Your Baby's First Year For Dummies E-Book

James Gaylord

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 629

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

Everything new and experienced parents need to know about their baby's first 12 months to give them the best start in life Each year, more than 4 million babies are born in the United States-and the first year of a baby's life is a joyous, challenging, and sometimes overwhelming time. Your Baby's First Year For Dummies serves as a complete guide for baby's first twelve months, from what to do when arriving home from the hospital to handling feeding, bathing, and sleeping routines to providing the right stimuli for optimal progress. This comprehensive yet no-nonsense guide can help new or even seasoned moms and dads looking for tips and advice to help with every aspect of their baby's development. During Baby's first year, at times things will go well: Baby's sleeping and eating well, she's hitting milestones on time, and you're balancing childcare with work or with housekeeping. Then again, there are times when things aren't great. This jargon-free book takes a realistic look at what Baby's first year might be like, month by month. You'll find it helpful if you're pregnant and wondering what Baby's first year will be like; you have given birth and want to know what the months ahead hold; you have given birth and need advice from a book that doesn't talk down to you or make you feel as though there's something wrong with you (because there's not) if you're having a hard time making the adjustment to parenthood. Packed with tips on every aspect of baby's physical, emotional, and social development, Your Baby's First Year For Dummies gives you advice on topics like the following: * Bonding with Baby * Breastfeeding vs. bottle-feeding * Baby's first checkup * Baby's checkups at two months, four months, six months, nine months, and twelve months * Sleeping habits * Teething * Baby toy safety and preventing injuries * Food preparation and food allergies * Traveling with your baby * Signs of common illnesses * Planning Baby's 1-year party * And much more Additionally, Your Baby's First Year For Dummies provides tips for surviving the first few weeks, Daddy survival tips, and advice on when to call your pediatrician (and when not to). If Baby has arrived or you expect her soon, get your copy to make every moment count.

Leseprobe

Your Baby’s First Year For Dummies®

by James Gaylord, MD and Michelle Hagen

Your Baby’s First Year For Dummies®®

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.111 River St.Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: The contents of this work are intended to further general scientific research, understanding, and discussion only and are not intended and should not be relied upon as recommending or promoting a specific method, diagnosis, or treatment by physicians for any particular patient. The publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation any implied warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. In view of ongoing research, equipment modifications, changes in governmental regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to the use of medicines, equipment, and devices, the reader is urged to review and evaluate the information provided in the package insert or instructions for each medicine, equipment, or device for, among other things, any changes in the instructions or indication of usage and for added warnings and precautions. Readers should consult with a specialist where appropriate. The fact that an organization or Website is referred to in this work as a citation and/or a potential source of further information does not mean that the author or the publisher endorses the information the organization or Website may provide or recommendations it may make. Further, readers should be aware that Internet Websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read. No warranty may be created or extended by any promotional statements for this work. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for any damages arising herefrom.

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2005923786

ISBN-13: 978-0-7645-8420-6

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3

1B/RX/QW/QV/IN

About the Authors

Dr. James Gaylord has a dual Board Certification in Pediatrics and Internal Medicine and has been in private practice in Burnt Hills, N.Y. since 1997. He is a 1988 graduate of Albany Medical College, where he also served as an assistant professor from 1993 to 1997. His training includes a residency in Pediatrics and Internal Medicine; he also spent a year (1992-93) as chief resident in Pediatrics. He continues to train medical students in his private practice.

Dr. Gaylord and his wife Diane live on a horse farm in Greenfield, N.Y with their three children: Abigail, 11; Brendan, 10; and Margaret, 7.

Michelle Hagen is a freelance writer and editor and the author of 8 books. She has a degree in literature from Empire State College and lives in Wilton, NY with her husband and three sons.

Dedication

Dr. James Gaylord: To my children: Abby, Brendan, and Maggie, who taught me so much about parenting in the first year of life.

