Meet Your Pediatric Providers

Dr. Shari A. Jackson

Pediatrician

Location: MyCHN League City

Dr. Shari Jackson received her medical doctorate from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 1999. Dr. Jackson completed her pediatrics residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 2002. After residency, Dr. Jackson served proudly in the U.S. Army as a general pediatrician at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. She was an Officer in Charge of the Pediatric Clinic at Womack Army Medical Center and Medical Director of the Exceptional Family Members Program. This program linked soldiers who had special-needs children with worldwide assignment stations that could accommodate their medical needs. Dr. Jackson has been a general pediatrician with Community Health Network since 2014 and continues her love of teaching medicine to the next generation of physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Dr. Jackson is board certified in Pediatrics and a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics, and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Jackson has been recognized as one of the top pediatricians in the Alvin-Manvel area for four consecutive years in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Dr. Mohamed Zebda

Pediatrician

Location: Scarsdale Family Health Center

Dr. Mohamed Zebda graduated from Texas A&M University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering. He also attended graduate school at Texas A&M University Health Science Center and earned a master degree in Public Health in 2009. Dr. Zebda attended medical school at A.T. Still of Osteopathic Medical School in Arizona and trained at the Texas Tech Health Science Center in El Paso, TX, at the Department of Pediatrics. During his residency, Dr. Zebda learned to provide superior care and consultation, improving the department’s patient satisfaction. Dr. Zebda completed his residency in 2016. Afterward, he began his career as a pediatrician at Project Vida Community Health Center in El Paso, Texas. While there, Dr. Zebda developed a passion for serving underserved and underinsured children. Dr. Zebda joined Community Health Network in 2019. Dr. Zebda is board certified in Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Zebda was also awarded the Best Graduating Resident Award in 2016 for his contribution to his residency program and served as Chief Resident. He also inspires young students to enter the medical field.

Dr. Mary Beth Keith

M.D. Pediatrician

Location: Women & Children’s Health Center

Dr. Mary Beth Keith received her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston (now McGovern Medical School) in 2015. She completed her Pediatric residency at McGovern Medical school in 2018, where she had the honor of receiving the Best Teaching Resident award. She is board certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Since completing her residency, she has practiced general pediatrics in the Greater Houston area.Dr. Keith believes in providing compassionate and empathetic care to her patients because she knows this enables them to live healthy lives. She has a special interest in breastfeeding, infant care, preventative medicine, and global health.

Dr. Antonia Way

M.D.

Family Medicine

LOCATION: Scarsdale Family Health Center

Dr. Antonia L. Way received her medical degree at the University of New Mexico in 2010 and completed her residency with the University of New Mexico Department of Family and Community Medicine in 2013. She is board certified in Family Medicine and previously practiced General Medicine in the Webster area. Dr. Way sees a broad spectrum of patients from birth to geriatrics, including Women’s Health.

In addition to treating chronic diseases, and disease prevention, Dr. Way also treats musculoskeletal pain with trigger point injections and joint injections. She is interested in preventative medicine and a patient-centered approach to treating the entire family.

Dr. Way’s goal is to engage patients in both preventative and chronic care, practice evidence-based medicine, provide comprehensive care, and teaching patients how to live healthier and happier lives.

Uchenna A. Jones-Conley

MD, MBA, FSMB

MD, Family Medicine Physician

LOCATION: Freeport Community Health Center

Dr. Uchenna A. Jones-Conley, MD, MBA received her medical Degree at Wright State university in 2016 and completed her residency with the McGovern Medical School University of Texas at Houston Department of Family and Community Medicine in 2021. She is Board Eligible in Family Medicine. Dr. Jones-Conley treats a broad spectrum of patients ranging from birth to geriatrics. In addition to treating chronic disease, and disease prevention, Dr. Jones-Conley targets Women’s Health and treats musculoskeletal pain. She is interested in preventative and integrative medicine with a holistic approach to treatment.

Sherrell Gibson

MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Women and Children’s Nurse Practitioner

LOCATION: MyCHN Silverlake

Sherrell Gibson, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, is a Family Nurse Practitioner, board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She began her career as an associate degree registered nurse in 2004 and has a nursing career that spans across multiple specialties. Mrs. Gibson earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2014 while attending The University of Texas at Arlington. For graduate school, she attended The University of Texas Health Science Center of Houston where she earned a Master of Science in Nursing in 2018. Mrs. Gibson began her career as a family nurse practitioner at Community Health Network and completed specialized training to transition into a provider for Women and Children’s Services. She then completed focused training and the mentorship program through the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) to become a certified colposcopist in 2021. Mrs. Gibson has a strong passion for health promotion, risk reduction, and disease prevention with a particular interest and skill in Women’s Health, abnormal cervical cancer screening management, contraceptive education, and reproductive health.

