Caring for a Healthy Child

Children have an amazing capacity for growth and adaptation, but they also require a great deal of nurturing and protection. In the first years of life, infants are unable to care for themselves and therefore require constant attention. Key information and resources on the care children need to thrive are provided below.

Immediate Care of a Newborn

The first five minutes of a baby’s life are critical to his or her health. A nurse or midwife should dry the baby with warm towels or cloths; ensure that the airway is clear; take measures to maintain body temperature; clamp and cut the umbilical cord with sterile instruments; place a few drops of silver nitrate solution or an antibiotic in the eyes to prevent infection; and administer Vitamin K to prevent bleeding problems. The baby's overall condition should be recorded at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth using the Apgar Scale, which measures the newborn’s muscle tone, pulse rate, reflexes, appearance and respiration.

Feeding

For the first six months of life, exclusive breast feeding is the best way to nourish an infant. Breast milk contains all the nutrients needed by a baby, and it is easy to digest. Breast feeding assures that milk gets from mother to child without contamination, and breast milk provides antibodies that keep babies healthy. The physical contact that occurs during breast feeding also strengthens the bond between an infant and its mother. Newborns generally need to breast feed often – 8-12 times every 24 hours. If an infant is feeding properly, he or she will have pale yellow urine and 3 stools a day after the first day of life. After its first week, the infant should be gaining a small amount of weight every day. At six months of age, solid food should be introduced, with one single-ingredient food at a time.

Sleeping

Newborns do not follow a regular pattern of sleep. They generally drowse for 16-20 hours per day in 3-4 hour stretches, with some sleep during daylight hours and some at night. After a few months, infants will begin to sleep for longer stretches during the night. Infants should sleep near their parents in a space free of toys, pillows and blankets to prevent strangulation. Co-sleeping – when an infant sleeps in the same bed as his or her parents – can improve breast feeding and sound sleeping, but parents must be careful to avoid injuring or suffocating their infant. Babies should be placed on their left or right side when put to sleep, as this position decreases the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome, or the sudden and unexplained death of an infant under 1 year old).

Umbilical Cord Care

After a baby is born, his or her umbilical cord is clamped and cut close to the body, leaving an umbilical stump. Once the cord is dry, the clamp can be removed, and in two to three weeks the cord will fall off by itself. In the meantime, the cord should be kept dry and exposed to the air at all times. If the baby’s diaper does not have an opening for the cord, the diaper can be folded down so the cord is above the diaper. The stump should never be pulled off. When it falls off there may be a little blood on the diaper, which is normal.

Child Health Issues

Around the world, almost 10 million children under the age of five die each year, most from preventable diseases. However, there are several steps caregivers can take to lessen the impact of these diseases on their children. Common health issues as well as methods of prevention and treatment are discussed below.

Causes of Child Mortality

Most newborn deaths are caused by preterm birth, birth asphyxia (lack of oxygen during the birth process), and infections. From one month to five years of age, the top five causes of death are pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, measles and HIV, with malnutrition contributing to over half of all deaths.

Prevention & Treatment

Proper nutrition, hygiene, and vaccinations combined with immediate care for ill children can help minimize the occurrence and impact of these diseases. For instance, insecticide-treated nets can greatly reduce the risk of contracting malaria, and exclusive breastfeeding can prevent the occurrence of diarrhea. Vaccines against infections and viruses such as measles can protect children from many of the most deadly childhood diseases. If a child becomes ill, it is important that they receive care from a trained health provider. These professionals can provide Oral Rehydration Salts and zinc supplements for diarrhea, antibiotics and oxygen for respiratory diseases, and “ready-to-use therapeutic foods” for malnourished children over six months of age.

Signs of Illness

A trained health provider should assess a child’s health and provide necessary care if he or she exhibits any of the following:

1. American Academy of Pediatrics/Family, Jaundice
2. American Academy of Pediatrics/Health Topics
3. Averting HIV/AIDS
4. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention/Premature births
5. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention/Pre-term health
6. Child Info
7. The Children Hospital of Philadelphia
8. Kids Health
9. Lucile Packard Children Hospital/Stanford
10. March of Dimes/Pregnancy and Newborn Health Education Center
11. March of Dimes/Premature births
12. National Institute for Child Health and Development
13. Seattle Children's Hospital
14. US Department for Health and Human Services/Womenshealth.gov
15. WHO/Child and Adolescent Health and development
16. WHO/Immunization against diseases of public health importance