Michelle Hagen: This book is for my babies: Sam, Hal, and Nolan (who truly aren’t babies at all anymore). I’m constantly amazed by the fact that I’m raising three incredibly amusing, interesting, and good-hearted young men. I love you, I love you, I love you.

Authors’ Acknowledgments

Dr. Gaylord: I would like to acknowledge my wife Diane whose networking made my participation in this project possible.

Michelle Hagen: First, to my co-author, Dr. Jim Gaylord, I appreciate your input, guidance, and patience throughout this long process. I know how incredibly busy you are with your practice and with your own family, which makes me even more grateful that you agreed to take on this project in the first place.

Thank you to Mike and Diane Young, who introduced me to my wonderful co-author. Thanks to Jessica Faust, my agent at Bookends, for all of your support and assistance. To Traci Cumbay and Jen Bingham, my editors at Wiley, I enjoyed working with both of you more than I can say. Not only are both of you outstanding at what you do, you’re both fun, funny, and fair. You made my job that much easier.

Thank you to Dr. Mary Elise Hodson, technical editor on this project, for your helpful suggestions during the editing process. Thanks to Tracy Boggier, Acquisitions Editor at Wiley, for your assistance in getting this book off to a solid start. Kathryn Born, thank you for your outstanding illustrations. Each one is an asset to this book.

And last but not least, thanks to my husband Mike and to my boys, all of whom have played a vital role in my interest in and love for babies over the years. Thanks also for being so proud of my work, especially when the truth is that without you guys, I’m nothin’.

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our Dummies online registration form located at www.dummies.com/register/.

Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development

Project Editor: Traci Cumbay

Acquisitions Editor: Tracy Boggier

Copy Editor: Jennifer Bingham

Technical Editor: Mary Elise Hodson, MD

Senior Editorial Manager: Jennifer Ehrlich

Editorial Assistant: Hanna Scott,

Cover Photos: ® BananaStock/PictureQuest

Cartoons: Rich Tennant (www.the5thwave.com)

Composition Services

Project Coordinator: Maridee Ennis, Shannon Schiller

Layout and Graphics: Carl Byers, Andrea Dahl, Lauren Goddard, Stephanie D. Jumper, Julie Trippetti,

Special Art: Kathryn Born

Proofreaders: Leeann Harney, Jessica Kramer, Carl William Pierce

Indexer: Aptara

Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies

Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies

Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director, Consumer Dummies

Kristin A. Cocks, Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies

Michael Spring, Vice President and Publisher, Travel

Kelly Regan, Editorial Director, Travel

Publishing for Technology Dummies

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher, Dummies Technology/General User

Composition Services

Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Contents

Title

Introduction

About This Book

Conventions Used in This Book

What You’re Not to Read

Foolish Assumptions

How This Book Is Organized

Icons Used in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I : Giving Baby a Healthy, Happy Start

Chapter 1: Preparing for Baby

Bracing Yourself for the Changes Ahead

Planning for Life with Baby

Choosing a Pediatrician

Adopting

Looking Ahead: Baby’s First Year in a Nutshell

Chapter 2: Smoothing the Transition to Parenthood

Filling Baby’s Bedroom (and Your Entire House)

Packing for the Hospital

Special Delivery! What to Expect After Baby Arrives

Rock-a-Bye Baby: The Hospital Nursery

Where’s the Milk?

Handling Special Situations

Gulp! Leaving for Home

Chapter 3: Hitting the Road with Baby on Board

Preparing for the Journey

Traveling with Baby

Vacation? What Vacation?

Keeping Baby Safe Away from Home

Chapter 4: Returning to Work?

Making the Big Decision

Finding Childcare

Part II : Introducing: Baby!

