Baby Care Encyclopedia

Small babies produce more heat than adults. Their body temperature increases in the first months and peaks, around the sixth month, at 99.5, after which it starts to decrease gradually. During the first year, you should avoid exposing the baby to extreme heat or cold. Doctors recommend maintaining room temperature between 68 and 72 degrees during this time, avoiding letting the baby become overheated. The rule of thumb for this age, as well as for smaller infants, is to dress your baby no more or less heavily than you dress yourself for a given outdoor temperature. The exception: Babies should wear hats in cool (not just cold) weather, and a sun hat is a must to protect a baby's delicate skin and scalp from burning ultraviolet rays. By the age of four or five months, the infection-fighting antibodies with which babies are born have diminished. Thus, a number of babies get their first colds during these months, particularly if they have older siblings or are exposed to other childre...

Bath time can be an enjoyable time for you and your baby. At this age, you can continue to use a small baby tub or graduate into the big bathtub. Be extremely careful, though. Place a rubber mat in the bottom of the tub, and keep the water level no deeper than four inches. Test the water temperature by placing a few drops on your forearm; it should feel lukewarm. When the tub is ready, place the baby in the water on her back. Keep one arm behind the baby's head and neck, holding on to her shoulder, and use the other hand for washing. Baths should last no more than three or four minutes. Be sure to have a towel waiting and be extremely careful lifting your wet, slippery infant out of the tub. Some three-to six-month-olds do not like bathing in a tub. For these babies, a modified washup can often take the place of a full bath. With a washcloth, you can clean the baby's hands, neck, underarms, trunk, arms, and diaper area....

As babies become more active in their exploration, you must take additional safety precautions. Be  sure to: ?  Keep one hand on the baby whenever you are changing diapers on a changing table. Never leave a baby unattended on a changing table or bed, since babies can easily roll off. ?  Make sure the crib sides are always locked. ?  Use safety straps when you put the baby into an infant seat, swing, or stroller. ?  Remove mobiles and similar toys from the crib as soon as the baby is able to push up on the forearms. An active baby can easily become entangled in a mobile or start mouthing dangerous, small parts. ?  Never suspend a pacifier or toy around the baby's neck with a string or ribbon. The string may get caught on part of the crib, stroller, or playpen and strangle the baby. Sleeping Through The Night Regardless of their sleep patterns, all babies go through several sleep cycles, waking at least one or two times each night. As they get older and feel hungry le...

During the third month, babies start making cooing and gurgling noises that will eventually lead to development of speech. Babies often coo and babble on their own, they practice using their voices the same way they practice grasping objects or lifting their heads. Early in the three- to six-month-old period, babies begin responding vocally to adult voices, especially those of their mothers and fathers. When an adult imitates the gurgle of a baby this age, the baby will gurgle back. This is the start of an early conversation. At around four months of age, babies begin to make actual speech sounds. They intone long sequences of vowels, such as aaah and eee in a singsong fashion. This type of infant babbling is the same the world over, regardless of the language spoken at home. Only at around nine months do babies start limiting themselves to sounds they will use to speak the language about to become their mother tongue. Babbling Of Deaf Babies Babies with little or no hearing also...

Unless a baby has a specific medical problem, your attention in feeding and frequent cuddling and caressing will assure that he thrives. A newborn's tiny body is, however, highly vulnerable to the stress of even a minor illness or other setback. Thus, new parents need to be aware of possible trouble signs or missed milestones (signs of normal development that should be reached by certain ages). At first, it may seem hard to balance vigilance with common sense. It's better to err on the side of caution, and call the doctor whenever anything seems unusual. Pediatricians are used to reassuring new parents, and they will understand your concern. Doctor visits: Why and how often Routine pediatrician visits are required to maintain your baby's health. Regular well-baby visits are essential for giving immunizations and monitoring growth and development. The first of these checkups is generally performed about two weeks after birth, although the exact timing varies from region to region ...