Child Health
& Wellness
With Dr. Paul
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I firmly believe that the more you know about your child's health and wellness, the more comfortable you will be. This is why I coined the phrase: "When it comes to your child's health and wellness, Knowledge Is Comfort." I have dedicated most of my career to creating, distributing and sharing child health and wellness information to parents and child caregivers worldwide
DR.PAUL
All Articles and Tips are DR.PAUL'S CHILD HEALTH AND WELLNESS INFO

BABY COMES HOME

DR. PAUL'S NEW BOOK: BABY COMES HOME A Parent’s Guide to a Healthy and Well First 18 Months

Newborn Issues

For parents bringing new baby home, I would reccomend you read the section entitled: What To Expect When Baby Comes Home. I wrote that article to summarize some of the new routines and issues that will come up when new baby first comes home.
Baby's First Few Hours
Baby's first few hours at the hospital
Soon after delivery, your baby's weight, length and head circumference are measured. These measurements are very important, as they will be used in the future for comparing and assessing your baby's health and rate of growth. The doctor will also quickly examine your baby to make sure that everything is okay

The baby's eyes are then treated with antibiotic ointment or drops(usually erythromycin) to help prevent infection. He/She will also be given an injection of vitamin K to help the blood clotting ability. A small amount of blood will be taken from the baby's heel, to be tested for a number of conditions. Blood taken from the umbilical cord will be used to test for your baby's blood type. Within 24 hours, the baby is weighed again, and given a more thorough examination. You may wish to be present for this exam, as it's a good time to ask the doctor any questions.
Handling Baby's Head
Handling Baby's Head Fontanelles, also known as "soft spots", are openings in the skull where the bones haven't grown together yet. There are two fontanelles on your baby's head. The anterior fontanel - on the top of the head - may be as wide as 2 inches or 5 cms., and is generally closed by the 18th month. The posterior fontanel, toward the back of the head, is smaller. It usually closes by about the third month or earlier.

Handling a Newborn Baby's Head Many parents worry about injuring their baby's soft spot. But below the fontanelles, there's a tough membrane that protects the baby's brain. Normal handling of your baby won't injure the fontanelles or the brain.

Until your baby is strong enough to support herself, be sure to always support her head, neck and back when lifting, carrying and lowering her.
General Home Safety
The following are some general safety measures which will help keep your newborn safe for months, and even years ahead as she becomes increasingly mobile.

Install fool-proof stair guards at the top and bottom of stairways to prevent falls until your child can walk well.

Install window-guards that will stop a child from falling out, but can also be opened in case of fire..

It's also a good idea to install child-resistant cupboard and drawer latches, and electrical outlet covers..

Store all sharp objects, poisonous substances and medications far from baby's reach..

And last but not least, regularly get down on your hands and knees to gain a small child's perspective. Look for and remove any potential hazards that may be within baby's reach.

Tip of the Day

Small children are at risk for suffering toy related injuries. In order to prevent these teach children to put away toys after use and make sure that toys intended for younger children are kept separately from those intended for older children
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding, with its many health and social benefits, is definitely the best source of nutrition for babies. Mothers are urged to breastfeed their babies for as long as possible and indeed when and wherever they happen to be when baby is hungry. In fact, the World Health Organization recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life.
Diaper rash prevention
Here are some tips on how to prevent diaper rash: Change your baby's wet diaper frequently

Keep your baby out of a diaper for short periods to allow the skin to dry

Avoid colour diapers

Make sure that the diaper or plastic pants is not too tight as to allow air to circulate inside the diaper

If you think your child has a Candida infection, contact your physician
Umbilical Issues
Within about one to three weeks after birth, your newborn's umbilical stump will turn black, dry out and fall off. Here are some tips on taking care of baby's umbilical stump:

Clean the base of the stump two or three times a day with a sterile cotton ball or gauze soaked with water. Recent studies suggest that alcohol swabbing is not necessary, as it may delay the stump from falling off. In order to keep the stump dry, fasten diapers below the navel. The baby's shirt should also be rolled above the stump, to allow free circulation of air. Until the umbilical stump has fallen off, avoid tub-bathing. Instead, sponge-bathe, or wash baby with your hands, keeping the stump area as dry as possible.

