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BOOK
FOR MUM AND DAD
Basic tips for the parents of young children
(from birth to the age of three)
Republic of Serbia Paediatric Association Public Health Association
Ministry of Health of Serbia of Serbia
This handbook was compiled by a team consisting of Vesna Janjevic Popovic, Mari Braein (child
development), Oliver Petrovic (child health and nutrition), and a writer of books for children,
Jasminka Petrovic, who took all the professional texts and turned them into a readable and interesting
book in her typically charming and simple way.
We owe special thanks to a group of experts Professor Milos Banicevic, Dr Ljiljana Plavsic, Dr
Ljiljana Sokal Jovanovic, Dr Dusica Matijevic, Dr Goran Mitrovic, and to Andjelka Kotevic and Sonja
Marinkovic (qualified nurses), for their outstanding contribution in the section on child health and
nutrition.
We wish to thank all the health visitors for reading the working version of this handbook and
improving its practical application through their vast experience.
We are grateful to all our women colleagues at the UNICEF Office in Serbia who, in their double role
as experts and parents, offered critical and inspired suggestions, thereby enhancing the quality of this
book.
Thanks are also due to the parents who were our last check before the book went into print. Their
comments, questions and dilemmas added vitality and relevance to the book.
On the technical side, we owe a special debt of gratitude to Dobrosav (Bob) Zivkovic for outstanding
illustrations that always coaxed a smile and created a happy atmosphere. Then language editor Sheila
Margaret Sofrenović for her professionalism and rare talent in choosing just the right words to
explain some aspects of childcare. Our thanks are likewise due to Konstantin I. Petrovic, a designer
who managed to place words and pictures in complete harmony, and to Jadranka Milanovic, UNICEF
communications officer, who ensured that this publication’s visual identity was in accordance with
UNICEF standards.
This English version was developed in 2009 with the support of the UNICEF Regional Office for CEE
CIS, Geneva.
C ongratulations, you have a new baby! You are overjoyed and a little bit
anxious: “How will I manage in this new role? Will I be a good Mum? Will I
be a good Dad?”… Quite normal reactions. And before you can answer, the
baby starts crying. What is he trying to tell me now? Is he hungry? Is my milk good
enough? Is he suffering from colic? Lots of questions, and plenty of people around
you to give advice: Grandma, a female neighbour, a woman friend, a man friend. All
of them are well-wishers, all of them would like to help by sharing their experience
and knowledge, each of them has advice on what is best for your baby. But how can
you be sure it’s the right advice? We were not taught anything like that at school.
Without attempting to offer solutions to all the situations in which you may find
yourselves, we have tried to answer the most important questions and dilemmas you
might have in the first years of your child’s life. We have tapped into the experience
of mothers and fathers all over our planet and gathered knowledge from those
whose job it is to take care of young children. The result is a large package of
information, from which we have extracted the most important facts that we now
want to share with you.
For example, we now know that stimuli in the first three years of life are the most
important factor in the child’s entire development, that clear rules on behaviour
and praise (never spanking) are most important in the child’s upbringing, that
breastfeeding is the only food and drink that should be given to the baby in the
first six months… This, and much more (basic) information on childcare in the
first three years, on growth and development, proper nutrition, the prevention of
injuries to children and childhood diseases can be found in this handbook. All the
more reason, therefore, for you to take the time to study these tips.
The knowledge you gain and the love you feel are the best investment in your baby’s
health and development. And a broad smile and the look of contentment on your
baby’s face will be a sure sign that all of you are on the right track.
Judita Reichenberg
UNICEF Area Representative
for the Republic of Serbia and for the Republic of Croatia
3. Communication
Principles of good communication 66
5. Child safety
Accidents can be prevented 86
Accidents happen 89
Until help arrives 90
8. Appendix
Child development chart 117
Growth chart 124
You really are wonderful parents, but things can always be that little bit
better, so, we’ve decided to explain to you how we develop, what we feel,
and how we think. You’ll find out what we like and what we don’t like..
You probably know some things already, but others you may be
hearing for the first time. Don’t panic and blame yourselves
if you’re not always good at everything.
Love,
Luke and Maya
The joys and concerns
of parenthood
UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child
Article 7: “The child … shall have
the right from birth to a
name… the right to know
and to be cared for by his or
her parents”.
