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    • Taking care of your baby

    Taking care of your baby

    Babies do not come into this world with an instructions manual and there are a lot of questions that you will have about how to take proper care of your little one.

    At MCS, we developed this guide to help you to learn about and prepare for the healthy development of your baby. Here we provide you with recommendations to meet the needs of your baby, as well as advise on nutrition, visits to the pediatrician, immunization, dental care, and safety, among others.

    Growth and normal development of the child​

     

    0-3 months

    Physical development

    Fixes his/her eyes in bright or shinny objects, looks at his/her hand and places it into his/her mouth, lift his/her head when lying on his/her stomach.

    Social and emotional

    Smiles at people, looks into the eyes or people , turns his/her head towards where there is noise, tries to reach objects. Makes noises when sees himself/herself in the mirror.

    Language and communication

    Makes noises, responds with his/her eyes or some kind of movement, at three months he/she can already laugh and scream.

    Feeding

    The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend that you feed your baby exclusively on breast milk during the first six months. It’s not necessary to give water to your baby.

    Recommendations

    Talk, read, and sing to your baby whenever you can. Give him massages before and after bath time, hug him/her and exposed him/her to soft music.

     

    4-6 months

    Physical development

    Keeps his/her head firm, turns over, is able to sit with your help, can pass objects from one hand to the other and grabs his/her feet.

    Social and emotional

    Enjoys the environment around him/her, laughs and talks to himself/herself, recognizes strangers and plays with his/her hands.

    Language and communication

    Makes shrieking noises when happy, produces different and consistent sounds, starts to say “good bye” . Laughs and recognizes voices. Pays attention when talked to.

    Feeding

    Introduce mashed solid foods, such as fruits and vegetables. Start with one ingredient at a time. Use a spoon. Do not give solid foods to your baby in a bottle.

    Recommendations

    Exercise with your baby. While lying down, lift him/her slowly with your arms while he grabs your fingers. Talk to him slowly and clearly.

     

    7-9 months

    Physical development

    The first teeth begin to appear. He/she crawls, eats cookies by himself/herself and holds his/her bottle. He/she is able to sit without falling down from a crawling position.

    Social and emotional

    Your baby starts to explore his/her surroundings. Imitates games or the conduct exhibited by adults, such as introducing a spoon into his/her mouth or in a container.

    Language and communication

    Imitates sounds, has a one-word vocabulary. Plays with his/her image when he/she looks at a mirror.

    Feeding

    Gluten-free cereals (rice or corn) and meats. Mixed foods should be introduce at this stage of development. Offer liquids in a cup.

    Recommendations

    Take safety precautions to ensure safety in your home. Give your baby simple instructions. Offer him/her toys that stimulate all senses.

     

    10-12 months

    Physical development

    Walks holding your hand, points at things with his/her finger, grabs objects using his/her fingers as tweezers, and throws things away and then look for them.

    Social and emotional

    The capacity of your baby to connect with others is highly developed, understands reprimands and indicates what he/she wants

    Language and communication

    Pays attention when talked to. Understands the meaning of “mom” and “ dad”. Follows orders and understands simple questions.

    Feeding

    You may introduce cereals containing gluten, yogurt, cheeses, and juices. Do not add salt, sugar or margarine to your baby’s foods. Offer him/her homemade foods.

    Recommendations

    Talk to your baby and described to him/her what you do during bath time, when changing clothes and feeding time. Let him/her explore his/her surroundings, even if that means getting dirty.

     

    1-2 years

    Physical development

    Walks effectively, runs, can go downstairs holding your hand, can build a five-block tower and drink from a cup.

    Social and emotional

    Pulls people from their hands to show them the things he/she wants them to see and plays with other kids.

    Language and communication

    Has a 10-20-word vocabulary, constructs two-word phrases, follows orders and knows his/her body parts.

    Feeding

    Avoid foods that could choke your child or with little nutritional value. Gradually, add small amounts of milk, eggs, and fish to his/her diet.

    Recommendations

    Teach him/her how to brush his/her teeth daily. Encourage active games, such as riding a tricycle, and passive activities like painting.

    • Establish healthy eating habits from the beginning.

    • A breast milk-only diet is the perfect choice for your baby during the first six months.

    • Set an itinerary for meals and snacks. Schedule one meal approximately every 2 to 3 hours.

    • As he/she grows, offer him/her foods with a variety of flavors and textures.

    • At 12 months, you can give your child easy to swallow foods cut in small trips that he/she can grab easily ion his/her own.

    • Avoid giving your baby foods with little or no nutrition value at all, such as soda, beverages that are not 100% juice, candy and fast foods.

    • Its recommended that you offer your baby five or more servings of fruit and vegetables each day.

    • Offer your child healthy snacks. These should include foods from two of the nutritional groups. For example: yogurt with fruits, crackers with cheese or cereal with fruit. Avoid chocolates, cakes, chips, and cookies.

    • You can cut small pieces of fruits and vegetables to have ready to eat healthy snacks for your child.

    • Remember to offer him/her plenty of water during the day.


    Visits to the pediatrician


    Newborns should have their first visit with a pediatrician two days after been discharged from the hospital, to check his/her weight, body hydration, breast feeding progress, and jaundice (yellowish skin). Afterwards, these visits will be every two months ( at 2, 4, 6,8,10,12 and 15 months). For a healthy baby, these visits serve to monitor his/her growth and development, and to administer the corresponding vaccinations.

    Premature babies

    If your baby has gained weight and is generally healthy, his/her visits will follow the same schedule of a full-term baby. If your baby has some special health condition (respiratory, heart condition), visits will be schedule according to the pediatrician’s discretion. Perhaps, one or several times per month.

    What to do during your visit to the pediatrician?

    We know that there are plenty of doubts and questions that you may have when you are at home with your baby. This is the perfect moment to clarify doubts and get the answers you need

    Take with you a list of all your doubts and questions regarding the health of your baby, such as:

    • Weight and length according to his/her age.
    • Routine tests.
    • Adequate feeding.
    • Everything related to his/her physical, social and emotional development.
    • Communication and language.
    • Medication side effects.
    • General recommendations.