When the cord falls, there may be slight bleeding in the navel area. This isn't cause for concern and should disappear in two or three days. If you notice any foul smell, reddening or oozing around the umbilical stump, be sure to report it to your doctor, as well as any bleeding that lasts for more than three days.
Colostrum, Foremilk and Hindmilk While the content of breastmilk changes over the course of baby's development, there are essentially 3 types of breastmilk. These are colostrum, foremilk and hindmilk. Colostrum is the yellowish breastmilk that is produced in the first few days after baby's birth and before normal lactation begins. Colostrum is especially rich in nutrients and antibodies, and is the perfect food for a newborn baby. Even if you have decided to use formula rather than breastmilk, you may wish to breastfeed your newborn for at least a few days after birth, so that he or she can receive the antibody protection and nutritional benefits offered by colostrum. Foremilk is the milk which is first drawn during a feeding. It is generally thin and lower in fat content, satisfying the baby's thirst and liquid needs. Hindmilk is the milk which follows foremilk during a feeding. It is richer in fat content and is high in calories. The high fat and calorie content of this milk is important for your baby's health and continuing growth. Make sure to let your baby drain one breast before moving on to the other, to ensure that she receives all the benefits of both foremilk and hindmilk.
Below are Current Sleep Safety Recommendations for a safe sleeping environment for infants. - Dr. Paul

Use a Crib

Place your baby to sleep in your room, in a crib, cradle, or bassinet that meets current applicable safety regulations. Your baby’s mattress should be firm, flat, and fit snugly in the frame. Strollers, swings, bouncers, and car seats are not intended for sleeping infants.

Don’t Bed-Share

Sharing an adult bed, sofa, or other soft sleeping surface with your baby increases the risk of SIDS. Your baby is also at risk of becoming trapped, smothered, or suffocated.

Place Your Baby on His or Her Back To Sleep

While babies should spend some supervised time every day on their tummies to help them develop their neck muscles, at naptime and bedtime, they should be put on their backs.

Keep Soft Materials out of Your Baby’s Crib

Don’t use sleep positioners, or place bumper pads, comforters, stuffed animals, pillows, or other items in your baby’s crib or bassinet.

Make Sure Your Baby’s Room Is Not Too Warm

Dress your baby in light sleepwear that’s comfortable at room temperature. If a blanket is needed, use only a thin, lightweight, and breathable one.

Keep Your Baby Away From Tobacco Smoke

Make your baby’s room and your house smoke-free, and choose a non-smoking caregiver. Don’t allow anyone to smoke around your baby.

www.drpaul.com The information provided in this site is designed to be an educational aid only. It is not intended to replace the advice and care of your child's physician, nor is it intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. If you suspect that your child has a medical condition, always consult a physician
DID YOU KNOW
Diaper changing tables Falls from a changing table are not uncommon even among very young babies, so tables should always be equipped with effective guard rails. Also, keep all the supplies you need within hand's reach of the table so that you won't have to leave the baby unattended, even for a few moments.
DID YOU KNOW
Babies are able to hear from birth, and will respond to voices and other sounds starting from a very young age. Babies will make many sounds such as laughing, squealing, and especially crying. Babbling will progress to baby’s first words sometime around 12 months.
CRIB SAFETY
When buying a crib, make sure that it's of solid construction and has no places where a little head or limbs could be pinched or trapped - for instance between a mattress and its frame, or between crib bars. To prevent suffocation, make sure that the mattress is firm (not soft), with holes that allow air to circulate. For the same reason, children younger than one year should never sleep with pillows or thick duvets, and should not be placed on their stomach to sleep.
FIRE SAFETY
After traffic-related injuries, residential fires are the next leading cause of injury related deaths. Averting such tragedies starts with the installation of at least one smoke detector on each floor of your home. Smoke detectors are highly effective life saving devices, but only if they work properly. Use quality batteries and change them every six months. It's one of the best investments of time and money you can make for your whole family. Also install and learn to operate fire extinguishers, and never smoke in bed.
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