Book Reviews XIII: Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care & Additional Health Information

I. Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care
II. Additional Information about Pregnancy
III. Additional Health Information



I. Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care, 10th Edition
Dr. Benjamin Spock, M.D.

4/12/2025 - 2:00am
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Preface
Trust yourself and your children:
-- Trust yourself
-- Parents are human
-- Nature and nurture
-- Different families, different challenges
1. Section I - Your child, Age by Age
Before your child is born
Your newborn: Birth to about three months
The first year: four to twelve months
Your toddler: Twelve to twenty-four months
Your two-year old
Your preschooler: Three to Five Years
School Age: Six through eleven years
Adolescence: Twelve to eighteen years
Section II - Feeding and Nutrition
Feeding in the first year
Breastfeeding
Formula-feeding
Starting solid foods Nutrition and health
Section III - Health and Safety
General medical issues
--Your child's doctor
--Telephone calls to your doctor
Immunizations
Preventing Injuries:
Keeping children safe
Part 1: Safety inside the home
--Dangers at home
--Drowning and water safety
--Fire, smoke, and burns
--Poisons
--Lead and Mercury
--Choking
--Suffocation and strangulation
--Guns in the home
--Falls
--Toy safety
--Home safety equipment
Part 2: Safety Outside the home:
--Riding in cars
--Streets and driveways
--Bicycle injuries
--Playground injuries
--Sports safety
--Cold and hot temperatures
--Sun safety
--Bugbites
--Preventing dog bites
--Fireworks and trick-or-treat
First aid and emergencies:
--Cuts and scratches
--Splinters
--Bites
--Bleeding
--Burns and electrical injuries
--Skin infections
--Objects in nose and ears
--Objects in the eye
--Sprains and strains
--Fractures
--Neck and back inuries
--Head injuries
--Swallowed objects
--Poisons
--Allergic reactions
--Convulsions and seizures
--Choking and rescue breathing
--Home first-aid kit
Dental Development and oral health:
--Tooth development
--Teething
--What makes good teeth?
--Early dentist visits
--Tooth decay
--Brushing and flossing
--Dental varnish and sealants
--Dental injuries
--Preventing mouth injuries
Common Childhood Illnesses:
--Colds
--Ear Infections
--Sore throats and Strep throats
--Croup and Epiglottitis
--Bronchitis, Bronchiolitis, and Pneumonia
--Influenza (The Flu)
--Asthma
--Snoring
--Nasal allergies
--Eczema
--Other rashes and warts
--Head lice
--Stomachaches
--Constipation
--Vomiting and diarrhea
--Headaches
--Seizures
--Eye problems
--Joints and bones
--Heart problems
--Tuberculosis
Section IV - Raising mentally healthy children:
What children need:
--Love and limits
--Early relationships
--Sex roles
--Fathers
--Self-esteem
--Beyond parenting
--Raising children in a troubled society
--The natural world
--The importance of risk
--Learning in the brain
--How children think
--Reading aloud
Child care
--Parents work
--When to return to work
--Child care alternatives
--Choosing a child care program
--After-school care
--Babysitters
--Time with your child
Discipline
--What discipline is
--Reward and punishment
--Tips for setting limits
--The problem of permissiveness
--Manners
Grandparents
Sexuality
--The facts of life
--How sexuality develops
--Talking with teens about sex
--Gender nonconformity and sexual preferences
The Media
Different types of families
--Adoption
--Single-parent families
--Stepfamilies
--Gay and lesbian parents
Children with special needs
--Coping within the family
--Taking action
Stresses and traumas:
--The meaning of stress
--Terrorism and disasters
--Domestic violence
--Physical abuse and neglect
--Sexual abuse
--Death
--Separation from a parent
--Divorce
Section V - Common Develomental and Behavioral challenges
Acting out:
--Temper tantrums
--Swearing and back talk
--Biting
Messiness, Dawdling and Whining
Habits:
--Thumb-sucking
--Other infant habits
--Rhythmic habits
--Nail-biting
--Stuttering
Toilet training, soiling, and bed-wetting
--Readiness for toilet training
--A gentle training approach
--Bladder control
--Setbacks in bowel and bladder control
--Soiling
--Bed-wetting
Sleep problems
--Night terrors and sleepwalking
--Insomnia
Disorders of feeding and eating
--Feeding problems
--Needing to be fed
--Gagging
--Thin childen
--Obesity
--Eating disorders
Sibling rivalry
--Jealousy and closeness
--The many faces of jealousy
--Jealousy of the new baby
--Siblings with special needs
Anxiety and depression
--Anxiety
--Depression
Hyperactivity (ADHD)
Learning disabilities
Intellectual disability
Autism
Down syndrome and other genetic disorders
Getting help
--Why people seek help
--First steps
--Types of therapy
--Choosing a professional
--Working together
Common medications for children
Glossary of common medications
Resource Guide
Index

