- After delivery, 10 % weight loss is expected
- Normal infants stop losing weight at 5 days post-partum and regain birth weight within 1-2 weeks
- All breast-fed infants must take 400 IU/day of vitamin D supplementation immediately
- Feeding must be done on demand
- On each feeding the breast must be alternated
- Breastfeeding can be 8 to 12 times per 24 hours
- Decreases with age
- 4-6 months – introducing solid foods with continued breast/formula feeding
- Recommended solids
- Single-grain infant cereal fortified with iron, oats
- Pureed single ingredient foods (meats, vegetables and fruits without any additives like salt or sugar)
- Start with solids once or twice per day
- Avoid honey due to risk of botulism
- Avoid whole cow’s milk, hard, round foods that can cause choking (e.g. nuts, grapes, raw carrots)
- Recommended solids
- 6 months – teething
- Start cleaning teeth with pea sized low-fluoride toothpaste (no scrubbing, just circular motions)
- 8 months – food advancement
- Lumpier foods can be introduced in order to allow for incremental increase in texture variety
- Finger foods can be introduced due to development of fine grasp
- Finely chopped fruits, vegetables, cheese, pasta
- Avoid choking hazards (peanuts, grapes, raisins, carrots and popcorn)
- 9 months – begins to crawl
- 12 months – walks with support, perhaps time to start weaning off of breastfeeding at this point if you haven’t already done so
- Drop one feeding every 3-4 days so it takes around 2 weeks to wean completely
- 18 months – runs
- 2 years – Babinski reflex disappears
What is healthy sleep for infants?
- Sleep on the back, never on stomach
- Keep soft objects and loose bedding away from infant while sleeping
- Pacifier recommended
- Avoid bed-sharing
- Infant’s crib should be placed in parents’ bedroom until 1 year of age
- Room sharing recommended
- Bed sharing is NOT recommended
What about car seats in Ontario?
- Rear facing car seat until 9 kg (20 lb) – around 12 months of age
- Forward or rear facing car seat until at least 18 kg (40 lb) – around 5 years of age
- Booster seats are required for children
- Between 18 to 36 kg (40 to 80 lbs)
- Under 1.45 m (4’9″)
- Under the age of 8
When do fontanelles close?
- Posterior fontanelle closes 2 to 3 months after birth
- Anterior fontanelle closes 12 – 18 months after birth