Jemyra Calais

MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Women and Children’s Nurse Practitioner

LOCATION: Women & Children’s Health Community Center

Jemyra Calais, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, a Family Nurse

Practitioner, board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She is currently licensed to practice in the state of Texas. Ms. Calais received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2012 from Dillard University in New Orleans, LA. Upon graduating, she acquired an abundance of knowledge in the nursing field ranging from Medical-Surgical, Post Op, NICU, Women’s Health, and Men’s Health. Ms. Calais decided to further her education by receiving her Master of Science in Nursing from South University in Savannah, Georgia. She currently practices as the Women and Children’s Nurse Practitioner at Community Health Network’s Alvin clinic. She is passionate about preventative health and believes teamwork and a positive mindset are critical for maximizing patient outcomes.

Anneliese Hulse

MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Women’s and Children’s Nurse Practitioner

LOCATION: Women & Children’s Health Community Center

Anneliese (Onie) Hulse, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, is a family nurse practitioner who is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and licensed to practice in Texas. She began her career with a bachelor’s degree in nursing that she earned from the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing in Houston in 2015. Her nursing experience includes labor and & delivery and antepartum nursing at The Woman’s Hospital of Texas, Houston Methodist, and Clear Lake Regional. She graduated with her master’s degree in nursing from UTHealth Cizik School of Nursing in

Houston in 2021. She is passionate about preventive health, evidence-based, patient-centered care, and building lasting patient relationships with those she serves.

Destanee Hamilton

MPAS, PA-C

Women’s and Children’s Nurse Practitioner Physician Assistant

LOCATION: Scarsdale Family Health Center

Destanee Hamilton, MPAS, PA-C, is a Physician Assistant, board-certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She is currently licensed to practice in the state of Texas. Destanee Ms. Hamilton re- ceived her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2018 from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She continued her education at the University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, where she earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies in 2021. During her time at UT Southwestern, she was awarded the National Health Service Corp Scholar- ship. Upon graduation, Destanee she then began her career as a Family Medicine Physician Assistant at CHN.’s Freeport Family Health Center. Destanee Ms. Hamilton is passionate about patient advocacy, prepreventative health, and chronic disease management. She believes keeping the patient at the center of care is essential for success. and will continue practicing in the Northern Region.

Margaret Hazelton

MPAS, PA-C

Women’s and Children’s Nurse Practitioner Physician Assistant

LOCATION: MyCHN League City

Margaret Hazelton is a board-certified pPhysician a As- sistant by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She is currently licensed to practice in the state of Texas. Margaret received her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2018 from the Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, LA. She took a year off to gain healthcare experience by becoming an Emergency Medicine Medical Scribe. After a year, Ms. Hazelton continued her education at the University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center, earning her Master of Physician Assistant Studies in 2021. She then began her career as a wWomen’s hHealth provider at Community Health Network’s League City location. after graduation.

Ms. Hazelton is passionate about building pa- tient-centered relationships that allow the patient to feel comfortable and safe with her as their provider. She believes in providing comprehensive, preventative healthcare to all while also managing chronic diseases.

Hazelton has a particular interest in Women’s Health ranging from routine gynecological exams to prenatal care. She enjoys working closely with the Women’s Health team to provide quality healthcare in a compassionate and supportive environment.

Welcome to the World of Parenting!

Newborns Are Delightful and Tiring

• Newborns may sleep only a few hours at a time.

• A newborn’s ability to hear, see, smell, and feel grows every day.

• Parents can help crying babies calm down by making them feel warm, close, and comfortable —just like it was in the womb.

• Since all parents can get upset from crying babies, it’s important to know when and how to ask for help.

• Friends and family can share the delight and the work of caring for newborns.

Your baby is finally here. Congratulations!

Baby’s Sleep and Mother’s Rest

Newborns usually sleep 16 to 17 hours a day, but they may sleep for only a couple of hours at a time.

• Many babies wake up every 2 to 4 hours, day or night.

• New mothers need plenty of rest after childbirth to get their strength and energy back.

• Mother and baby can take a nap at the same time.

• As the new father supports mom during her recovery, he can enjoy getting to know this new addition to the family!

Information For Moms

Becoming a parent brings big changes to your life, more than you might have imagined!

You May Feel Tired Much of The Time

Your body is recovering from pregnancy and childbirth. At times, you may wonder if you will be able to make it through the first month. This is common and normal. Let family and friends help with meals, shopping, cleaning, and if you have other children, take care of them. Don’t entertain visitors as well!

