Unit 3: Parenting & Child Development SCO 1.1 – 1security for the child. Play time is exercise for the baby and should be given attention daily. Communication will help provide a

Unit 3:

Parenting & Child DevelopmentSCO 4.1 – 4.4 & 5.1 – 5.13

Human Dynamics 2201

Child Care

Lesson 1: Child’s Needs

Newborns

Newborns can not care for themselves and rely on adults to fulfill their

needs.

They can become very demanding, especially for the first baby since

the parents do not know what to expect.

The safety and security needs are essential but love and affection also

are required to provide a positive environment for the developing child.

Clothing

Infants need clothing to keep them warm and comfortable.

They grow very quickly and it is necessary to have specific types of

clothing for different uses such as outdoors or night time.

Second-hand clothing available from friends or family is often quite

suitable since it has probably not had a great deal of use before it

became too small.

Safe Environmental Temperatures

Healthy & Hygiene

Infant health and hygiene is another aspect of safety and security.

Bathing, cleaning and drying, and staying comfortably warm is a need

of an infant from the day that they are born.

Babies tend to place everything in their mouth, so all objects that they

are handling should be sanitized or sterilized.

Regular medical check-ups and immunizations need to be scheduled.

Common illnesses, such as ear infections and diarrhea may need

medical attention.

Diapers

Diapers are the primary item

required every day for up to

three years (or more).

Cloth diapers and disposable

diapers are available and the

parents must decide the best

for their needs.

Bathing and Diapering

Safety

Childproofing the home means that it has been made safe for a child.

Even a newborn has special safety needs since they can move their

arms and legs and could become caught in bedding.

Newborns very quickly learn to roll over which requires more careful

observation especially when they are on a change table and could fall

off.

Their grasps can also pull things which could hurt them.

Safety

As the baby grows, new safety considerations should be made.

As the child becomes mobile through crawling, climbing can be an

issue.

The areas of the house where the child is located needs to be checked

carefully to avoid possible incidents of the child falling from higher areas.

Emergency Procedures

Sleeping & Activity Routine

Maintaining a routine for sleeping and napping will provide a sense of

security for the child.

Play time is exercise for the baby and should be given attention daily.

Communication will help provide a healthy start in life.

Developing infants need to be active by kicking, reaching and

stretching.

As they become older, climbing, dancing, pushing, pulling, tumbling and

rolling in a supervised environment will provide additional exercise for the

child.

Breathing Emergencies

Love & Affection

Infants respond to touch, smiles and voice.

They need love and affection and infants who do not receive human

contact are delayed in their development.

Newborns will attach to their parents and react when they are not

present.

Crying is a way for babies to say that they need attention whether it is

physical or emotional.

Children who are loved form a strong bond and develop a sense of trust.

Holding, kissing, rocking, smiling and talking to a child increases their

growth and development.

Lesson 2: Feeding

Child Care

Feeding

One of the primary needs of a child that was not discussed in the last

lesson is feeding.

The two main options are breastfeeding and formula feeding.

For most babies, breastfeeding completely meets the nutritional needs

for the first four to six months of life.

During the second half of the first year, infant cereals, strained

vegetables and fruits, and meats are added to the milk diet.

The eating habits that start in infancy will develop the eating habits that

last a lifetime.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding has many advantages for both the baby and the mother.

Breast milk is always clean and ready when needed.

Antibodies from the mother are contained in the milk and it will provide protection for the baby from allergies and ear infections.

The milk is easily digested and there is less chance of overfeeding because the child stops nursing when full.

A strong bond between mother and child develops when breastfeeding.

The mother will also return to her pre-pregnancy weight faster.

The mother must avoid alcohol and caffeine and check before using any medications.

Formula Feeding

Formula feeding is an option available to mothers who are on

medication or have diseases that could be passed to the infant through

breast milk.

Infant formula is harder to digest and does not contain the same nutrient

content.

It must also be prepared by mixing with boiled water.

The bottles must be sterilized for the first six months of the infant’s life.

Formula can only be prepared for a 24 hour period and will spoil easily.

It can not be reheated after one use.

Other Factors to Consider…

The mother has less freedom with breastfeeding unless she expresses milk

to be frozen and fed to the infant.

She will still not be able to be away for extended periods of time since

she will have to relieve herself of the milk produced by her body.

Formula feeding allows the father to be more involved with feeding

although he can also feed the baby breast milk that has been bottled.

Burping

The infant who has been fed through both types of milk must be burped

after feeding.

Air trapped in the stomach can be painful for the child.

Even if the baby falls to sleep during the feeding, they must still be

awaken and burped.

This is accomplished through gentle patting or rubbing of the back.

Burping Baby Video (3:37)

Lesson 3: Stress Management

Child Care

The Mother

The changes that occur, especially to the mother, immediately following

the birth of a child can feel unmanageable.

The mother’s body recovers from the stress of pregnancy while the

demands of caring for the baby begins.

Joy, excitement, fear, confusion and love are emotions that are very

strong and change very quickly.

The freedom to be socially active has changed and the new role as

mother brings its own responsibilities.

