Care for childChild Development

It is important to realize that a healthy, balanced diet in childhood will go a long way in ensuring your child stays healthy later on in life.

The main causes for problems like high blood pressure are:

Poor Diet

Lack of exercise

What should your child eat? Your child should have foods rich in fibre. For breakfast, your child can have two toasted slices of wheat bread or brown bread with mayonnaise or any other topping your child prefers, along with a glass of milk. Try and use fresh ingredients always. Use homemade mayonnaise so you can make sure you use good excellence ingredients.

You could also alternate milk with a glass of lassie in the summer. Curd is better than milk, unless you are sure of the quality of the milk you are giving your child.

Physical development milestones

(1). Ability to lift and control the orientation of the head

(2). Crawling begins

(3). Walking begins

(4). Speech begins

(5). Voice lowers in pitch (especially noticeable in boys)

(6). Pubic hair appears

(7). Genitals and reproductive organs mature

(8). Menses begin (females)

(9). Body hair and facial hair appears

(10). Infant Feeding 0-4 months

What is the ideal food for babies?

Breast milk is the ideal food for your baby. The baby till 4-5 months of age requires no other food as breast milk is the only “standard” food for the infant.

What are the advantages of breastfeeding?

(1). It is safe, hygienic, and available to the infant at the correct temperature.

(2). It meets the nutritional requirements of the infant fully in the first few months of life.

(3). It contains antimicrobial factors that provide protection against diarrhoeal diseases and respiratory infections in the first months of life.

(4). It is easily digested and utilized by both normal and premature babies.

(5). Promotes bonding between the mother and infant.

(6). Helps development of the jaws and teeth of the baby due to suckling.

(7). Protects babies from obesity.

(8). Prevents malnutrition and reduces infant deaths.

What are the feeding patterns?

Introduction to bottle

Most babies do not need to be bottle fed at any stage. After exclusive breast feeding till 6 months a feeding cup or glass can be introduced.

Night feeding

The baby is breastfed on demand. After the age of 3 months usually around 5-6 kgs.weight, if the baby stops waking at night frequently sleeping often for 6 hrs. At a stretch. Once weaning starts and solids are introduced a baby may sleep for as long as 8-10 hrs at a stretch.

Weaning – 6 months onwards

This is the period of the introduction of foods in the child’s diet i.e. called the weaning process. Foods such as fruits, vegetables and pulses and cereals are introduced slowly, one food at a time.

When and how to start weaning?

The first semi-solid foods are normally introduced at 6 months of age. It is important to make this transition to semi-solid foods an enjoyable one. The amount of food offered and swallowed in the beginning is a teaspoon or so. Patience is needed when babies are first introduced to semi-solids. While they are learning to eat this way, they may often spit out the food – this does not mean that they dislike the food or are not hungry. It is normal for your baby to bring the food out, as the ability to chew and swallow takes time to develop. Infants believe the food better, if not distracted by other activities while feeding. Try to have flexible feeding schedules. After the first few weeks, a healthy infant will develop a self-regulated feeding schedule. The number of total feeds a day will usually reduce significantly by the time the infant is six months of age.

What are the qualities of weaning foods?

Breast milk is a complete food for the infant. Weaning foods are used as an additional source of energy as well as to satisfy the increasing requirements for all essential nutrients. Particular attention should be paid to proteins, iron, vitamin A and C, as these are frequently found to be deficient in the diet of young infants.

Desirable qualities of weaning foods:

(1). should have high energy content

(2). should be easy to digest

(3). should be semi-solid in consistency

(4). should not be too thick

(5). should be fresh and clean

(6). should not be expensive and should be easy to prepare

What are the guidelines during weaning?

(1). Give solid food only once in a day when you start weaning.

(2). Introduce only one food at a time to permit the infant to get used to it.

(3). Give very small amounts of any new food at the beginning, 1-4 tsp.