P
arenthood is a wonderful and important experience in life, although
a very demanding task too. From the first moment you take your
baby in your arms, your life starts changing. Quite new feelings
emerge, feelings you could hardly imagine before. These feelings are difficult
to describe as the bond between parents and their baby is personal and
unique. You will probably be excited and happy, but also a bit confused and
afraid. Different questions will run through your head:
As you get to know your baby, so she is getting to know you. Based on your
facial expressions, movements, tone of voice and words she is discovering
your feelings and attitudes, and getting used to your behaviour day by
day. She is gradually adjusting to the family’s daily routine and to living
together.
However, there will be moments when you will lose your control, patience
and temper. The challenges of everyday life might make you doubt yourself.
You will be haunted by the thought that you are not a successful parent
and that the skill of parenting is slipping away from you. Mood swings
and occasional crises are quite a normal occurrence in parenthood, but it
is essential to overcome such situations as soon as possible. Do not blame
yourself. Relax. Share your feelings with your partner, talk to him about
your dilemmas and fears. Learn parenting together with your child. Enjoy
each of your child’s smiles. Be gentle and attentive to your child and to
each other too. The more pleasant moments you share together, the better
equipped you will be to understand and overcome moments of crisis.
Dad’s support is indispensable to both mother and baby. Mum may be tired,
in need of sleep, sometimes probably confused and frightened of this new
life. She is still feeling the after-effects of the birth, she is getting used to
breastfeeding, she is getting to know her baby’s needs, and she is probably
worried about whether she will be a successful mother. Fathers, try to
imagine how she is feeling. Take on part of the housework. Be tender and
caring towards her. Your support is crucial for her. A rested and contented
mother will be a better companion to both you and the baby.
Dad’s love and encouragement are important for the child’s development.
Children whose fathers have been actively involved in care of the baby since
their birth, are better achievers at school, are more mature, and have fewer
behaviour problems. Fathers are equally important for both girls and boys.
Don’t wait for your daughter to reach girlhood to find out what kind of role
model you have been in her life. Don’t wait for your son to grow up before
playing football with him. Pick up your baby, play with him, and take him
for a walk… The more time you dedicate to your child, the more successful
your child’s development will be, and you will be even more strongly
attached to your child. Development of a healthy and united family ready
for the challenges of life starts here.
I can hardly wait for Luke to grow up and play hide-and-seek. I’m fed up
with making Daddy hide around the house. Besides, when he hides under
the blanket, he immediately falls asleep and then I have to get
Yeller to help me wake him up.
Love, Maya
Baby’s development and care
in the first six months
LUKE: You know, Mummy, I could hardly
wait to be born, but I must say I’m a bit
baffled now. Everything is so big and new
to me. I’d like to learn about all these
interesting things around me, but I soon get
tired and fall asleep. Luckily, when I wake
up, you are beside me so everything is easier
for me. As soon as I recognize your smell
or hear your voice, I feel MORE confident.
Mummy, I’m so happy to have you!
T he temperature in the room in which the child lives should be between 20º
and 22º C.
Observe your baby’s habits and based on these design a daily routine of activities
and sleep. A newborn baby sleeps about 20 hours a day, but the sleeping time
decreases with age. The room in which the baby sleeps should be well ventilated
and protected against noise, bright light and contaminated air. Never allow
smoking in the room in which the baby spends time.
Raise the dropside of the crib while the baby is in it. Do not cover the sides with
blankets or other overlays so that air can circulate freely. Move pillows, stuffed
toys and plastic boxes away from the crib. Make sure that the toys hanging
above the baby’s head are fixed firmly. It is important that the baby cannot
reach up and grab them.
Never leave your baby alone on the changing table or in an unfenced bed. He
can turn over and fall in no time at all.
Your baby’s clothes should be simple, pleasant, comfortable, and made of natural
materials.
Bath your baby every day. Bathing improves the skin and has a beneficial effect
on circulation, breathing, functioning of the nerve cells and on his health in
general. Never leave your baby alone in the bathwater or near it, even if the
water is quite shallow.