The Father

The father can also feel a sense of abandonment since his partner must

now spend more time with the newborn and have less time to spend

with him.

He too has new responsibilities and must adjust to the addition to the

family.

Both parents are usually tired from lack of sleep.

Communication

Talking with each other about feelings is important during this time.

Knowing that your partner has the same feelings as you will provide

support for each other and help sort through the problems.

Talking with other new parents can also be helpful.

Reassuring each other that it is natural to feel this way will alleviate any

fears that you may be experiencing.

Stress Management

Dealing with the tiredness will certainly help to relieve the stress.

Getting as much rest as you can by napping when the baby naps will be

a start.

Organize yourself by doing things that are essential first.

Share household chores with your partner or other members of the

family.

Get as much help as possibly by accepting other people’s offers.

Be realistic and accept the fact that not every chore may be

completed on time and it is okay to have this happen.

Stress Management

Spending time getting to know the baby is essential but having time

away is important as well.

Sometimes parents feel that they must spend all waking hours with the

newborn.

This can become very stressful, especially if the child does not sleep

often or is prone to periods of crying.

Use the people around you to take time for yourself.

This will allow you to be able to deal with the infant better if you have

taken time to do things that you enjoy.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Depression can begin any time during the first two months

after you give birth. Symptoms may include:

Irritability or Hypersensitivity

Difficulty concentrating

Anxiety and worry

Crying or tearfulness

Anger

Negative feelings (sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, guilt)

Loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy

Postpartum Depression

Symptoms Continued…

Difficulty sleeping (especially returning to sleep)

Fatigue or exhaustion

Changes in appetite or eating habits

Headaches, stomach-aches, muscle or backaches

Some women with PPD believe they can’t adequately care for their

baby or may harm their baby.

What Causes Postpartum Depression?

Experts agree there's no single

cause but rather a combination of

hormonal, biochemical,

environmental, psychological and

genetic factors.

Current research indicates that one

of the strongest predictors of PPD is

depression or anxiety during

pregnancy.

Some women are more likely than others to get PPD.

The strongest predictors of PPD are:

Hours of intense anxiety or depression while you were pregnant, particularly in the third trimester

Prior (or family) history of depression or anxiety

Marital difficulties

Stressful life events such as financial problems or the loss of a job

Childcare stress

Inadequate social support

Having to care for a child with a difficult temperament

Low self-esteem

Postpartum Depression Predictors

Postpartum Depression Predictors

Other less predictive risk factors include:

Unplanned or unwanted pregnancy

Being single

Lower socioeconomic status

Postpartum blues

Remember that these risk factors don’t actually cause PPD. Many

women with a number of them never experience clinical depression or

anxiety.

How to Cope

In addition to getting expert help, here are some ways to take care of

yourself when you’re dealing with Postpartum Depression:

Be good to yourself

Don’t expect so much of yourself

Share your feelings

Don’t neglect your “outside”

Get some rest

Venture outdoors

Slow down

Lesson 4: Shaken Baby Syndrome

Child Care

Shaken Baby Syndrome

Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs when a baby is vigorously shaken moving the head back and forth.

The sudden whiplash motion can cause bleeding inside the head and increased pressure on the brain, causing the brain to pull apart.

It is one of the leading forms of fatal child abuse.

A baby’s head and neck are susceptible to head trauma because muscles are not fully developed and the brain tissue is exceptionally fragile.

Shaken Baby Syndrome

SBS occurs most frequently in infants younger than six months old, yet can

occur up to the age of three.

Often there are no obvious outward signs of inside injury, particularly in the

head or behind the eyes.

In reality, shaking a baby, if only for a few seconds, can injure the baby for life.

These injuries can include brain swelling and damage, cerebral palsy,

developmental delays, blindness, hearing loss, paralysis and death.

Symptoms may include changes in behaviour, irritability, lethargy, loss of

consciousness, pale or bluish skin, vomiting and convulsions.

There may be broken, injured or dislocated bones and injuries to the neck and

spine.

Shaken Baby Syndrome

Reasons for Shaken Baby Syndrome

Often frustrated parents or other persons responsible for a child’s care

feel that shaking a baby is a harmless way to make a child stop crying.

The number one reason a baby is shaken is because of inconsolable

crying.

Almost 25% of all babies with Shaken Baby Syndrome die.

It is estimated that 25-50% of parents and caretakers are not aware of

the effects of shaking a baby.

Immediate emergency treatment is necessary and usually includes life-

sustaining measures such as stopping internal bleeding and relieving

increased pressure on the brain.

Prevention

An adult can prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome from occurring.

Try to find a way to stop the child from crying other than shaking.

The first thing to do is to check and see if there is a reason for the

discomfort.

Try feeding, burping, check clothing, check for diaper rash or fever, and

teething.

Play music or sing, gently rock or walk, or go for a walk with the baby.

If you feel as though you are becoming frustrated, place the baby in a

crib and leave the room for a few minutes.

Prevention

Do not pick up the baby again

until you feel calm.

Phone for a friend or family

member to come and care for

the baby.

These options will allow time for

you to compose yourself so that

you can handle the child again.