4/6/2025 - 11:00pm
1. Trust Yourself and Your Children
2. Parents are Human
3. Nature and Nurture
4. Different Families, Different Challenges
5. Section I
6. Your Child, Age by Age
7. Before Your Child is Born
8. Mixed Feelings about Pregnancy
9. Prenatal Plans and Decisions
10. Prenatal care. Getting prenatal care is one of the best things you can do for your baby. Simple steps--taking folate, avoiding cigarette smoke and alcohol, and getting your blood pressure checked--can make a huge difference. Routine testing can detect problems that can be treated before they harm your baby. It's best to start prenatal care early, but late is better than never.
11. Typically, prenatal visits happen once a month for the first seven months, once every other week in the eigth month, and weekly after that. They're an opportunity for you to get advice about common issues such as morning sickness, weight gain, and exercise.
12. It's important that you like and trust your doctor or midwife. Does the professional listen to you and give you clear information? Is the person you see for prenatal visits the same person who will actually do your delivery? If not, do you trust that the other professionals in the group will also provide good medical care to you? Will the hospital and the OB group accept your medical insurance?
13. Plan your delivery. Home or hospital? Natural childbirth or an epidural? Lying down or squatting? Home as soon as possible or extended hospital stay?
No single approach suits every woman, and no method is clearly best for babies. Childbirth is safer now than ever before, but it's still unpredictable. Think about your ideal delivery, but stay flexible in case of unforseen events. Plan to ask a lot of questions and do some more reading.
14. Consider hiring a doula for your delivery. Doulas are women who are trained to provide continuous support throughout labor. They help mothers find the most comfortable positions and movements, and use massage and other techniques to reduce tension. An experienced doula can often reassure a woman who's feeling panicky or overwhelmed.
Doulas can help fathers, too. It's the rare father who can soother a laboring woman's pain and anxiety as well as a trained doula, especially when the father is anxious himself. A doula frees up the father to be with his partner in a loving way rather than as a coach. Most fathers feel supported by the doula, not replaced.
Research has proven the beneficial effect of doulas. Doulas reduce the need for cesarean sections and epidural (spinal) anesthesia. If doulas were pills instead of people, they'd be prescribed for every birth! For more information about doulas, see www.dona.org.
15. Choosing your Baby's Doctor
16. Pediatrician, family nurse, or nurse practitioner?
17. The "getting to know you" visit. If this is your first baby or if you are moving to a new area, it's wise to schedule a doctor visit a few weeks before your due date. There's nothing like actually meeting someone to know if she makes you feel comfortable enough to talk about whatever is on your mind.
18. When you visit the office, is the staff pleasant and courteous? Are there things for children to do in the waiting room? Are there picture books? Ask practical questions: How many physicians and nurse practitioners are there in the practice? How are phone calls handled? What happens if your baby becomes ill after office hours? What if you have an emergency during the day? How much time is alloted for well-child checkups? (Fifteen minutes is about average nowadays). Find out about insurance and fees, and what the practice uses.
19. A key issue is continuity of care. Will your child have one particular doctor, or do patients in the practice see whoever happens to be available? Health care for children works best when parents and doctors work as a team. It may be easier to work with one particular doctor, rather than with every doctor in the practice.
20. When you talk with the doctor, choose a couple of issues to discuss that are important to you, such a the doctor's views on related subjects. Pay attention to how the interview makes you feel. If you feel comfortable, listened to, and unrushed, you've probably found the right doctor; if not, you may want to visit some other practices.
21. To be continued.

