Transcript Nutritional and Other Physical Needs in 1st Year ppx

Nutritional and Other
Physical Needs in 1st
Year
NUTRITION THE
MONTHS
ST
1
6
Usually most infants depend solely on breast milk or
formula for the first six months of life.
The nutritional needs for the first year of life are
extremely important because the infant is growing at such
a fast rate.
BREASTFEEDING
BREASTFEEDING ADVANTAGES FOR MOM
• Uterus contractions help mother to regain her figure
• Saves money on bottles, formula and the time of preparing the bottle
• Breast milk is available during emergencies
• The mother can offer the most nutritional food available to their babies.
• Mother and baby for a strong bond.
Mothers that breastfeed will require a diet that is high in nutrients so that she can
develop the best milk for her baby. She will also need to make sure to drink plenty
of fluids, mainly water.
FORMULA FEEDING
• If a mother cannot breast feed or chooses not to then formula is available.
• Make sure you check with your doctor on the best formula for your baby. Most
formula is based on cow’s milk so if your baby is having a hard time digesting it
the doctor may recommend a soy based formula.
• Make sure if you are bottle feeding to hold your baby during feeding and not
prop up the bottle as this can cause choking. Feeding offers a special time of
bonding so make sure you are using this time wisely, they will grow up faster
than you think.
FEEDING
• Whether bottle or breastfeeding make sure that you burp your baby. Burping
helps relieve the gas that has built up in the babies body while swallowing and
can cause the baby to become fussy if it is not released.
• Every baby is different but try and develop a feeding schedule once you have
figured out how often your baby is eating. Most infants eat every 2-4 hours for
the first few months of life.
WEANING
• Weaning is the gradual reduction of bottles or of breastfeeding your baby.
• This process will usually take place around six months to one year of age. Since
at six months you are introducing solid foods this will help the baby stay fuller
longer and thus reduce their intake of bottles.
• Make sure this is a gradual process and not done instantly because it will be
stressful for the baby and if the mother is nursing it can become problematic
because her milk ducts may become clogged and infected.
• You will want to introduce a cup to the baby around 1 year of age.
SOLID FOODS
• The introduction of solid foods is usually around 6 month of age.
• The first food introduced is usually rice cereal that is extremely runny. This is a
messy process and will take the baby some time to learn how to eat from a spoon
instead of breast or bottle.
• After a couple of weeks of cereal then vegetable can be introduced one at a time
in order to check for allergies.
• After you have introduced vegetable then fruits can also be introduced but
remember one at a time in order to detect any allergic reactions by the baby.
SPOON FEEDING
• Babies have a hard time when the spoon is first introduced. Their tongues have
an automatic reflex that thrusts the tongue forward when it is touched so it may
take some time for the baby to adjust to spoon feeding.
• Small amounts are recommended when first starting to spoon feed and the cereal
needs to be a semiliquid in order to help with swallowing. The baby is not use to
texture so they may gag when they first start eating the cereal.
• Try offering the new solids early in the day so if the baby has any adverse
reactions they can be handled more easily than at night or at bed time. Babies
tend to colic more at night so the introduction of the new food may have a better
reaction than at nighttime.
SELF-FEEDING
• By the time the baby is around a year old they are developing the skill of self -feeding. Finger
foods are usually introduced around this time because the baby has developed the pincer grasp
or the ability to pick up smaller objects.
• Finger foods are important because they give the baby a sense of independence and the ability
to try something new on their own. Some good examples of finger foods are:
a)
Bite-sized toast or bagels pieces
b)
O-shaped toasted oat cereal
c)
Small chunks of soft fruit such as bananas and pears
d)
Cooked and diced pieces of vegetables such as carrots or sweet potatoes
OTHER PHYSICAL NEEDS
• Babies require that all their physical needs be met by someone else. If these
needs are not met they may have delays in intellect, physically, socially or
emotionally.
• Babies have many physical needs other than just nutrition. These needs are
important and should be met by the parents or caretakers regularly.
CLOTHING AND DRESSING THE BABY
• A basic need for any human is clothing. A baby needs clothing that is soft, easy to
get off and on, suitable for the temperature, safe, and most of all comfortable.
Keep in mind what you like to lay around in and then buy clothes that you
would be comfortable hanging out in and that will help.
• Make sure that the clothes are easy to get into because you will have to change
diapers and you don’t want to have to completely undress the baby every time.
