Dad's and Babies - A Special Word to Fathers

As a father, you have an important role to play in taking care of your
baby. Your baby needs you. And mom needs you to share many of the
responsibilities of taking care of your new baby. When you do things
with your baby, you and your baby get closer. You and your baby form
a bond that helps her feel safe and happy.
You may feel nervous around a newborn. Or you may be afraid to
touch your baby because you have never done it before. The best way
for you to get over the uneasiness is to hold your baby.
Here are some things you can do to be a part of your baby’s life. You
will find that the more you do with her, the more comfortable you will
be.
 Hold and cuddle your baby.
 Smile and laugh with your baby.
 Talk to your baby. Your baby will quickly learn your voice and know
that you are her daddy.
 Change your baby’s diapers.
 Cuddle with mom and your baby during breastfeeding.
 When mom’s breast milk or formula has been put in a bottle, you
can give your baby the bottle. Cuddle with and talk and sing to your
baby during bottle time.
 Take your baby for a walk. Babies love the sights and sounds of the
outdoors.
 Play with your baby.

Safe Sleep For Your Baby Questions and answers #5

Q. Are there times when my baby can be on his or her stomach?

A. Yes, place your baby on his or her stomach for “tummy time,” when he or she is awake and someone is watching. When the baby is awake,

tummy time is good because it helps your baby’s neck and shoulder muscles get stronger.

Safe Sleep For Your Baby Questions and answers #4

Q. What about side sleeping?

A. To keep your baby safest when he or she is sleeping, always use the back sleep position rather than the side position. Babies who sleep on their sides can roll onto their stomachs. A baby sleeping on his or her stomach is at greater risk of SIDS. Some infants may have health conditions that require them to sleep on their stomachs. If you are unsure about the best sleep position for your baby, be sure to talk to your doctor or nurse. Some products claim to be  designed to keepa baby in one position. These products havenot been tested for safety and are NOT recommended.

Safe Sleep For Your Baby Questions and answers #3

Q. Is there a risk of choking when my baby sleeps on his or her back?

A. No, babies automatically swallow or cough up fluids. Doctors have found no increase in choking or other problems in babies sleeping on their backs.

Safe Sleep For Your Baby Questions and answers #2

Q. Will my baby get “flat spots” on his or her head from back sleeping?

A. For the most part, flat spots on the back of the baby’s head go away a few months after the baby learns to sit up. Tummy time, when your baby is awake, is one way to reduce flat spots. Another way is to change the direction you place your baby down to sleep. Doing this means the baby is not always sleeping on the same side of his or her head. If you think your baby has a more serious problem, talk to your doctor or nurse. Enjoy Your Baby!

Safe Sleep For Your Baby Questions and answers #1

Q. Can my baby share a bed with her brother or sister?

A. Bed-sharing with other children, including brothers and sisters is unsafe for your baby. It increases the risk for SIDS as well as

suffocation. There have been reports of infants being suffocated from overlying by an adult, brother, sister, or other family member that was

sharing a bed with an infant.

Babies Check-ups - what to expect

Your baby needs medical checkups during her first days, weeks and
months so the doctor can see if she is growing right. The way your
baby grows in her first year can affect her health for life.
Checkups are a normal and important thing for babies. Even though
your baby seems healthy, she should get checkups at one to two
weeks of age, and at two, four, six, nine, and 12 months of age.
Your baby's first visit to the doctor will be a week or two after birth.
Ask your doctor for the results of the hearing screening if it was done
in the hospital. If a hearing test was not done, ask your doctor for a
referral for the test. You need to know as soon as possible if your baby
has hearing problems. If she does, she may need special help now so
she can communicate with people. This will help her when she learns
to talk and read.
At each checkup, the doctor or nurse will:
 Examine your baby's head, eyes, ears, heart, lungs and other body
parts
 Measure your baby's length, weight and head size
 Ask about your baby’s hearing and vision
 Ask you questions about how she eats, sleeps and acts
 Give you information about how a baby develops and grows

Newborn Reflexes #4

 Stepping reflex: If you hold a newborn baby upright under her arms
with her feet on a hard surface, her feet will make a stepping
action. This happens even though it is a long time before she is
ready to stand or walk. This usually lasts a couple of months.


Ask your doctor if you have any questions about your baby's reflexes.

Newborn Reflexes #3

 Grasp reflex: Your baby will clench her fist around anything pressed
into the palm of her hand. You can show this to a big brother or
sister. Say, “The baby wants to hold on to your finger.” This reflex
goes away at five to six months.


Ask your doctor if you have any questions about your baby's reflexes.

Newborn Reflexes #2

 Rooting reflex: This is how your baby hunts for her mother's breast.
If you gently stroke the side of her cheek with your finger, she will
turn her head toward your finger. This lasts for three to four
months.


Ask your doctor if you have any questions about your baby's reflexes.

Newborn Reflexes #1

Babies have special reflexes that last only a few months. It helps to
know what the reflexes are so you are not alarmed when they occur.
The following reflexes are normal for newborns:

 Moro or “startle” reflex: This occurs when your baby's head shifts
position quickly. Or when her head falls backward. Or when your
baby is startled by something loud. She will react by throwing out
her arms and legs and extending her neck. Your baby will then
quickly bring her arms together. She may cry when doing this. This
reflex should go away after two months.

Healthy Newborn - what does a healthy baby Looks Like

Newborn babies don't usually look like the cute babies in diaper ads.

Newborns' heads are often more pointed than round. Their skin may
be wrinkly and reddish in color. This is normal.

In the center of your baby's head is a “soft spot” where the skull bones
have not yet joined. This allows your baby's head to be flexible during
the birthing process. The skull bones will grow together to cover this
spot as your baby grows. Meantime, the soft spot allows your baby's
brain to grow.

Sometimes there are dark red patches on the baby's eyelids. They can
also be on the bridge of the nose or back of the neck. No one knows
what causes these. They usually go away during the first year.
Some babies are born bald, some have thin hair, and others are born
with thick, dark hair. For many babies, this first hair rubs off. For
others, the color may change.

Eye color can also change after birth. Eye color is usually set by the
end of the first year.

The umbilical cord that is left on the navel at birth will drop off in five
to 10 days. The place where it falls off will become your baby’s belly
button.

Sometimes baby girls bleed from the vagina. Sometimes boys or girls
will have swollen breasts. They may even produce a few drops of milk
at birth. Hormones from the mother cause this. The discharge is
harmless and will soon disappear.

Babies First Year - New Born Screening Test

Your baby is tested for certain medical conditions when she is born.
Many conditions can be treated if they are found early enough. Early
treatment means your baby can grow up healthier.

Newborn tests are given in the hospital right after birth.

A small amount of your baby’s blood will be taken. It will be tested and
you will be told if there is any cause for concern.

Your doctor or nurse can answer questions about the tests and the results.

To learn more, call 1-877-KIDSNOW or visit their Web site at
www.insurekidsnow.gov/.

SAFETY DEVICES TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN #12

CORDLESS PHONES help you watch your child continuously, without leaving the vicinity to answer a phone call. Cordless phones are especially helpful when children are in or near water, whether it's the bathtub, the swimming pool, or the beach.