Parenting - Prenatal to preschool/Parenting_PrenatalToPreschool.bin/dp/0021/00212.txt

Text File | 1993-06-14 | 17KB | 289 lines

$Unique_ID{PAR00212}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{6 Months to 1 Year:  Daily Care Basics}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Mendelson, Robert A
Mendelson, Lottie M
Meyerhoff, Michael K
Ames, Louise Bates}
$Subject{6 Months to 1 Year Daily Care squirms squirm squirming diaper rashes
rash disposable diapers cloth diaper dress dressing clothes clothing sleep
sleeping nap naps napping meals growth spurt spurts crib cribs climb climbs
climbing fusses fussy playpen playpens outside outings outdoors teeth
fluoride dental floss brush brushing toothbrush toothpaste mouth wash toys
pacifier pacifiers clean cleaning cleanliness shoes walk Walking sunglasses
sunshine skin sunscreen Sun shade}
$Log{}

The New Parents' Question & Answer Book


6 Months to 1 Year:  Daily Care Basics


     My baby kicks and squirms whenever I try to change his diaper.  It's
annoying as well as messy.  What can I do to make it less of a hassle?

     Babies love to squirm and can often make diaper changing a tussle or
battle of wills.  So whenever you change him, try to be firm and
matter-of-fact.  Have everything close at hand and be as quick and efficient
as you can.  While changing him, calmly and firmly restrain him and talk or
sing to him to distract him; afterwards, give him big hugs and/or free him as
soon as possible.  You may be able to divert his attention during diapering by
giving him a special toy to play with, one that you keep on the side for just
such occasions.  On the other hand, he may toss the toy and work on getting a
reaction from you.  If you're firm, however, he'll get the idea.  Gather up
your sense of humor and be assured this stage will pass.


     Although I change my baby's diaper frequently, he still gets diaper
rashes.  Why?  What else can I do to help prevent diaper rash?

     Almost all babies get diaper rashes.  Many factors contribute to these
rashes, including skin color and sensitivity, amount of contact with moisture,
amount of contact with air, and diaper type.  Many disposable diapers fit so
snugly that no air circulates to the baby's skin, so the natural skin moisture
and urine stays on the skin and causes the irritating rash.  To help minimize
diaper rashes, use cloth diapers loosely fastened with diaper pins or diaper
holders whenever possible.  In the presence of a rash, remove the diaper as
soon as possible after it becomes wet or soiled, cleanse the area thoroughly,
and, if the rash is moist, apply a small amount of drying powder.  Allow the
baby's diaper area to air dry whenever practical, and use tight-fitting
diapers or plastic pants as little as possible.  Nothing prevents all diaper
rashes, but these hints can help minimize them.


     My nine month old hates me to dress him.  How can I make it easier for
both of us?

     Babies hate to hold still and they dislike having clothing pulled over
their heads.  So one of the best ways to make dressing easier is to use the
simplest on-off clothing.  Try to provide as many open-neck and open-front
shirts (shirts with buttons or snaps) as possible.  Pull-on pants with snaps
in the diaper area are the simplest, but you'll still require a minute or two
of the baby holding still to accomplish the task.  Try not to use clothing
with tight sleeves, since sticking little wiggly arms in them is cumbersome.
Soon the baby will learn to help you by raising his arms, but not just yet.
Remember, babies have no patience, and often their goals have nothing to do
with yours.  They will cooperate at times, but never when they sense that
you're in a hurry or stressed.  Try talking or singing to the baby throughout
the process, even if you are in a hurry.  If you have more time, play
peek-a-boo with the clothing as you dress him; sometimes making a pleasant
game out of it will distract and please him.  If not, try not to display a
major reaction when he fusses, since doing so will likely encourage a similar
response from him.  Be gently firm and brisk, and get the job done.  When
you're finished, offer him big hugs and send him on his way.  Always praise
him when he displays preferred behavior.  When he's older and able to help
choose his clothing, offer him simple choices to give him some control over
the dressing process.


     Sometimes my baby takes long naps, then he doesn't want to go to bed on
time at night.  Can I influence his schedule?

     You can try to influence your baby's schedule by determining the length
of naps and the timing of meals, but usually the baby will sleep when he's
sleepy and eat when he's hungry.  Babies require different amounts of sleep
and food at different times, just like their parents.  With babies, the need
for longer naps will often be associated with a rapid growth spurt.  Although
appetite can change from day to day, the need for an increased amount of food
can also accompany a growth spurt.  Depending upon your child-raising
philosophy, you can remain flexible or you can try to alter the baby's
schedule to better fit in with the family's schedule.  If he's going to sleep
at night only an hour or so later than you'd like him to, you can probably try
to work around his schedule.  However, if he's going to sleep two to three
hours later than you'd like, you'll probably want to try nipping one of his
daily naps.  If the baby is sleeping too long at one nap time, you might
shorten the next one.  He may or may not be cranky the rest of the day
Likewise, he may fall asleep more easily at the preferred bedtime, or he may
be overly tired and cry and fuss at you longer.  You'll probably have to do a
little experimenting.  You might also try to stimulate and play with him more
during awake periods; this may help him use up enough energy so that he's
tired enough to fall asleep when you want him to.  You don't, however, want to
overstimulate or excite the baby just before bedtime, since this defeats your
purpose.  Your baby will need a little quiet time before he can relax and fall
asleep.