You May Have Wild Mood Swings

As your body begins to adjust, you may go from great highs to hopeless lows. This is common during the first weeks after giving birth, but please let people know if you feel down or overwhelmed. Your feelings deserve attention and support from your family, friends, and doctors. If you think you need help, ask for it. Taking care of your emotional and physical health also helps your baby.

You May Feel Lonely

Some of your links to family and friends will get stronger, while others may weaken. Some people will understand what you are going through, and others won’t. Your baby needs and will demand much of your attention, time, and energy. If you are a mom who also works outside of the home, chances are you are not seeing friends from work at this time. Try reaching out to family and friends or find other new mothers who live near you.

Information For Dads

It’s A New Life for You

Your role as a father will bring about some big changes in your life. The physical, emotional, and financial demands of being a dad can cause stress. You also may feel a little left out during the first few weeks since much of the attention is on your new baby and the mom. By becoming actively involved with your new baby, feelings of stress and being left out will decrease.

You will begin to:

• Enjoy the pleasure of being a dad

• Strengthen your relationship with your baby’s mother

• Contribute to the well-being of your baby

Ways For You to Be Involved

Your baby already knows who you are from hearing your voice before birth.

• As you hold your baby in your arms, enjoy the feeling of your baby cuddling up to you.

• Have fun as you spend time talking to your new baby

• If you have older children, they will need your support now while their mother is tired and focused on the new baby.

When Your Baby Cries A Lot

Sometimes, we just don’t know why babies are crying! So, what can you do? Think about what it was like when your baby was in the womb and try to create a similar experience.

• Calmly hold your baby close to your shoulder or chest. Inside the womb, it was warm and cozy.

• Swaddle (wrap) your baby in a blanket.

• Quietly sing or talk to your baby, softly play calm music. Voices heard through the womb were very comforting.

• Gently rock your baby or go for a quiet walk. Before birth, your baby was used to floating quietly.

There will be a few times when babies will continue to cry until either sleep finally arrives or they become quiet, yet alert. Comforting babies when they cry does not spoil them. In fact, many babies learn how to calm themselves just by knowing that someone will calm them.

Sometimes, babies will continue to fuss after their parents have tried everything! They are crying because they have had all the excitement they can handle now. This is when it’s best to quietly hold your baby, or put your baby in a safe place, like the crib, and wait until all is calm.

Crying Babies Upset Parents

All parents get upset when their baby cries. With all this crying, try to stay patient. Your baby can sense when you are upset or tense. After trying all the many ways that usually calm your baby, it’s ok to let your baby cry. It’s ok to place your baby, face up, in the crib to calm down. It’s ok to let your baby cry sometimes and give yourself time to calm down. Do something that you enjoy and find calming. Have a cup of tea or coffee, listen to music, call a friend or spouse, read, or meditate. These feelings of stress are natural and will pass.

If your baby’s crying is getting to be too much, and it does get to this point for many parents, reach out for help. Talk with a friend or relative who has been through this or call your MyPedi Care provider.

Stages of Childhood Development NEWBORN

After the delivery of a child, families are beaming with joy and excitement to start caring for their newborn. Unfortunately, the build-up of the birth can lead many to expect joy without recognizing the stress behind caring for the baby. Although there is immense joy when raising a newborn, there is a lot of development for the baby during these first 3 months. While these developments are signs of a healthy child, they could potentially stress parents out if they are unprepared for what to expect while raising a newborn.

Developments to expect:

Motor Skills

The newborn’s movement right out of the womb may be a little wobbly and jerky. Soon after being born, however, your baby will have more control over its movements. They will lift their head and chest while lying down on their stomachs, reach out for a toy and grasp it, or stretch and kick their legs.

Hearing

The first months leaving the womb is when a newborn is sensitive to noise levels. Expect your baby to begin to respond to you and your voice with a smile or a gurgle. They will also start to notice external sounds and look towards them.

Vision

The baby will focus on your face, especially the eyes while breastfeeding. At 1 month, the baby will begin to look at bold colors and patterns. Babies develop much more eye coordination by two months and can track distant objects. Soon, the baby will begin to recognize familiar objects and people at a distance.

Communication

By 2 months, the baby might coo and repeat vowel sounds when you talk or gently play together. With these developments, parents can play an important role as their newborns adjust to their new settings.

Parents can:

Hold the baby

Touch can help their newborn develop feelings of safety, security, and love. Let your baby grasp your little finger and touch your face.

Speak freely

Simple conversations are essential as they lay the groundwork for the language. Sing, read stories out loud, ask questions and respond to your baby’s coos and gurgles. Remember that your tone of voice also lets the baby learn about emotions.

Change positions

Hold your baby facing outward and place your baby on their tummy to play, with close supervision. Entertain your child with colorful toys or interesting noises to encourage your baby to lift their head. It is important, however, to keep these sessions short as many newborns get fussy or frustrated on their tummies.

