The Newborn
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Pediatric care actually starts before the child is born, with the promotion of the mother's good general health before conception and during pregnancy. 

The confidence and enthusiasm of the parents also affect the infant's physical and emotional well-being.

The newborn's first physical assessment
comes at the time of delivery, when the
pediatrician assesses the newborn's ability
to thrive outside the uterus.

The Apgar score is a system of scoring the
infant's physical condition at 1 and 5 minutes
after birth.  The heart rate, respiration,
muscle tone, response to stimuli, and color
of the infant are each rated 0, 1, or 2.  The
maximum total score is 10.  Those infants
with low scores must be given immediate attention.

Apgar Scoring System

Clinical Signs

Assigned Score
0 1 2

Heart Rate

Absent

Under 100

Over 100

Respiratory Effort

Absent

Slow & irregular

Good & crying

Muscle Tone

Limp

Some arm & leg

Active movement

Reflex Irritability

No response

Grimace

Coughing, sneezing

Color

Blue & pale

Body pink, extremities blue

Pink all over

Newborn to Six Months What to Expect and What to Do:

Infants tend to be easily frightened, especially of quick movements, including those of their own arms and legs. 

TRY wrapping your baby snugly 
in a small blanket so he will not 
be frightened of his arms and 
legs moving about. 

AVOID making unnecessary 
quick movements or loud noises 
near your baby during early infancy. Your baby has just come from a quiet, warm and safe place and wants to feel secure. 

TRY cuddling your baby and speak in soft affectionate tones. Talking to your baby helps him to develop social skills and to learn about his new world. 

DON'T be afraid that you're spoiling your baby. Newborn babies cannot be spoiled. Pick your baby up and love him as much as possible. 

Food, burping and bathing are basics for newborns. However, because your baby cannot communicate what he wants, your baby may cry a lot. 

GIVE your baby a pacifier even if he has just eaten and you don't think your baby is hungry. It will help your baby feel secure and relaxed.  

DON'T ignore your baby's cries or shake your baby to make him stop. Shaking can injure your baby. 

Baby's First Foods

Getting a solid start Babies grow and develop at different rates. At a certain point in their growth, breast milk and formula won't supply the nutrients babies need. You'll know when your baby's ready for solid food when he or she

Weighs at least 13 pounds (if that's double the weight at birth). 

 Seems hungry after 32 ounces of formula or 8 to 10 breast-feedings. 

 Has good control of head movements and sits with support. 

Easily swallows a spoonful of pureed food. Between now and the next checkup, start feeding your baby some of the single-ingredient baby foods listed below. 

Here are some basic guidelines: 

Add only one new food at a time. 

Feed new food 3 to 5 days in a row before starting another one (to see how the food agrees with your baby). 

Start a new food in the morning; if it doesn't agree with your baby, you'll know before bedtime. 

You can repeat food already given. 

 

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