In the first days of a baby’s life when everything is new for you and your
baby, a health visitor’s help is invaluable. She will show you how to bath
your baby, how to make sure that the environment in which the baby is
cared for is pleasant and safe, she will give you advice on nutrition and
hygiene and help you maintain care of your baby’s navel. Take the health
visitor’s advice, use her knowledge and experience, and ask her anything that
interests you. Take down her phone number and that of your paediatrician
and ask for their advice whenever you are in any doubt about how to care
for the child.
Your baby’s tears are not your enemy but an important signal that helps you
understand your child. Do not just stop your baby’s tears. Try to find out
what caused them. The sooner you react, the sooner your baby will calm
down.
MAYA: Mummy, how do you turn Luke’s
sound off? Didn’t they give you
a remote control for him at the
maternity hospital?
Sometimes, the baby may suddenly become upset, start crying inconsolably,
tensing or lifting his little legs, and breaking wind. This indicates colic
(stomach cramps). Colic occurs most often between the first and fourth
month, and usually indicates that the baby’s digestive system is developing
or that something in the food the baby is taking does not agree with him.
The pharmaceutical industry has developed a whole range of teas and other
“therapeutic” agents, which supposedly soothe the colic. None of these
“cures” has been proved effective and most of them disrupt the established
breastfeeding rhythm. You will help your baby best if you pick him up,
lay him across your knees facedown, and gently massage his back. In this
way, his little stomach will be under slight pressure, which reduces the pain.
Remember that colic stops naturally after the fourth month.
With a newborn child, you can distinguish innate reflexes and spontaneous
uncoordinated movements. Some reflexes are important for survival (e.g.
suckling), while others are the basis for various skills that develop later (e.g.
taking those first steps). Most reflexes disappear during the first 6 months
of the child’s life.
A child’s motor control develops quickly. First, the baby learns to control
the movement of his eyeballs, then those of the neck (in the third month,
he raises his head while lying on his stomach), and, finally, of the whole
body (at about six months old, he can sit with support). The baby first
masters the movements of his shoulders and elbows, and only later the fine
movements of the fingers. The baby has an inherent reflexive grasp, which
disappears in the third or fourth month. He later learns how to release his
grip on objects or drop them.
In the second and third month, while lying on her back and watching
some object, the baby is making undirected movements. In the fourth and
fifth month, she observes an object and firmly holds a toy in her hand. In
the fifth month, the baby moves both hands closer to the object and touch
it. In the sixth month, she can hold an object in each hand.
Sight
As soon as he was born, the newborn baby had a developed sense of sight. If
you hold him in your arms, he can see your face. He can distinguish colours
and contrasts (light and dark), but he is not yet able to notice fine detail.
When only two days old, most infants recognize the shape of their mother’s
face and they recognize their mother’s whole face around the eighth week.
When the baby is in a good mood, he will be like imitating his mother
sticking her tongue out.
Hearing
The infant turns his head and eyes towards the source of sound. The newborn
can distinguish his mother’s voice. When the baby hears a pleasant sound,
he will calm down and his face will brighten. When the newborn baby hears
other babies’ crying, he often begins crying at the top of his voice. The upset
baby will be quickly pacified by his parents’ gentle voices. A baby can be
calmed down by your heartbeats when you lean him against your chest,
and his crying can be stopped if you sing a soft lullaby. Lullabies around the
world have a soothing effect on infants.
While holding your baby in your arms, support the neck until the neck
muscles develop.
When your baby is two months old, she usually chooses a new object rather
than a familiar one. This ability is very important as it helps the baby to
become aware of her environment. The baby perceives an object by looking
at it and touching it. If an object is not close to her, the baby does not think of
it. However, as early as three to four months, the baby begins to understand
that objects exist even though they are not in her field of vision.
Let’s play!
Sense and sensory motor development enable the baby to gradually explore
the world around him (he sucks his thumb, tries to kick something, grabs the
toys hanging above the cot, etc.). Visually, the baby learns to follow objects,
people and sounds. The baby enjoys playing with his body and watching his
reflection in the mirror. As their new motor functions develop, so babies
learn how to handle objects. They experiment with sounds and exchange
coos with their parents.
