Childhood Illness | Baby Food Chart

 

The Importance of Check Ups and Immunizations

Keeping baby healthy is every parent’s top priority, and the best way to ensure this is through regular check ups and immunizations against childhood diseases. Your baby’s doctor is also committed to keeping your baby healthy, so be sure to attend all recommended check ups. Vaccinations will protect your baby from illnesses that could be very serious, even fatal, so make sure you stay on track with those as well.
Baby’s Check Ups
Your baby’s doctor will want to see him on a regular basis during the first two years of life. At first, baby will be seen every two months, then every three, every six, and finally once yearly after the age of two. These check ups allow the doctor to keep track of baby’s growth and development, and keep an eye on his health as well.
Through regular check ups, a pediatrician can identify potential developmental delays, and get your child the therapy or intervention that will help him catch up. These visits also allow the doctor to make sure baby is growing the way he should be. If baby isn’t gaining weight at a normal rate, falls off his growth curve, or shows any other abnormalities in growth patterns, the doctor can investigate further to determine the source of the problem.
Every time your baby sees his doctor, he will be given a thorough physical to check for anything abnormal that could indicate illness or some other problem. From the most minor problems to much more serious ones, regular check ups are your best chance of catching something as early as possible, to prevent it from becoming worse. As with the regular visit to the obstetrician during pregnancy, well baby check ups are vital to making sure everything is going as it should, and baby is healthy and developing at a normal rate.
The Vaccination Question
Recently, a great deal of controversy has surrounded the issue of vaccination. Many parents are choosing to vaccinate their children on an alternate schedule, while others are skipping vaccinations altogether. The bottom line is that vaccines exist to protect children from very serious illnesses that could even result in death. The American Academy of Pediatrics comes down firmly on the side of vaccinating on schedule, as the benefits outweigh the potential risks.
Vaccinations have nearly eradicated numerous serious illnesses such as polio that once claimed many young lives. By ensuring that your child receives all of her vaccinations onschedule , you can help to keep things like polio in the past. Address your concerns about vaccines with your child’s doctor. Hopefully, you will be given the latest information to help put your mind at ease. New research has recently debunked some of the more frightening tales be circulated about vaccines, and your doctor can also share with you what the real risks ofimmunizations are so that you can avoid misinformation.
As a parent, you want to make the best decisions possible for your child’s health and well being, and sometimes that can be difficult. Remember that your baby’s doctor is your partner on the path to health, and is there to answer your questions and provide you with information to make it easier. Seeing your baby’s doctor regularly will ensure that your baby has the best possible chance of staying healthy and avoiding illness.

Your Baby’s Immunizations

In recent years there has been a lot of controversy surrounding vaccines. However, at this time immunizations are the best method we have of protecting our children from potentially fatal childhood illnesses, many of which are no longer seen in the United States thanks to immunization programs. A recommended immunization schedule has been created to make sure your child gets the vaccinations they need at the appropriate times. Some vaccines have been combined into one shot so that your child needs fewer sticks with a needle.
The Standard Schedule of Immunizations
The CDC has a recommended schedule of vaccinations, which should be followed to maximize your child’s protection. If you are interested in an alternate schedule, discuss it with your child’s doctor to be sure you have all the information to weigh the pros and cons. The standard schedule for the first two years is as follows:
At Birth
Before your baby leaves the hospital, the first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine will likely be administered. If it is not given in the hospital, your baby’s doctor will administer it at the first check up.
At 1-2 Months Old
If your baby had the first Hepatitis B vaccine at birth, the second one may be given at one month old, or your doctor may wait until two months old. At two months, your baby will also receive the following vaccines:

• DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis, otherwise known as whooping cough)
• Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
• Polio, or IPV
• RV (rotavirus)
• PCV (pneumococcal disease)

At 4 Months Old
Your baby will receive another round of shots similar to the ones given at the 2 month visit. Many vaccines require two or more shots to be completely effective, so don’t be surprised if you see the same ones repeatedly. At four months your baby will once again receive:

