1. Caring for an Infant
7.2 and 7.3

2. Responding to Cries
Will not spoil a baby by responding to his/her cries
Responding to baby’s cries helps them feel secure
Shaken Baby Syndrome
Brain damage including impaired cognitive development, cerebral palsy or blindness.
Broken bones or injury to the neck and spine
Death
What should you do if you become frustrated?

3. Feeding an Infant Babies – cuddling, body contact and encouragement
Infants – parents bond with their child
0-6 months
Breastmilk or Formula
6 months
Watery rice cereal, other thin cereals and strained fruits and vegetables

4. Bottle-Feeding Never warm a bottle in the microwave
Hold baby, don’t prop the bottle up
Deprives baby of important physical contact
Milk can pool around the gums and cause decay in developing teeth
Increased risk of ear infections
If the bottle is not finished, throw it away - bacteria

5. Burping the Baby Babies swallow air as they drink
Burp twice during a feeding
Common for babies to spit up

6. Weaning
Changing from drinking from the bottle or breast to a cup
Usually around the first birthday
Self-feeding
8-10 months
Finger foods
Avoid foods that may get stuck in the throat
Raw vegetables, hot dogs, nuts, peanut butter, whole grapes, candy, chips, pretzels, and popcorn
Soft foods are best, the kind that break up easily in the mouth

7. Nutritional Concerns Allergies Key nutrients
Adequate amounts of liquid
Malnutrition – inadequate nutrition can lead to poor brain development (learning difficulties).
Overfeeding can lead to weight problems – bottle feeding
Allergies
An oversensitivity to a particular common substance that is harmless to most people.

8. Dressing Baby
Dress babies in one more layer of clothing than an older child or an adult would wear.
When babies are learning to walk, going barefoot gives them more flexibility at the ankle and allows them to grip the floor with the toes.
Choose clothes that are comfortable and easy to put on/off

9. Bathing a Baby Sponge baths until the umbilical cord stump falls off
Portable baby tub (2-3 mon / 2-3 X week)
Full-size bathtub only when baby can sit up on their own (7-8 mon)
Fill the bathtub and turn water off
Test the water temperature with your arm
Then, undress baby and place in water
Wash face first with clean water
Then, hair and body – Babies are SLIPPERY!

10. Diapering a Baby 12-15 diapers a day
Diaper rash – rough red, irritated skin in the diaper area.
Never leave a baby alone on a changing table or area they may roll off –
Cloth vs Disposable

11. Health Care
Teething, 3-6 months until all baby teen are in at about 20 months
Cranky, fuss during meals, drool a lot, low-grade fever and desire to chew on something hard
Teeth brushing should begin as soon as they have teeth

12. Safety Concerns Choking – be aware of small objects
Suffocation – plastic bags
Water – drowning can occur in 1-2 inches of water
Falls – do not leave alone on ANY raised area
Poisoning – everything goes in a baby’s mouth
Burns – electrical outlets covers and hot liquids, water heater 120⁰
Sun
Animals
Clothing