A baby needs interesting objects and a safe, clean room to play in. Watch
your baby play and encourage him. Play with your baby yourselves. The baby
will enjoy your voice, touch, smell. Touch your baby’s forehead with your
finger; follow the contour of his nose, tickle him behind his ears, take hold
of his arm or leg. Watch his reactions, Talk to him in a calm voice. Name
each part of his body you are touching. Repeat the games your baby loves
and invent new ones that your baby will enjoy. Do not miss the pleasure
of playing with your baby – in a few years’ time you will miss those lively
movements, smiles and little arms sticking out of the cot.
Rattles with different sounds, soft toys, balls, large building blocks, rubber
toys that make a sound when squeezed, musical boxes, etc. – all of these
are suitable toys for babies. Turn your baby’s bathtub into a sea – throw
seashells, starfish, plastic fish, and toy ships into the water… And remember:
never leave your baby alone in the bathtub!
While outdoors, let your child touch a flower, tree, leaf, or stone. Let him
discover his feelings with his own two hands. Anything around can be used
to learn a new experience.
Breast milk is the healthiest, best and cheapest food for babies in the first
six months of life.
- Put your baby to the breast immediately. Nurse your baby in the
first hour after birth. That is your right and that of your baby. The
nurses and doctors are responsible for helping you to exercise that
right!
- Breastfeed your baby only (adding no other food or liquid). Nurse
your baby on demand.
- Keep breastfeeding into the second year too, along with suitable
complementary nourishment.
- give any liquids or food except breast milk in the first six months of
life,
- restrict the number of feeds or limit the duration of “active”
breastfeeding.
Giving your baby a dummy does not help breastfeeding. On the contrary,
this might “confuse” the baby and “spoil” the established nursing rhythm.
Breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world, but it can be hard at the
beginning. Until you establish a breastfeeding routine with your baby, until
you master this skill together, you will need time and patience, sometimes
even the professional assistance of a health visitor or paediatrician.
You should nurse your baby in a sitting position (the baby is in your arms,
and you lay her on your forearm and palm) or in a lying position. Just
before you start breastfeeding, make yourself comfortable and relax. The
baby may be calm or animated, but she should not be crying. Where
necessary, you may breastfeed your baby in a standing position.
Hold your baby’s head. The nipple should fill the baby’s mouth so that there
is no free space and it should not move (when your baby is latched onto
your breast properly, the nipple will not look flat or squeezed after
nursing).
The baby is not well positioned if her mouth is fully open, if her lower lip
is turned outwards, if her chin touches the breast, if she is sucking and
pausing alternately, and/or if she makes a loud sound swallowing the milk.
You should neither restrict the duration of active breastfeeding nor add
some other food or liquid (above all, avoid bottles with teats).
It may happen that the baby refuses the breast. Possible causes for this are
the baby’s or mother’s anxiety, pain due to an uncomfortable position, or
being given a dummy. If your baby refuses the breast, help him overcome
the problem. Hold him quietly, close to your breast, and do not make him
take the breast longer than a few minutes. If the baby starts to cry and
resist, stop trying to breastfeed him and try some time later, when he
calms down. Do not hold your baby in the breastfeeding position while
he is being given an injection or when he is exposed to some other painful
action so that the baby does not associate this position with the sensation
of pain. Until the baby starts suckling again, you should give him milk
you have expressed from your breasts (in a teaspoon or from a glass).
Babies are vaccinated immediately after birth. The first is the BCG vaccine,
an anti-tuberculosis vaccine. At birth, children get a hepatitis B vaccine. Later
they receive another two doses (one month and six months after the first dose).
When the baby is two months old, he gets his first doses of vaccines against
poliomyelitis (polio), vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping
cough, as well as vaccines against haemophilus influenza type B (a bacterium
which often causes respiratory and other serious health conditions in babies
at this age). For full protection of the child, these vaccines are given twice
more, usually at six-week intervals.
On your first visit to the doctor, ask for a copy of your baby’s own vaccination
card. Entering data in the child’s personal vaccination card, i.e. your personal
record of the immunization carried out, will allow you to monitor your child’s
state of health and remind you when to take your baby to be vaccinated.
Solid waste is a breeding-ground for flies and also attracts rodents, which
are the carriers of many contagious diseases. It is therefore important to
keep rubbish in suitable containers with a lid or in tied plastic bags. Do not
forget to wash your hands after taking out the rubbish!
Keep food and drink in a clean place. Cover it and protect it from flies,
insects and rodents. It is best to keep food in the refrigerator, freezer or in
airtight containers. Check the shelf life, appearance, smell and taste of food.
