Baby Care Encyclopedia

Some babies eagerly consume all new foods, while others who generally shy away from all kinds of new experiences shun their first solids. Often, it takes some experimenting on the part of both the parents and the baby to diversify the baby's diet and feeding patterns. The task may be easier if you: ?  Avoid introducing new foods when the baby is not feeling well. ?  Do not force the baby to eat any food she seems to dislike particularly. Rather, give up this food temporarily and try to introduce it again at a later stage. ?  Offer new foods in tiny amounts, no more than a teaspoonful at a time. ?  Let the baby suck a little food off your finger if she seems to dislike the spoon. Elimination Most babies also begin to have fewer, more regular bowel movements, although breast-fed babies may continue to have more frequent movements than bottle-fed babies. Don't be alarmed if the baby goes longer between bowel movements or seems to strain to have movements after solid foods ...

When a baby starts to vocalize, it is important that the adults in her life respond with appropriate words and facial expressions. This feedback encourages the baby to keep using vocal sounds and engage in social interaction. In this way, babies learn the rhythms of conversation and gain important exposure to the sounds, tones, and meanings of speech. Although a five- or six-month-old can't understand what you're saying, she can pause to wait for your response and, when you become silent, make additional sounds in reply. This skill, simple as it may seem, is the first step toward mastering the art of communication. Long before babies understand words, they clearly respond to the specific tone and rhythm of speech. Parents often instinctively use BABY TALK speaking in a high-pitched voice and using one-syllable words and short sentences when addressing their babies. This type of speech, which is sometimes called MOTHERESE OTPARENTESE, can play a valuable role in babies' acquisition ...

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...

Change your baby in a warm, draft-free place. Keep all diapering supplies together, and never leave your baby on a changing table or other elevated surface even for a moment. Falls from changing tables are common, potentially serious, accidents. Remove most of the bowel movement with the soiled diaper, then wipe the diaper area clean with a commercial baby wipe or (for sensitive skin) a cotton ball dipped in warm water. Wipe girls from front to back to avoid spreading bacteria that might lead to a vaginal or urinary tract infection. Dry skin thoroughly (blot, don't rub), paying special attention to skinfolds and creases. When the baby's skin is dry, you may wish to apply baby lotion (not oil). Powder is not recommended, since inhaling it can be harmful. If you do use powder, apply a small amount carefully to avoid making "clouds." Don't use lotion and powder. Until the penis of a circumcised baby is healed, apply a little Vaseline with each diaper change. If you use cloth diape...

Some babies don't mind cold formula straight from the refrigerator, but most prefer it at room temperature. Warm a refrigerated bottle by running hot water over it, then testing a few drops on your wrist. If it feels more than slightly warm to the touch, cool it back down a little. Unopened, prefilled bottles can be given at room temperature without warming. Feeding should be the same warm, close experience for a bottle-fed baby as for a breast-fed one. Hold the baby close during feeding, and never prop up the bottle so you can go do something else. (This practice not only denies the baby your presence, but it also presents a choking hazard.) Like a breast-fed infant, a bottle-fed baby must learn to coordinate sucking, breathing, and swallowing. If he seems to gag, the nipple hole may be too large and the flow of milk too fast. Don't hold the bottle flat; it needs to be angled so that formula will fill the nipple and keep the baby from sucking in air. As early as possible which ma...