Caring for an Infant

1. Caring for an Infant 7.2

2. Handling A Baby • A baby requires a huge amount of physical care. • Holding the Baby • Babies need to be held for many reasons. • 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. • Try to move smoothly and gently to avoid startling

3. 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. • You need to chose a safe bed • Remove pillows, fully blankets, puffy bumper pads, and stuffed toys • Can cause suffocation

4. Bedtime Continued… • 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. • Sleep Patterns • The amount of time a baby spends sleeping decreases greatly during the first year. • Newborn may sleep 12-20 hours a day • By One Year 2-3 sleep periods including naps

5. 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

6. 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. • What can you do to help sooth a baby?!

7. 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.

8. 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 east to digest • Get fewer ear infections • Breast milk lacks vitamin D, a nutrient important for bone growth. • Sunlight provides this- skin produces Vitamin D.

9. 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

10. 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 • Stomach is large enough.

11. Feeding Methods • Most babies under the age of 6 months eat only breast milk or formula. • With either method, babies should be allowed to eat until they are satisfied. • Healthy babies usually eat the amount they need, so overeating is generally not an issue with young babies.

12. Breast-Feeding • Breast-feeding is very natural • It can take practice for the mother to get then hang of it. • Many hospitals have consultants on staff to offer assistance if needed. • They can help new mothers learn how to find the best way to hold the baby and get the baby to eat.

13. 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.

14. 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 you should: • 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.

15. 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 • You should introduce new foods at least 4 days apart • Easier to distinguish which foods are causing the problem.

16. 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.

17. 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 • Help 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.

18. 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

19. Continued… • Malnutrition in infancy can cause lasting physical problems. • Malnutrition: is inadequate nutrition. • Linked to poor brain development and can lead to learning difficulties

20. 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.

21. 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 • Crawling

22. Choosing Clothing • Many clothes for infants are made of knit fabrics that are comfortable and stretch making it easy for baby to move around • Clothing size is determined by a baby’s weight and age. • In general; clothes should not be so snug that the baby has a hard time moving. • When choosing clothes • Comfort and ease in dressing are important • Snaps for changing diapers, etc.

23. How to Dress a Baby • Dressing and undressing a baby quickly takes PRACTICE! • Pullover Garments: • Stretchable neck- put the opening around the baby’s face first and then back over the head. • Open-Front Shirt: • Set the shirt out, lay the baby down on the shirt face up • One-Piece Garment with Feet • Easier when the zipper or snaps from the neck to toes. • Lay baby down inside garment and slowly maneuver them in.