INFANT HEALTH & SAFETY
Parenthood is full of many responsibilities,
but your most important concerns are the
health and safety of your baby. Much of
what you need to know is just good old
common sense. But, there will certainly be
times when you may be unsure of particular
symptoms or situations that may warrant
research or a call to the pediatrician.
This section provides an overview of basic
health and safety topics for your baby.
DEVELOPMENT MILESTONES
Development in your baby
refers to how she becomes more able to do
complex tasks as she gets older. Development
is broken down into five distinct
categories:
Gross
motor skills – rolling over, sitting
up, crawling, standing, and walking
Fine motor skills
– using hands to eat, draw, and pick up things
Cognitive skills
– thinking, remembering, learning, and problem
solving
Language skills
– speaking, using gestures, and understanding
what others are saying
Social skills –
interacting with others, developing manners,
cooperating, and responding to others
Developmental milestones
are age-specific tasks that the majority of
children can do at a particular age.
COLIC
Colic is a medical
condition where a baby cries incessantly for
no apparent reason (such as hunger or
loneliness). It usually begins in the second
or third week of life and subsides around
the third or fourth month. Along with
extended bouts of crying, other symptoms
include excessive spitting up, gas, and back
arching.
There are many theories as
to the cause of colic. Most likely there are
several including acid reflux, food
allergies, and a baby’s underdeveloped
nervous system.
If your baby is
experiencing symptoms of colic, consult your
doctor to rule out any serious condition.
Colic remedies that are helpful are:
-
Walking your baby in a
body carrier or sling
-
Placing your baby near
steady rhythmic motion and sound
-
Introducing a pacifier
-
Laying your baby on her
tummy across your knees and gently
rubbing her back.
-
Swaddling
IMMUNIZATIONS
Immunizations are vital to
preventing disease in your child and to
those vulnerable and unvaccinated around
him. Diseases and infections, such as polio,
whooping cough, and measles, have been
nearly eliminated in the United States
because of effective vaccination programs.
The main childhood
vaccines are:
-
Hep B – To protect
against hepatitis B
-
IPV – To protect
against polio
-
DtaP – To protect
against, diptheria, tetanus, and
pertussis
-
Hib – To protect
against haemophilus influenzae type B
-
MMR – To protect
against measles, mumps, and rubella
(German measles)
-
PCV7 – To protect
against pneumonia and meningitis
-
Varicella – To
protect against chicken pox
A baby’s first vaccines
are given at birth and scheduled throughout
childhood. By following a regular schedule
of vaccines, you can ensure the best defense
against disease and infection.
Please visit up-to-date
information on immunizations at the Center
for Disease Control at
www.cdc.gov
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