Help me be healthy

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At this checkup:

• I will be weighed and measured.

• I will be looked at everywhere. The doctor will look at how I move, hear, and how well I see.

• I will have several immunizations (shots). Remember to bring my shot record so it can be updated.

• Ask the doctor or WIC nutritionist about starting cereal at 4 months. Rice cereal is the first cereal I should try. Please feed me cereal from a spoon—do not put it in a bottle.

Remember…

• Keep me away from cigarette and cigar smoke.
• Keep wiping my gums and new teeth with a washcloth after each feeding.
• If I tug at my ears or have a cold lasting several days, this could mean that I have an ear infection. Ear infections may have an effect on my hearing. Being sick a lot could affect my growth and learning. If I don’t feel well, it may be hard for me to see, hear, think and learn. If I act, look or feel like I am sick, please call the doctor or nurse right away.

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Help me be safe

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• Hold my bottle for me. Hold me when I am drinking my bottle. Otherwise I could spit up and choke. Don’t put me to bed at night with a bottle either. If I have a bottle in my mouth all night, the milk could decay my new teeth or damage my gums.
• Make sure that the toys, pacifies, and other things you give me are safe for me to have. They should not have any sharp edges or loose pieces. Toys should be big enough that I cannot fit them into my mouth.
• I am strong enough to wiggle out of the infant seat or tip it over. Use the safety strap and keep the infant seat on the floor and away from steps or other dangers.
• Never leave me alone on a bed, on a sofa, on the changing table or in the tub.
• Use an exersaucer or bouncy seat. Use only for a short time and only when I’m being watched.
• Keep me away from hot liquids such as coffee, tea and soup. When you are holding me, don’t try to drink anything hot. I could be badly burned by a hot liquid spilling on me.

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Help me learn

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• Respond promptly to my crying. Don’t worry about spoiling me. Answering my needsmakes me feel safe, loved and worthwhile, and teaches me to trust. Developing trust is the beginning of self-discipline and is necessary for becoming a well adjusted, caring human being.
• Play "talking back and forth." First, I make a noise and you listen. Then you make the same noise and I listen. We can do this many times.
• Let me reach for toys hanging from the sides of my crib or playpen. Make sure they are tied safely and securely so they won’t hurt me. Make supervised “tummy time” a regular part of my day.

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Watch for me to

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• Smile at you to get you to pay attention to me.
• Hold my head without bobbing it around when I sit in your lap.
• Hold a small toy, like a rattle for a few seconds in my hand if you place it in my hand.
• Laugh out loud.
• Say "oo," "ahhh," and other vowel sounds. Sometimes when I say these sounds, I will say them quickly. Other times, I will say them slowly and kind of sing the sound.
• Hold my head all the way up and rest my arms when I am on my stomach.
• Recognize sounds that I hear often--like your voice, the sound of a favorite toy or running water.
• Get excited when I'm having fun. Everything is a game to me.
• Let you know I recognize you as a special person. I get excited when I see people I know or my bottle.
• Begin sitting with your help.
  
  Each child grows and changes at a different rate. Don’t worry if I am early or late in the ways that I am growing. Help me learn. If you are concerned, talk to my doctor or nurse, or call the Early Education Center at 620-615-5850.

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New things are happening to me...

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When something new happens to me, I may be angry or afraid. I am slow to change. As a parent, you could get angry and confused with me. ​ What I really need is for you to:

• Be patient.

• To show me new things, new people, and new situations slowly.

• To let me try 3 or 4 times to get used to something new. I might like it better the second or third time I try it.

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I am curious about the world...

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Help me learn why some things are not safe. If I go to the stove or heater, say "hot" and move me away. Save the word "stop" for dangerous things (ex. reaching for an electrical outlet) and say "wait" for things I need to learn how to manage (ex. instead of "stop spilling the cup" say "wait, let me show you how to hold the cup"). Put things out of reach you do not want me to swallow or put in my mouth. Pills, cleaners, makeup or plants are dangerous. If you think I swallowed something, first call the Poisen Control Center at 800-222-12222.

