What we should do?
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1, Always keep the baby neat and clean.
2, Cut the nails properly with utmost care.
3, Wet nappy should be removed and parts should be cleaned with soap.
4, Take care of the genitals because fungal infection is common in that area. Parts should be kept dry.
5,Care of the scalp is very important.Fungal infections, dermatitis ect can be prevented by proper cleaning.
6,Tight dress can cause irritation, hence dress should be loose and should allow entry of air.
7,Room should have sufficient light and ventilation.It should be free from dust and insects.
8,Seperate bed preferably water proof is needed for kids .It should be arranged near mother’s bed.
9, Always keep some music making toys near the baby.
10, While carrying the baby support the head with hand.Since the neck muscles are weak sudden fall of head can be dangerous.
11, Mothers milk is the best nutrition for the baby,it also gives emotional attachment.Breast milk should be given as per the babies need preferably in mother sitting position.Proper cleaning of nipple is also necessary.Mother should take good nutritious diet throughout lactating period.
12, If there is some contraindication for breast feeding cows milk can be given.Feeding bottle should be cleaned with warm water and should be kept dry till next use.
13, Cows milk should be boiled and cooled.Some diseases like bovine tuberculosis,brucellosis ect spread through raw milk.
14, Some children are allergic to some substances like food,milk,dress,cosmetics ect.. Try to find out the material causing allergy and avoid such things.
15, Mosquito nets should be used regularly.Diseases like malaria,dengue ,filariasis,yellow fever and ect spread through mosquito bites. Mosquito bite can also produce skin eruptions with some allergic reactions.It also disturbes sound sleep.
16, A calm atmosphere should be maintained for a good sleep.Compared to adults infants need more sleep.It is said that growth hormone secretion is activated during sleep.
17, Growth developement,behavioral developement,motor developement,personal social developement,language developement ect should be noted down in relation to age. However parents need not be over anxious because slight variations are seen from individual to individual.
18,Assessment of growth by measuring height and weight is necessary.
19, In the early months of life infant may defecate after every feed.Proper toilet training should be given when the infant grows.The infant can be placed on the toilet seat by the age of ten months.
20, The toilet seat (potty seat) should be cleaned with antiseptic liquid before and after use.It should not be shared by other children.
21, If the baby shows some signs of distress like excessive crying,convulsions,fever with rigor,stiffness of neck,frequent vomiting and diarrhoea,bluish discolouration of the body,difficult breathing with grunting, ect pay attention and consult your doctor.
22,A first aid box should be kept in the room ,which should contain sterile cotton,dressing materials,antiseptic lotion and ointment and forceps.Seperate book should be maintained to note down the phone numbers of doctors, ambulance,police ect.
23,Child’s medicines should be kept in seperate box.Information regarding dose and mode of administration should be written in a paper and affixed on the box.
24, while driving keep the baby in seperate seat belt.
25, When you are going out with the baby keep an identity card with your phone number and address inside his small pocket.
26, When the infant starts walking always accompany him to prevent a fall and injuries thereby.
27, In emergencies take the first aid measures and take the victim to nearby hospital.
Choking :–The baby may swallow some solid objects and cause obstruction. Immediately make the baby to lie on the abdomen in head low position and press the abdomen backwards and towards the chest. Stroking the upper back is also useful. If no result call a trained person to take the material with the help of forceps.
Accidental poisoning:– Try to takeout the poisonous subatance and induce vomiting (except kerosine & acids). Wash the body with water to reduce absorption through skin.Identify the pioson and take the victim to the hospital.
Burns:–First of all remove the source of heat and put clean cold water.Burned cloaths should not be removed immediately. Cover the wound with sterile cotton and take to nearby hospital.
Wounds :–Clean the wound with clean water and stop the bleeding by compressing,raising the wound above the level of heart or use a tourniquet to compress blood vessels. Then dress the wound with sterile cotton and bandage and consult a doctor.
Drowning in bath tub:–Take the baby immediately and keep in head low position ,press the abdomen gentely or give a mouth to mouth sucking till the air way is clear. Give mouth to mouth breathing and cardiac massage and take the victim to the hospital.
