Caring For Infants

Adult and Family Living

Unit 10

Introduction• Being prepared to take care of an infant can

make the experience a wonderful one for parents.

• Parents who know what to expect and how to provide for their baby’s needs help their child develop to his or her fullest potential.

• Because infants require a lot of love, time and patience, parents need to be prepared.

• This unit will give you a better understanding of how to care for an infant.

Select Situations to Expect When Caring for

a Newborn

• Words You Should Know – Infant

• Child from birth to 12 months of age.

– Neonate• A newborn child during the first month of life;

“neo” meaning new and “natal” means birth.

– Pediatrician • Physician specializing in the care and

development of children.

Objective 1

Select Situation to Expect When Caring for

a Newborn• Rashes are common for newborns.

– A pediatrician should be consulted if a rash persists.

• The scalp of a neonate may be prone to cradle cap.– Cradle cap is flaky skin that resembles

dandruff.• Neonates may have slightly irregular and

noisy breathing due to accumulations of saliva in the throat.

Continued…

Select Situation to expect When Caring for

a Newborn• Neonates may have only two or three wet

diapers a day for the first few days.– This number will definitely increase as

the infant gets older

• The stool of the neonates will be black and sticky the first few days.– Over the following weeks the stools will

take on a yellowish color and more regular consistency

NOTE: Blood in stools is not normal and requires a physician’s immediate attention.

Continued…

Select Situation to Expect When Caring for

a Newborn• The umbilical cord will dry up within the first

couple of days and detach in a week or two.– The area around the umbilical cord needs

to be kept clean and dry until it falls off. Sponge baths should be given until it detaches.

• Fingernails and toenails may be long at birth and need to be trimmed to prevent scratches on the baby

NOTE: Trimming baby’s fingernails and toenails is often easier when the baby is sleeping.

Continued…

Define Development Tasks of Infants

• Words you should know– Developmental tasks

• Skills, attitudes, and knowledge that must be mastered at each stage of development to progress to the next stage successfully

Objective 2

Define Developmental Tasks of Infants

• Good eating and sleeping habits – These are the foundation of a baby’s health.

Without them, babies fail to thrive, and all other developmental skills and knowledge would be affected negatively.

• Eating solid foods – The infant moves from sucking and nursing to

a digestive system which is ready to digest solid food, usually at age four to six months

Continued…

Define Developmental Tasks of Infants

• Body Control – Newborns learn what they can do with their

bodies. At first, they are not able to hold up their heads, which must be supported until about age six weeks. They learn gasping and develop eye-hand coordination. By six months, most infants can roll over; by seven, many can crawl. By ten months, most are standing. They need freedom to move without being confined by clothes.

Continued…

Define Developmental Tasks of Infants

• Walking – Between nine and fifteen months of age the

bones, muscles, and nerves in the legs and trunk of the infant have developed to the point of biologically being ready to walk.

• Controlling elimination – Gaining control of the bowels and bladder is

slow and often difficult. The ability to govern voluntary elimination seldom develops before the child is two. Parents who try to rush this process are often frustrated. The child will control elimination when developmentally ready.

Continued…

Define Developmental Tasks of Infants

• Communication – The nerves and muscles of the speaking apparatus

are biologically developed at birth but the baby uses smiles, grunts, and crying the first few months. By age two months, infants discriminate between voices.

• Expressing emotion – Infants can show distress, excitement, or happiness

by age two months; by five months, they show fear and anger. By age ten months, they begin to cry less frequently and begin to individualize a personality.

Continued…

Describe Basic Needs of Every Infant

• Physical needs

– For food, water, protection, safety, rest, activity, and a warm, comfortable environment.Newborns need to be fed six to eight times

in a 24-hour period, including once or twice at night

Newborns sleep about 18 to 20 hours a day, usually in periods of four to five hours at a time. They need a firm, flat mattress in a bed with no way to fall off or get caught in the bed frame

Objective 3

Describe Basic Needs of Every Infant

Newborns should be giving a sponge bath.

Newborns should have soft, flame-retardant, loose-fitting clothing.

Newborns’ diapers should be changed ten times a day. This should be done promptly, with thorough cleaning of the diaper area to prevent rashes.

