As babies still don't come with instructions parents naturally have billions of questions born out of curiousity or concern. This aims to answer your top questions about babies and make parenting that little bit easier for you! This has three parts...Enjoy
When is my baby ready to.......
have his first jabs? have a bath? use a pillow or quilt? use baby lotions and potions? sleep through the night? to sleep through the night without me worrying about SIDS? drink water? go swimming? go in a front or back carrier? respond to his name?
have his first jabs?
Your baby will be given his first vaccinations at 2 months old. This will consist of 2 injections as well as polio drops in his mouth.
The current UK immunisation schedule is as follows:
2 months - Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTP) and Haemophilus Influenza B (Hib) in one injection.
Meningococcus Group C - one injection
Polio - drops on tongue 3 months - the same as above providing a second dose of DTP, Hib, Men C and Polio. 4 months - the same as above providing a third dose of DTP, Hib, Men C and polio 12-18 months - Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) 4-5 years - pre-school booster of DTP, MMR and polio
Your baby's jabs may rarely be postponed if, for example, he is very unwell at the time he is due his immunisations.
Premature babies also have their first jabs at 2 months, regardless of their prematurity. The only exception is babies who are still in SCBU at 2 months old. In this instance the polio vaccine will be delayed until they are leaving Special Care, to prevent a risk to other babies in the unit.
have a bath?
Parents used to be advised against bathing their baby until the cord had fallen off at a few days old. However, research now says this wait is unnecessary.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that newborns should not be bathed until they are at least 6 hours old but preferably not until they are 2 or 3 days old. This prevents the risk of rapid heat loss.
When your baby is born, their skin has a natural protection which is lost when it is bathed. It is best to sponge clean your baby for the first few days and baths should be kept to just 2 or 3 a week.
use a pillow or quilt?
Quilts and pillows can be used from the age of 12 months. By this age your baby should be more mobile and able to roll over in the cot and move out of the quilt if he or she becomes too hot.
It does not really matter, for safety reasons, what tog rating of quilt you use. Obviously you do not want a quilt that is too heavy, or you will find that your little one will become too hot and simply move from under it, but you do want a quilt that is warm enough for the winter.
Most cot quilts are around 10-12 tog rating, which should be ideal. It does not really matter what type of pillow you use either, as long as your child does not have any allergies, although you might want to have a pillow that can easily be washed.
use baby lotions and potions?
When your baby is a day or two old, it is safe to use products that are especially designed for newborn skins. However, unless your baby has very dry skin, baby lotions and oils are not really necessary.
Talc should be avoided in very young babies as the microfine particles can easily be inhaled causing breathing problems. If you do want to use talc on older babies, put it in your hand first and then onto baby. Never sprinkle it directly onto your baby's skin as this again increases the risk of your child inhaling the powder.
sleep through the night?
Most babies learn to sleep all night during their first year but even at 2 years old, 1 in 5 toddlers wakes up and cries most nights.
Your baby needs to be big enough to go longer and longer without being fed, which eventually results in sleeping all night.
There is no exact time when a baby is expected to sleep through the night. The baby's personality may be a factor. Some babies are restless, and they wake easily. Others sleep soundly and for a long time. Others need less sleep, and they wake up very early in the morning.
Breastfeeding mums should avoid caffeine and other stimulants as these will pass through your breastmilk and could cause hyperactivity in your baby.
to sleep through the night without me worrying about SIDS?
Cot death is uncommon in babies less than a month old, but rises to a peak at two months. The risk then diminishes as the baby grows older. Nearly 90% of cot deaths have occurred by six months, and very few occur after a year.
Drink water?
You can give cooled, boiled water to a baby from birth.
Breastfed babies do not need water as the foremilk, which they receive at the beginning of every feed, acts as a drink and the hindmilk as food.
Bottle-fed babies do need a drink as formula milk is just a feed and not a drink. Offer bottle-fed babies water in between feeds, especially during hot weather.
go swimming?
Most Health Visitors recommend waiting until after your baby has had their first course of immunisations (8 weeks) although Government guidelines suggest swimming in public pools does not pose a risk to younger babies as the chlorine kills off any potential threat, most obviously from polio.
As long as the pool is warm enough it's ok to take a baby of any age swimming. Do remember though, mums should not swim until after their 6 week check.
Most pools will not take babies unless they have had their first 3 courses of immunisations (12 weeks old).
go in a front or back carrier?
Baby carriers and slings are available for your baby from birth. Reputable brands will indicate a suitable weight or age range which makes it easier to find the most suitable.
There are specially designed carriers that allow a breastfeeding mum to feed her baby without having to remove him from the carrier.
As your baby gets older and more wriggly, carriers can become uncomfortable for both parent and child. Older babies tend to be happier facing forwards whilst younger babies are more secure and content facing their parent's chest.
respond to his name?
Your baby will start to learn his name at about 5 months old. Repeating his name when you talk to him will make it easier for him to recognise it and make the connection between the name and himself, and then he will turn to you when you call him.
Accessories
have his first jabs?