Respond quickly to tears

Crying spells peak, for most newborns at about 6 weeks after birth and then gradually declines. Regardless of their crying, respond quickly without worrying about spoiling your baby with too much attention.

It is good to note that these developments don’t happen on a specific timeline. Each child is vastly different and can mature at different rates. While the rates may differ among children, it is good to take note of any delays in your child’s growth. You should consult your MyPedi Care provider if you notice these red flags after 3 months:

• Hasn’t shown improvement in head control

• Doesn’t respond to loud sounds

• Doesn’t smile at people or the sound of your voice

• Doesn’t follow moving objects with their eyes

• Doesn’t notice their hands

• Doesn’t grasp and hold objects.

Remember that every child is different in their growth. However, it is important to trust your instincts as a parent most of the time. This can help prevent future problems from developing.

Infants

After the first 3 months, newborns have begun to get used to living in the outside world. These 3 months also help parents adjust to their new lives with their baby. After those initial 3 months, children are considered infants (0-1 years). The new l abel entails new developmental milestones parents can expect to happen for their child. While these milestones are common among infants, every child’s timeline to reach them is different and should not alarm parents if they aren’t achieved immediately.

Following the newborn stage, babies will begin to develop critical cognitive skills. One of the most exciting for parents is language learning: babies will listen and understand the names of people or things. Also, they may increase the amount they babble or, if you’re lucky, even respond by saying “ma-ma” and “da-da.” With language learning, babies will also begin to develop bonds of love and trust with their parents as they begin recognizing them through sight and sound. Here are some positive parenting tips to help your baby develop during this time:

Talk to your baby

Answer when they make sounds by repeating them and adding words.

Read to your baby

Spend time cuddling and holding your baby—this will help them feel cared for and secured.

Play with your baby

The best time to play with babies is when they are alert and relaxed. Be sure to give them breaks if they get fussy or are tired.

Take care of yourself

Physically, mentally, and emotionally. Being a parent isn’t easy. Taking breaks and care of yourself allows you to be a positive and loving parent!

With the new developments, it is essential to keep your baby safe:

Never shake your baby when holding them. At this stage, babies still have weak neck muscles that can support their neck—if shaken, you can damage their brain or cause death.

Put your baby to sleep on their back to prevent sudden infant death syndrome.

Protect your child from secondhand smoke by not letting people smoke in your home.

To ensure your child is healthy and developing correctly, be sure to take them to their well-baby visits. These visits typically happen when a child is: 1, 2, 4, 6, and 9 months old.

Toddlers

After the first year, babies develop from infants to toddlers. The two years of toddlerhood, from 1 to 3 years of age, are filled with tremendous amounts of growth. Before, they were dependent infants, but now they are toddlers who desire more and more independence. While it sounds nice, many parents call these times the terrible twos as babies become more and more defiant. With all this growth and maybe even headaches, it is essential to know the developmental milestones your child will be undergoing as they make their way to childhood. During these years, toddlers are moving around more and becoming aware of their surroundings. As a result, toddlers become increasingly curious about their surroundings, object, and other people. Because of the child’s growing curiosity, these years are often called the “terrible twos” as many toddlers become much more defiant of their parents. In these “terrible twos”, however, toddlers develop their cognitive abilities to form simple phrases and sentences. Additionally, toddlers will be able to follow simple directions, imitate the actions of others, and express a wide range of emotions.

Tips to ensure your child’s safety:

· Do NOT leave your child near or around water without supervision. Drowning is the leading cause of injury and death among this age group.

· Keep sharp objects and kitchen appliances out of reach of your toddler.

· Ensure your toddler is sitting when eating and chewing their food thoroughly to prevent choking.

· Encourage your toddler to not put pencils or crayons in their mouth.

· Keep your child’s care seat rear facing as long as possible.

These safety tips consider children’s growing curiosity and help keep them safe as they explore. It is also essential, moreover, to keep toddlers healthy. To keep children healthy, toddlers must get plenty of sleep. The CDC recommends 11-14 hours per 24 hours (including naps) as well as letting your toddlers be as active as possible. Not only does it make them sleep, but it is also a vital part of letting them grow strong! Also, it is important to limit screen time as much as possible. The biggest issue parents may be facing, however, is their toddler being picky eaters. Pickiness is a common trait among this age group. Parents are encouraged to be patient and offer their children small bites of food before turning it away. While these toddler years may be difficult for parents, we must recognize the tremendous amount of growth occurring during these years. Toddlers take their first steps, say their first sentence, and become more curious in two years. Although it may be stressful sometimes, these years are vital in making sure your child is developing into a healthy child.