11:30pm
22. Prenatal breastfeeding consultation. If you are unsure whether or not to breastfeed it can be helpful to discuss the issue with your baby's doctor, or a lactation consultant. You may want to attend breastfeeding classes, offered by many hospitals and large practices. Knowing more will help you feel comfortable with your decision. A prenatal consultation can help you anticipate any problems and deal with them ahead of time.
23. Planning the Homecoming. Try to get someone to help you during the first few weeks. It's exhausting to do everything by yourself. Most expectant parents feel a little scared at the thought of taking sole charge of a helpless baby. If you really feel panicky, you'll probably handle things more comfortably with a supportive relative by your side.
24. You might consider hiring a housekeeper or a doula for a few weeks. Many doulas offer their services after birth as well. Or maybe pay someone to come in once or twice a week to do the laundry, help you catch up on the housework, and perhaps watch your baby for a couple of hours. It makes sense to keep your helper around for as long as you need the help and an afford it.
25. Visitors. The birth of a baby brings relatives and friends flocking, but it's okay to say no. It's normal to be tired during the first weeks with a new baby, and visitors can be a further drain on your energy. It makes sense to limit visits to the few people you really want to see. Everyone else should understand.
26. Anyone who picks up your baby should wash well first, until your baby is at least three or four months old. Young children, in particular, often carry viruses that an make newborns quite ill. So keep young cousins and other relatives at a safe distance.
27. Preparing your home. Removing paint chips, checking the basement for black mold, and testing the well water for bacteria and nitrates before the baby arrives.
28. Helping siblings cope
29. Things You'll Need
30. Buying things Ahead of Time. Some parents don't feel like buying anything until they have their baby. The idea that planning ahead of time might jinx the pregnancy is common in many cultures. Parents may not want to tempt fate. The advantage of arranging things ahead of time is that is lightens the burden later. It can be comforting to know that you have the basics on hand.
31. What do you really need? The sections that follow should help you decide what to buy ahead of time and what you might buy later (or never). I'd suggest you check the most recent copies of magazines such as Consumer Reports for the latest information on safety, durability, and practicality.
Checklist
Things You'll Need Right from the Start
-- A safety-approved car seat.
-- A crib, cradle, or bassinet with a firm mattress and tight-fitting sheets.
-- A few swaddling blankets.
-- T-shirts or onesies; in cooler climates, a couple of warm fleece sleep sacks.
-- Wipe and diapers, either disposable, cloth that you wash yourself, or cloth from a diaper service. Cloth diapers come in handy, even if you mainly use disposables.
-- A cloth sling or front-pack baby carrier.
-- A diaper bag with places for diapers, wipes, ointment, a folding plastic changing pad and nursing supplies.
-- A digital thermometer and a child's nose syringe with bulb suction.
32. Equipment for bathing and changing. You can give your baby a bath in the kitchen sink, a plastic tub, a dishpan, or a washstand. A spraying faucet is great for rinsing the baby's hair.
33. The water should be lukewarm but not hot. You can use a bath thermometer, but it's best to rely on your own hand to test the water temperature.
34. You can change and dress your baby on a low table or the bathroom counter or on the top of a bureau. A changing table with safety straps is convenient but not necessary. Wherever you change your baby (except on the floor), it's important to keep one hand on him at all times: You can use the safety straps, but don't trust them.
35. Seats, swings, and walkers.

