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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Reno County Early Head Start

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Provides high quality services to age three while promoting a community culture that respects the diversity of families; has preschool services. 518 N Washington Hutchinson, KS 620-615-5782 Visit their Facebook page

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Parents as Teachers

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Home visitation program that serves families within the USD 308, 309, and 313 districts with children ages 0-5 years old that have not yet entered Kindergarten. Services are free and provide child development and parenting information to families through home visits, group connections, and screenings. Prenatal mothers are also served throughout pregnancy to prepare for bringing baby home. Enrollment is as easy as calling the office at 620-615-5771. 330 Charles Street Hutchinson, KS 67501 @HutchinsonParentsAsTeachers Visit website

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Healthy Families Reno County

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Provides in-home services until a child is 3 to 5 years old; strengthens families and assists parents who are overburdened by stress 400 West 2nd Avenue, Suite D 620-664-5000 Visit website

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Reno County Infant Toddler Program

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Provides early intervention services for children up to age 3 who have developmental delays or disabilities; has preschool services. 303 East Bigger Hutchinson, KS 620-615-5850 Visit Facebook page

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ABC Program at Horizons Mental Health Center

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Provides in-home parent coaching for children 6-24 months to build attachment between parent and child over a 10-week period. Learn more Bobbie Cooprider, LMSW ABC Project Coordinator Horizons Mental Health Center 1600 North Lorraine, Suite 202 Hutchinson, KS 67502 Phone: 620 663-7595 Ext. 422 Cell: 620 960-1400 Fax: 620 728-2057 Email: coopriderb@hmhc.com

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Community Screenings

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Free quarterly community screenings offered by the Reno County Early Childhood Council for birth to 2.5 years; offers screenings on hearing, vision, height, weight, social/emotional, motor, speech/language, thinking and reasoning. Screenings are promoted on the Reno County Infant-Toddler Program Facebook page. For more information, contact one of these agencies: Reno County Early Head Start -- 620-665-8648 Early Education Center -- 620-615-5850 Parents as Teachers -- 620-615-5771 Reno County Health Department -- 620-694-2900

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MOPS

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MOPS builds circles of moms to support each other. Visit website Hutchinson MOPS Facebook page Buhler MOPS Facebook page

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Mid-Kansas Mommies

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Facebook group of local moms. Visit Facebook group page

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Dolly Parton Imagination Library

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Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth until they begin school, no matter their family’s income. Enrollment for Reno County residents

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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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Good days / bad days...

---

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

---

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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