"Your Baby's First Year" Taya Altmann Flashcards
How many hours per day do newborns typically sleep?
16 hours - divided into 3-4 hour naps between feeds
What is the difference between the newbown sleep cycle and that of adults
Newborns: drowsiness, REM, light sleep, deep sleep and then very deep sleep
Adults: drowsiness, light sleep, deep sleep and then very deep sleep and REM
Biggest cause of death in the first year of life?
SIDS - yes, more than ANY OTHER cause! And is preventable!
When can a baby sleep in any position she’d like?
When she can roll from back to front and vice versa
Side sleeping?
No, just as dangerous as on the stomach, leading to SIDS
Framework Question:
Explain to new parents why stomach sleeping leads to SIDS
Infant brains underdeveloped to respond under certain situations
Stomach sleeping leads to deep sleep
In combination, baby’s unable to respond to asphyxiation
Aside from “back to sleep” what other interventions have demonstrated to decrease SIDS?
Pacifier
What is the key factor behind why newborns sleep few hours compared to older infants?
- Stomach size
- The larger the stomach, the more nutrients, the longer time between feeds, the longer time baby’s can sleep without food
To train babies to sleep on their own, at what mental state should baby’s put to bed?
Drowsy - NOT fully asleep.
TIP: Don’t rock your baby until she is in deep sleep in your arms. Rock until she is drowsy and place her down.
What area of the lower body, if present with a rash, would argue AGAINST yeast infection?
BUTTOCKS - diaper rashes from yeast NEVER appear on the buttocks
Diaper rash - prevalence in formula fed vs breastfed infants?
Breastfed infants have LOWER incidence of diaper rash
Description of meconium?
Dark, sticky, black or green substance present in the first week of life
What is the range of normal consistency for a newborn’s stool?
Soft to runny
How may the frequency of stooling differ between a breastfed baby and a formula fed baby?
Past 3 weeks of age, breastfed babies may stool only once a week since there is little waste in breast milk
LESS risk for diaper rash!
In comparison, formula fed babies should have at least 1 stool/day for the first year
How often to bath newborn?
3 times/week up to 1x/day
What are ways to bathe newborns?
Baths or sponge baths
What is the rule of thumb in regards to how many layers a baby needs?
1 more layer than what I am wearing
When does it become unsafe to swaddle babies?
Around 2-3 months since babies are starting to turn. If they turn onto their stomachs while swaddled, they are at risk of suffocation
What are the expected weight changes in newborns in the first 2 weeks of life?
Weight loss in the first 5 days, up to 10% of BW
Regain birthweight at 2 weeks of life
Time period for the umbilical cord to fall off?
Between 10 days to 3 weeks
Baby acne - what’s the other name? What’s the treatment?
Neonatal cephalic pustulosis; daily face wash with low baby soap
What are the neonatal reflexes? And in what order do they disappear?
Mnemonic:
Some: Stepping Reflex Reflexes: Rooting Reflex Persist: Palmar Reflex More: Moro Reflex Than: Tonic Reflex Others: 0 Persist: Plantar Reflex - last to go at 12 most
Can babies be too spoiled by responding promptly to their cries?
No
At what age does fussiness/crying peak? And how long does fussiness/crying last for (in regards to hours)?
6 weeks
3 hours
At what month does colic last until?
3-4 months, but can last up to 6 months
Framework Question:
What is the cause of colic?
Baby’s excessive sensitivity to stimulation and inability to cope, possibly from an immature nervous system
What are some helpful ways to comfort your baby that has colic?
- Elimination diet if breastfed: soy, dairy, eggs, onion cabbage
- TIP: eliminate 1 item at a time
- Walk the baby in a stroller (rumbling is soothing)
- Provide white noise: laundry, vacuum, etc
- Pacifier
- Place baby on your knees, tummy down and rub her back
- Swaddle
How long do you need to be conscious in supporting your baby’s head?
3 months
That is when he/she will have enough strength to support his/her own head independently
1 month milestones
Gross:
Visual:
- 1 foot away (aka sees objects best at 1 foot away)
- 1 color at a time (black/white)
- 1 pattern it recognizes - faces
What to expect in regards to the frequency of bowel movements in breastfed infants?
In the first month of life: at least 4 BM/day
After 1 month of life: can have a BM 1x/week and that is normal
When should pacifiers be introduced to breastfed infants?
Only after breastfeeding is well established, or simply at 1 month of age because that is when BF should be established
What precaution should be given to parents in regards to newborns and sun exposure?
Skin is sensitive to sunlight and can burn easily, so in the first 6 months, make sure body is covered adequately and not directly exposed to sunlight
How to check if you baby is too cold?
Feel the hands and feet, which should be cooler than the chest
Feel the chest and make sure it is warm
If hands, feet and chest are cold, he is too cold
Explain how an obstructed tear duct can lead to tearing as its presentation?
Obstructed tear ducts will lead to a back flow and instead of draining in the nose, will drain over the eyelids
