New Parent Information
Kambree Hillis
What will your newborn look like?
During childbirth, pressure from the tight birth canal might cause your baby's skull bones to shift and overlap. This can result in an elongated or cone-shaped skull at birth — particularly if you had a long labor or a vacuum was used during delivery. You can expect your newborn to have a more rounded head within a few days
Your newborn's skin might also be covered by fine, downy hair at birth — known as lanugo — especially on the back and shoulders. Lanugo is most common in premature babies. It typically wears off within several weeks.
You'll notice two soft areas at the top of your baby's head where the skull bones haven't yet grown together. These spots, called fontanels, accommodate a baby's rapidly growing brain. You might notice these spots pulsating when your baby cries or strains.
Bonding with your infant.
- Have some skin-to-skin cuddle time – hold her and stroke her gently. Human touch is soothing for both you and your baby.
- Look into your baby's eyes and talk and sing to your baby
- Breast feeding
Appropriate toys for infants.
- Mobiles. Take them down when your baby begins grasping so he doesn't pull it on top of himself.
- Rattles. ...
- Bath toys.
- Soft stuffed animals.
- Hardback or cloth books with simple, colorful figures to aid visual development. ...
- Push and pull toys.
- Do not buy toys that have a string longer than 12 inches, avoid toys with magnets, and watch out for toys that could contain toxic substances.
Pros and cons of breast feeding.
- Breast feeding pros:
- It's free
- Gives the baby some immunities
- Provides the nutrients the baby that match the baby needs.
- Cons of Brest feeding:
- Time consuming
- Mother gets tired/sore
- Father or other caregiver can not feed baby
Pros and cons of bottle feeding.
Easier to access, for father or other caregiver
Measurable amounts
Faster to bottle feed.
Cons:
Not as nutritious
More expensive
Not as easily digested
First foods for baby and when they should be introduced.
4-6 months:
- Breast milk or formula, PLUS
- Pureed vegetables (sweet potatoes, squash)
- Pureed fruit (apples, bananas, peaches)
- Pureed meat (chicken, pork, beef)
- Semi-liquid, iron-fortified cereal.
- 6-8 months:
- of unsweetened yogurt (no cow's milk until age 1)
- Pureed legumes (black beans, chickpeas, edamame, fava beans, black-eyed peas, lentils, kidney beans)
- Iron-fortified cereal (oats, barley)
- 8-10 months:
- Finger foods (O-shaped cereal, small bits of scrambled eggs, well-cooked pieces of potato, well-cooked spiral pasta, teething crackers, small pieces of bagel)
- Protein (small bits of meat, poultry, boneless fish, tofu, and well-cooked beans, like lentils, split peas, pintos, or black beans)
- 10-12 months:
- Protein
- Mashed fruit
Characteristics of a healthy child
- Skin color is at regular color
- Child is happy, good attitude
- Is calm and not crying
- Does not have trouble breathing
- Has an appetiteb
SIDS Prevention, and crib safety
Crib safety: Do not place crib near a window, make sure their are NO toys or blankets inside the crib with the infant, make sure no toxic substances are painted on the crib.