• Sleepwear needs to be flame-resistant in order to protect the infant from burns.
SHOPPING FOR BABY CLOTHES
• Because babies grow so quickly they do not need too many clothes.
• When purchasing clothes keep in mind that two piece outfits (tops and bottoms)
can be worn longer because they don’t get tight in the crotch like a one piece
outfit and they make changing the diaper easy.
• One piece outfits and overalls look neater on crawlers because they don’t bunch
up or separate and they keep the baby warmer.
• Shoes are really not necessary until your baby is walking outdoors. Babies need
to learn to walk indoors with no shoes in order to gain their balance easier.
DRESSING AND CARING FOR BABY CLOTHES
 Newborns are usually easier to dress than older infants because they do not tend
to move around as much. Remember that the baby cannot pull their own arms
into the arm holes or legs into pants so you will need to help them until they get
older.
After you baby has outgrown some of their clothes they may want to be kept for
future children, before you store them make sure that they are clean.
Before cleaning your baby’s clothes read the labels, pretreat stains, and possibly
you may need to rinse baby clothes more often than other loads. Baby skin is
more sensitive so a special detergent may be necessary to keep their skin from
getting irritated.
BATHING
• Newborns do not need to be bathed every day. They do not get dirty except for
their faces and bottoms which are being cleaned when diapering and feeding.
For the first few weeks babies will receive sponge baths. They are not totally
submerged in the water. A newborn cannot get their umbilical cord wet so it is
very important that you carefully bathe the baby until after the cord has healed.
• Tub bathing can begin after the cord has healed and circumcision has healed. Be
sure to only fill the tub or sink with about 3 inches of water. Always check the
water with your elbow to be sure the temperature is not too hot or cold.
• Remember never leave a baby unattended while bathing.
DIAPERING
• Parents have two options when deciding what type of diaper to use on their baby.
• Cloth diapers or disposable diapers are available.
• Cloth diapers are less expensive but not as convenient because they need to be
washed frequently and a waterproof diaper cover is required.
• Disposable diapers are usually more expensive but also more convenient. There
are a variety of sizes and brands of disposable diapers so parents have a wide
selection from which to choose.
DIAPERING
• Diaper rashes may develop especially in warm weather where bacteria may grow
more rapidly. The most common treatment is to keep the area clean and dry.
Expose the area to the air as much as possible and also you can apply a diaper
ointment of your choice before diapering.
• Make sure to keep the diaper changing area clean, your hands washed frequently
and check the baby often so that when they soil their diapers they can be changed
quickly in order to prevent the rash from starting or spreading.
RESTING AND SLEEPING
• Newborns tend to sleep a lot because their bodies are growing and changing so
rapidly. On the average a newborn can sleep as much as 22-23 hours a day. They
are usually very noisy sleepers that gurgle, suck, or wheeze while they sleep and
this will continue for the first few months.
• Infants are usually sleeping through the night by 6 months of age or earlier. They
will require less sleep and be awake and alert more often.
• By one year of age babies will still take a nap but some will require only one nap
a day instead of two.
SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME (SIDS)
• SIDS is the leading cause of infants their first year of life. This is a condition that
causes a sleeping baby to die for no medical reason or explanation. It is
especially common between 2 and 4 months of age.
• Make sure that you place your baby on their backs to sleep and use a firm surface
for the baby to sleep on. Babies should not sleep on chairs, sofas, beanbags or
waterbeds.
• Try to limit blankets and toys in the bed as these can cause suffocation.
• Make sure baby does not get too warm
• Offer a pacifier for sleep time.
• Make regular checks on baby during nap time.
BEDDING SAFETY
• Safety in the baby’s bed is essential.
• The bed should be high and stable enough to prevent pets and small children
from tipping it over.
• Slat should be 2 3/8 inches apart or less in order to prevent the baby from getting
stuck.
• The mattress should be smug-fitting and no loose sheets should be used. Loose
fabric can get tangled around the baby and smother or strangle them.
• Bumper pads should not be used because they can cause the baby to suffocate.
MOVEMENT
• Encourage physical activity in your baby. It is important for muscle development,
coordination and even relaxation.
• One way to help with this is called tummy time. This is where the infant is
placed on their tummies several times a day to encourage them to gain control of
their heads, look around, prop up on their arms and eventually get up on their
knees and rock until they learn to crawl.
• Physical activity is important from infancy until adulthood. So start early and
encourage your baby to move and grove.