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Help me be healthy

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At this check-up, I will be: Weighed and measured Watched to see what I do when sounds are made Listened to when I talk Given any immunizations and have any blood tests I have missed Starting me on meats: At 8 months, I can have meats prepared for babies Shoes or no shoes?: I don't really need shoes to help me learn how to walk

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Help me be safe

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Now that I can pull myself up, there are new safety dangers: When cooking, turn pot handles to the center of the stove Check knobs on the TV and stery to see if they can come off Look for cords, chairs or tables with wheels and other things that can be pulled over Move the crib mattress to the lowest position Keep things picked up Use corner protectors on sharp edges Keep the bathroom door closed Use safety plugs Use cabinet safety locks Take away anything that dangles Check my toys: Look to see they are not easily broken and they have no sharp edges I can easily choke: Don't feed me hard food or foods that crumble easily

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Help me learn

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-Teach me to be patient -Read to me -Hide a toy under a cloth -Help me understand my body parts -Play hide and seek with me -Play "So Big!" -Give me a chance to smell some sage things, such as food, flowers, and spices

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Watch for me to

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-Sit without help and start to crawl -Feed myself a cracker, cereal, or food I can eat with my fingers -Say sounds -Pick up small things using my whole hand -Listen to people talking -Hold a small block in one hand -Look for something I have dropped -Hold onto something and stand for about 5 seconds

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Home needs to be safe for me...

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While you can make my house safer for me, I will need help to learn how to be safe. Until I learn what to do, take me away from the place I shouldn’t be or take away the thing I shouldn’t be playing with. Take me where I CAN be and the give me the things I CAN play with. Hitting, slapping, or yelling at me just doesn’t work. Get me interested in something safe and appropriate.

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Help me be healthy

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At this checkup: I will be weighed and checked over I will have the next set of immunizations I may also: Have my eyes checked to see if I have crossed eyes or a lazy eye Have a blood test to see if I have enough iron Take care of my diet and health: Ask if I need flouride supplements Ask about my eating habits Start vegetables and fruits Only give me one new food each week Take care of my teeth

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Help me be safe

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-Put the safety belt on when I am in a high-chair and be sure the tray is secure -Be sure there are no sharp edges -Don't let me stand or leave me alone in the high-chair -Don't leave the high-chair too close to a table or counter

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Help me learn

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-Read to me every day -Talk to me in complete sentences -Make sounds for me to copy -Tell me about a toy and show me how to use it

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Watch for me to

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-Continue developing feelings of safety, security and trust -Pick up my head and hest -Stand up if you hold me under my arms -Roll from my stomach to my back and vice versa -Notice things like small round toast oat cereal when placed in front of me -Lie on my back and look at my hands -Reach for toys -Squeal and make high-pitched sounds when happy -Start to have my teeth come in -Sit for a few seconds without help -Help me learn to drink from a cup

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Good days / bad days...

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All parents have bad days and sometimes feel worn out. It is common for a parent's body to ache a little from the work of being a parent. This doesn't mean you are doing anything wrong. Remember these bad days are usually followed by good days. Young children need parents who try their best, but that does not mean you will succeed all the time. Try not to worry about being a super parent or a super family. If you sometimes feel you are at the end of your rope, talk to your spouse, call a good friend or call one of the telephone services that can offer support and suggestions on parenting issues. Talking to someone and asking for help: Shows you love and care about me Shows you are being a good parent

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Help me be healthy

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At this checkup: I will be weighed and measured I will have any immunizations or blood tests I have missed I mighted be screened to see if I have been exposed to lead

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Help me be safe

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-Make sure unsafe things are not in drawers -Store my toys, books, and things where I can reach them -Sturdy shelves, dispans, and cardboard boxes are good -I can choke on food -Do not give me hard-to-chew foods -I still need to be watched carefully Common accidents: Falls Burns Poisening Choking Drowning Car accidents

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Help me learn

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-Keep reading to me and begin taking me to the local library -Play "which hand is it in?" -Let me practice dropping things into containers -Let me practice feeding myself -I have my favorite people and toys -Encourage me to imitate such sounds as cars, airplaines, trains, and animals -Help me understand my feelings

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Watch for me to

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-Play "pat-a-cake" and other clapping games -Pull myself up -Pick up a block or small toy -Say the same sound over and over -Say my first words -Stop doing something if you say "no" for dangerous things or "wait" for things you need to show me how to do -Follow some easy directions like "come here" -Stand by myself -Keep growing

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