Tips for parents about early childhood care and medication

* Diapers:  Most babies that are fed using the PDF method usually need a diaper change at each feeding time.  This means that your baby will need about 6-8 diapers a day or more.  Many new parents time the diaper changes with the after dinner bowel movement, but if you miss it, you will just have a few more diapers to change during the day.  

* Diaper rash:  Sensitive skin is a common problem for some babies 

and they may get a diaper rash due to a food allergy, yeast infection, sitting too long in a wet or messy diaper, or teething.  If you notice your baby beginning to get a diaper rash, talk to your pediatrician about which diaper rash medicine will work for your baby.  

* Growth spurts:  Growth spurts can start as early as 10 days after your baby’s birth.  Growth spurts usually are preceded by a sleepy, lethargic day and a big jump in appetite.  Growth spurts may happen again at 3, 6, and 12 weeks and again at 4 and 6 months.  If you begin to notice that your child is not as satisfied with the amount that you have been feeding her previously, then she may be beginning a growth spurt period.  If you are breastfeeding, you may want to add a feeding or two to satiate your baby’s appetite and to help increase milk production.  

* Immunizations:  With all of the conflicting reports on immunizations, you may be unsure about whether or not you want your child to receive immunizations.  I think that there are simply too many fatal diseases that can be prevented by immunizing your baby to take the chance.  If you are unsure, then you need to talk with your pediatrician, but understand that the reason that the infant mortality rate is so low in this country is because immunizations are routinely done.  

* Pacifiers & thumb sucking:  If you breastfeed, do not allow your child to use you as their pacifier.  If your baby seems to have a need to suck beyond eating, then you need to give them a pacifier.  There is no “nipple confusion” between a breast nipple and a pacifier as they are very different in feel and taste.  Babies will know the difference between the two.  Some children do not want a pacifier but will suck on their thumb.  If you don’t have a problem with it, then let them.  

* Spitting up:  It is very common for babies to spit up, but some babies do it more than others.  If your baby is growing normally, then there is no need to worry about it.  Projectile throwing up is not the same as spitting up.  Projectile throwing up is a violent reaction to reject the contents of the stomach and not just “burping” up a little milk.  If your baby does this frequently, consult your pediatrician.  

Childhood Development: 1½ to 3 Months ( TIPS AND GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS)

You and your baby are slowly settling into a routine of nap times and awake times. By three months, your baby is awake for a good part of the day, and sleeping most of the night. Your baby is ready to learn about the world when he is awake. It's a good time to slowly introduce new experiences to your baby. New experiences will help your baby's brain develop.

What your baby can see:

• Your baby's vision is improving!
• She is able to follow moving objects better.
• She can see close objects more clearly.
• She can recognize and understand where the sound is coming from.
• She sees your smile, and learns to smile back.
• Your baby is discovering her hands, and may spend time just looking at them.

What your baby can feel:

• Your baby's hands are opening up.
• Your baby may close her hands around objects placed in the palm of her hand.
• If you rub different materials or toys against her fingers, she will move her fingers against the material or toy.
• Your baby may even enjoy the feeling of her hand in her mouth.

How your baby eats:

• How much and how often your baby eats will vary.
• Your baby can only tolerate liquids right now, so feed him only breast milk or iron-fortified formula.
  

How to care for your baby's mouth:

• Your baby's gums need to be cleaned with an infant toothbrush or wet washcloth/gauze after feedings and at bedtime.
  

How your baby moves (your baby's gross motor skill development):

• Your baby is strengthening the muscles in his neck so that he may be able to hold his head up on his own, but he still needs your careful support.
• When you place your baby on his stomach for a little while, your baby will learn to hold up his head.
• She begin playing with toys slowly.
  

How your baby communicates (your baby's speech and language development):

• Your baby likes to make cooing sounds. When you hear your baby cooing, it's a good idea to coo, sing, or talk in return.
• Your baby will learn that making sounds is a good way to get your attention, and will coo even more when you respond to her "talk".
• Your baby's cries are becoming easier to identify. She will be able to use her sounds to tell you if she is hungry, wet, tired, or wants a change of position.
• Your baby still uses body language to tell you how she feels about what is going on.
• She may bring her hand to her head to signal that she wants a break, suck her fingers or hand, or turn her head away from you.
  

Loving and playing with your baby:

• Take your baby to different parts of the house so he/she can experience different things. In this way a baby can observe different things and will start recognizing different things, she/he will start thinking.
• Change your baby's position every so often.
• He/she may like to sit in a swing for a while. Take your baby to different environment to make them fresh.
• Respond quickly to your baby's needs. His/Her cry will tell you what he needs.
• Your baby will eat about every 3-4 hours. Some babies learn to sleep through the night; others still need to eat during the night. Remember to rest when your baby rests, if you can!
• Songs and nursery rhymes help your child to be ready for stories and picture books later on. Buy some rhyming, educational , poems CD or buy puzzle, ABC games so that a baby may enjoy.

Social and Emotional Preparation

These all points are also related to positive parenting.
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Children start school with different degrees of social and emotional
maturity. These qualities take time and practice to learn. Give your child
opportunities at home to begin to develop the following positive qualities.
★ Confidence: Children must feel good about themselves and believe
they can succeed.
★ Independence: Children must learn to do things for themselves.
★ Motivation: Children must want to learn.
★ Curiosity: Children are naturally
curious to get the most out of learning opportunities.
★ Persistence: Children must learn tofinish what they start.
★ Cooperation: Children must be able to get along with others and learn to share and take turns.
★ Self-control: Children must learn that there are good and bad ways
to express anger.
★ Empathy: Children must have an interest in others and understand
how others feel.
Here are some things that you can do to help your child develop these qualities.
★ Show your child that you care about him and that you are dependable.
Children who feel loved are more likely to be confident. Your child must believe that, no matter what, someone
will look out for him. Give your baby or toddler plenty of attention, encouragement, hugs and lap time.
★ Set a good example. Children imitate what they see others do and what they hear
others say.

Medical Care

Preschoolers require regular medical checkups, immunizations and dental care. It’s important for you to find a doctor where your child can receive routine health care as well as special treatment if
she becomes sick.
Early immunizations can help prevent a number of diseases including measles, mumps, German measles (rubella), diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), polio and tuberculosis. These diseases can have serious effects on your child’s physical and mental development.
Beginning by the age of 3 at the latest, your child also should have regular
dental checkups.