Things You Can Do

Getting Along with Your Baby
• You can’t spoil a child under 1 year of age.
• Let your baby know you love him, no matter what.
• Join or start a support group for parents.
• Stressed? Tired? Need a break? Ask a friend or family member for help.

Babies Get into Everything
Beginning at about 6 months, babies get into everything. They want to move around, pull cords, open cabinets and put things in their mouth. This is how they learn. Guide your baby through safe learning experiences:
• Remove dangerous or breakable items from play areas.
• Keep small objects like coins, marbles and candy out of reach. Your baby can choke on anything small enough to go through a toilet paper roll.
• Put safety latches on any cabinets your baby can reach.

Tips to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night
By 4 to 6 months of age, most babies can learn to sleep through the night.
• Don’t let your child nap longer than 3 hours during the day.
• Be active and playful with her during the day.
• Be sure she’s eaten enough during the day and before bedtime.
• Have a bedtime ritual, such as a bath, a book, a song and a kiss before the lights go out.
• If she wakes at night, help her go back to sleep by herself. If she cries, check on her and pat her but don’t feed her. See if she’ll go back to sleep.
• Let Dad check on her at night. If she sees Mom, she’ll want to nurse.

Using a Pacifier
Some babies need a pacifier to calm themselves. But don’t let your baby suck on one all day. Help her find other ways to calm herself, such as hug- ging a favorite toy or blanket. Buy only one-piece, dishwasher-safe pacifiers with orthodontic nipples. The hard plastic shield should be at least 1 - inches across so only the nipple can fit into your baby’s mouth. Never tie a pacifier to your baby’s body or crib.