Six Ways to Raise a Healthy Baby
Starting your baby out right and keeping it healthy and happy is easy. All you need to know are some basic guidelines. Here are six recommendations to help you ensure your baby’s well-being.
1. Start them off with a healthy diet.
Breast milk alone is sufficient to support optimal growth and development during your baby’s first six months. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), water, juice, and other foods are generally unnecessary. Even when babies enjoy discovering new tastes and textures, solid foods should not replace breastfeeding, but merely complement breast milk as the infant’s main source of nutrients throughout the first year. Beyond one year, as the variety and volume of solid foods gradually increase, breast milk remains an ideal addition to the child’s diet. The AAP recommends breast feeding for at least 12 months.1
2. Be wise: Immunize.
Immunizations protect your child from serious diseases, such as measles, whooping cough, and hepatitis. Children should receive most of their shots between birth and age five or six. Talk with your pediatrician to plan an immunization schedule to keep your baby healthy.2
You may worry that your child will have a reaction to an immunization. But when reactions do occur, they are usually mild (a sore arm or low-grade fever). The benefits of immunizing your child far outweigh any potential risks.3
3. Buckle 'em up.
Beginning with your child's first ride home from the hospital, always use a car seat. It’s the law¾and a good one. Be sure to read the directions so you understand how to properly use the car seat. Install the seat rear-facing, and check the strap adjustments for your baby’s size. Make sure the harness straps are straight and snug for optimum safety.4
4. Start good dental habits early.
Healthy teeth can last a lifetime. So teach kids good dental care at an early age. Even before the first tooth appears, wipe your baby's gums after each feeding.5 Brush teeth at least once a day at bedtime.6
5. Visit the pediatric dentist.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that you take your child to a dentist within six months of getting the first tooth and no later than the child’s first birthday. Your child's dentist can tell you how often your child should get regular checkups thereafter.6
6. Create a smoke-free environment.
If you or someone in your house smokes, giving up the nicotine habit is one of the greatest gifts you can give your baby (and yourself). Breast milk from women who smoke contains chemicals that are dangerous to babies.7 Babies who are exposed to smoke suffer from more lower-respiratory illnesses (such as bronchitis and pneumonia) and ear infections than do other babies. Babies who are exposed to their parents' smoke after birth also may face an increased risk of asthma and SIDS.8
1 “Breastfeeding: Frequently Asked Questions.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. April 19, 2010. www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/faq/index.htm Accessed 2010.
2 “National Immunization Awareness Month.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July 9, 2009. www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam/default.htm Accessed 2010.
3 “Possible Side-Effects from Vaccines.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. September 19, 2009. www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm Accessed 2008.
4 “Infant Car Seats.” March of Dimes. June 2008. http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/30590_30599.asp Accessed 2010.
5 “Dental Care for Your Baby.” American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. www.aapd.org/publications/brochures/babycare.asp Accessed 2010.
6 “Pediatric Oral Health Information for Parents: Frequently Asked Questions.” American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. http://www.aapd.org/pediatricinformation/faq.asp Accessed 2010.
7 “Protecting Your Baby from Secondhand Smoke.” March of Dimes. April 2008. http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/29906_30012.asp Accessed 2010.
8 “Smoking During Pregnancy.” March of Dimes. April 2008. www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1171.asp Accessed 2010.