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Friday, 17 December 2010 12:44
Kids Health; The Arrival of a Newborn
Written by Pediatric Associates of Auburn
A new baby can come into a family in many ways. Regardless of how a family grows, the first few weeks are a time of transitions and emotions. Being prepared, as with many of life’s changes, can be extremely beneficial in reducing the stresses of the newborn or new child experience.
To start, everyone should know that human milk, in almost every case, is the preferred food for infants. Breast milk is a complete food, and provides all of an infant’s calorie and fluid needs. Overall, breast fed babies are less fussy, less gassy, have less digestive problems (reflux, constipation, allergy, etc), and have better protection from illness. Many other long term health outcomes have been associated with breastfeeding. However, the decision to breast feed is intensely personal and should be supported by families and physicians. If a parent chooses not to breastfeed or breastfeeding is not an option, there are several good formulas from which to choose. Your pediatrician may have preference when it comes to formula selection.
Next, it is important that all family members and close contacts, prior to the arrival of a new child, be vaccinated for influenza (depending on the season) and Pertussis (whooping cough). Additionally, it should be stressed that every infant should receive all age appropriate vaccinations, and that no vaccination has ever, in any way, been proven as a causative agent in autism. Vaccinations are safe and save lives.
As our children will be in an automobile at one time or another, a quality child safety seat is an important purchase. Generally a seat should be purchased new, as used safety seats may be unsafe. Additionally, many magazines and other agencies rate car seats and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (http://www.cpsc.gov) publishes information on recalls and other matters. In general, an infant should be secured in a seat appropriate for the child’s age (see manufacturer recommendations), and should stay rear facing as long as allowed by that particular seat.
Another important cause of injury in young children is baby furniture. All furniture (cribs, swings, etc.) should be checked for recall (http://www.cpsc.gov) and other safety features. Vintage or hand-me-down items, although sometimes timeless, may contain hazards known to cause serious illness or even death.
After the arrival, it is important to know that infants, in general, cry. Non serious, repetitive crying (colic) usually peaks at 6 weeks, and seems to improve around 3 months. Although crying can be a sign of serious illness, most crying is simply a reaction to an infant’s internal or external environment. If an infant will not stop crying, he/she may need to be evaluated by a physician. Most importantly, it is never okay to shake a baby. If you’re frustrated or feel overwhelmed, find someone who can take over.
Finally, children should always sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). All children, including newborns, should be placed in the supine (face up) position to sleep without the use of an infant positioner or other device. Also, to further reduce risks, an infant should sleep alone in a separate bed, on a firm mattress that is free of stuffed animals or large blankets, and no one should ever smoke in the same home as an infant.
For additional information, check out Caring for Your Baby and Young Child, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Finally, all new parents should strongly consider interviewing and selecting a physician for their children before they arrive. Hopefully, these few tips can make the addition of a new family member just a little easier.
Dr. Wes Stubblefield graduated from the University of Alabama School of Medicine (UAB) with his medical degree in 2004, and then trained at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in pediatrics, finishing in 2007. He returned to Alabama in 2007 and joined Dr. Ellen Royal and Dr. Richard M. Freeman at their pediatric practice in Auburn. Dr. Stubblefield is board certified in pediatrics, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and currently serves as the local area representative for it’s Alabama Chapter. He is married to Jennifer and they have one daughter, Peyton.
Pediatric Associates of Auburn
At Pediatric Associates of Auburn, our board certified pediatricians, Doctors Freeman, Royal, and Stubblefield, along with our staff are committed to providing accessible and quality healthcare to infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. We offer routine well child visits, sports physicals, in-office laboratory services, same day acute visits for sick children and many more convenient services.
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