Chapter 5: Settling In with Baby

Rolling with the Punches (and Stitches)

Nourishing the Newborn

Yes, You Have to Look: Umbilical Cord and Circumcision Care

Yellow-Bellied Babies: Jaundice

Chapter 6: The First Month: Getting to Know You

Checking In with Baby

Rub a Dub Dub, Using the Tub

Connecting with Baby

Identifying Baby’s Beauty Marks

Letting Sleeping Babies Lie

Figuring Out Feeding Time

Cry Me a River

Escaping the House with Baby in Tow

Chapter 7: The Second Month: Finding Your Rhythm

Checking In with Baby

Sleep, Baby, Sleep (Please!)

Breastfeeding Blues

Chapter 8: The Third Month: Rolling Away from Infancy

Checking In with Baby

Keeping Baby Safe and Sound

Setting Your Watch by Baby . . . or Not

Answering Other Concerns at the 3-Month Mark

Part III : Moving, Shaking, and Growing

Chapter 9: The Fourth Month: Food!

Checking In with Baby

Keeping Baby Safe and Sound

Expressing Herself

Planning for First Foods

Chapter 10: The Fifth Month: Rocking Baby’s World

Checking In with Baby

Keeping Baby Safe and Sound

Buying (or Preparing) Baby’s First Foods

Relieving the Torture of Teething

Chapter 11: The Sixth Month: Baby on the Move!

Checking In with Baby

Keeping Baby Safe and Sound

Feeding Baby’s Changing Appetite

Lullaby and Good Night

Part IV : Discovering the World Beyond Mom

Chapter 12: The Seventh Month: Developmental Delights

Checking In with Baby

Keeping Baby Safe and Sound

Fill ’Em Up: Feeding at 7 Months!

Chapter 13: The Eighth Month: The Cruisin’ Kid

Checking In with Baby

Keeping Baby Safe and Sound

Bathing in the Big Tub

Chapter 14: The Ninth Month: Grabbing Your Attention (With Intention)

Checking In with Baby

Keeping Baby Safe and Sound

Comparing Kids: The Irresistible Urge to Rank Baby’s Development

Taking on the Grandparents: When Rules Collide

Part V : Keeping Up with Baby

Chapter 15: The Tenth Month: Chatting Up Baby

Checking In with Baby

Keeping Baby Safe and Sound

Harnessing the Power of “No”

Feeding Your 10-Month-Old

Chapter 16: The Eleventh Month: Walking the Walk

Checking In with Baby

Keeping Baby Safe and Sound

Weaning Baby off the Bottle or Breast

Tucking Baby In Now

Chapter 17: The Twelfth Month: Who’s This Toddler?

Checking In with Baby

Keeping Baby Safe and Sound

Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby: Planning the Party

Choosing Toys for Your Child

Bringing Up Brainiac

Raising a Nice Kid

Part VI : Protecting Baby’s Health and Safety

Chapter 18: Keeping Baby Healthy

Preventing Illness with Immunizations

Outlining the First-Year Ailments

Taking Baby’s Temperature

Sneezing and Wheezing: When Allergies or Asthma Enter the Picture

Correcting Crossed or Lazy Eyes

Loving Your Special Needs Child

Chapter 19: Making It All Better: When Baby Has a Boo-Boo

Playing the Part of the Calm Parent

Stocking Your First-Aid Kit

Playing Dr. Mom

Caring for Stings and Bites

Treating Burns

Chapter 20: Preventing Injuries at Home

Making Home Sweet Home a Safe Haven

Checking for Choking Hazards

Playing It Safe with Your Pets

Keeping Your Little Sleepyhead Safe

Water Safety and Your Baby

Hazards on the Go

Never Shake a Baby!

