OKC Baby Safety Month Series has covered Baby Safety v. Child Proofing, Child Proofing for Ages 0 months to 12 mos. This article is about baby safety through parent readiness and highlights wellness issues, working on developing and preserving healthy babies with the basics.
Anyone will tell you that there is really no handbook for parenting a baby. Most parents and other caregivers learn about child life from having some little person in their life.
For people who like to read: What To Expect The First Five Years is a great text that follows What To Expect When You Are Expecting pregnancy bible. Either of these books can be purchased at Full Circle Books in Oklahoma City. http://www.fullcirclebooks.com/
" Women learn things from talking to other women. Women learn at church, in their communities, at the park and at the hairdresser", said Lauren S, OKC family therapy worker, regarding pregnancy and having and keeping a healthy baby. "There is just nothing wrong with being taught in a class. Sometimes, when you take a class, you learn the newest way to help your baby stay healthy and to grow."
Free formal OKC class and learning resources to shore new parents up are available at most hospitals and many family agencies, and even the OKC Metropolitan Library System. Some offer a one time learning session and others offer ongoing learning and support .
County Health Department Health Servcies https://www.occhd.org/community/fimr/pregnancy-and-parenting-information... http://www.familiesok.org/
Sign on for a daily text about baby wellness and safety https://text4baby.org/ Health Texts for baby
Get assistance in dealing with high risk or developmentally delayed infants http://soonersuccess.bowmansystems.com/index.php/component/cpx/?task=res...
http://sunbeamfamilyservices.org/programs/early-childhood/
Below is a short list of things that seem to come up as common questions.
A first question male child parents are faced with is whether to circumcise their child, is it necessary , is it safe? http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/130/3/e756.full?sid=bd9574...
Infants cannot regulate their own body temperature. Oklahoma has some pretty harsh climate problems in deep Winter and in late Summer. Infants can suffer hypothermia and frostbite in winter, and dehydration any time of year. Caregivers need to understand that just because the caregiver is comfortable, does not mean the child's body temperature is in a safe zone. Check with your pediatrician regarding this issue. Low birthweight and premature babies are at highest risk. Either of these conditions can happen without ever stepping foot outside your home.
Here is a link for hypothermia http://www.newbornwhocc.org/pdf/Thermal_protection.pdf The temperatures are celsius versus centigrade.
This is a link for deyhydration http://www.babycenter.com/0_dehydration_11527.bc
Infant bathtubs are designed to be set in a tub, so the child can lay in the tub and be washed. Babies have insufficient muscles to hold up their heads and laying them in a plastic tub allows the washer to easily clean the child. Many first baths are water only, so check with your pediatrician as to when to introduce the use of a baby wash. Water and room temperature are a big issue, and it is important to keep your child's temperature steady by keeping the room warm, and towel and dry diaper and clothing already waiting upon completion of the bath.
Breast feeding is preferable for the first year, if possible. This provides the necessary nutrients, and a bonding activity between Mother and child. Be certain to wash the breast as instructed by your OBGYN. Bottle sterilizers are now a microwaveable kit. Cleaning all utensils and sterilizing them prior to preparing formula will keep your child's fragile system healthy.
Young infants can sleep through feeding periods, and it is important to understand an infant can experience significant health problems if feeding intervals are not maintained. Please connect with your pediatirican to understand the recommended feeding schedule for a baby the age of your child. Children who become weak from lack of nutrition may not cry. Understand your child's nutritional needs for optimal growth. Women who recieve WIC assistance can use the WIC support staff for nutritional consultation for themselves or their child.
The 13th Street Potawatomi WIC offers a full continuum of services, in a comfortable neighborhood setting to ALL OKC residents, you don't have to be a tribal member or have any affiliation with a tribe. http://www.potawatomi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=...
Infant Crisis Services is "the baby food bank" http://www.infantcrisis.org/ They offer formula, food, diapers and clothing to children under two.
This is a link for foodstamps and other resources for families food supplies to be supplemented. http://www.okdhs.org/programsandservices/snap/
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