Preschoolers

In the last legs of a baby’s road to childhood, ages 3-5 years old are considered the pre- schoolers. Here a child begins to reach milestones that extend beyond the family dynamic. While many of them have begun to develop more practical skills such as communication and motor skills, there are still important physical and emotional developments occurring that parents should be aware of.

As a part of early childhood, a preschooler’s world is beginning to expand beyond their household. They will carry their desire for independence from the terrible twos into these years. Now, preschoolers will be interested in adults and children outside the family. They will continue to explore and ask more questions. The interactions preschoolers have with their family, and other people will begin to shape their personality and ways of thinking. They will also refine their motor skills and coordination enough to start riding a tricycle, using safety scissors, helping dress themselves, and playing with other children.

With so much social growth occurring, parents should continue the same habits they did during the first years of their child’s life. They should continue to read to their child and let them help with simple chores Preschoolers should also be encouraged to make friends and make simple decisions such as choosing their snack.

While these small interactions help develop your child, there are some extra steps to ensure your child is safe and healthy during their preschool years:

·Teach your child how to be safe around strangers

· Eat meals with your child whenever possible and limit the amount of sugar, fats, and salt

· Keep the television outside of the bedroom while limiting screen time to an hour a day

· Make sure they’re getting enough sleep (10-13 hours per 24-hour day)

· Tell your child to stay out of traffic and not to run/play in the street

With all the information and independence, these years can seem overwhelming. Although changes are occurring at a rapid pace, these are the years where parents can see their children begin to grow into their own. Parents will be given a chance to see their children personality and watch them make friends. With this milestone in childhood, preschoolers are developing important social and emotional skills to become functional children in the world.

PARENT’S GUIDE TO SAFE SLEEP Did You Know?

• About one in five sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) deaths occur while an infant is in the care of someone other than a parent. Many of these deaths occur when babies who are used to sleeping on their backs at home are then placed to sleep on their tummies by another caregiver. We call this “unaccustomed tummy sleeping.”

• Unaccustomed tummy sleeping increases the risk of SIDS. Babies who are used to sleeping on their backs and are placed to sleep on their tummies are 18 times more likely to die from SIDS.

• You can reduce your baby’s risk of dying from SIDS by talking to those who care for your baby, including childcare providers, babysitters, family, and friends, about placing your baby to sleep on his back during naps and at night.

Who Is At Risk For SIDS?

• SIDS is the leading cause of death for infants between 1 month and 12 months of age.

• SIDS is most common among infants that are 1-4 months old. However, babies can die from SIDS until they are 1 year old.

• Know The Truth…SIDS Is Not Caused By:

• Immunizations

• Vomiting or choking

What Can I Do Before My Baby Is Born To Reduce The Risk of SIDS?

Take care of yourself during pregnancy and after the birth of your baby. During pregnancy, before you even give birth, you can reduce the risk of your baby dying from SIDS! Don’t smoke or expose yourself to others’ smoke while you are pregnant and after the baby is born. Alcohol and drug use can also increase your baby’s risk for SIDS. Be sure to visit a physician for regular prenatal checkups to reduce your risk of having a low birth weight or premature baby.

Do your best to follow the guidelines on these pages. This way, you will know that you are doing all that you can to keep your baby healthy and safe.

• Breastfeed your baby. Experts recommend that mothers feed their children human milk for as long and as much as possible, and for at least the first 6 months of life, if possible.

• It is important for your baby to be up to date on her immunizations and well-baby check- ups.

Where Is The Safest Place For My Baby To Sleep?

The safest place for your baby to sleep is in the room where you sleep, but not in your bed. Place the baby’s crib or bassinet near your bed (within arm’s reach). This makes it easier to breastfeed and bond with your baby. The crib or bassinet should be free from toys, soft bedding, blankets, and pillows.

Talk about safe sleep practices with everyone who cares for your baby! When looking for someone to take care of your baby, including a childcare provider, a family member, or a friend, make sure that you talk with this person about safe sleep practices. If a caregiver does not know the best safe sleep practices, respectfully try to teach the caregiver what you have learned about safe sleep practices and the importance of following these rules when caring for infants. Before leaving your baby with anyone, be sure that person agrees that the safe sleep practices explained in this brochure will always be followed.

What Can I Do Reduce My Baby’s Risk

Follow these easy and free steps to help you reduce your baby’s risk of dying from SIDS: Safe Sleep Practices

• Always place babies to sleep on their backs during naps and at nighttime. Because babies sleeping on their sides are more likely to roll onto their stomachs accidentally. The side position is just as dangerous as the stomach position.

• Avoid letting the baby get too hot. The baby could be too hot if you notice sweating, damp hair, flushed cheeks, heat rash, and rapid breathing. Dress the baby lightly for sleep. Set the room temperature in a range that is comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.

