Being a New Parent
By: Savannah Clark
Your Babies Appearance
As a newborn your baby will have a variety of different appearances. From an odd head shape to even little baby acne on the checks and forehead. There skin color usually varies depending on temperate but most come out reddish or purplish. The baby will also have white greasy stuff over the babies skin called Vernix. Babies will have patches in the sky of different colors and oigment due to certain things. Oddly swollen breast on boy and girls and swollen genitals on boys are common. Baby girls may also have a bit if discharge or red mucus like liquid from the vagina.
White greasy vernix
Different head shapes
Reddish purplish skin colors
Bonding with Your Infant
Seeing the mood or happiness of a newborn is always reassuring. With a newborn bonding is a major factor in the babies life. There is some expamles of how parents can bond with their baby:
- Bath time
- Feedings
- Play time
- Meeting new people
- Singing together
- Communicating
- Skin on skin contact
- Etc.
Guidelines for Appropiate Toys
Activities and toys for infants
- Set of building blocks
- Large toys with no loose parts
- Pounding and durable toys
- Books with rhymes or pictures
- Plastic containers of different sizes
- Push pull toys
- Pots and pans
- Musical toys
Pros and Cons of Breastfeeding
Pros:
Cons:
- It's always available
- It's free
- It contains active infection-fighting white blood cells and natural chemicals that give increased protection against infections in the first months, when these can be the most serious
- It can help prevent SIDS, Sudden infant deaths syndrome
- It contains the perfect proportion of nutrients that your baby needs
- It is easily digestible.
- It may protect against Allergies and Asthma in the future.
- It may decrease a baby's risk of obesity in the future
Cons:
- You will have less freedom
- Breastfeeding can me painful
- Breastfeeding can be difficult to get stated
- Your partner can't breastfeed
Babies First Foods
At birth your baby can have milk through breastfeeding or formula. At 2-4 weeks your baby can start having organs juice or vitamin C supplements. At 4 weeks your baby can have flouridated water. At 3 months you can start giving your baby cereal providing different tastes. You baby can also have mashed hard cooked egg yolk. At 4 months, puréed fruits and vegetables. At 6 months of age, puréed meats are okay. At 7 months, bread and pastas can to be introduced. Andat 1years of age your baby can have strained and chopped adult food.
Characteristics of a Healthy Child
- Sleeps soundly
- Eats without coaxing
- Gains steadily in height and weight over the months
- Teeth are in good condition
- Few aches and pains
- Enjoys individual and group activities
- Is alert, cheerful, and intrested in their surroundings
SIDS Prevention and Crib Saftey
SIDS- sudden infant death syndrome
SIDS prevention and crib safety:
- Firm mattress
- No pillows or blankets in crib
- Soft objects, toys, out of the bed
- Nothing covers babies head
- Always place on back
- Dress baby in one-piece sleeper
- No smoking
- Do not let baby sleep with you