(4). Allow the infant to become familiar with the food before trying to give another.

(5). Use a very thin consistency when starting solid foods, slowly thicken consistency.

(6). If, after several trials, that baby has an acute dislike for a food, omit that item for a week or two and then try again. If the dislike persists it is better to substitute it with another.

(7). The child should be encouraged to try new flavours. Variety in choice of foods is important.

(8). Infants may object to taking some foods but will take them willingly if it is mixed with another food.

(9). No added salt or sugar is needed if sweetening is necessary, sweeten with fruit puree.

(10). Food should not be forced on the baby.

(11). Salt should not be added or added to salty foods.

(12). Added salt may actually be harmful, before the age of one year.

(13). When the baby accepts one slid feed in good amount (usually by 7 months age) introduced second solid feed.

(14). Breast milk should be continued and a total of 5-6 feeds (solid milk)are feeded slowly increased texture should be tolerated. Do not puree foods.

(14). Maintain breast feeding throughout the first year.

What is a balanced diet?

A diet which contains all the nutrients e.g. energy, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals etc. required by a child for the proper maintenance of health and optimum growth is termed a ‘balanced diet’. Dals and beans have high contents of protein and a small amount of fat. Bread is rich in carbohydrates but poor in proteins.

What does the child need in his diet?

It is important that a child’s diet should be both good in quality as well as adequate in quantity. If his diet is deficient in nutrients and energy, it can adversely affect his weight gain and body growth. The child’s diet should supply him with proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in adequate quantities.

How to provide a balanced diet?

Between 6-12 months of age solid food does not provide complete nutrition but as the infant approaches 9 months solid foods form a major part of the dietary nutrients. At this age a baby should be having 3 solid meals, a variety of foods containing proteins fats and carbohydrates with enough fibre. Milk should be given only twice or maximum 3 times a day a total intake of 500-600 ml of milk is sufficient.

Breast milk can be gradually decreased and discontinued by the age of 12-15 months. Food patterns are developed near the beginning in life and it is important that good food habits be developed early. An inadequate intake of calories will result in poor weight gain and vitamin or ion deficiencies can result in anemia rickets or other diseases.

Benefits for Infants

1. Protects Against Infection

a. Diarrhea

b. Haemophilus Influenza

c. Enhances Vaccine Response

d. NEC

e. Otitis Media

F. Herpes Simplex

g. Respiratory Syncytical Virus (RSV)

h. Respiratory Infections

2. Protects against Illnesses

A. Immunologic Development

b. Wheezing

Breastfeeding seems to protect against wheezing, respiratory tract illnesses in the first four months of life, particularly when other risk factors are present.

c. SIDS

d. AIDS

e. Infant Survival

f. Gastro esophageal Reflex

g. Multiple Sclerosis

h. Inguinal Hernia

I. Cryptorchidism (Undecided Testicle)

3. Protection from Allergies

a. Allergic Families

Breastfeeding, even for short periods, was clearly associated with lower incidence of wheezing, prolonged colds, diarrhea, and vomiting.

b. Eczema.

Long Term Benefits for Infants

a. Dental Health

b. Toddler Health.

c. Diabetes Mellitus

d. Childhood Cancer

e. Chron’s Disease

f. Hodgkin’s Disease

g. Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA)

Benefits for Mothers

1. Delays Fertility

Women, who nurse frequently during exclusive breastfeeding remained amenorrhea longer than infrequent nurses, introduced supplements later and did not resume menses as promptly thereafter. .

2. Breast Cancer

Among both premenstrual and postmenopausal women, risk of breast cancer decrease with increasing period of lifetime lactation experience although the effect was time after time stronger for premenopausal women.