Part VII : The Part of Tens

Chapter 21: Ten Tips for Surviving the First Few Weeks

Listen to Your Body

Send Spot to Camp

Steal a Shower when You Can

Order Take-Out

Make a Deal with the Dust

Take the Phone off the Hook

Accept Offers of Help

Be Assertive

Give Yourself Credit

Don’t Expect Perfection

Chapter 22: Ten Tips for Daddy Survival

Accept Your New Role

Help Mom

Don’t Shy Away from the Dirty Work

Catch the Highlights at 11

Talk the Talk

Cut the Calendar back

Take a Breather

Let the Family in

Take Care of Your Relationship

Go Easy on Yourself

Chapter 23: Ten Reasons to Call Your Pediatrician

Fever

Respiratory Problems

Vomiting

Dehydration

Long-Term Cough or Stuffy Head

Head Injuries

Deep Cuts

Extreme Changes of Behavior

Rashes

Seizures

Chapter 24: Ten Reasons Not to Run to Your Pediatrician

Low-Grade Fever

Manageable Crankiness

Runny Nose

Just a Little Lethargy

Loss of Appetite

Increase in Appetite

Constipation

Teething

Scrapes, Bruises, Bumps

Mild Allergic Reactions

Introduction

W hen you’re pregnant and preparing for the future with Baby, it’s so easy to nail down a “schedule” for feedings, for naps, for your own return to work. And then your dream child becomes a reality and you find that — well, she has her own ideas that don’t quite coincide with your best-laid plans.

For some people, bringing a baby into the home is no big deal — their child is quiet and mellow, and just a joy to behold throughout the first year and beyond. For the parents of a fussy, sleepless infant, however, the experience is completely different. And because you’ll be talking to other new parents at the doctor’s office or at a playgroup, the parents of the restless baby assume that the parents of the quiet infant have a line on some secret method of raising a laid-back kid. Enter parental guilt and feelings of inadequacy.

There are bound to be times during Baby’s first year when you feel as though you’ve got the world by the tail: Baby’s sleeping and eating well, she’s hitting those milestones right on time, and you’re balancing childcare with work or with housekeeping. Then again, for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction; it only makes sense that there will also be times when you feel like you don’t know what the heck is going on, and wonder why you ever thought you could handle this huge responsibility in the first place.

Give yourself a break during those moments. The first year is one big learning experience — for you and your child. Baby will be conquering new territory every month (detailed in the pages of this book), and you’ll be right there, cheering her on and adjusting your own life to meet her latest wants and needs. There will be days of triumph (as when Baby smiles, coos, and laughs for the first time) and days that you’d rather just forget (teething — ’nough said). All of the days go by so quickly, though, and before you know it, Baby will be 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and then 1 year old. It all happens without your realizing it — Baby’s a toddler and you’re a confident, veteran parent.

This book was written with the intention of giving new parents a realistic look at what Baby’s first year may be like. Think of this as a time to become acquainted with your child as she grows into her personality and you grow into parenthood.

About This Book

This book was written by a pediatrician with a booming practice and two great kids of his own, and a writer/mom who’s raising three boys — and all of these kids were completely different during their first years. We’ve left out a lot of scientific research on why babies behave the way they do and have mostly focused on the practical and emotional aspects of seeing your child through the first year.

For example, you won’t find statistics in this book, because, quite frankly, it isn’t all that helpful to know that a certain percentage of infants sleep through the night at 3 months if your 3-month-old is still waking up three times between midnight and daybreak. Knowing how to encourage her to catch forty winks is far more helpful than comparing your experience to phantom families around the country, so in this book, you find no-nonsense advice given in the simplest terms and presented in an easy-to-find format.

We know that parenting is hard work — we’ve been there personally, and Dr. Gaylord has listened to many, many, many parents’ concerns about the first year. We’ve laid out information in plain language and with a twist — we took off our rose-colored glasses while writing in an effort to let new parents know that the first year, while magical and wonderful and glorious (and far too fleeting), inevitably has its moments of confusion and frustration. We want new parents to know that they’re not alone, and that feeling this way is normal — it doesn’t make you a bad mom or dad. It makes you human.

Conventions Used in This Book

To help you navigate through this book, we’ve established the following conventions:

Italic is used for emphasis and to highlight new words or terms that are defined.