4/7/2025 - 1:00am
36. Strollers, carriages and backpacks.
37. Play yards (playpens).
38. Clothing.
39. By law, all sleepwear from nine-month size to size 14 must either be tight-fitting, or treated with flame-retardant chemicals. Be sure to look at the labels, which are required by law.
40. Toiletries and medical supplies. Any mild soap will do for the bath; in fact, for all but the most soiled body parts, plain water works fine. Liquid baby soaps and deodorant soaps often cause rashes, and antibacterial soaps contain chemicals that may be unsafe for babies. Cotton balls are useful at bath time for wiping the baby's eyes. Baby lotion isn't really necessary unless your child's skin is dry, but it's pleasant to run it on and babies love a massage. Look for creams and lotions with no added scent or color. Baby oils are fine for dry or normal skin. Mineral oil may cause a mild rash on some babies.
41. Under the diaper, an ointment containing lanolin and petrolatum (petroleum jelly) protects the skin. Talcum powder can damage the lungs if inhaled; cornstarch-based powders are safer.
42. Infant nail scissors have blunted ends, though many parents find infant nail clippers easier to use. I prefer using a nail file: There's no chance of drawing blood, and files don't leave sharp edges.
43. You'll need a fever thermometer. Digital thermometers cost about $10 and are fast, accurate, easy, and safe. High-tech ear thermometers are less accurate and more expensive. Old-style thermometers that contain mercury aren't safe. If you have one already, don't just throw it in the garbage; call the sanitation department for advice on proper disposal, or bring it to the doctor's office.
44. A child's nose syringe with bulb suction is helpful to remove mucus during colds if the mucus is interfering with feeding.
45. Feeding equipment. If you know that you're going to bottle feed, buy at least nine of the eight-ounce bottles and a bottle brush. Buy a few extra nipples, in case you are having trouble making the nipple holes the right size...You don't need to buy a bottle warmer. A pan of warm water works well, and babies don't mind room-temperature formula. A few terry-cloth bibs are handy.
46. Pacifiers. Many babies like sucking, and use it to calm themselves down. A pacifier before sleep may even reduce the risk of crib death. Three or four pacifiers should do to start. (The practice of blocking up a baby bottle nipple with cotton or paper and using it as a pacifier is dangerous. The contraption tends to fall apart, leaving little pieces that are easy to choke on.)
47. YOUR NEWBORN, BIRTH TO ABOUT THREE MONTHS
48. YOUR BABY AT BIRTH
49. Emotional responses to labor and delivery
50. Challenges of the first three months

51. Meeting your baby's needs
52. Baby's aren't Frail
53. Baby's Thrive on Touch
54. Bonding
55. Early Return to a Job
56. PARENTS EARLY FEELINGS
57. Being Scared
58. The Blue Feeling. You may find yourself feeling discouraged early on, even if there isn't anything definitely wrong. Feelings of depression may appear soon after delivery or several weeks later. Baby blues are common and normal. Sometimes you can chase them away by doing things that cheer you up: going for a walk, working out, hanging out with friends, doing creative things like writing or painting. Sometimes you have to give yourself time to feel better.
59. The Father's Feelings Early On
60. CARING FOR YOUR BABY
61. Being with your baby
62. Your newborn's senses
63. Your baby is an individual
64. Crying and Comforting
65. What does all that crying mean?
66. DIAPERING
67. Disposable versus cloth.
68. While disposable diapers can be easy to use, cloth diapers are also good. Cloth diapers are to a baby what cloth underwear are to adults.
69. Washing Diapers
70. If you're doing the washing yourself, first scrape the contents of the diapers into the toilet (a high-pressure sprayer that attaches to the toilet makes rinsing faster and easier). Next, put the diapers into a covered pail partially filled with water, with one-half cup of borax or bleach per gallon. Clean the diaper pail each time you do a diaper wash. Wash the diapers with mild soap or detergent and rinse two or three times, more if your baby has sensitive skin.
71. If the diapers are becoming hard, nonabsorbent, and gray with soap deposit, you can soften them by using a water conditioner. Don't use a fabric softener; these leave a coating that makes diapers less absorbent.

