High chair

• Always secure the safety strap. Be sure there is a strap between your baby’s legs, as well as a waist strap to prevent your baby from slipping out.
• Check for sharp edges and rough surfaces.
• Keep high chair away from stoves, electrical cords and other areas where your baby could be hurt.

Infant seat

• Check to see that the seat is sturdy and has no sharp edges.
• Use the safety strap each time.
• These seats are not intended to be used in place of an approved infant car seat.
• Do not leave your baby alone in an infant seat.

Strollers

• Check for stability and sharp or rough edges.
• If you use a folding stroller, be sure all parts are firmly locked into position before placing your baby in it.

Walkers

• Walkers have a very high rate of accidental injury and should not be used.
• Studies have also shown that walkers hinder proper muscular development for standing and walking.

We will share more tips next months…

Introduce foods slowly

• New foods should be introduced one at a time with a three-day trial period to check for possible allergies. Allergic symptoms include a rash, hyperactivity or lethargy, tantrums, runny rose, infections, mucus stools or diarrhea, or red cheeks.

Avoid common allergens

• Many people have allergic reactions to dairy (cow’s milk and cheese), wheat, peanuts, soy, and orange juice.

Use a variety of foods

• A variety of foods should be given without having any food predominant. It is best to find out which foods the child prefers.

Follow a food schedule

• Ask your Pediatrician or midwife for a food introduction schedule that begins with easier to digest foods such as fruits and vegetables and progress to grains. Harder to digest foods such as dairy and nuts and seeds are added last.

Keep the head up when feeding

• Many people like to let the baby fall asleep with a bottle. This is not an easy position to drink from, and may cause the milk to pool in the eustacian canal causing earaches. The best position for feeding is sitting. Use a pacifier to help your baby sleep.

What is Table Food?

Table food is any food that your baby is already eating only the food has not been puréed.Table food may also be any foods that are age appropriate for your baby that the whole family eats; foods that again, have not been puréed.

How old should your baby be to make the switch to table food from baby food purées?

There is no set in stone, mandatory age requirement for starting your baby on table foods. You should follow your baby’s cues and pay attention to baby’s ability to gum and mash foods. One important part of going from baby food purées to table foods is the ability for baby to be able to self-feed and pick up food with his fingers. A good pincher grasp is needed. Along with a good pincher grasp, your baby needs to be adept at mashing and gumming foods.

A few signs that your baby may be ready for table food:

• Doesn’t want to be spoon fed
• Turns his head or even spits out those thin purees at mealtimes
• Grabs at the spoon and tries to feed himself
• Mashes lumps and textures easily
• Pincher grasp is developed and baby can manoeuvre foods easily to his/her mouth
• 8 months of age or older – some babies begin their solid food journey with “table” foods from the start a la Baby Led Weaning

You don’t need to bathe your new baby every day of the week. Two or three times per week is just fine, as long as you clean your baby’s face, neck and hands and diaper area daily. Both for the bath as well as for the daily cleansing you can use Bepanthen Baby Bath. You only need to use a little bit, for the best skin care. As for when to bathe your bundle of joy… it really depends on her. Some babies find water stimulating. For those babies it’s best to start the day with a bath. Other babies relax and mellow out in the tub, which makes it perfect right before bedtime.

Breast feed your child

• Breast-feeding is considered by most to be the preferred method for feeding an infant. It forms a deep bond between mother and child. Breast milk also provides specific nutrients for growing immune system. There is simply no substitute for breast milk.

Make your own natural formula

• There are some natural breast milk formulas that mothers can use. The base is usually soy milk, although rice milk, almond milk or goats milk can also be used.

Find out what your child likes

• It may be beneficial to change the formula periodically and see whether your child prefers something different.

Avoid using a microwave

• Unfortunately, microwaves aren’t very good for heating baby bottles. They tend to heat the formula unevenly which could burn your baby.

Use fresh breast milk or formula

• Formula and breast milk tend to spoil quickly. Keep any unused formula in the refrigerator and use it up at the next feeding.

Burns

To avoid burns:

• Do not smoke or drink hot liquids (such as coffee) near to or while carrying your baby.
• Install smoke alarms in your home.
• Turn your hot water heater down to 49’c to prevent accidental burns while bathing.
• Use flame-retardant sleepwear for your baby.
• Protect your baby from direct sun, and keep your baby indoors during the hottest part of the day. Cover your baby’s body with a light blanket and/or long sleeves and pants. After your baby is 6 months old use a sunscreen made for babies when taking your baby on outings. Always have your baby wear a hat as well.
• Keep electrical cords out of baby’s reach.
• Use safety caps on electrical sockets.
• When cooking, turn pot handles away from the front of the stove.

Second-hand smoke

Second-hand smoke is the smoke that comes from the end of a burning cigarette and the smoke breathed out by the smoker. Second-hand smoke can make a healthy infant sick. It may cause ear infections, colds, coughs, wheezing, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

If you are unable to quit, follow these guidelines:

• Keep your home smoke free. Smoke only outside.
• Do not smoke or let others smoke around your baby.
• Never smoke in the room where your baby sleeps.
• Never smoke while you are dressing, washing, or playing with your baby.
• Never smoke in the car. It is against the law to smoke in a motor vehicle anytime someone under 18 years is in the car.