Keeping Your Baby Healthy
The greatest concern for new parents is how to know that their new baby is healthy. Modern parents have a great advantage over those of the past for keeping their newborn well.
Modern vaccination techniques will eliminate most concerns for life threatening diseases. From the initial Hepatitus B vaccination given shortly after birth, there are several more preventative shots available on a schedule for the first two months. Maintaining this schedule will result in vaccination against Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Type B Influeza, inactive Polio and Pneumonia. New studies have shown that most minor bacterial infections are best left to run their course and not fill your new baby with antibiotics as this can prevent the body from developing natural immunities to common bacteria.
Good diet is another primary method to keep your newborn healthy. Breast feeding for at least the first week or so of life will imbue many natural antigens and other necessary hormonal benefits to a child just entering the world. Well developed formulas based on soy products will continue this trend even when moved to a bottle. All natural foods can be blended fine and fed after the first few months when solid foods are introduced. Making your own nutritious baby foods can be not only less expensive that mass produced products but gives a better control over just what your baby is eating.
If you are a first time parent, it is highly recommended that you do some study on the health of children. Being able to identify the onset of ear infections, diarrhea and other common newborn ailments will give you less panic and a greater idea of proper care when your baby becomes ill. Knowing what to expect when your child begins teething will help you recognize that not all symptoms indicate illness but natural bodily processes.
Use common sense and avoid being panicked by other's horror stories. Whenever you are in doubt, check with your baby's doctor for a professional diagnosis.