4/9/2025 - 5:00pm
72. For some women, labor is a profoundly moving rite of passage; for others it's a painful experience to be endured and forgotten about. However you respond is okay; there's no one right way. Some will push with each contraction for endless hours; others will get discouraged and demand that the doctor pull the baby out. Some exhausted women scream at their well-meaning husbands to get out of the delivery room and never come back. One new mother feels an instant flood of love for her baby; another, after hearing that the baby is okay, just wants to sleep. Both turn out to be wonderful parents.
73. BOWEL MOVEMENTS
74. Meconium. For the first day or so after birth, the baby's bowel movements are a greenish-black goo called meconium. After that they change from brown to yellow. A newborn should have at least one bowel movement, or BM, before leaving the hospital; if your baby hasn't had a BM by the end of the second day, tell the doctor.
75. Early BMs. Most babies poop after they eat, because a full stomach stimulates the intestinal tract all the way down...Most formula-fed babies start out having one to four BMs a day; some have as many as six. After a few weeks, the number tends to decrease to one or two a day. The BMs are usually pasty, pale yellow or tan; sometimes they're darker or greenish. Some young babies always have BMs that are more like soft scrambled eggs (curdy lumps with looser material in between). The number and color aren't important if the consistency is soft but not watery and your baby is comfortable and gaining weight well. Some babies on cow's-milk formula have overly hard BMs.
76. Straining with Stools. A baby may push and strain a lot, grimacing and grunting, but then produce a soft bowel movement. This isn't constipation, which always causes hard stools. Rather, the problem is poor coordination. The baby is pushing out with one group of muscles and holding back with another. The net result is that nothing happens. Finally the holding-back muscles relax, and things go well after that. The problem goes away as the baby's nervous system matures.
77. For overly hard BMs which are pebbly or like a large ball, two ounces of pure prune juice once a day often does the trick...Try to avoid laxatives, enemas, or suppositories. If, however, your baby continues to have hard and painful BMs or blood in the BMs from straining, this is a sign of constipation. Constipation in young babies can sometimes be a symptom of a medical problem, so it's reasonable to consult the doctor if simple remedies don't work.
78. Changes in the Color of the Stool. Brown, yellow, or greenish--it doesn't matter. Healthy BMs come in many colors. Do call the doctor if the BMs turn red, black, or white. Red stools may be caused by blood from the intestines, or from beets and red juices. Black stools may be due to bleeding from the stomach. Pale or white stools can be due to blockage of bile.
79. Mucus in the BMs. Don't worry about mucus in the BM, as long as your baby seems to be healthy.
80. Blood in the BMs.
81. THE BATH
82. First Bath. If you're nervous about giving your baby a tub bath, you can give sponge baths until you feel more secure. Many babies love tub baths, but they aren't actually necessary. A thorough sponge bath, with attention to the diaper area and around the mouth and nose, is just as good. (Most doctors advise avoiding tub baths until the navel is dried up. But nothing awful happens if the navel gets wet; just dry it off well.)
83. You can give a sponge bath with the baby on a table or in your lap. You'll want a piece of waterproof material under the baby. If you are using a hard surface like a table, there should be some padding over it (like a folded blanket or quilt) so that your baby won't roll too easily. Rolling frightens young babies.
84. Wash the face and scalp with a washcloth and clear warm water. Lightly soap the rest of the body when and where needed, with the washcloth or your hand. Then wipe the soap off by going over the whole body at least twice with the rinsed washcloth, paying special attention to creases.
85. Getting Ready for a Bath. Before starting, be sure you have everything you need close at hand. If you forget the towel, you'll have to go after it holding a dripping baby in your arms. Take off your wristwatch or your Fitbit. An apron can protect your clothes. Choose a mild, hypoallergenic soap or moisturizing bar; some so-called "pure baby soaps" are actually harsh on sensitive skin. Have at hand:
--Soap
--Washcloth
--Towel
--Absorbent cotton for nose and ears if necessary.
--Lotion
--Diapers, shirt, nightie
86. The bath can be given in a washbowl, dishpan, kitchen sink, or plastic tub. Some tubs have sponge cutouts to support and position the baby properly. For your own comfort, you can put a dishpan or tub on a table or on something higher, like a dresser. You can sit on a stool at the kitchen sink.
87. You can also use a regular bathtub. This will be hard on your back and legs, unless you get into the bath yourself, then have your partner give you your baby. Your lap is a perfect baby bath. Remember, though, that babies need warm, but not hot, water.
88. If you want to give your baby a bath, then it can be helpful to wear your own bathing suit and flip flops.
89. Giving a Tub Bath. The water should be about body temperature (90-100F). Always test the water temperature with your wrist. It should feel comfortably warm but not hot. Use only a small amount of water at first, an inch or two deep, until you get the knack of holding your baby securely. A tub is less slippery if you line it with a towel or diaper each time.
90. Hold your baby so that her head is supported on your wrist, and the fingers of that hand hold her securely by the armpit. Wash the face first, with a soft washcloth without soap, then the scalp. The scalp needs to be soaped only once or twice a week. Wipe the soap suds off the scalp with a damp washcloth, going over it twice (if the washcloth is too wet, the soapy water may get into the eyes and sting). Then you can use the washcloth or your hand to wash the rest of your baby. When you use soap, it's easier to soap your hand than a washcloth. If the skin gets dry, try omitting soap except for once or twice a week.
91. Use a soft bath towel for drying, and blot rather than rub. If you begin giving the tub bath before the navel is completely healed, dry it well after the bath with cotton balls. Avoid baby powder containing talcum, because it is harmful to the lungs if inhaled. Cornstarch-based powder works almost as well and is safer.
Lotion. It's fun to apply lotion to a baby after a bath, and your baby will like it, too. Babies don't really need lotion, but it may help when the skin is dry or if there is a mild diaper rash. Baby oils and mineral oil work as well, but sometimes they cause a mild rash.