Monofont is used for Web addresses.

Sidebars, which are shaded gray boxes full of text, consist of information that’s interesting but not necessarily critical to your understanding of the topic.

Baby math can spin a parent’s head around at times. We tried to keep the months and the chapter titles in sync in order to eliminate confusion. Please bear in mind that when we refer to, for example, a “1-month-old” or an “almost-1-month-old,” we’re talking about a child in the first month of life and approaching the 4-week mark.

What You’re Not to Read

Sidebars included in this book are “extra” information — a more in-depth look at areas of concern during the first year. Some focus on development, others focus on recent studies — none of them are crucial to your understanding the rest of this book. Read them if you want, and skip them if you aren’t into that kind of thing. No big whoop.

Foolish Assumptions

We assume that you’ve picked up this book for one of several reasons:

You’re pregnant and wondering what Baby’s first year will be like.

You’ve given birth and are reading everything you can get your hands on regarding the months ahead.

You’ve given birth and you wanted a book that doesn’t talk down to you or make you feel as though there’s something wrong with you if you’re having a hard time making the adjustment to parenthood.

We go on to assume that you’re looking for advice on making it through the first year, that you know it’s not always going to be easy, that you want to be the best parent you’re capable of becoming, and that you’re willing to give up preconceived notions (read: fantasies) of how these first 12 months with a child should be. That’s all.

In a nutshell: If you have a baby in the house, we want to talk to you.

Other titles in the For Dummies series that you may want to check out include Breastfeeding For Dummies by Sharon Perkins and Carol Vannais, Choosing Childcare For Dummies by Ann Douglas, and Parenting For Dummies by Sandra Hardin Gookin and Dan Gookin — all published by Wiley. These books will give you a great overview of various aspects of child-rearing.

How This Book Is Organized

We’ve broken this book into 24 chapters. Each of Baby’s first 12 months is addressed in its own chapter, including a list of milestones for each specific time period, a discussion of what happens during each well-baby visit, and tips for ensuring Baby’s safety and well-being at every stage of development. The chapters are grouped into sections.

Part I: Giving Baby a Healthy, Happy Start

These debut chapters focus on preparing your house for Baby, what happens in the maternity ward, deciding on a method of feeding your child, and actually transporting Baby home. We also discuss the production of traveling with an infant in this section, along with information to guide you in making the decision to return to work — or to stay home. Diverse topics, yes, but issues you want to know about and consider so that you’re not forced to make decisions on-the-spot.

Part II: Introducing: Baby!

These chapters focus on Baby’s infancy, including an honest discussion of a new mom’s recovery from childbirth and how Baby may or may not be settling into her new home. Look for the milestone markers at the beginning of each chapter to know what Baby may be up to during this time.

Part III: Moving, Shaking, and Growing

Months 4 through 6 are covered in this section, a time when Baby’s personality begins to blossom and he starts moving of his own accord. Each chapter in this section contains information on adding solids to Baby’s diet and how that may affect his sleeping and nursing routines. A discussion on whether to let Baby “cry it out” is also included in this section.

Part IV: Discovering the World Beyond Mom

Baby becomes more mobile during the second half of the first year, and she also begins to grasp the true concept of communication. She’s becoming a real person now, and these chapters focus on encouraging her language development and keeping her safe when all she wants to do is explore. We also discuss the other people in Baby’s life — your friends who love to compare your child to theirs, and your relatives, who refuse to follow your directions when they watch your child. Tips for dealing with these well-meaning but frustrating pals and relations are included in this section.

Part V: Keeping Up with Baby

Baby really starts moving during the last three months of the first year — in fact, he may be up and walking by his first birthday party! He may also have a handle on real language at this point, or he may be quite happy to sit on his blanket without saying a word. Tips for staying sane while parenting an active baby are given in this section, along with advice for parents whose children haven’t hit the big developmental milestones just yet. Weaning becomes an issue at this point, and advice for making it a less uncomfortable experience for Mom is included here. There’s also a list of toddler-loved toys (just in case you need some help buying for the big party).

