newborn baby

Should you go with glass, plastic, or disposable bottles? Do you need a bottle warmer and sterilizer? Fortunately, you don’t need all the products out there, but a few will come in handy. Baby Bottle Basics: Plastic Vs. Glass You've got three basic choices: 1. Plastic Pros:  They’re lightweight, strong, and unbreakable. Cons:  Plastic baby bottles may not last as long as glass. And if you’re using older, secondhand bottles, they may have bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used to make hardened plastic. The FDA banned the use of BPA in 2012 from baby bottles and sippy cups, but older ones may have it. 2. Glass Pros:  They last a long time, and you can boil them for a deep clean. Cons:  They’re heavier than plastic and may shatter if you drop them. 3. Disposable Pros:  These reusable plastic bottles have a disposable sterilized liner for each feeding. They’re very convenient because clean-up is quick. Cons:  The disposable inserts ...

What Do You Need for Your New Baby? Before you welcome your baby home, you'll want to have everything in place. Along with diapers, bottles, and baby clothes, you'll need to get the "big 4": car seat, crib or bassinet, stroller, and -- thinking ahead -- a high chair. Use these tips to make smart, safe choices. Have the Car Seat Ready It's a once-in-a-lifetime trip -- your baby's first ride home! Install the car seat ahead of time so everything's ready. Newborns should ride in rear-facing car seats. Follow installation instructions, or find a child safety seat inspection station for help. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website lists stations, or you can call 888-327-4236. The middle of the backseat is the safest spot to install the seat. Types of Rear-Facing Seats Infant-only seats are smaller than regular baby seats. The seat may come out of the base and have handles so you can use it to carry your little one. You can ma...

One of the first questions your pediatrician may ask after your son’s birth is whether you plan to have him circumcised. It’s a relatively common surgical procedure where your baby’s foreskin -- the hood of skin that covers the head of his penis -- is removed. If a baby is going to have the surgery, it’s usually done before he leaves the hospital, 2 or 3 days after birth. If you’re considering it, here’s what you need to know. What Is It? The foreskin of the penis covers the glans, or head, of the penis. By cutting it off, the surgery exposes the end of the penis. The practice of circumcision dates back to ancient Egypt. It was believed to help males keep the area clean. While that’s true, circumcisions today are done mainly for religious or cultural reasons. In the U.S., about 55% of newborns are circumcised shortly after birth. Others have the surgery later, but some never have it. Preparing for Circumcision If you want...

Multivitamins aren't necessary for most healthy children who are growing normally. Foods are the best source of nutrients. Regular meals and snacks can provide all the nutrients most preschoolers need. While many young children are picky eaters, that doesn't necessarily mean that they have nutritional deficiencies. Many common foods — including breakfast cereal, milk and orange juice — are fortified with important nutrients, such as B vitamins, vitamin D, calcium and iron. So your child may be getting more vitamins and minerals than you think. Furthermore, multivitamins aren't without some risks. Megadoses of vitamins and minerals can be toxic. In addition, some vitamins and minerals can interact with medications your child may take. Talk with your child's doctor if you're concerned about whether your child is getting the recommended level of vitamins and minerals. A multivitamin might be helpful for your child if he or she: Has a delay in physical...

Every child grows and develops at his or her own pace. Still, child development tends to follow a fairly predictable path. Find out what language, social, cognitive and physical milestones to expect from ages 2 to 5. Age 2 At age 2, your child might have completed these skills: Language skills. Speak at least 50 words. Link two words together, such as "my cup" or "no juice." Speak clearly enough for parents or caregivers to understand about half of the words. Social skills. Show more independence. Become defiant. Copy others. Get excited when with other children. Engage mostly in parallel — not interactive — play with peers. Cognitive skills. Play simple make-believe games. Begin to sort objects by shape and color. Find hidden objects. Physical skills. Walk down stairs holding rail. Stand on tiptoes. Begin to run. Kick a ball. Age 3 At age 3, your child might have completed these skills: Language skills. Speak 200 or more words. Speak in three-word...

When you head outside for family fun this summer, be sure to protect small children from burns. Keep sunblock handy and protect against other burn hazards:  1. Keep little ones away from grills, fire pits and campfires.  2. Don't let children play with or near fireworks or sparklers  3. Check children's car seats for hot straps or buckles. These can heat up quickly in a car parked in direct sunlight.