92. BODY PARTS
93. Skin. Newborn babies develop all sorts of spots and rashes, most of which fade or disappear on their own. Rashes may be signs of a serious medical condition, however, so it's sensible to ask the doctor to look at any new rash.
94. Ears, eyes, mouth, and nose. You need to wash only the outer ear and the entrance to the canal, not inside. Use a washcloth, not a cotton swab (which just pushes the wax further in). Wax is formed in the canal to protect and clean it. The mouth ordinarily needs no extra care.
95. The nose has a beautiful system for keeping itself clear. The cells lining the nose are covered with a fringe of whiplike projections that beat constantly, moving the mucus down toward the front of the nose. The mucus collects on the nose hairs, tickling the baby until she sneezes or runs it away. When you are drying your baby after the bath, you can first moisten and then gently wipe away any balls of dried mucus with the corner of the washcloth. Don't fuss at this too long if it makes your baby angry.
96. Sometimes, especially when the house is heated, enough dried mucus collects in the nose to interfere with a baby's breathing. You can tell if this is happening because each time she breathes in, the lower edges of the chest are pulled inward. An older child or adult would breathe through the mouth, but most babies can't do this. A nasal spray of salt water (saline) helps loosen dry mucus.
97. Nails. The nails can be cut easily while your baby sleeps. Clippers may be easier than nail scissors. Use a nail file to get rid of sharp edges. If you file every day, you might not need to clip. Sing a song while you file, and nail care can become a pleasant part of your routine.
98. The soft spot (fontanel). The soft spot on the top of a baby's head is where the bones of the skull have not yet grown together. The size of the fontanel at birth varies. Large ones are fine but take longer to close. Fontanels can close as early as nine months or as late as two years; the average is twelve to eighteen months.
99. Don't worry about touching the soft spot. It's covered by a tough membrane and there's no risk of hurting a baby there with ordinary handling. If the light is right, you can see it pulsating.
100. The navel, After birth, the doctor clamps the umbilical cord and cuts it off. The stump that's left dries up and drops off, usually in about two or three weeks.
When the cord falls off, it leaves a raw spot, which takes a number of days or weeks to heal over. The raw spot should be kept clean and dry. A scab covers it until it is healed; it doesn't need a dressing and will stay drier without one. There may be a little bleeding or drainage a few days before the cord falls off and until the healing is complete. If the scab on the unhealed navel gets pulled by clothing, there may be a drop or two of blood Don't worry about this.
101. It's best ot keep the diaper below the level of the unhealed navel, so that it doesn't keep the navel damp. If the unhealed navel becomes moist and produces a discharge, use a cotton swab dampened with alcohol to clean between the cord stump and the skin. If healing is slow, the raw spot may become lumpy with what's called granulation tissue. The doctor may apply a chemical that will hasten drying and healing.
If the navel and the surrounding skin become red or tender, call the doctor right away. Infections of the navel are rare, but can be serious.

