Is your baby's health just a growing pain or are you
sick with worry?
Have you just given birth? Here's how to keep an eye on
your new baby's health
A baby's health is important for the growth and development of the
baby. A parent should make sure that the baby receives all the necessary
support for his or her growth. Being a new parent may be adventurous
because there are so many things that you will learn as the baby
develops. The environment in which a baby stays should always be clean
to avoid getting the baby ill. The baby's immune system may not be able
to fight some bacteria, thus causing infections in the system. The use
of antiseptics to clean the floor and walls should assist in the
reduction of bacteria. You should bathe the baby regularly in a warm
environment to avoid getting flu and to keep him or her clean as well.
One should not leave poisonous substances in places where a baby can
reach because they may consume it and fall sick.
Babies express their feelings through facial expressions and crying.
When a child is ill, he or she may cry uncontrollably and may refuse to
eat regular meals. This is an indicator that the baby is unwell. A
parent should take the baby to hospital immediately for a proper check
up and for treatment. A parent should closely monitor the baby's growth
by keeping track of both weight and height from the time of birth. You
should understand that a baby's growth is not consistent throughout;
there are times when a baby grows rapidly and at times the growth rate
decreases.
An abnormal decrease or increase in the weight and height may imply that
the baby's health is declining and you should consult with a doctor
about this immediately. If the baby's height and weight increase
systematically it may indicate that, the baby's development is normal
and there is no need for an alarm. The rate of babies' development both
physically and mentally vary depending on the mental capacity and
genetic growth rate of a baby. The mother's health status during the
time of pregnancy may affect the baby's rate of development when he or
she is born.
The baby's eye colour may indicate whether the baby is ill or not.
Diseases such as jaunties discolour the eye, causing a yellow ring to
form around the iris. A person should contact a doctor immediately to
find out what one should do to treat it.
If the baby develops steadily, the parents should encourage it and offer
emotional support so that the baby can learn how to associate with
people. Some occurrences may worry a parent such as hair loss in babies.
Loss of hair is common with babies who are about six months old and
below. Their hair grows in two phases - growth and resting phases. Their
hair grows to a certain point and then sheds off after weakening. The
most a parent can do in such a situation is to overlook that particular
stage as well as avoid putting a baby to sleep in a monotonous position
as this may contribute to the development of hair patches. Slight
changes in hair colour are normal especially when the baby is replacing
the loose hairs.
A baby should feed on healthy foods such as breast milk, which contains
nutrients necessary for the baby's growth. You should avoid feeding
month-old babies with manufactured juices because the sugars used to
manufacture them are artificial. These tips may assist in the
progression of a baby's health.
|