     My nine month old wakes me up at night because he is wet.  But once I
change him, he wants to play rather than go back to sleep.  How can I handle
this?

     Try changing the baby just before you go to bed, and maybe that will get
him through the night.  You might also try double diapering, using plastic
pants, or using a disposable diaper with extra absorbency to help him feel
more comfortable and allow you both to sleep through the night.  Although the
baby's skin needs to have some exposure to air to stay healthy, using the
heavier diapering or plastic pants only at night may be okay.  You might also
try adding a blanket or using a sleeper to keep him warmer, it could be the
cold more than the dampness that wakes him.  Your baby expects you to take
care of his needs.  You have needs, too, but allowing him to just cry it out
may not be the way to handle this.  When you change him, be as brief as
possible.  Let him know it's time for sleeping.  If he cries once his diaper
has been changed, it's okay.  If you allow him to keep you awake just to play,
you reinforce his awake time, and he'll expect the same treatment in the
future.


     My nine month old has started to pull himself up in his crib.  Is there
anything I can do to prevent him from climbing out?

     Pulling up in the crib is the first step in learning to climb out.  Lower
the crib mattress as a temporary measure.  As soon as he comes close to
climbing out, lower the rail to make sure he can get out without injury.  You
can also move the crib to a corner and pad the floor with extra carpeting.  If
you are still worried about him hurting himself, you might want to put the
mattress on the floor as his new sleeping arrangement until he is ready to try
a youth bed.  Once he can get out of his crib, however, you have to make sure
that his room is safety proofed and that there is a gate at the door of his
room to prevent him from wandering around and getting into trouble if he wakes
up before you do.  Do whatever is most comfortable for you and your baby while
keeping him safe.


     My baby fusses whenever I put him in his playpen, but when I need to get
something done, it's the only safe place for him to be.  How can I make him
happier in his playpen?

     Some babies never like their playpens.  They feel thwarted and
restricted--and they are.  Still, it's much better to infuriate the baby than
to allow him the freedom to hurt himself.  Whether he likes it or not, the
playpen is the safest place for him when you need to do something that takes
you into another room or focuses your attention away from the baby.  If the
baby has his own room, you might try safety proofing the entire room and
placing a gate at the door so that it can be used as a larger "play yard."
This is satisfying to some babies, but not all.  You might also try keeping
the playpen from getting too cluttered; having a few toys rather than many and
having more room to move around may make him happier in his playpen.  Try
rotating the toys used in the playpen.  Remove some of the toys and keep them
on the side; then, introduce them as surprises on different days.  This may
help to pacify him and keep him happy for a while longer.  Finally, you might
try putting him in the playpen on occasion even when you don't need to get
something done.  Talk to him from a distance and give him encouragement.  Let
him know he's really having a good time.  After a short while, lift him out
and tell him how terrific he is.  This may help get across the idea that the
playpen can be for play as well as for times when you can't be with him.
Remember, you don't want to use the playpen as punishment or as a substitute
for safety proofing your home, and you don't want it to become a substitute
for your loving attention.  On the other hand, it is a safe and helpful option
for those occasions when you need to get things done and can't be with him.


     How often should I take my baby outside?  Daily outings are almost
impossible to arrange.

     Fresh air outings and diversions provide a healthy change for little ones
and their parents, but they're certainly not a daily necessity.  When you do
go on an outing with the baby, it should be a pleasant experience for you
both.  If it's a burden and scheduling is difficult, it's not worth it.  Try
to plan your outings for nice days, and be flexible if the weather lets you
down.  Many parents who stay home with their babies feel imprisoned and cut
off from the outside world from time to time, so an outing can be an uplifting
change.  If that's the case, try to plan at least a couple every week or
whenever it suits you.  Keep in mind, too, that your outings can include
meetings with friends or a destination with a purpose.


     My eleven month old has six teeth, and I want to take good care of them.
How should I start?