TEMPERATURE, FRESH AIR, AND SUNSHINE
102. Room temperature.
103. How much clothing.
104. Practical coverings. A young infant is safest in a sleep sack because blankets become untucked and can pose a suffocation risk.
105. Fresh air.
106. Sunshine. While it's good for babies to spend time outdoors, sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can lead to skin cancer years later. Infants are especially vulnerable, because their skin contains relatively little melanin, the pigment that protects against UV damage. Dark-skinned babies are safer; those with pale skin and blond or red hair are most at risk. Beaches, pools, and boats are especially hazardous, because the UV rays reflect up from the water as well as shine down from above.
107. Children and adults should use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15; higher for those with more sun-sensitive skin. Creams and lotions work equally well. Choose one that smells and feels good to you, so you'll apply it often.
108. Babies less than six months old are apt to find any sunscreen irritating, so cover them up if they're going to be out for more than a few minutes, in a hat with a wide brim, and pants and a long-sleeved top made out of material that will block the sun's rays. Even then, a fair-skinned baby should not sit poolside for long. Sunbathing--exposure to UV light for the purpose of getting a tan--is unhealthy at any age.
COMMON NEWBORN CONCERNS
109. Birthmarks
110. Blue fingers and toes
111. Jaundice
112. Breathing problems
113. Umbilical hernia
114. Startles and jittery movements Newborn babies often startle at loud noises and sudden changes in position. Some very sensitive babies jump out of their skins when their own arm and leg movements cause their bodies to rock around. For this reason, they may hate the bath, and prefer to be washed in their parent's lap and then rinsed while held securely in both hands. They gradually get over this uneasiness as they grown older.
115. The trembles. Some babies have trembly or jittery movements in the early months. Their chins may quiver or their arms and legs may tremble, especially when they're excited or just after being undressed. This is normal and it goes away in time.
116. Twitching. Some babies twitch occasionally in their sleep; once in a while there is a baby who twitches frequently. This too, usually disappears as the baby grows older. Tell the doctor if twitching continues even while you are holding the limbs; this could be a sign of a seizure.
THE FIRST YEAR, FOUR TO TWELVE MONTHS
A TIME OF FIRSTS
117. Discoveries in the first year
118. The meaning of milestones
119. CARING FOR YOUR BABY
120. Companionship without spoiling.
121. Things to watch and things to play with
122. Electronics in the first year: If a screen is on, a baby will stare at it
FEEDING AND GROWTH
123. Feeding decisions.
124. Mealtime Behavior
SLEEPING
125. Bedtime rituals.
126. Early waking.
127. Changes in sleep.
CRYING AND COLIC
128. Normal crying versus colic. All babies cry and fret sometimes, and it's usually not too hard to figure out why.

4/12/2025 - 2:00am
129. "Table of Contents," added to the top of this review.



Top of page





II. Additional Information about Pregnancy

4/17/2025
1. During a pregnancy, the mother should only eat healthy food. --The Bible
2. When a woman is pregnant, and sees the ultrasound, then looks at her stomach, she has a sense of how the baby is formed in her body.
3. During a pregnancy, the doctor can observe visually, the general size and shape of the baby.
4. What is a baby like in its mother’s womb? He is like a folded notebook. —The Talmud
5. The pregnant woman gently rubbed her stomach, in order to make herself feel better.
6. During the delivery, the woman had cool cloths nearby to pat on her head, as well as water nearby to drink.
7. During the delivery, the doctor had to move the woman's body around a lot, and the woman also had to move herself around a lot, in order to deliver the baby. --The Bible
8. During childbirth, the head emerges first.
9. During the childbirth, the doctor said, “I’m going to reach in and feel for the head and body, and then pull it out from there.” --The Talmud
10. After a woman gives birth, the baby comes out, and then the birth canal closes up and begins to return to normal.

11. Before coming home from the hospital, the baby's parents should already have the items and the knowledge at home that are necessary for the baby's survival.
12. The doctor who delivered the baby was like a military drill sergeant.
13. Baby food is just smashed fruit or smashed vegetables.
14. The parents regularly put fruit juice in the baby's bottle.
15. "She put a mixture of milk and sugar in the baby's bottle. —-Angela’s Ashes, Frank McCourt
16. "When she returned from the hospital, the doctor told the woman to get plenty of rest, stay warm, and eat healthy food.” --Angela’s Ashes, Frank McCourt
17. The periods of cleanness and uncleanness for a male birth are 7 days and 33 days respectively and for a female birth 14 and 66 days.
18. "She found a rag and tied it to the baby’s bottom, so that he didn’t crap all over the place.”
19. "It might be tough having to push a baby stroller through the crowded city, but hey: we’ve got to be tough in life."
20. “Babies don't do too much: eat, say Goo Goo, and smile.”
21. "When the weather was nice, we’d take the baby out for a bit of fresh air."
22. All pregnancies involve some amount of doctor and hospital involvement.


