• Two-month immunizations are:
  • Combination shot (CTP and HIB)
  • Oral polio vaccine (OPV)
  • Hepatitis B

Feeding your baby

Growth spurts

• Growth spurts and increased eating are normal between two and four months of age.
• If your baby is gaining weight well--continue to feed on demand.
• Formula or breast milk is all your baby needs to grow well.
• Solid foods (cereal or baby food) are not recommended until at least four months.
• Starting solid foods earlier than four months of age can cause
  • upset stomach, constipation, or diarrhea,
  • increased chance of food allergies,
  • an overweight baby.

  Bottle feeding

• Your baby will
  • drink four to six ounces of formula every three to five hours,
  • eat as often as he needs to--this depends on his size and activity.
• Hold your baby when you feed him--you will both enjoy the time in your arms.
• Do not prop the bottle.
• Burp your baby well during and after feedings.
• Do not change formula without first talking to your health care provider.

Teeth

• Fluoride drops will help your baby's teeth grow strong and healthy. Your health care provider may recommend fluoride drops for these reasons
  • breast feeding
  • ready-to-feed formula is used
  • bottled water is used to mix formula
  • tap water does not have fluoride

Sleep

What you can expect from your baby

• Be awake for longer periods during the day
• Go into light sleep about every 50 to 60 minutes, wiggle, and make noise
• Cry if he awakens and needs to be fed or diapered
• may begin sleeping up to seven hours at night

  What you can do

• Put your baby to bed when he begins to get sleepy but before he falls asleep without rocking, feeding, or a pacifier--no bottle in bed (this will start good sleep habits and prevent problems in the future).
• Consider moving your baby to his own room (if he is in your room).
• Do not waken your baby if you hear him rustling when he is in light sleep. (He needs to learn to self-calm--find his own thumb--to return to sleep on his own).
• Make middle-of-the-night feedings brief and boring.

Crying

What you can expect from your baby

• Infants normally cry two to four hours per day during the first three months.
• Crying is your baby's way of expressing himself to the world around him.
• He cries to let you know when he is hungry, cold, or uncomfortable.
• Crying decreases about three months of age when your baby starts to smile and laugh.
• Colic is a term used to describe crying during the first three months of life that lasts longer than three hours at least three times a week for unknown reasons.
• Infants with colic tend to cry at the same time of day--most often in the evening.

  What to do when your baby cries

• Develop a routine series of responses to soothe your baby--be consistent (see list in First Visit).
• Try small frequent feedings--no more often than every two hours.
• Feed in an upright position, burp frequently and thoroughly (after each ounce).
• Use a pacifier to comfort and allow time to suck.
• Rock with a steady rhythmic motion.
• Use a front carrier--your baby likes to be close to you.
• Use a windup swing or bed.
• Take your baby for a walk outside.
• Lie on your back and put your baby face down on top you gently stroking his back.
• Place your baby face down on your arm, with your hand and arm under his abdomen.
• Walk with your baby and pat him on the back with your free hand.
• Wrap your baby snugly with a soft blanket.
• Run the vacuum cleaner or hair dryer--some infants respond to the noise.
• Put your baby in his car seat and put it on top of the clothes dryer while it is on (stay with your baby if you do this).

Development

What you can expect from your baby

• Control his head better--and control will get more steady in the next few weeks
• Raise his head 45 degrees to look around--when on his stomach
• Hold head up (but bobbing) when supported in a sitting position
• Follow a moving object from side to side with his eyes
• Turn his head and eyes toward sound
• Have a social smile and coo
• Learn by imitation
• Organize sensations of sight, sound, movement, touch, taste, and smell
• Show interest in you and respond to you differently than to others

  What you can do

• Lay your baby on his stomach to strengthen neck muscles.
• Have brightly colored moving toys (mobiles with music boxes) for your baby to listen to and watch.
• Use things that he can grab with his fists such as soft washable toys or rattles with no sharp edges.
• Attach books with high-contrast patterns or unbreakable mirror to the side of the crib.
• Spend a lot of time face to face with your baby--talk, sing, and use his name.
• Imitate his faces, smiles, and sounds back to him.
• Learn your baby's responses to sights and sounds and what things calm him.

Baby-sitting Tips

Choosing a baby-sitter

• Find a baby-sitter by asking
  • friends and relatives,
  • someone recommended by a friend or relative,
  • high school, college student, or nursing student.
• Look for someone at least 14 years old who is mature and responsible enough to handle emergencies.
• Ask for references from other families if you do not know the baby-sitter.
• Personally meet a new baby-sitter before he or baby-sits the first time.
• Have a new sitter come to your home to
  • spend time with you and your baby before leaving your child with the sitter,
  • provide time for your child to feel comfortable with a new person,
  • observe the sitter's interaction with your child and family.
• Agree in advance on a fee and when the sitter is needed let the sitter know when you will return home, and be prompt.

  Instructions for the baby-sitter

• Give a brief tour of your home and point out things such as bedding, food, clothing, and toys.
• Show the sitter the fire extinguisher and review the fire plans and exits.
• Give specific instructions about feeding:
  • feeding times and amounts,
  • what ca be eaten,
  • how to prepare formula or other food.
• Provide directions for sleeping:
  • typical nap and bed times,
  • routines for naps and bedtime.
• Furnish guidelines for bathing:
  • soap products to use,
  • preferred water temperature,
  • bath time routines.
• Give guidelines for diaper changes:
  • expect six to eight wet diapers a day,
  • may have from one bowel movement a day t one with each feeding,
  • change diapers often and soon after each bowel movement to prevent diaper rash,
  • clean baby's bottom with every diaper change wipe front to back.
• Provide phone numbers:
  • where you can be reached,
  • doctor, police, fire department, poison control center,
  • neighbor or relative.

Safety

Your baby is learning to move all parts of his body better but does not always have control of himself. You cannot trust him to stay where you put him without moving.

Prevent accidents and falls

• Always keep one hand on your baby when giving care.
• Never leave your baby alone on any elevated surface (changing table or sofa).
• Get in the habit of putting up the side rails whenever your baby is in the crib.
• If using an infant seat always strap your baby in the seat.

  Prevent fires and burns

• Set thermostat for the hot water heater at less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Test the bath water before putting your baby in the tub.
• Avoid drinking hot liquids (coffee), smoking, or cooking while holding your baby.
• Install smoke detectors on each level (including basement) of your home.
• Buy flame resistant clothing.
• Protect your baby's skin from the sun:
  • use a hat, umbrella, or light weight clothing,
  • keep your baby in the shade.
• Do not use sun screen until your baby is six months old.

  Prevent choking and suffocation

• Use toys and rattles that are too large for your baby to swallow.
• Do not use toys with sharp edges, strings, detachable parts, or toxic paint.
• Do not tie pacifiers around your baby's neck.
• Firmly fasten mobiles to your baby's crib rails.

  Car Safety

• Always use a car safety seat that is anchored in the back seat of the car.
• Make a family rule--everyone buckles up before the car moves.
• Never leave your baby alone in the car--an adult or school-age child should be with your baby.
• Keep the car free of objects that can fly around and injure your baby in case of a sudden stop or accident.

  Prevent poisoning

• Never give any medicine to a baby younger than six months of age without contacting your health care provider.