Continued…

Describe Basic Needs of Every Infant

• Security needs – For familiar and routine eating, sleeping,

playing, bathing, and quiet time. Newborns react negatively to load noises and sudden, extreme movement. Part of the security need of a child is for consistency in activities and behaviors of caregivers.

• Emotional needs – For love and belonging. These needs are

met by affection, approval, and acceptance by caregivers. Included are physical contact with the baby - talking and singing to, holding, rocking, and gently patting.

Continued…

Distinguish Between Characteristics of Breast-

feeding and Bottle-feeding

• Words you should know – Bonding

• Close attachment formed between parents and the newborn that begins during the first hours after birth and evolves thereafter

– Colostrum• Milk produced by the mother’s breasts

for the first few days after childbirth

Objective 4

Distinguish Between Characteristics of Breast-

feeding and Bottle-feeding

NOTE: Infants suck most strongly in the first five minutes, taking in about 80 percent of the milk they will drink that meal. They need to be burped to avoid the discomfort of air swallowed when eating.

Characteristics of breast-feeding

NOTE: Breast-feeding is not a form of birth control

Continued…

Distinguish Between Characteristics of Breast-

feeding and Bottle-feeding

• Provides the most complete food for the infant and contains all the nutrients needed for the first four to six months of life

• Contains colostrum, which supplies antibodies that provide immunity to disease

• Provides direct human contact with the mother, fostering a close relationship and bonding

• Is convenient in the it does not require daily preparation

• Is safe and avoids most sources of contamination

Continued…

Characteristics of breast-feeding

Distinguish Between Characteristics of Breast-

feeding and Bottle-feeding

• Helps shrink the mother’s uterus back to normal size and helps the mother return to her pre-pregnancy weight

• Requires the mother to eat healthy foods and avoid alcohol, smoking, and drugs in order to produce healthy milk for the baby

• Requires that milk be expressed by a breast pump and put into sterilized bottles for other caregivers to help with the feedings

• Requires consideration of etiquette if feeding the baby when other people are present

Continued…

Distinguish Between Characteristics of Breast-

feeding and Bottle-feeding

NOTE: infants who are bottle fed should be given formula designed specifically for the needs of babies. Have nutritional needs that cow’s milk cannot fulfill.

• Provides a good alternative feeding method.

• Provides adequate nutrition and the same nutrients as mother’s milk; in addition, formula contains iron and fluoride supplements not found in mother’s milk.

Continued…

Characteristics of bottle-feeding

Distinguish Between Characteristics of Breast-

feeding and Bottle-feeding

• Accepted by most babies• Allows the father and other caregivers to

participate equally with the mother in feeding the baby

• Convenient when necessary to feed the baby in public

• Difficult for some babies to digest • A more expensive method of infant feeding • Requires Preparation to sterilize equipment and

make the formula

Continued…

Identify Safety Rules for Bathing an Infant

• Always test the water temperature before placing the infant in the water– The recommended water temperature for

bathing an infant is 98 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not add hot water while baby is in the bath

NOTE: A person can test bath water temperature by submerging both hands and forearm in the water to be certain the water is comfortably warm, not hot.

• CAUTION: Baby’s skin is very sensitive to heat and can burn easily.

Objective 5

Identify Safety Rules for Bathing

• Never leave an infant unattended or alone or around bath water.– The baby could easily drown in very little

water.

• Never use a cotton swab to clean infant’s ears or nostrils.– A slight movement or jerk by the infant

could cause serious injury.

• Never allow the older baby to climb or stand while in the bathtub.– The baby could easily slip and fall.

Continued…

Select Ways to Childproof an Environment

• Words you should know – Childproofing

• Creating a safe environment for young children

Objective 6

Select Ways to Childproof an Environment

• CAUTION: No safety check replaces the need for supervision.

NOTE: In addition to the following guidelines, it is advisable for an adult to actually get down on the floor and crawl around the area, checking at the child’s eye level for any additional hidden dangers.

Continued…

Select Ways to Childproof an Environment

• Keep alcoholic beverages, medications, and cleaning products locked in cabinets and out of the reach of children.