3. Uterine Cancer

4. Ovarian Cancer

5. Endometrial Cancer

6. Emotional Health

7. Decrease Insulin Requirements

8. Decreased Osteoporosis

9. Promotes Postpartum Weight Loss

Prenatal Period is the time from start to birth, roughly a nine-month period. Infancy is the development period that extends from birth to 18 to 24 months. They are very dependent on adults. They start to learn the language, social learning, and symbolic thought. They explore sensor motor organization like sense of touch, sense of taste, sense of sound, sense of smell and sense of sight.

Early childhood is the development period that extends from the end of infancy to about 5 to 6 years of age. This period is called the preschool years. During this time, young children learn to become more self- enough. Their language expands; they develop school readiness skills like identifying letters and to follow instructions. They spend many hours in play and with peers.

Immediate Nursing Care Of New Born

(1). Check the Apgar score at 1st minute and 5th minute

(2). Provide vitamin k 1mg intra muscularly

(3). Immunization

(4). Provide immunization card to mother

(5). First thing care is ore-nasal suctioning, clamp the umbilical cord and cut the cord

(6). Wipe the baby with clean towel

(7). Grasp the baby and keep it warmer

(8). Eye care and cord care using aseptic technique

(9). Nutrition: explain advantages and importance of breast feeding

(10). Elimination: check for passage me conium black and terry stools passing with first 24 to 28 hours after birth.

(11). New born should void within first 24hours of life

(12). Hygiene: while cleaning genital area wipe from front to back so feces do not contaminate genital area

(13). Keep diaper clean and dry which is best prevention against diaper rash

(14). Rest and sleep: provide adequate rest to new born since new born will sleep for 18 to 22hours per day

(15). Avoid sharp instrument and electrical sockets in bed

(16). Protect baby from hypothermia, infection and malnutrition.

(17). 30,000 kids die every day. Learn how you can help save them!

(18). Provide supine or side line position for sleep of infant

(19). Safety and injury prevention

(20). Side reels of baby cradle should be up

(21). Avoid over covering of new born

Parents Knowledge

Becoming a parent is a sole and happiest moment for everyone. After all the weeks of preparation and planning you can now hold your baby. The responsibilities of a ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ come with the arrival of your baby.

Some important things that parents should keep in mind

(1). Keep a supply of first aid equipment in your house.

(2). The baby must be kept warm and dry to prevent heat loss.

(3). decide cotton cloths for babies to avoid skin allergies. .

(4). Never leave a young child along with your baby; he might pick him up and drop him or give him dangerous objects to play with.

(5). Mother should eat a well balanced diet which is more important if you are breast feeding.

(6). Breast milk alone should be given till the baby is at least 4 months. Even in very hot climate there is no need to give extra water.

(7). Oil should not be put in ears or nose. It can cause serious damage and infection.

(8). Strong odoured soaps and cosmetics should be avoided rather mild soaps should be used. These may lead to skin allergies and rashes.

(9). Never leave the baby alone in the bath even for a second.

(10). No home remedies should be given even for minor problems. Consult your doctor as soon as you feel something is wrong.

Mothers Advice

Breast Feeding

Breast feeding is the natural way of feeding your baby. Nature designed human milk especially for human babies, and it has several advantages over any substitute ever developed. Feeding your baby should be a pleasure. The baby should be at the breast immediately after birth. The vast majority of newborns can be put to breast within minutes of birth. There is no substitute for the colostrums (the thick yellowish fluid) that your breasts produce in the first few days and feeding your baby this will give him with precious antibodies to help him fight infection and built up immunity in the early months. Studies have also shown that skin to skin contact between mothers and babies keeps the baby as warm as an incubator. Breast milk contains just the right balance of nutrient, and it contains them in a form most easily used by the human baby’s immature body systems.

Breastfeed whenever your baby is hungry without any restriction of time. Provide for your baby even during the night. You can breastfeed the infant even lying down although the best way is to sit upright and feed. It is a ordinary doubt for breast feeding mothers whether their baby is getting enough milk. You can find out, by checking whether the baby is passing colorless urine at least 8 – 10 times a day.

