropped object

• rolling over

• moving toys from one hand to another

• shaking a rattle

• lifting head and shoulders while lying on stomach

• imitating sounds and possibly including syllables such as ma, mu, da, and di in babbles

• rake a raisin and pick it up in fist

• feed himself or herself a cracker

Things your baby might be doing during or by the end of month six

• pulling up to a sitting position if you grasp her hands

• imitating your familiar actions

• laughing, squealing or screaming, if angry or annoyed

• smiling at own image in a mirror

• sitting in a high chair

• bouncing while in a standing position

• opening his mouth to be spoon-fed

• object if you take a toy away

• sit without support

• pick up a tiny object with any part of thumb or finger

7 months

Things your baby might be doing during or by the end of month seven

• babble, combining vowels and consonants such as ga-ga-ga, ba-ba-ba, ma-ma-ma, da-da-da

• play peekaboo

• may associate a picture of a baby with her own image

• can remember short series of events in her immediate past

• shakes and bangs objects

• plays with noise making toys and music boxes

• get into sitting position from stomach

• play patty-cake or wave bye-bye

• walk holding on to furniture (cruising)

• say mama or dada indiscriminately

8 months

Things your baby might be doing during or by the end of month eight

• eruption of first teeth

• turning head when name is heard

• rocking back and forth on all fours

• use arms and legs to turn themselves around on their stomach

• ability to roll over

• strong attachment to parents

• eating solid foods

• use of more consonant sounds— f, v, th, s, sh, z, m and n

• enjoy looking in the mirror

• beginning to creep

How Fast They Grow 9

months

Things your baby might be doing during or by the end of month nine

• use of double-syllable words (bada, agoo)

• turning head when name is heard

• explores body with mouth and hands, including toes

• understands that objects don’t disappear when hidden

• shakes noisy toys with vigor

• learns the meaning of “no” from the tone of your voice

• enjoys social interaction

• can drink from a cup

• development of the pincher grasp (use of forefinger and thumb)

• stands alone momentarily

10

months

Things your baby might be doing during or by the end of month ten

• drink from a cup independently

• stand alone well

• “play ball” (roll ball back to you) many don’t accomplish this until much later

• use immature jargoning (gibberish that sounds like baby is talking in a made-up language)

• may take first steps

• looking for fallen toys

• utters first words

• learns to climb

• will uncover a toy he/she saw hidden

• can follow simple instructions

• will imitate others in play

“We started taking my 2 month old daughter to Dr. Zach because she was favoring her right side. After two visits we noticed a huge improvement. She is now 6 months old, comfortably sleeping on her left side and her range of motion is improving greatly. We are so thankful for Zach! His knowledge and care for our daughter has helped her with mobility, sleep, physical development and overall well-being.” -Michael

11 months

Things your baby might be doing during or by the end of month eleven

• may fear strange places

• can understand several words

• shouts or tugs for your attention

• enjoys being close to parents and caregivers

• will point to objects

• uses words

• enjoys songs and nursery rhymes

• can perform or repeat actions that render cheers and applauds

• enjoys fitting things together

• indicates wants in ways other than crying

• walks well (3 out of 4 babies don’t walk well until 13 1/2 months)

12 months

Things your baby might be doing during or by the end of month twelve

• can initiate interaction

• gains ability to climb up and down stairs

• will move from a squatting to standing position easily

• can turn pages of a book

• say dada or mama discriminately

• memory is growing longer

• can unwrap presents just in time for his or her first birthday

These are just to give you a general idea of when things may happen. Every baby develops differently. Everything in this book is just a guideline, always listen to your pediatrician.

*Parenting Classes

*Childbirth Education and Breastfeeding Class

*Personal Attention and Superb Care

*Certified Nurses

*Labor, Delivery, Recovery and Postpartum Rooms

*Rooming-in

*Gentle Cesareans

*Childbirth & Breastfeeding Education Classes

We have an IBCLC that meets with each mother after delivery for breastfeeding consultation and support

*24-Hour Paint Management

*After-Delivery Services

*Safety and Security

*Hearing Screening

*Blood Screening

For more information about our Maternity Center, please contact Jennifer Mewes, OB Leader at 515-532-9340.