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Contents
Its finally herethe day youre taking your new baby home! No more long days
and nights in the NICU, surrounded by nurses, doctors, and equipment. Now,
you can bring your baby home to his very own bed, in his very own room! This
is an exciting time, and one youve looked forward to forever. But you still have
doubts. After all, the hospital environment youre anxious to leave behind is
the one youve depended on for support. You may wonder if youre ready to
take care of your baby on your own. Dont worrythese are normal feelings.
All parents, and especially those of premature babies, are nervous as they get
ready to go home with their baby. They know that theyre really on their own.
The first few weeks at home with your baby will be both rewarding and
challenging, as you learn more about one another. Give your family time to
get to know its newest member. It usually takes at least three months or so to
get settled. Youll be creating new routines for your whole family. All of this takes
time, and energy, so its no wonder youll feel tired at the end of the day. You
may also feel overwhelmed in your new role as a parent. Youll probably have
lots of questions about your baby and how to care for him. Remember, youre
not alone. Your babys doctor, friends and family, and even baby care books
can help you find the answers you need. When you know more about how to
care for your baby, you can relax and enjoy every minute with him. And youll
want to treasure every momentyour baby will never be this tiny again.
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Baby talk
Even though it will be some time before you hear your babys first words, youll still be
amazed at how quickly the two of you learn to communicate with each other. He may
be very tiny, but he can still let you know what he wants and needs. As you watch your
babys body language, youll see that hes extremely sensitive to the world around him.
At first, your baby will sleep most of the time. But when hes awake and alert, hes ready
to communicate with you.
When your baby wants your attention, youll notice:
His eyes are wide open
Hell look at you, look away, then look at you again
His breathing is relaxed
His arms and legs will be slightly bent and relaxed
He may put his hands together, or bring his fists to his mouth
When your baby has had too much stimulation, he may:
Fuss and cry
Stiffen his arms and legs
Arch his back
Shut his eyes, look away from you, or turn his head away
Fall asleep
Whenever your baby seems tired, let him rest. Quietly hold him without talking or
moving, or lay him down. Babies can handle only one activity at a time. If your baby
seems stressed, try to relax with him. Hell let you know when hes ready to play again.
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Babys breathing
Your babys breathing patterns can change rapidly without warning. To learn whats
normal for your baby, you may want to follow these tips:
Count how many times he takes a breath each minute.
Watch his chest as he breathes while resting, playing, crying, and while hes upset.
This can help you identify his moods.
Listen to the noises he makes as he breathes.
You can become more familiar with your babys
behavior so that it will be easier to recognize when
hes acting differently. Remember, if youre ever
concerned about his breathing or color,
call his doctor right away.
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Sleep tight
Babies sleepa lot. In fact, your baby will probably sleep more than anything else
during his first weeks at homesometimes 15 to 22 hours a day. Some babies
have trouble adjusting from the bright lights and noisy NICU to a more peaceful
environment, like their own rooms at home. If your baby has trouble sleeping, you
may want to try these tips to help him drift off to dream land:
Use a night light and try playing soft music in the background.
Over a period of several days, slowly turn down the extra noise and light, helping
him adjust to his new home.
Try not to play with your baby when feeding him at night. Hell learn that evenings
are for sleeping and eating, instead of for playing.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that healthy infants be placed on
their backs for sleeping. Based on information about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
(SIDS), this is the safest position for your baby.1 Always place your baby on his back
to sleep during the first year of life, unless his doctor tells you to place him in a different
position for sleeping. For more important information on reducing the risk of SIDS,
visit www.aap.org.
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Offer a feeding. Premature babies will need frequent, small feedings, and will need to
be fed around the clock.
Whether youre breastfeeding or formula-feeding, feed your baby in a calm, quiet
place. Too much noise or activity can overwhelm your baby and may keep him from
eating as much as he should. If your baby doesnt eat enough at each feeding, he
may wake again more quickly and repeat the cycle of crying.
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Take time away from your baby. It will help re-energize you to care for
him when you return.
Make time to exercise, even if its just a brisk walk to reduce stress.
Keep your sense of humor! It makes it easier to get through the tough
parts of parenting.
Talking to your baby, or singing to him, in a low constant tone. Handle him smoothly
and gently.
Giving your baby more physical contact and movement. Try walking or rocking him.
Or, gently stroke his head or pat his back or chest. Start with one activity and repeat
it for five or ten minutes before you try another.
Taking your baby for a stroller or car ride.
Playing soft music. Or try rhythmic noise or a vibrating chair.
If nothing seems to work, you may want to just leave your baby alone. Many babies
cant fall asleep without crying. Your baby wont cry for long if hes really tired.
If youre frustrated because you cant comfort your baby, try to stay calm. No matter
how angry or impatient you become with your babys crying, do not shake your baby.
