Be attuned and responsive to the needs of your infant by watching, touching and listening.
Always provide love, attention and affection to your infant.
Breastfeeding through one year of age is always best. Longer is better.
Breast feed your new infant every 1-2 hours until your milk comes in.
If your infant is urinating 6 times a day and the urine is clear and copious your infant is not dehydrated.
A double electric breast pump that is adjustable provides speed and efficiency benefits.
Breast milk can be kept in the fridge for four days and in the freezer for 3-6 months.
Always thaw breast milk overnight in the fridge or by immersing in tepid water.
Keep visitors to a minimum during the first few weeks of life.
Safety at home, in the car and out of the home is very important.
Dress your infant in layers to help with temperature regulation.
Always follow the “Back to Sleep” rules to decrease your infant’s risk of SIDS.
The use of a lubricant such as petroleum jelly in the diaper area after every diaper change prevents diaper rashes.
Consider giving your infant a soft full body massage with olive oil, coconut or Neutrogena bath oil twice a day to prevent skin dryness.
Infants startle due to sudden noises or an unexpected touch or body movement. This is normal.
Infants under 6 months of age cannot be spoiled.
The use of a body carrier helps both mother and baby.
Co-sleeping does have risks associated with it.
The best ways to calm a baby include walking or swaying, sucking on a finger or pacifier, upper body swaddling and making sushing sounds.
Watch a You Tube video about how to swaddle your infant. Leave the legs loosely wrapped but supported. This helps to prevent hip problems.
Infants who swallow excess air often feed less well
Three burping positions are the throne and shoulder positions, the belly flop on lap position and the walking strut with baby facing away.
Diaper changing stations need proper safety, set-up and hygiene.
Chewing, rubbing, cold and rare pain medications are the best ways to decrease teething pain.
Avoid cereal and pureed baby food before 4-6 months of age.
Never leave an infant alone in a tub and always check the water temperature.
Baths 1-2 times a week are often enough.
Tummy time can become fun time but it often takes practice and patience.
Always look for snooze clues such as eye rubbing and cranky behavior.
Sleep schedules are often irregular through 4-6 months of age.
After 4-6 months most infants benefit from scheduled naps twice a day.
http://www.advertisingamanda.com/drjoebarber2/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/drjoebarber-mainlogo2-1-300x124.png00Dr. Joe Barberhttp://www.advertisingamanda.com/drjoebarber2/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/drjoebarber-mainlogo2-1-300x124.pngDr. Joe Barber2013-11-29 21:58:582013-11-29 21:58:58Tips on Baby Basics