Nutrition
MILK – Breast milk or formula with iron should remain the only source of milk for the first year of life. As baby foods are added slowly over the next few months, the baby’s reliance on milk will decrease. All exclusively breastfed infants (or infants receiving less than 32 ounces of formula each day) should have a vitamin D and iron supplement. We recommend POLYVISOL with Iron 1 ml orally each day. Pick up your child’s vitamin drops at InstyMeds right here in our office.
SOLID FOODS – if not already started, now is a good time. The following schedule is commonly followed:
- Allow your baby to tell you how much and how frequently to feed. Most babies feed 1-3 Tablespoons 1-2 times each day
- Start with rice cereal. It is a good source of iron and is hypoallergenic.
- Add vegetables, then fruits, and meats. Give each new food 3-4 days before introducing the next new food.
- If the baby develops a rash, diarrhea, or vomiting then stop the latest food.
- Never put baby food in the bottle.
- If your infant has mastered stage 1 foods, it would be a good idea to try stage 2. Most babies eat three meals a day by 9 months. When your baby is sitting in her highchair, you may also try some bland, soft table foods.
Safety
- Always put the baby in a car seat while driving! By Law, your child should remain rear facing until at least 20 pounds and one year of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that children be rear facing until age 2 years.
- It is a good idea to use sunscreen every day. Choose a product that is hypoallergenic.
- Always bathe infants in very shallow water, and never leave a child unattended near water.
- Your baby will start putting objects into the mouth; so items should be larger than the size of a golf ball.
- It’s a good idea to make surprise visits to daycare or babysitters.
- Do not buy or use an infant walker unless you take off the wheels and make it immobile. Countless babies have been injured falling down stairs and getting into dangerous situations because of walkers.
Development
You can stimulate language development by talking to and responding to your baby’s sounds and by reading to your child. Peek-a-boo is a favorite game at this stage and gives babies a chance to practice the comings and goings of parents. Your baby will be learning to get to a sitting position, sit alone, crawl and perhaps pull to a stand. Your baby will also be practicing passing objects from one hand to the next and developing a pincer grasp.
TODAY’S IMMUNIZATIONS: Some of these immunizations may be combined.
- DTaP #3, IPV #3, and HIB #3
- Pnuemoccal #3
- Rotavirus (varies by vaccine schedule)
(Please see the CDC website for the Vaccine Information Sheet
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/index.html?s_cid=cs_748 )
Less than twenty percent of babies will feel any effects from today’s shots. If you see any signs of a sore leg or fever, give the baby Infant Tylenol. If the baby has a fever of greater than 103 degrees, cries excessively or has any unusual behavior, please call us.
NEXT VISIT: Your baby’s next routine visit is at 9 months of age
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