Results for "infant"

Behavior for Infants

Here you can find advice to help guide your infant's behavior patterns. Your baby's behavior will seem "normal" now. But it will help guide the child's growth and development later if you can use discipline techniques now that teach effective decision-making skills. I hope you find these handouts of interest.

Breast feeding your newborn

(Download this as a .PDF handout) Congratulations on the birth of your baby! Now you can relax, and enjoy the new addition to your family. Suggestions for nursing: I recommend that you feed whenever the baby is hungry. Teach your baby that you trust his appetite! Your baby should nurse at least 8 to 12 times in a 24 hour period. Some of these feedings may be clustered very close together, even 1-2 hours. Dur...

Car Seats

Download this handout as a .PDF Most parents are now aware of the laws in each state mandating infant seats that are rear facing until the child is one year old and at least 20 pounds. Most parents are also aware that their children are safest if they continue to use a car seat during the toddler years; this is also required in many states. For older children, Delaware law requires children to ride in a proper car seat through 7 yea...

Fluoride Supplementation

Tooth decay is caused by mouth bacteria growing on tooth surfaces. The best defenses against cavities are to brush and floss twice a day, starting when the first baby tooth erupts; to visit the dentist twice a year, starting after the 3rd birthday; and to take the recommended amounts of fluoride supplementation. Fluoride supplementation, in the recommended small doses, helps prevent cavities in two ways. Fluoride promotes the calci...

Formula Feeding your newborn

(Download the Formula Feeding handout as a .PDF) Congratulations on the birth of your baby! Now you can relax, and enjoy the new addition to your family. Formula feeding: You may safely use any commercially available formula. (Generic or store-brand formulas are perfectly acceptable, and much less expensive.) Use a formula "with iron." Start with 1-2 oz. and slowly increase as the baby wants. Trust your ...

Infant Sleep Hygiene

A newborn infant’s sleep pattern is very irregular. Fortunately, infants will always get enough sleep over a day’s time, regardless of the pattern. So the goal is to maximize the parents’ sleep. It is better for children if their parents are well-rested! During the first couple of weeks, newborns sleep a lot during the day. Parents might nap when the infant does! But if the infant sleeps longer...

Jaundice in Newborns

Download this handout as a .PDF All babies become jaundiced in the first few days after birth. Usually, the infant remains healthy, or at worst becomes a bit sleepy for a couple of days. But occasionally the jaundice can become a concern. Why do babies develop jaundice? Jaundice develops from red blood cells (RBCs) breaking down. While in the womb, an infant receives oxygen from the mother’s blood, throu...

Nutrition

Here are my best answers to your questions about feeding and eating. Remember that the most important principle is to teach your children to trust their own appetites, rather than trying to win feeding battles. -- David M. Epstein, MD

Health Maintenance

Here are some tips about safety and illness prevention.

Starting Solids

(Download this handout as a .PDF) Parents of newborns will receive much advice about feeding from well-meaning people. Unfortunately, much of this advice is more complicated than necessary. In fact, starting solids is quite easy and fun; it does not have to be a source of stress or panic for parents. All infants should be fed only breast milk or formula for the first four to six months. Water is optional, but not usually...

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