Understanding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
March 18, 2022
During the first year of your baby’s life, he or she will need a healthcare kit that they’ll ever need in their entire life again! That’s why it’s so important to build a baby healthcare kit that you can use throughout your child’s first year and well into toddlerhood. Packed with the essential supplies needed to care for your babies, such as diapers, wipes, and cotton balls. Our healthcare kit provides you with the resources you need to care for your child’s every health need.
Every parent needs a medical bag to keep in their house. A medical bag is perfect for minor cuts, insect bites, common allergies, and other typical ailments that are bound to strike during your baby’s first year of life. Make sure your kit includes: Antiseptic wipes, Neosporin antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream (1%), Benadryl tablets, children’s acetaminophen liquid drops, and bandages. In addition to these items, you’ll also want to keep important phone numbers with you at all times just in case. Remember that time when you had a serious emergency but couldn’t reach your doctor because he or she was out of town? Keep those numbers handy. It could save someone’s life!
Baby diapers are a key component of your baby’s healthcare kit. Whether you have a cloth diaper kit or disposable baby diapers, you’ll need to regularly change your baby to keep him/her clean and healthy. Diapers also let you know when your little one needs attention.
If they aren’t changed after an hour or so, it may be time to feed him/her or calm them down with a diaper change. Or, if they feel particularly wet, you may want to consider changing their diaper just to make sure they’re comfortable and dry. As long as your baby is relatively healthy and growing well, there’s no need to panic if their diapers are wet or soiled. But it never hurts to double-check!
The most accurate way to take a baby’s temperature is to use a rectal thermometer. If you’re uncomfortable with rectal temperatures, purchase an oral-digital thermometer. Another alternative is a non-contact infrared thermometer. Just hold it in front of your child and let it do its thing. The good news about all three of these devices is that they will have your temperature reading in less than one second. That’s faster than even a traditional ear thermometer!
Talk about cutting out unnecessary time and keeping kids comfortable during procedures. A new parent would be smart to invest in at least two of each kind: one for home, one for travel. When buying digital or electronic equipment like thermometers, make sure they are FDA approved, meaning they go through rigorous safety testing to ensure they are safe and accurate instruments. Beware of off-brand electronics as some may not meet necessary safety standards.
The nose syringe is a great tool to have when your child has congestion, but what you don’t want to do is use it too much. Overuse of a nasal aspirator can cause small cracks in your baby’s delicate nasal lining. If your baby has a lot of mucus buildup or fluids, then it might be time to clear that up with some saline spray. Never put any kind of liquid directly into your child’s nostrils. Always use an appropriate irrigation device and put only as much saline in there as needed. Saline sprays are easy to find at drugstores, usually near one of those automated nasal aspirators.
Remember: overusing a nasal aspirator will damage your baby’s nasal passage; putting liquids indirectly could introduce harmful bacteria into her sinuses. Take care not to go overboard on either. She may cry at first but won’t permanently damage her passages if you proceed carefully. As far as how often you should use these devices, take cues from your pediatrician rather than trying to figure out when they need them based on how things look on their own. You should stick closely to instructions regarding how often certain medications or other tools should use per day or per week/month as instructed by pediatricians and pharmacists alike.
An essential item in any parent’s childcare kit, a nursing pillow is one of those items that you didn’t know you needed until you actually need it. Even if you’re not planning on breastfeeding, a nursing pillow is great to have around; use it to prop your baby up while sitting on your lap or take him with you when you go shopping. A compact nursing pillow makes an easy-to-carry travel pillow. For young babies, snuggle them into a small U-shaped pregnancy pillow for more support and to keep them from pulling off their bibs during mealtime.
If you plan on breastfeeding and don’t already own one, consider buying two: having two allows your partner (or friend) to hold your baby upright while you nurse him instead of having both parents hunch over their child. Most importantly, be sure that all pillows are cleaned regularly and stay clean by washing them at least once every few months (many are machine washable). Don’t forget: make sure all clothing pieces come off before putting them in washing machines!
One of many firsts a parent experiences when welcoming a newborn into their lives is bathing them. It can be quite scary and stressful, especially if you’re bathing your child in a tub they don’t fit very well into or you aren’t sure how to support their head during bath time. Baths don’t have to be scary, though.
There are tons of products on the market that can make your baby’s early baths much easier and safer for everyone involved. One such product is a baby bathtub, which sits inside of your regular tub and keeps babies elevated at an appropriate height so parents don’t have to bend over or strain themselves.
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