• Consider using a pacifier at nap time and bedtime. The pacifier should not have cords or clips that might be a strangulation risk.

• Safe Sleep Environment

• Place your baby on a firm mattress covered by a fitted sheet that meets current safety standards. For more about crib safety standards, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.

• Place the crib in an area that is always smoke-free.

• Don’t place babies to sleep on adult beds, chairs, sofas, waterbeds, pillows, or cushions.

• Toys and other soft bedding, including fluffy blankets, comforters, pillows, stuffed animals, bumper pads, and wedges, should not be placed in the crib with the baby. Loose bedding, such as sheets and blankets, should not be used as these items can impair the infant’s ability to breathe if they are close to his face. Sleep clothing, such as sleepers, sleep sacks, and wearable blankets, are better alternatives to blankets.

Is It Ever Safe To Have Babies On Their Tummies?

Yes! You should talk to your childcare provider about making tummy time a part of your baby’s daily activities. Your baby needs plenty of tummy time while supervised and awake to help build strong neck and shoulder muscles. Remember to make sure that your baby has tummy time at home with you.

Tummy To Play and Back To Sleep

• Place babies to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS. Side sleeping is not as safe as back sleeping and is not advised. Babies sleep comfortably on their backs, and no special equipment or extra money is needed.

• “Tummy time” is playtime when infants are awake and placed on their tummies while someone is watching them. Have tummy time to allow babies to develop normally.

What Can I Do to Help Spread The Word About Back To Sleep?

• Be aware of safe sleep practices and how they can be made a part of our everyday lives.

• When shopping in stores with crib displays that show heavy quilts, pillows, and stuffed animals, talk to the manager about safe sleep and ask them not to display cribs in this way.

• Monitor the media. When you see an ad or a picture in the paper that shows a baby sleeping on her tummy, write a letter to the editor.

• If you know teenagers who take care of babies, talk with them. They may need help with following the proper safe sleep practices.

• Set a good example – realize that you may not have slept on your back as a baby, but we now know that this is the safest way for babies to sleep. When placing babies to sleep, be sure to always place them on their backs.

If you have questions about the health and safety of your child, talk to your child’s pediatrician. If you have questions about safe sleep practices in the early education and childcare settings, please contact Healthy Child Care America at the American Academy of Pediatrics at childcare@aap.org.

Infants Are Amazing

In the very beginning, it may seem that your baby does nothing but eat, sleep, cry, and fill her diapers. But your infant is learning too. She can see and hear what is happening around her and can communicate her needs and interests to others. Parents can help their babies learn by playing with them.

Infants have the ability to see faces and objects of different shapes, sizes, and colors. They can tell the difference between the voices of their parents and others. We’re surprised when they mold their bodies into our arms or shoulders. We marvel at how they came into the world able to suck, communicate certain needs by crying, and sometimes calm down on their own. Most infants can do all of these things as soon as they are born.

You Are Your Baby’s First Teacher

First experiences have a significant effect on the future. That’s why you are so important to your baby’s growth and development. The growth of your baby’s brain is affected by the care and experiences you provide. Loving attention helps new brain cells connect in ways that help infants:

• Feel secure and confident.

• Make sense of new ideas and information.

• Grow healthy bodies.

Things To Watch For

Your baby has a different style or personality from all other babies. It’s fun to get to know your baby’s likes, needs, and abilities. Find out how your baby relates to other people and situations.

• Some infants like more activity, some like less.

• Some infants are louder when they laugh or cry, some are quieter by nature. All infants let us know when they have had enough. Some ways your baby may tell you that it’s time for a nap are:

• Avoids making eye contact

• Becomes sleepy or fussy, may cry a lot

• Coughs or spits

• Rubs eyes

Take Care of Yourself

Children grow faster in their first year than at any other time in their lives. This will take a lot of your time and energy. You must be healthy and happy to give your child the best start possible. When you feel good about yourself, you will be helping your baby feel happy and secure. This is why you need to find the time to take care of yourself. Let people know when you need support or help. After you are rested, you will have more energy, and you will be able to have more fun with your baby.

Others Who Care For Your Baby

Developing a close bond with parents and family members is important. It helps infants form positive relationships with others.

• By letting other people hold and talk with your baby when you are around, your baby learns how to relate to other people.

• When you cannot be with your baby, it is best if the same few trusted people are the caregivers. Your baby will learn to expect and enjoy their company and kindness.

• If you decide to leave your baby with a relative, friend, or professional child care provider, make sure that the caregiver and surroundings adequately provide a healthy, safe and comforting environment. This way, you will feel confident about the safe and loving care being provided.