SHAKING AN INFANT CAN CAUSE BLINDNESS, BRAIN DAMAGE, OR DEATH.
Have a family member or friend give you some relief.
Remember, newborn babies can cry from one to four hours a day as they adjust to life
outside the womb.2 Dont expect to be able to console your baby every time he cries.
Just do your best, and be sure to enjoy him when hes in one of his happier moods!
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Corrected age
Normally, a babys age is calculated from the day she was born. But for the premature
baby, a corrected age is used to help determine physical, social, and emotional
development. To find your babys corrected age, take her actual age and subtract the
number of weeks premature that she was born.
Sight
One of the first skills your baby will have is focusing her eyes on your face, watching the
people near her, and tracking bright objects as they move. At first, she wont see clearly
at a distance. But as she grows, her ability to focus will improve.
Keep these tips in mind as you encourage your babys visual development:
Hold your baby so your face is six to eight inches from hers. Talk gently to her. When
you know you have her attention, slowly move your head from side to side so she
can follow you with her eyes. She might not be able to track your face across her
nose until shes a bit older.
Bright lights can be irritating to babies. Be sure the lights are not shining directly in
her face. Then, hold her in a sitting position while looking at her so she can make
eye contact.
The first few weeks your baby is home shell like simple black and white patterns.
Babies also like mirrors. Seeing herself in the mirror is exciting! Later, show your
baby bright, colorful toys or other objects. Move them slowly before her eyes so she
can learn to follow them.
Remember, you are your babys whole world! Your voice, your smile, and your love
are key to her healthy development.
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Sound
Your baby is very aware of the sounds and sights around her. The sound of your voice is
one of her favorites!
Youll encourage your babys hearing development when you:
Talk to her as much as possible in a calm, cheerful voice. Tell her stories about you
and your family. She may not understand what you say, but shell respond to hearing
your voice.
Vary the sound of your voice by changing your tone and your volume.
Sing or hum to your baby often.
Introduce your baby to new sounds like musical toys or rattles.
Touch
With just the slightest touch, you may be able to turn your fussy baby into a calm,
content baby. Your slow, gentle touches help her feel secure and safe. Be sure to:
Hold her often. Dont worry about spoiling her during these early months
you wont.
Watch for her signals. If she wants to be cuddled, shell be relaxed and snuggly.
If she seems upset, simply hold her without moving, or lay her down.
Introduce your baby to lots of different texturestowels, diapers, stuffed animals,
water, your skinanything that feels good to your baby.
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Preparing bottles
Whether youre breastfeeding or bottle feeding your baby, use these guidelines as you
learn more about your babys feeding schedule:
Support your babys head during feedings, keeping it higher than his stomach.
This aids in digestion and helps avoid ear infections.
Your baby will eat at his own pace. Youll soon recognize his pattern of swallowing
and breathing. Babies who eat slowly seem to take more milk at each feeding,
and may be satisfied and sleep longer between feedings. If your baby ever seems to
have trouble catching his breath while eating, or is coughing, choking, or sputtering,
sit him up until he seems ready to eat again.
Keep feedings relaxed, with as few interruptions as possible.
Hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle, and keep it steady so he can get
the right suction.
Keep your baby from swallowing air by keeping the bottle nipple full of formula.
He shouldnt suck on an empty bottle or drain the bottle.
When your baby is finished eating,
the nipple will fall out of his mouth
and his whole body will become
relaxed. Your baby will probably
need about 20 to 30 minutes*
to finish his bottle. If he seems
finished after only 15 or 20 minutes,
you may want to wake him and try
to get him to eat for a little longer.
You want him to have a tummy
thats full enough to satisfy him for
another few hours.
*If your baby takes less than 15 minutes to eat, you may want to use a nipple with a smaller hole. If he takes
longer than normal, and doesnt seem to be sucking actively, make sure the nipple hole isnt clogged.
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If youre worried that your baby isnt eating like he should, talk with your babys doctor.
If you see any of these signs, let your doctor see your baby promptly:
Constant or inconsolable crying.
Unable to wake your baby.
Consistent feeding refusals.
Persistent coughing,
choking, or breathing
problems.
Noticeably fewer wet or
soiled diapers.
Understanding your
babys bottom line
You can learn a lot about your
baby from whats in his diaper!
Occasional changes in the
color and consistency of your
babys stools are normal.
Breastfed babies usually have
yellow stools. Formula fed
babies usually have yellow,
brown, or green stools.
Those babies fed Enfamil
PREMIUM may have softer
stools, more like a breastfed
baby. But if you have changed
his formula, there may be
a change in his stool color.
And if youre feeding your
baby an iron-fortified formula
like Enfamil EnfaCare, or
if your baby is taking an iron
supplement, he may be more
likely to have green stools.