Electric shock:–Stop the source of current. Then observe the victim,if no breathing give mouth to mouth breath along with cardiac massage and take to the hospital.
28, And the last but not the least, give your child maximum care, love and support to make him healthy and happy for ever.
What we should not do?
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1, Never shake the baby, it can cause damage to the brain.
2,Don’t keep any small articles near the baby .
3,Sharp pointed articles like pen, pencil, ect should not be given to kids.
4,Avoid entry of water in to the ear while giving a bath.
5,Food should not be given forcibly when the baby is crying or coughing continuously.
6,Should not overfeed the baby.
7,Articles like mosquito repellents ,moth balls,ink,gum,medicines,ect should be kept away.
8,Avoid tight cloathings.
9,Should not be placed near the edge of the bed.
10,Should not give the baby to strangers and avoid close contact with others.
11,All electrical instruments should be kept away,and bed should not be arranged near electrical sockets and wires.
12,Kitchen is a dangerous place for children.Don’t keep them alone in the kitchen.
13,Water level in the bath tub should be minimum and don’t go for any other works(to attent phone call or calling bell ect) when the baby is in the tub.
14,Avoid smoking inside the house.
15,Should not allow pet animals to be in very close contact with the kids.(anti rabies injections should be given to pets and cut their nails properly)
16,When the child starts walking should not be kept alone on the upstairs and should not allow them to climb the steps.
17,Strong light should be avoided in the room.
18,When you are travelling don’t give the food articles given by co passengers.
19,Baby should not be allowed to crawl on the soil.
20,If you are sick or someone else is sick be away from the kids.
21,Dont take the baby to hospital wards,crowded market places and polluted dusty areas.
22,Table lamp should not be kept near the kids,this will attract insects at night and cause problems.
23,Others medicine should not be given to the children.
24,Medicine which has crossed the expiery date should not be used.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Daddydoctor 09.25.08 at 12:33 pm
I would add “not giving children over the counter cough and cold medication”
As a dad and a doctor, I find this a very scary topic. I used to think that as long as my patient’s or I dosed the children’s cold & cough medications right, then everything would be OK. But when I researched this further, it turns out that children have died from “over dose” of ALL THE MAJOR CHILDRENS COLD AND COUGH MEDICINES even when given the correct dose (http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/108/3/e52?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=cough+medications&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT).
Here are a few interesting facts:
1. Last October 2008, the drug companies promised the FDA that they would change all their labeling to say “do not use” for children under the age of 2, but I was just in the store last week, and a number of packages still had the old labeling!
2. The FDA reviewed safety and effectiveness data this last fall and its expert panel said that “right now the current cold & cough medications should not be given to children under 6.” Here is a link to the FDA’s minutes, “http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/07/minutes/2007-4323m1-Final.pdf”, see page 6. The FDA made a public advisory in January 2008 about never using it for children under 2, because the Drug companies are fighting them on the panels ruling to never use cold and cough medications on children 2 to 6. Since these drugs were previously allowed by the FDA, the FDA is forced to go though “due process” before they are willing to make an official public statement about never giving these medications to children 2 to 6.
3. The number of infant deaths attributed to cold and cough medicines is dramatically underreported. New research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics demonstrated that there were at least “10 unexpected infant deaths that were associated with cold-medication” in 2006 alone in the state of Arizona. Extrapolated over the US and Canadian population, that would be over 500 deaths a year associated with cold-medication! (http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/122/2/e318)
The thing that the drug companies don’t want anyone to know is that these medications never underwent the rigorous safety and effectiveness studies modern medications have to go though, they we grandfathered in the early 1970’s because at that time experts felt like they seemed to work, and they seemed safe enough.
Interestingly, some researchers from Penn State have shown that Buckwheat honey is better then the OTC drugs for children’s cough. There is a web site that talks about this, and gives lots of research to help parents be better informed about how to help their kids. Check out http://www.honeydontcough.com/
-Daddydoctor
Sammie 11.16.08 at 3:52 am
This is an extremely helpful and useful list with great advice. I wish I had had this when I had my kids. I will be passing this on to a friend who is due just before Christmas.
Great site by the way.