A Strong Start for Life

Infants spend the first year learning to feel secure about being loved. Love, —expressed in the ways mentioned here and in many other ways by you, —will give your child the physical strength to fight illness, the emotional strength to feel confident, and the ability to learn new things.

How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat?

Breastfed babies generally eat more frequently than those who are formula fed. Newborns usually nurse on their mothers’ breasts every 2 to 3 hours; as they age, the time between feedings will increase as the capacity of their stomachs becomes larger. By contrast, formula-fed newborns will start out by eating approximately every 3 to 4 hours during the first few weeks of life.

When you hold your baby to feed her a bottle, watch for cues that she is full instead of using the clock as a guide. It’s more important that you are attentive to clues or signals from your baby that indicate she’s hungry. These are called hunger cues. When she wants to eat, she may become more alert, put her hands or fingers on or in her mouth, make sucking motions, stick out her tongue, smack her lips, kick, squirm, or begin rooting (moving her jaw and mouth or head in search of your breast). If she starts crying, this is usually a late signal that she wants to eat.

Whether breastfeeding or formula feeding, most parents worry about whether their babies are getting enough to eat. Because babies suck not only for hunger but also for comfort, this can be hard to know at first. Even when babies no longer act hungry, some parents worry about whether all of their nutritional needs are being met. Again, don’t panic. Your baby will let you know when she’s had enough or wants more. In most cases, she’ll consume about 90% of the available breast milk during the first 10 minutes of feeding on each breast. Then she might move away from the breast or simply doze off. Among the many advantages of breastfeeding is that it tends to be cued or on-demand feeding, meaning that, in a sense, your baby will take charge of her own feedings. If you watch your baby’s responses, you should be able to figure out when she’s full. She may turn her head or give other signals that she’s no longer interested in eating. The formula-fed baby will also let you know when she’s had enough. You might notice her becoming distracted while drinking from the bottle, or she might start fidgeting or turning her head. She may close her mouth tightly. As your baby gets a little older and her eye-to-hand coordination gets better, she might try to knock the bottle or spoon out of your grip.

On the other hand, if your baby finishes a bottle and starts smacking her lips or begins to cry, she probably wants more. On average, by the end of the first month, she should be taking in at least 4 ounces of formula per feeding. At 6 months of age, she’ll consume 6 to 8 ounces per feeding.

You can also rely on your baby’s diapers to give you clues on whether she’s getting enough to eat. In the first month of your newborn’s life, she should wet her diaper 6 or more times a day and have 3 to 4 (often more) bowel movements each day. Your baby should also appear satisfied for a couple of hours after each feeding if she’s consuming adequate amounts of food.

What if your baby almost always seems hungry—or if she doesn’t appear to have the appetite you think she should?

If that’s the case, talk to your pediatrician. The doctor will be able to answer specific questions or respond to your concerns about whether your baby is getting enough nourishment and is growing normally. During each office visit, the pediatrician is already keeping track of your baby’s weight gain and monitoring whether her weight is continuing to increase steadily. For instance,

• From months 1 through 4 of life, your baby should gain about 1 1⁄2 to 2 pounds each month while growing about 1 to 1 1⁄2 inches.

• Between 4 and 7 months of age, she’ll add another 1 to 1 1⁄2 pounds per month and grow about 2 to 3 inches in length.

• By 8 months, the average boy will weigh between 14 1⁄2 and 17 1⁄2 pounds, while girls will probably weigh about a half-pound less.

• At 1 year of age, the typical child weighs about 3 times her birth weight.

• Breastfed babies tend to be chubbier than formula-fed babies during the first 4 to 6 months of life. Then they usually become leaner than formula-fed babies by 9 months to 1 year of age.

THE PERIOD OF PURPLE CRYING, EXPLAINED It Has Nothing to Do With Your Baby’s Coloration.

A baby’s first cries after birth likely warmed your heart. They were, after all, the first sounds you heard your infant make.

Fast-forward a few weeks, and the crying might not be as reassuring. In fact, it may be downright difficult to endure some days and could leave you wondering if the constant sobbing and screaming is normal, —or even healthy. The good news is that your baby is probably perfectly fine. The bad news? The crying may get worse before it gets better. At around two months of age, babies start crying so frequently that experts have dubbed this stage the “Period of PURPLE Crying” and developed a whole program around the concept. Some more good news: Understanding what the PURPLE program is all about can help the whole family get through this teary time.

WHAT DOES PURPLE STAND FOR?

The name didn’t come about because some babies turn the shade of a plum after extreme bouts of wailing. PURPLE is an acronym developed to help parents better anticipate and understand this stage of life where babies cry around the clock (or at least it feels that way to exhausted moms and dads). The letters stand for:

• Peak of crying. Baby is wailing a lot. The most crying may happen in baby’s second month, with less crying in months three to five.