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Fever
If your baby develops a fevera rectal
temperature of 100.4F or higher4
call your babys doctor. Fever is a sign of
infection somewhere in the body. The
best way to measure your babys fever is
to take a rectal temperature. Follow these
steps to take a rectal temperature:
Most small babies cant tolerate temperature extremes. Make sure your home
is warm enough by setting your thermostat in the low- to mid-70s. Your babys
body temperature regulating mechanism is functioning by the time he leaves
the NICU. But because hes so little, and doesnt have much of a protective
fat layer, it may be harder for him to stay comfortable. Its also important to
note that when your baby uses a lot of extra calories to keep warm, that can
interfere with his weight gain. If your baby seems fussy, try checking the room
temperature to make sure its warm enough. Feel your babys arms, legs, or the
back of his neck to make sure it isnt too cool. And, even though you want to
keep the room warm, dont overheat it.
An adult should ride where they can watch your premature baby breathing.
Never place a rear-facing car seat in the front seat with a passenger side
air bag.
Talk to your babys doctor about ordering a car seat test before discharge
to make sure the semi-reclined position doesnt cause or add to breathing
problems.
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If your baby has trouble breathing when sitting up, your babys doctor may
recommend using a crash-tested car bed so he can lie flat.6
The back seat of the car is the safest place for your child to ride. Place the car seat
facing the rear of the car.
Be sure the car seat is installed properly, according to the manufacturers directions.
Ask the doctor if you should roll up blankets and place them on either side of your
babys head, to help keep him from slumping over or moving about dangerously.
Crib safety
Your babys crib is one place where hell be alone, so this should be a totally safe
environment. Follow this checklist to make sure your baby is always safe in his crib5:
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Bath time
Your baby doesnt need much bathing if you keep his diaper area washed and clean.
Two or three baths a week during the first year are plenty. Until the umbilical cord falls off,
your newborn should have sponge baths only:
In a warm room, place your baby on a flat surface, like a changing table or counter
next to a sink. Pad any hard surfaces. Make sure your baby is secure, with a safety
strap or with your hand on him at all times. Even with a safety strap, never leave your
baby alone, even for a moment.
Use a basin of water, a damp washcloth, and some mild baby soap. Keep your
baby wrapped in a towel, and
expose only the body parts
youre washing. Wash your
babys face first, and work
your way down, washing
the diaper area last.
Once your babys umbilical
area is healed, try placing
him directly in the water.
The water should be warm.
Check it with your wrist or
elbow before placing your
baby in it. These first baths
should be kept short and
very gentle. Many parents use
a bathinette, sink, or plastic
tub.6
Wash your baby with smooth,
soothing motions to help him
relax and enjoy his bath. After
bathing your baby, swaddle
him in a soft towel to dry and
warm him.
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Making parenthood
a little easier
Formula delivered to your door
Youre so busy taking care of your new baby. So, let our Home
Delivery Program take care of delivering Enfamil EnfaCare infant
formula in the form your babys doctor recommendedright to
your door. Choose:
Enfamil EnfaCare
Nursette bottles
Just shake, open, add the appropriate
nipple to the bottle, and feed.
Enfamil EnfaCare
Ready-to-use cans
Ready-to-use product. Add to
bottle and feed.
You can order Enfamil EnfaCare, as well as all Enfamil formulas, for home
delivery. Just call 1-800-BABY123, or visit enfamil.com/delivery.
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References:
1. American Academy of Pediatrics. Shelov SP, Hannemann RE, eds. Caring for Your
Baby and Young Child, Revised Edition: Birth to Age 5. New York: Bantam Books;
2004:45.
2. American Academy of Pediatrics. Shelov SP, Hannemann RE, eds. Caring for Your
Baby and Young Child. Revised Edition: Birth to Age 5. New York: Bantam Books;
2004:43-44.
3. Clandinin MT, Van Aerde JE, Merkel KL, et al. Growth and development of preterm
infants fed infant formulas containing docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid.
J Pediatr. 2005;146:461-468.
4. American Academy of Pediatrics. Shelov SP, Hannemann RE, eds. Caring for Your
Baby and Young Child, Revised Edition: Birth to Age 5. New York: Bantam Books;
2004:448-449.
5. US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Is Your Used Crib Safe: CPSF
Document #5020. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5020.html. Accessed
6/16/2008.
6. American Academy of Pediatrics. Shelov SP, Hannemann RE, eds. Caring for Your
Baby and Young Child, Revised Edition: Birth to Age 5. New York: Bantam Books;
2004:22.
REGISTER NOW!
enfamil.com/4baby105
1-800-4BABY42 ext 105
Our privacy policy is available at the phone number or website above. Offer limited to one per household and subject to
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1-800-BABY123 or enfamil.com.
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