How to Breast Feed

(1). Hole your breast with your index and medium fingers.

(2). Introduce your nipple and areola (the dark circle around your nipple) inside the baby’s mouth.

(3). Feeding while lying down is more comfortable but don’t fall asleep or the child could involuntarily be suffocated if you roll over with the breast still in his mouth.

(4). After breast feeding burp up any swallowed air, giving him soft strokes on the back

(5). Wash your hand and nipples with water and soap.

(6). Sit comfortably in an upright position with your back supported and hold your baby with her head up. Put a pillow on your lap to bring the baby to the right level of the breasts.

(7). Feed at one breast at a time till it is empty (because the initial milk (foremilk) is watery (contains sugar and proteins) and quenches the baby’s thirst while the milk that is secreted later (hind milk) is rich in fats and satisfies baby’s hunger.)

(8). After the first breast is empty, burp her and shift to the second breast.

(9). You can alternately start the feeds at either of the breast.

(10). Put your small finger in the baby’s mouth in order to take out your breast easily.

What are the benefits of breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding has many benefits for your baby. Breast milk is rich in nutrients. It helps protect your baby against infections. It also helps prevent your baby from having allergies.

Breastfeeding also has benefits for you. It’s clean and simple–you don’t have to wash bottles or mix formula. It’s cheaper than using formula. It helps your uterus contract back to normal size after having been stretched during pregnancy. It delays the return of your periods (though you shouldn’t count on it to prevent pregnancy). And it helps make time for you to be close to your baby.

How do I begin breastfeeding?

With your free hand, put your thumb on top of your breast and your other fingers below. Don’t touch your areola (the dark skin around your nipple). This is where your baby’s lips will be.

Touch your baby’s lips with your nipple until your baby opens his or her mouth very wide. Put your nipple all the way in your baby’s mouth and pull your baby’s body close to you. This lets your baby’s jaw squeeze the milk ducts under your areola.

When your baby is “latched on” the right way, both lips should pout out (not be pulled in over his or her gums) and cover almost all of the areola. Instead of smacking noises, your baby will make low-pitched swallowing noises. Your baby’s jaw may move back and forth. If you feel pain while your baby is nursing, he or she is probably not latched on correctly.

Your baby’s nose may be touching your breast during nursing. Babies’ noses are designed to allow air to get in and out in just such a case. But if you’re concerned that your baby can’t breathe easily, you can gently press down on your breast near your baby’s nose to give him or her more room to breathe.

How should I hold my baby while breastfeeding?

   You can hold your baby in a number of ways. Your baby shouldn’t have to turn his or her head or strain his or her neck  to nurse.

Cradle position

In the cradle position, you put your baby’s head in the crook of your arm. Support your baby’s back and bottom with your arm and hand. Your baby will be lying sideways facing you. Your breast should be right in front of your baby’s face.

Football position

The football position consists of tucking your baby under your arm like a football with his or her head resting on your hand. Hold up your baby’s body with your forearm. This may be a good position if you’re recovering from a cesarean section or if your baby is very small.

Lie on your side

You can also lie on your side with your baby facing you. You can use pillows to prop up your head and shoulders. This is also a good position if you’re recovering from a cesarean section or an episiotomy.

    When Twins Baby born that time holding the baby

 What is the let-down reflex?

A few seconds to several minutes after you start breastfeeding, you may feel a tingle in your breast, and milk may start to drip from the breast not being used. These are signs that your milk has “let-down.” This means your milk is ready to flow.

This let-down reflex makes breast feeding easier for your baby. Let-down may also occur if a feeding is overdue, if you hear your baby cry or even if you think about your baby.

Let-down can be forceful enough to cause your baby to cough. If this is a problem, you can express some of your milk by hand before a feeding to bring on the let-down reflex before you start breastfeeding.

What can I do if my nipples get sore?

It’s easier to stop sore nipples than it is to treat them. The main thing that causes sore nipples is when your baby doesn’t latch on properly.