• DTaP
• Hib
• Polio, or IPV
• RV
• PCV

At 6 Months Old
At your baby’s 6 month visit, your baby will receive another round of the same vaccines you have seen before. In addition to these shots, you may be offered an influenza vaccine depending on the season during which baby’s 6 month visit is scheduled. At this visit, your baby will receive shots for:

• DTaP
• Hib
• PCV

Also optional at this visit is the next round of Hepatitis B and Polio vaccines, which should be given between 6 and 18 months of age.
At 12 to 15 Months Old
At the 12 month visit, you will see some new vaccines as well as more of the ones your child has received previously. All of these vaccines can be given between 12 and 15 months old, so you can choose to do them all at once, or split them up. Again,influenza will be offered seasonally. The 12 to 15 month shots are:

• PCV
• Hib
• Varicella (chicken pox)
• MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)
• Hepatitis A

At 15 to 18 Months Old
At the 15 month check up, your child will receive any vaccines you chose to put off from the 12 month visit. Baby will also be due for one more DTaP shot between 15-18 months. As with previous visits,influenza may be an option depending on the season.
Your doctor will help to make sure all of baby’s vaccinations are on schedule, and answer any questions you might have about the immunizations.

Keeping your Baby Healthy

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Few things concern new parents more than the health of their baby. Although babies are delicate and have much weaker immune systems than adults, there are a few simple things you can do as a parent to ensure your baby stays healthy.
Baby’s Immune System
Newborns enter the world with no immunity to any of the many viruses and bacteria we come into contact with every day. They must build immunity over time, and the number one thing that you can do to help baby’s immune system grow stronger is to breastfeed. Breast milk, especially the early colostrum, contains antibodies your baby can’t get anywhere else. These will strengthen her immune system and give her an edge in fighting off common childhood illnesses.
Although there has been much controversy surrounding vaccinations in the past several years, the truth is that getting your baby immunized is a vital step in keeping her protected from potentially fatal illnesses. The reason so many childhood illnesses are practically non-existent in the US today is the strong push for vaccinations. If you are interested in an alternate vaccinationschedule or have concerns about vaccines, talk to your baby’s doctor.
Well-baby Check Ups
Seeing your baby’s pediatrician regularly is vital to keeping your baby healthy. Well-baby check ups are scheduled at gradually widening intervals throughout your baby’s first two years, and yearly thereafter. These visits allow your baby’s doctor to monitor his health, and catch any signs of a problem early, before it can become serious. Well-baby visits are also the time whenimmunizations are usually scheduled.
You should also use these check ups as an opportunity to discuss any concerns you may have regarding your baby’s health. Remember that you are the first line of defense for your baby; because you spend more time with him than your doctor does, you are more likely to notice a problem. Don’t hesitate to bring it up, even if you aren’t sure it’s worth mentioning. Anything that concerns you should be taken seriously by your baby’s doctor.
Protecting Baby’s Health
A simple precaution you can take to avoid exposing your baby to harmful germs is to make sure you wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer before you touch her. Make sure that anyone else who wishes to touch her does the same. Don’t be afraid to stand up to strangers in public who want to touch your baby! It is your job to protect her while her immune system is not yet up to the task.
Make sure to ask friends and family to avoid visiting when they are sick. A cold that might be a minor inconvenience to an adult can hospitalize a newborn, so take this seriously. Your doctor may recommend avoiding busy public places with your newborn for the first few months, especially if your baby is born during cold and flu season. This doesn’t mean you are house-bound! Just try to keep your outings to less crowded places, and again, be cautious of strangers who want to check out your precious little one. Remind them it’s ok to look, but please don’t touch.
In spite of your best efforts, it’s likely that your baby will come down with several colds in the first year of life. However, if you have done your best to bolster his immune system and keep him healthy, hopefully they will be short-lived and infrequent.
A healthy baby is a happy baby, and that makes for happy parents too!