Part VI: Protecting Baby’s Health and Safety

These chapters give an overview of the first-year immunizations and common illnesses, along with advice on comforting a sick child and when to call the doctor. Basic first aid and baby-proofing measures (to prevent injuries in the first place) are discussed in these chapters. We also give you some insight into how to care for a special-needs baby.

Part VII: The Part of Tens

A standard feature in all For Dummies titles, the Part of Tens includes short, to-the-point chapters focused on presenting need-to-know information in the most efficient way possible. The Part of Tens chapters in Your Baby’s First Year For Dummies include advice for making it through the first few weeks after Baby’s birth, what a dad can do to survive the first year, and what kinds of situations or illnesses warrant an immediate call to the pediatrician, plus advice on which ones don’t.

Icons Used in This Book

The icons used throughout the book are bits of information that can make your life easier or protect your child from harm.

Some situations call for advice from a pro. We use this icon to let you know when something merits an expert medical opinion. Or when you should consult your doctor to put your mind to rest about a situation.

This icon points out words of wisdom that we feel are particularly important and likely to be valuable as you brave Baby’s first year.

When we go into medical details or delve deeply into a topic, we use this icon. Rest assured that you can skip this information and still come away with the facts you need.

This icon highlights advice on how to ease Baby into a new situation or to make less work for yourself.

The Warning icon points out situations in which you or Baby may find yourselves in harm’s way.

Where to Go from Here

All For Dummies books are written in modular form — that is, each chapter stands on its own. You don’t have to read the introductory chapters to understand the chapters toward the end of the book. Heck, you don’t have to rely on any one chapter to explain another. Each chapter contains advice specific to that particular month or topic, so you can dive in wherever you need to and you won’t be lost. Start wherever you’re at during the first year. If you waited until the fourth month to buy this book, skip right to Chapter 9. If you’re still pregnant, start at the beginning and decide what you need to know at this point. We know that new parents seldom have loads of spare time to spend reading, so we didn’t include information that will bore you to tears or put you to sleep — wherever you choose to begin, you find pertinent information that you can use at that particular time in Baby’s development.

Part I

Giving Baby a Healthy, Happy Start

In this part . . .

P reparing yourself for what lies ahead can help make the changes that occur during Baby’s first year a heck of a lot easier for you and your child. Find out how to get your home ready for Baby, how to make the best travel plans for you and your child, how to find the best daycare for your infant, and discover what really happens in the hospital.

These are diverse topics — but believe it or not you may find yourself dealing with each of these issues over the course of Baby’s first month. Just imagine what you’ll encounter over the span of the first year!

Chapter 1

Preparing for Baby

In This Chapter

Making plans

Remaining flexible

Paging Dr. Wonderful

Parenting the adopted baby

Summing up Baby’s big moments

W ondering about how life will be when Baby comes into the fold? Go ahead and make plans, but give yourself a lot of wiggle room. Counting on a baby to follow the plans you make months before delivery (concerning work, or vacations, or sleep, or even having a pleasant day) is like picking a random date and planning on having nice weather. You just don’t know. You can’t know until the time comes. Make several contingency plans for Baby’s first weeks at home — sort of like having an umbrella handy.

The first year is an amazing time of growth (something your pediatrician will officially track at every well-baby visit) and development. When you hold your tiny infant in one arm, you’ll hardly be able to imagine her balancing on her own feet in a matter of just 12 months’ time, when she may also be learning to talk, eating real foods, and displaying signs of her true personality (which, to your delight or dismay, may mimic your own — or your partner’s).

Adoptive parents face the same issues and challenges (along with some concerns unique to their situation) when it comes to seeing Baby through the first year — and beyond. This book is meant to be a guide for everyone who is taking on the total commitment involved with raising a child.