Babies and Dolls

Babes Stools: Your baby may havea bowel movement after each feeding or may have one or two stools a day. Some babies may go 48 hours without a stool and be normal. Your baby may strain when he has a stool, but unless the stool is hard and pellet-like, this is prefectly normal. If stools are excessively watery or contain mucus or blood, call you doctor.

Care of Baby Nappy Area: Change your baby’s nappy as soon as possible after each bowel movement or wetting. After each bowel movement wipe off gently with baby lotion on a cotton ball. After wetting, pat area dry with a soft cloth or cotton ball. In girl babies it is important to wipe from front to back, . that is, away from the vagina, to prevent urinary infections.

Washing Babies Nappies: If using a non-automatic washing machine and soap, rinse diapers 3 times and add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the last rinse. If you use a detergent you need not add vinegar, but very thorough rinsing is a must. In an automatic machine, normal washing procedures may be used with either soap or detergent.

During the next few days, most of your time will be spent in resting and regaining your strength. You can put this time to good use by getting to know some of the simple things that will help to make your life with baby easy. Your child is an individual from the day he is born.

There are as many variations in behaviour as there are infants, but some general comments are valid. It is hoped that these suggestions will help to show how much practical judgement and just plain common sense there is in caring for this new member of the family.

Baby Feeding

Most pediatricians and experts now recommend that the normal baby should be breast-fed or formula-fed for the first one year of life. The use of regular milk, 2 per cent milk, and skim milk, should be avoided in the first year. Also, it is advised that solids be introduced only after the Normal, adequately growing Baby is Six Months Old. This is an effort to decrease the incidence of (1) Obesity (fat babies); (2) Allergies; (3) Anemia. Of course, the introduction of solids is to be individualized to suit the needs of each Baby. For example, if a baby is not adequately growing on formula or breast feeding, then it would be wise to introduce solids as early as possible.

At Feeding Time

Feeding is the baby’s first pleasant experience. His or her first love for mother arises primarily from the feeding situation. At feeding time the baby receives nourishment from his food and assurance of his mother’s love. The food correctly taken, helps him to grow healthy and strong. The mother’s love, generously given, helps him to feel secure. Choose a chair that is comfortable for you. This will help you to be calm and relaxed as you feed your baby. Your baby should be warm and dry so that he or she is comfortable, too.

Hold your baby in your lap, with his head slightly raised, and resting in the bend of your elbow. Whether breast-feeding or bottle, hold the baby comfortably close.