Lesson 8: Health: Keeping Your Baby Well
Visits to the doctor's office are expensive, but well worth the money, when they are needed. In this lesson, we will discuss how you can prevent illness, speed recovery, and determine when a doctor visit is necessary, or when home care is adequate. The final section contains a list of parenting resources for further study.
Health Maintenance
Keep your baby well by feeding him good food, by making sure his air and environment are clean, and by following his doctor's schedule for wellness checkups. Good food, especially breast milk, promotes good health. It prevents illnesses and allergies, reduces infections, and comforts him when he's sick. Pollutants in his environment can irritate his sensitive breathing passages.
During wellness checkups, request that your baby stay on your lap or in your arms during his exam so that he will be more calm and the exam will be more accurate. You may bring a list of questions to ask. The doctor discusses your baby's growth and development, nutrition, and illness and accident prevention. Your baby receives a physical exam, measurements are taken, and his hearing and vision are evaluated. He may receive immunizations or lab tests. Immunizations stimulate your baby's body to create antibodies to disease. (See pages 574 to 580 for more information on immunizations.)
Attached parents often know their child is sick even before he displays symptoms. His behavior may change subtly. More obvious signs of sickness are fever, lethargy, faster breathing, and faster heart rate.
Help him heal from many common illnesses by encouraging him to rest, giving him extra fluids, fresh air, liquid food, and slow-release sugars. Get a doctor's recommendation before giving medicines. (See pages 584 and 585 in The Baby Book for medicine-giving techniques.)
