Feeding:
·
Cereal or
other solids are not required until 6 months of age. If you
feel your baby needs food, talk to your provider or call our
office for guidance.
·
Breast-feed
your baby 5-8 times, until your baby seems content. Continue
prenatal vitamins while breast-feeding.
·
If you think
your infant is going on a “nursing strike”- call the office for
some helpful hints.
·
If
you do not breast-feed, use an iron-fortified infant formula.
Feed your baby 5-7 ounces at each feeding for a total of 28-32
ounces per day. By 6 months, many babies eat up to 36 ounces
per day. Do not heat formula/expressed breast milk in the
microwave. Use tap water or nursery water for mixing powdered
formula.
·
Babies do
not need supplemental water.
·
Do not give
honey or corn/Karo™ syrup in the first year of life.
·
Exclusively
breast-fed babies need a vitamin supplement
like
Tri-Vi-Sol.
Give 1 mL once/day.
·
There is
preliminary evidence that polycarbonate bottles bearing the #7
should be avoided due to high bisphenol A (BPA) content.
Use
glass or plastic bottles with #1,#2,or #4.
Elimination:
·
Breast-fed
babies have yellow stools with a pasty, watery, or curd-like
consistency. The frequency varies widely – a few per day to one
per week is normal (yes-one per week as long as it is soft!).
·
Bottle-fed
babies usually have soft brown, green or yellow stools.
General
Principles for Introducing Solids
·
Be alert to
your baby’s cues, do not force your baby to take solids if he
isn’t ready
·
Use a small
plastic coated spoon to feed, do not put cereal in the bottle
·
Infant rice
cereal is the most appropriate first food – mix with lukewarm
formula or breast milk, to a semi-liquid consistency
·
Introduce
new foods, one at a time, and give the same food for 3-5 days in
a row, watch for allergic reaction (rash on the face or body,
vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the stool)
·
Provide a
variety of foods – iron-fortified cereals and pureed fruits,
vegetables, and meats
·
Form and
consistency of food should match your baby’s developmental
skills – choking is a hazard at this age
·
Most babies
eat 1 meal to start, but quickly go up to 3 meals a day by 6-8
months
Sleep:
·
Always place
your baby on his back to sleep on a firm, flat mattress with no
crib bumpers.
·
The average
baby sleeps 15 hours per day at this age. It is normal for your
baby to sleep more on some days and less on other days.
·
By 4 months
of age, some babies can sleep through the night without needing
to be fed.
·
Place your
baby in his crib when drowsy but still awake. He may cry before
falling asleep. This is OK! He needs to begin to learn how to
put himself to sleep without your help.
·
Do not
encourage your baby to wake for middle of the night feedings by
playing and talking to him – make the nighttime boring.
Development: (4 to 6 months):
·
Supervised
awake tummy time is still important! Your child may be rolling
over, encourage this developmental task by playing on the floor
with your child.
·
Reduce the time in car-seat carriers, bouncy seats, and swings-
these devices apply pressure to the back of the head increasing
the chances of a “flat head”.
·
Your child
may be bearing weight on his legs and holding his head and body
up
·
Smiles,
babbles, laughs, blows bubbles, makes “raspberries”
·
Visually
follows an object, distance vision improving, responds to name
·
Grabs,
shakes a rattle, puts hands together, may transfer object from
hand to hand, puts everything in mouth
·
Some
time between 4-6 months, babies may start awakening again in the
middle of the night when they previously had been sleeping
through 6-8 hours. This is normal. Sometimes, there is a growth
spurt that may necessitate an extra feeding. Sometimes, your
baby may be showing his new developmental skill of “object
permanence”- knowing and realizing you are in the other room and
will cry to get you to come in for a visit. Sleep training is
sometimes necessary, but call the office if you have questions
or concerns.
·
The AAP recommends “no TV until age 2”.
Safety:
·
Always use a
carseat made for an infant and place it rear-facing in the back
seat.
·
Always make
sure your baby is sleeping in a safe place. The crib slats
should be less than 2- 3/8 inches apart.
·
Take a CPR
and first aid class for infants.
·
Set your hot
water heater to 100°F to prevent burns and never drink hot
liquids while holding your baby.
·
Never leave
your baby unattended on the bed, sofa, changing table, or in the
bathtub.
·
Do not use a
walker!
·
Inspect toys
for safety. For a list of toys that have been recalled visit
www.cpsc.gov for recalled toys.
·
No jogging
with jogging strollers until 9-12 months!
·
Protect from
sun exposure with clothing, blankets, or an umbrella. Apply
sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) to sun exposed areas.
·
Shaking or
spanking your baby may cause serious injury or death.
·
Do not smoke
around your baby – it may lead to respiratory problems.
Other
Things to Keep in Mind:
·
Know the
signs of illness – temperature equal to or over 102°F rectally
for more than 3 days, vomiting (not just spit-up), diarrhea, or
failure to eat several feedings in a row.
·
Hold, talk
and sing to your baby.
Tests/Immunizations for Today:
·
Your baby
will receive the Pentacel (DTaP, HiB, Polio), Prevnar, and
Rotateq vaccines. Please review the information sheets.
At the
6 month check-up:
·
Your baby
will have a physical examination.
·
Your
questions and concerns will be answered.
·
Your baby
will receive the Pentacel (DTaP, HiB, and IPV), Prevnar, and
Rotateq vaccines.
·
If you have
any questions about vaccines check out our website or the CDC at
www.cdc.gov or http://vaccine.chop.edu/parents
Suggested Reading:
“The Nursing Mothers Companion”
“What to Expect the First Year”
“Caring for Your Baby and Young Child”
“Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems”
Acetaminophen Infant Drops Dose:
Every 4-6 hours & no more than 4 doses/day