• Unexpected. There’s no rhyme or reason as to why baby starts and stops crying.

• Resists soothing. Rocking, singing, bouncing, swaying—you may not be able to do anything—we repeat, anything—to help soothe baby and ease the sobbing.

• Pain-like face. Baby may appear to be in pain when crying, even when he’s not.

• Long lasting. The crying can seem never ending. In fact, baby may cry for five hours a day or more.

• Evening. The late afternoon and evening may be when baby cries the most.

WHY WAS THE PERIOD OF PURPLE CRYING PROGRAM CREATED?

When experts looked at how much babies cry during the first months of life, they found that peak periods of crying correlated with the increased incidences of the shaken baby syndrome (SBS), brain injury, and head trauma caused by forcibly shaking an infant. Experts believe the reason for the correlation is that some parents find themselves unable to manage the endless crying and shake their babies in an attempt to get them to stop. Tragically, the complications associated with SBS can be deadly.

The PURPLE program was developed to help parents manage during this high-crying stage and reduce the cases of SBS, says Julie Noble, program director for the Period of PURPLE

Crying at the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome. “It was a priority that the program takes a child developmental approach that aimed to support caregivers and increase their understanding of normal infant crying.”

Trained health professionals, such as nurses and pediatricians, deliver the program to new parents and caregivers in medical settings. Parents typically leave the hospital with a booklet and DVD that further explains the PURPLE period, and they can also go to PurpleCrying.info to learn more.

Some preliminary research shows that the program’s implementation has reduced SBS-related hospitalizations. One survey found that 91 percent of parents agree that the PURPLE program helped them feel less frustrated when the baby was crying.

WHY DO BABIES CRY SO MUCH DURING THE PURPLE PERIOD?

“Doctors actually aren’t entirely sure why crying increases during this period, but they have found that humans aren’t the only ones that go through this stage. Other breasted species also whimper, mewl and bleat more during the first months of life”, says Adam Zolotor, MD, an associate professor of family medicine at the University of North Carolina.

Experts do know that increased crying is normal during this stage of life. That said, if the crying seems excessive or if you have a gut feeling something more serious is the matter, see a doctor. “Babies have a limited way of communicating, and crying is a way to let us know something’s wrong, whether the child has a fever, is constipated, or has an intolerance to formula,” Zolotor says.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SOOTHE A CRYING BABY?

If your infant is wailing, first make sure there’s not an obvious reason for the cries, like a wet diaper that needs changing or a hungry tummy. Then, try these techniques to help ease the tears:

• Swaddle baby. Use a big, thin blanket to securely wrap up your infant. You can ask a nurse or your pediatrician to show you how to swaddle correctly if you’re not sure how to do it.

• Aid digestion. Hold baby so she’s on her left side and gently rub her back to help her digest herfood.

• Rock or sway. Hold baby in your arms and walk, sit or stand while making these calming motions, which may remind babies of how they felt in the womb.

• Use noise. Calming sounds, such as white noise machines or the whir of a fan, can soothe crying babies.

• Try a pacifier. The act of sucking can help soothe many babies. If none of these methods work, don’t panic. According to the PURPLE program, about 10 percent of the time, there’s nothing that can be done to ease a baby’s crying—and that’s okay.

“As a parent, we feel like we always have to do something, but sometimes there is just nothing you can do, and it’s best to walk away, especially if you’re getting frustrated or angry,” says Christine Baker, the program coordinator of the Period of PURPLE Crying at Seattle Children’s Hospital. If you find you’re feeling too exhausted or stressed to deal with your newborn’s cries, ask a partner, family member, or friend to hold the baby while you take a break.

If you’re watching the baby by yourself, don’t feel guilty about walking away. Place your infant in a safe space, such as a crib or bassinet, and go into the next room until you’ve calmed down. Remember, while the crying may seem endless now, there is a light at the end of this tear-filled tunnel, and your little one will soon grow out of this sobbing stage

IS YOUR MOUTH READY FOR PREGNANCY?

- Have you been to the dentist in the past year?

A dental check-up is as important as seeing your prenatal doctor. Germs that cause cavities in your mouth can be passed to your baby.

- Are your gums tender or do they bleed when you brush?

Pregnancy can increase the way your gums react to germs in the mouth. Brush along the gum line and floss daily.

- Do any of your teeth feel loose?

Loose teeth can be caused by gum disease and should be treated by a dentist or dental hygienist.

- Do you have morning sickness?

Stomach acid can damage teeth. Rinse your mouth with a mixture of water and baking soda. Wait 1 hour before brushing and use toothpaste with fluoride.

- Do you feel pain in your mouth when you eat or drink?

Pain can be a sign of problems in your mouth.