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III. Additional Health Information

4/13/2025
1. A schedule of brisk walking or running can improve your breathing and overall health.
2. Cod liver oil pills are good for your health. --Charles Dickens
3. Fresh air is healthy, so if you're indoors, open the windows to let some fresh air in. --Jane Austen
4. The water from some natural springs is considered very healthy to drink.
5. Soup broth is good for your health. --Jane Austen
6. For dry lips, use lip balm.
7. Throat lozenges are good for a sore throat.
8. Toilet tissue commercials are popular today, it is also easier to wipe your butt with the left hand. Many doctors stress the importance of having a clean rear end.
9. If you're in an area where there's no toilet tissue available, you can use copy paper or looseleaf paper - just rip it into the shape of toilet tissue first.
10. There are twenty-four ribs in a human body. --Trivial Pursuit

11. The intestines are like a worm in the body that has dozens of tiny muscles that move food down the digestive tract. This knowledge can make your stomach feel better.
12. The large and small intestine actually contain muscles. Google “What are the large and small intestine?” for images showing these organs.
13. Some experts say that the intestines are 22 feet long when expanded, but the intestines are not that long in a person's body.
14. When we inhale, the stomach expands, and when we exhale, the stomach contracts.
15. Doctors might be able to cure blindness through medication, or by drilling holes near the oozing area and then using a suction device to suck out the ooze-like liquid.
16. We feel uncomfortable sometimes because we come into contact with something that puts a burning in our chest or pressure in our throat.
17. Compare Western medicine to homeopathic and folk medicine.
18. In days of antiquity, it was common for people to live well into their hundreds (130, 140, 150 years old).
19. In terms of breathing, a person should be able to sing his favorite song out loud for three minutes.
20. Sorrel is a cure for jaundice. —The Arabian Nights

21. Jaundice is a condition that doctors should help patients determine the causes, symptoms and cures.
22. Even though the man had only one eye, it was as though he could see with two.
23. …the God of Abraham His friend, the Omnipotent from Whom nothing is hidden, the One, the All-Powerful, Whom no eye can see. --The Arabian Nights
24. A woman should have a normal flow of blood during her monthly period, not too little and not too much.
25. A woman should stay home from school or work, and cleanse herself frequently during her monthly period.
26. If you have trouble walking, but you can still get from Point A to Point B, then you should not be discriminated against in the workplace or in public. --Penguin Hebrew Verse, T. Carmi
27. People who have brain injuries can heal, if they use thinking exercises and physical exercises to heal their brain and body. The brain is an organ just like any other organ in the human body, and like other organs, it too can heal.
28. People who have brain injuries and difficulty walking should do exercises for leg agility and strength.
29. Exercise on the elliptical machine for a few weeks, in order to lose weight, before undergoing complicated weight-loss surgery.
30. If your coach or trainer is good and teaches you how to safely use the elliptical, then it can be a helpful machine.

4/13/2025 - 6:00am
31. As we age, or grow older, our bodies change, so we have to make changes in our lives.
33. One ancient tribe of people washed in cold water when they did not have hot water available.
33. One Greek philosopher was fond of washing up in the sink.
32. One Greek philosopher was fond of taking partial showers, and only cleaning parts of the body.
33. One Greek philosopher took several showers a day.
31. After using the toilet, one tribe of people washed with water, and then used paper towels to dry off.
33. One ancient tribe of people used chamber pots. They poured in a little water before using them, and then after using the chamber pots, they went outside and emptied them into a dirt hole, and covered it with dirt.
34. Then, they washed the chamber pot with water and cleansing liquid, which allowed them to use it again.
35. One ancient tribe of people built trenches outside of their homes, for sewage.
36. One ancient tribe of people set up military-style latrines in their village, because they did not have modern plumbing.
37. One ancient tribe of people transported all of their garbage to a nearby area or dump, then placed it in a hole in the ground, then burned it, and then covered it up with more soil.

6:30am
38. The men researched how to dig a well, and then dug two wells for drinking water in their village.
39. Put a cigar leaf on the skin to heal a cut or wound.
40. Use medicated lotion on the skin to heal a cut or wound.
41. For some people, due to their level of health, the air in some cities and geographical locations is better to breathe.
42. It is better to breathe in fresh air from wide, open spaces. --Jane Austen

7:30am
43. Ensuring happiness and survival in the lives of patients is a main goal of doctors and physicians.
44. A good doctor can tell visually, the general health condition of his patient, based on certain factors.
45. Hippocrates was an ancient Greek physician and philosopher who is often called the "father of medicine". Many of Hippocrates’ writings are available in libraries or bookstores.



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