• Keep all glass bottles out of children’s reach. NOTE: Buy products in plastic containers instead of

glass if available.

Continued…

Parents can help create a childproof home by following these guidelines:

Select Ways to Childproof an Environment

• Knot or tie up cords on all draperies, venetian blinds, and electrical appliances. Children can wrap cord around their necks and accidentally chock to death.

• Keep small objects out of the reach of babies, especially things that can be put in the eye, ears, nose, and mouth. NOTE: a toy safety guideline is to be certain toys are

at least twice the size of a baby’s mouth.

• Never let children play with dry cleaning bags.

Continued…

Select Ways to Childproof an Environment

• Do not let children blow up balloons or put them in their mouths. Adults should supervise balloon play.• CAUTION: Balloons are easily swallowed and can result

in choking or stoppage of air flow. Be alert to the fact that balloons can be dangerous toys.

• Throw away broken toys or objects lying around the house.

• Cover electrical outlets with child protection plugs.

• Lock cabinet doors and drawers.

Continued…

Select Ways to Childproof an Environment

• Install restraining gates at the tops and bottoms of all stairs in the house.

• Never allow babies to lie or play around open heaters, fireplace, or floor furnaces.

Parents can help protect children outdoor by following these guidelines:

• Carefully supervise outdoor activities.• Check the safety of outdoor toys, equipment, and

play areas.

Continued…

Select Ways to Childproof an Environment

NOTE: Adult should remove any rocks, broken glass, or broken toys in the area and fill in any large holes in the ground.

• Avoid letting children play in areas where a swimming pool or spa is located. Be sure gates to pools and spas are locked.

• Clear the area of all poisonous plants.

NOTE: If any poisonous plant, chemical, or medication is ingested, immediately call a local hospital emergency room or poison control center at 1-800-522-4611.

Continued…

Select Ways to Childproof an Environment

• Check the area for wasps, other stinging insects, and spiders.

• Always place a life jacket on children when they are around water.

• Choose pets carefully and maintain their vaccinations.

Continued…

Select Ways to Childproof an Environment

• Always place children in tested and approved child restraint seats before starting the car when traveling.

• Lock car doors once you and your child are safely buckled in.

• Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle.

Continued

Parents can help create safe traveling for their children by following these guidelines:

Distinguish Among types of Child CareNOTE: In all types of child care, references

should be obtained and checked for validity.

• Child care center−Child care centers are usually

staffed with individuals who have at least some training in the areas of child development and child care. They provide all-day care.

Objective 7

Distinguish Among Types of Child Care

– EXAMPLE: Nationally franchised centers, privately owned centers, government-sponsored centers, employers-sponsored centers

• Family child care homes– Care is provided in the home of the

caregiver. This type of care usually involves a small group of children being cared for in a home setting with opportunities for social interaction and learning.

Continued…

Distinguish Among Types of Child Care

• In-home care– A relative, friend, or babysitter who comes

to the house of the child when needed provides in-home care. In-home care may be the most personal and convenient form of care, but it is usually the most expensive and offers less opportunities for social interaction with other children.

Continued…

Select Characteristics of a Good Child Care

Facility NOTE: Children with special needs or disabilities

may require additional criteria to meet their needs.• Positive general atmosphere- reflecting safety

and sanitation

• Plentiful and positive staff/child/parent interaction

• Scheduled daily age-appropriate activities

• Age-appropriate equipment and toys

• Documentation meeting state licensing requirements

Objective 8

Evaluate the Quality and Cost of Infants

• Almost all parents need child care at some time. Knowing what to look for will help them choose from the many care options available, including child care centers, preschool centers, family daycare homes, churches, child care centers, Head Start centers, and private homes.

• COMPLETE ASSIGNMENT SHEET 1

Objective 9

Calculate the Cost of Raising a Child

• Raising children requires money. The statistics in the assignment sheets reflect necessities only. Other expenditures, such as delivery, vacations, and private lessons, must be added to the costs. Being prepared to support a child requires planning for most parents.

• COMPLETE ASSIGNMENT SHEET 2

Objective 10

Developed by: Kellie Leo

Tishomingo High School