 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
One Year Exam
Car safety: By this age your child has probably outgrown the bucket-type car seat and may need an upright model. Secure it well in the back of the car using manufacturer's directions. The upright seat will enable the child to see out, make his ride more enjoyable and reduce the chance of car sickness. Choking: If your child chokes and is still breathing (making noise, crying, sputtering) strike him firmly on the back between the shoulder blades and then clear out his mouth with your finger. Parents must keep at least one finger trimmed closely so that a child's throat is not accidentally injured if it is necessary to scoop food or some other object out of his throat. If he is unable to breathe and is losing color, first try to clear his throat with your finger, then, if necessary, grab him around the waist and firmly, once or twice, press a clenched fist into his upper stomach under the rib cage. Then, clear out his mouth, again, with your finger. Do not do this procedure (the "Heimlich maneuver") if your child can breath since it is unnecessary and can injure his chest or abdomen. Feedings: Children at this age are increasingly able to feed themselves and should be allowed to do so. It is not necessary to provide a fork and spoon. In fact, if you withhold these, your baby will demand them when he is ready. Most children will refuse strained foods after they become able to handle finger foods. An appropriate amount of milk at this age is 8-24 ounces a day. Head bumps: With increased mobility comes increased trauma. A "concussion" means head trauma with loss of consciousness. If loss of consciousness occurs, call for advice. Quite commonly, after hitting their heads, children will become pale and nauseated, followed by gradual sleepiness. There is no need to keep your child awake past a half hour. Let him sleep for a half hour, and wake him to see if he is arousable. If the nausea doesn't subside after a couple of hours, or increased, or the child is not arousable after initial drowsiness, call for advice. Risk Prevention: Do not give nuts or popcorn until age 3. If your child chokes on these, they may cause severe lung inflammation and are impossible to locate on x-ray Sunburn: Avoid taking your baby out in the intense mid-day sun. When it is impossible to avoid direct or reflected sun, cover as much of his body as possible with light clothing and a hat. Remember that a t-shirt only has an spf of 15. After age 6 months, you may use a sunblocker on exposed areas. We recommend Neutragena“ 30 spray-on. Temper tantrums: As your child enters his second year he will increasingly have a mind of his own. Children come by tantrums quite normally. They are partly caused by a child's frustration in not being able to express himself clearly and may resolve when he can speak better. Set reasonable limits and stick to them.
|