If your baby isn’t latched on the right way, you’ll need to start over. To take your baby off your breast, release the suction by putting your finger in the corner of your baby’s mouth between the gums.

Don’t limit the time you let your baby nurse. Putting a limit on nursing time doesn’t prevent sore nipples, but it may keep the milk ducts from completely emptying. This can lead to swelling and pain. Applying crushed ice compresses before nursing can ease discomfort.

Some women find that rubbing lanolin on their nipples is soothing. If you use lanolin, wash it off before feeding your baby.

Call your doctor if you have a red, sore or painful area on your breast, if you have painful engorgement (overfull breasts), if you have a fever or if you feel achy. These may be signs of an infection.

Preventing/healing sore nipples

(1). Make sure your baby is sucking the right way. If the sucking hurts, your baby’s mouth may not be positioned correctly.

(2). Let your nipples air dry between feedings. Let the milk dry on your nipples.

(3). Offer your baby the less sore of your two nipples first. Your baby’s sucking may be less vigorous after the first few minutes.

(4). Change nursing positions.

(5). If possible, position any cracked or tender part of your breast at the corner of your baby’s mouth, so that it gets less pressure during feeding.

(6). Wash your nipples daily with warm water. Don’t use soap or lotion that may contain alcohol, which can dry the skin.

(7). Avoid bra pads lined with plastic.

(8). Express milk until your let-down reflex occurs. This will help make your milk more available so your baby sucks less hard.

(9). Breastfeed often to prevent engorgement. Engorgement can make it firm for your baby to latch on.

How often should I feed my baby?

Feed your baby as often as he or she wants to be fed. This may be 8 to 12 times a day or more. How often your baby wants to feed may change over time as he or she goes through growth spurts. Growth spurts occur at about 2 and 6 weeks of age and again at about 3 and 6 months of age.

Let your baby nurse until he or she is satisfied. This may be for about 15 to 20 minutes at each breast. Try to have your baby nurse from both breasts at each feeding. The box below lists the signs to watch for so you’ll know your baby is getting enough milk. If you’re nursing fewer than 8 times a day, be especially aware of these signs.

Signs that your baby is getting enough milk

(1). Acts satisfied after each feeding.

(2). Gains weight constantly after the first 3 to 7 days after birth. Your baby may lose a little weight during the first week after being born.

(3). Has about 6 to 8 wet diapers a day.

(4). Has about 2 to 5 or more stools a day at first and then may have 2 or less a day. Stools will be runny at first.

How can I increase my milk supply?

If you think your baby needs more milk, increase the number of feedings a day. It’s also important to get abundance of rest and eat right. Give your body time to catch up to your baby’s demands.

Don’t start giving your baby formula or cereal. If you give formula or cereal to your baby, he or she may not want as much breast milk. This will decrease your milk supply. Also, your baby doesn’t need any solid foods until he or she is 4 to 6 months old.

What should I eat?

The best diet for a breastfeeding woman is well-balanced and has plenty of calcium. This means you should eat fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breakfast cereal and breads, meats or beans, and milk and dairy foods like cheese. You’ll need to get enough calories–about 500 more per day than usual–and you’ll need to drink more fluids.

A fair diet that includes 5 servings of milk or dairy products each day will give you enough calcium. If you don’t eat animal protein or dairy products, you can get the calcium you require from broccoli, sesame seeds, tofu and kale. Talk to your doctor about taking extra calcium if you don’t think you’re getting sufficient from your diet.

What should I avoid eating?

If you think a food you’re eating bothers your baby, quit eating it. Caffeine and alcohol can get into your milk, so limit how much you drink. Drugs–even those you can buy without a prescription–can also get into your milk. Don’t take anything without talking to your doctor first. Also, if you smoke, nursing is another good reason to try to quit. Smoking can cause you to make less milk and the chemicals in cigarettes and smoke can get into your milk.