     You've already provided the most important care by supplying your baby
with fluoride.  You've also not allowed him to go to bed with his bottle.  In
addition, pediatric dentists recommend that you wrap some gauze around your
finger and gently wipe the baby's teeth and gum line using a circular motion
once or twice a day.  Once the teeth are touching each other, you can also use
dental floss.  To do this, briefly and gently slide the floss along the side
of each tooth, massaging slightly down and a little bit under the tooth.
Afterwards, give your baby a drink of water to rinse.  Be sure to let him
watch you as you brush your teeth so that he can get comfortable with the
process.  As soon as he is willing, you can start to brush his teeth using a
small, soft toothbrush with or without a tiny amount of toothpaste.  You might
even give him a chance to start "using" the toothbrush with your supervision,
although he'll do more chewing than brushing and you'll need to do the actual
cleaning.  Most dentists recommend an initial dental appointment at about age
two or when all 20 of the baby teeth have erupted.  If you have any questions
or concerns earlier, consult with your pediatrician and/or a pediatric
dentist.  In addition to these steps, it's important to keep sugary foods and
drinks off the menu.  If the baby is offered an occasional sweet treat, brush
his teeth or at least have him drink some water when he's finished.


     How do I keep my 11 month old from putting everything--including rug
fuzz--into his mouth?

     There's no way to keep your 11 month old from putting everything into his
mouth.  Part of his job is learning about his environment, and tasting is one
way he can do this.  Your job is to remove all items that are potentially
dangerous or harmful.  You can also try vacuuming more frequently and keeping
an interesting rotation of toys and safe household items available to distract
him from rug fuzz.  Remember, the more areas of your home you can make safe
for your baby, the more opportunities he'll have to explore and learn.  You'll
want to save "no" for extremely harmful or life-threatening situations.  If
you find yourself saying "no" to him too often, you'll want to extend your
baby proofing so that your curious baby can have a "no-no" free area.  When a
parent uses "no" for many things in the baby's environment, it becomes
commonplace and frustrating to the baby.  Although you can begin a form of
discipline at this age, you'll want to use encouragement and positive
reinforcement to accomplish this.  When he does put an unappealing (to you)
object into his mouth, don't overreact.  Just remove it, and tell him it's not
for eating.  You'll want to divert his attention at the same time to something
else.  Try hugging and placing him somewhere else; handing him a more suitable
object; or saying, "Let's do this now!"  These ploys work and will continue to
be effective for quite a while.


     How frequently should I wash my baby's toys and pacifier?

     Crawling babies and their favorite things spend a lot of time on the
floor.  Your baby's hands, toys, and pacifiers will get rubbed on the floor,
furniture, carpet, etc. and then end up in his mouth.  Once your baby is
mobile, it's impossible to keep things truly clean.  While your floors should
be kept clean, they shouldn't be your first priority.  Your rugs should be
vacuumed more frequently since crawling babies like to pick at them, and
anything they pick up will go into their mouths.  Wash rubber toys whenever
they're yucky or, if it's more convenient, give all washable toys a bath once
a week.  Be sure to wash them in warm, soapy water and rinse them well.
Pacifiers should be washed and rinsed more frequently, depending upon where
they've been.  You'll want to have a few spares to rotate.  When a pacifier
hits the floor in a well-travelled place like the supermarket, theater, or
shopping mall, you'll want to pocket it and offer the baby a clean one.  If he
tosses the pacifier frequently, you might consider tossing it for good.  Keep
in mind that most of the germs that cause illness come from sneezing,
coughing, or kissing.  Some are passed from hand to hand.  Although you want
to protect the baby from as much germ exposure as possible, there's no way to
make his environment germ free.  Be reasonably cautious about his cleanliness
and the cleanliness of his environment, and then, don't worry about it.


     What kind of shoes should I buy for my baby to help him walk?

     Babies do not need shoes to walk.  Walking is a part of the developmental
process and will occur when your baby has been cruising long enough to attain
proper balance and confidence.  First shoes (prior to when your baby actually
bears weight on his feet) serve to keep his feet warm.  When he starts to
cruise, shoes also protect his feet.  Look for the lightest, softest shoe you
can find--usually, it's a canvas-topped, rubber-soled "tennis shoe."  These
are relatively inexpensive and entirely adequate for babies with normal feet.
Babies with normal feet do not need high-topped or stiff-soled shoes.
Remember, your baby will begin to walk when he's ready, regardless of whether
he wears shoes or not.


     I know they make sunglasses for babies, but should I get a pair for my
baby?

     Manufacturers have made baby sunglasses supposedly to protect a baby's
eyes from bright sunshine.  Babies don't like sunshine in their eyes.  They
don't like wearing sunglasses either, no matter how cute or silly they may
look to you.  While you do want to protect your baby's eyes in bright
sunshine, this can be done by dressing him in a cap or bonnet.  You'll also
want to protect his skin by applying sunscreen and dressing him in lightweight
clothing that covers his skin.  If you're on an outing and plan to sit or
picnic, find a shady spot for your baby.  Always try to avoid exposing him
directly to midday sunshine.  When you put him in the shade, be aware that
shade moves and that the baby may need to be moved often as well.  Sun rays
also reflect off of water and sand and may reach the baby when it appears he's
shaded, so keep him in protective clothing even when he's in the shade.