Throw away bad foodstuffs immediately Wash raw food thoroughly before
you start cooking it. Cook meat for two hours at 100ºC. Keep cooked food
at either a high (60+ ºC) or low (-10 ºC) temperature. Heat food cooked
earlier to a high temperature until bubbles appear. Regularly clean the work
surfaces on which you prepare food.
Baby teeth
There are a lot of stories about teething, and also quite a few unknown facts.
Primary (deciduous) teeth most often come out between the fifth and seventh
month, although this may vary a lot. They may appear in the first month
or even after the first birthday. Most often, the lower central incisors come
through first, followed by the upper central incisors.While the teething process
runs smoothly for a certain number of babies, it may be very dramatic for
others. Parents are upset because their baby has diarrhoea, a temperature, she
cries, she is irritable and refuses to eat, or she has trouble sleeping - a whole
range of symptoms that are due to teething. And it is true that even doctors
argue over whether these two events (teething and the symptoms mentioned
here) are inter-related. To ease your baby’s discomfort temporarily, you may
give her some clean, hard, safe object and she will put it in her mouth at once.
Some people recommend giving small doses of painkillers. This can be very
dangerous – you should not forget that every medicine has side-effects and
you are never sure when they will appear. It is not recommended to give
medicines without a paediatrician’s approval. What is important to know
is that these are all temporary symptoms, which will disappear very soon
without any ill effects. However, do make sure you write down in your baby’s
diary when and how her first tooth came out.
• The more you talk to your baby and the more carefully
you listen to him, the better his speech will develop.
I
n this period, the baby continues to make extraordinary progress.
Almost every day brings something new. Fathers, watch out! If you go
off for a few days on a business trip, you may miss the moment when
the baby starts sitting, crawling… At this age, the baby is eager to grab and
touch everything that he sees, but he cannot do it without your help. He
makes various sounds and throws his toys around to get your attention. As
soon as you appear, he will forget what he wanted in the first place. He will
focus on you – laughing, waving his little arms and imitating your facial
expressions and the sounds you make. At this age, a baby quickly gets bored
even with the most intriguing toy, but he will never tire of your attention.
In the sixth month, the child first touches an object, and then grasps it with
his whole hand. In the ninth and tenth month, the child holds the object with
its fingertips and thumb clearly separated (the pincer grasp). Encourage
your child to grip various objects. Pass him a cup, a toy –objects which are
not fragile and which are suitable for the baby’s age. Play with your child
(Bye-bye,Baby; Pat-a-cake; Give me the ball), leaf through picture books…
Teach your baby what he can do with an object: grasp it, throw it, open and
close it, put it on top of another object, bang it against another object.
At this age, the baby puts everything he can lay his hands on into his mouth.
Of course, you will not let you baby put in his mouth any objects that might
affect his health (small, sharp objects and the like). Wash all objects and toys
before giving them to the baby.
When your baby is between four and seven months old, he will respond
to his own name and to the word “no”. He can distinguish emotions by
the tone of voice and he responds to sounds by making his own sounds.
Babies discover the wealth of sounds they can produce with their tongue,
palate and vocal chords. They practise making these sound combinations
endlessly, in much the same way as they practise grasping objects or rolling
over. The sounds ma, ta and ba very soon will develop into mama, tata
(dada) and baba (nana).
During the first year of life, all infants babble. But for babbling to develop
further, infants must hear human speech. The baby realizes the principle
of communication – while he is speaking, you are listening, while you are
responding, he is listening.
Baby’s words will delight both you and your children. With his first words,
the child may show a richer fund of gestures: shaking his head, pointing at
something/somebody, imitating the no-no caution, clapping his hands, etc.
Help your child learn how to express his feelings. Listen carefully to what
your child has to tell you and respect his wish to communicate with you.
In the seventh and eight month, introduce meat broth and meat into your
baby’s diet, in addition to mashed food. For easier digestion, use young,
non-fat meat (lamb, chicken, veal). Meat is rich in proteins, vitamins and
minerals (vitamins A, D and K, B vitamins, Folic Acid, Iron and Zinc).
Eggs are also a good source of proteins. An egg yolk is more nutritious
than an egg white. Eggs are introduced in the baby’s diet gradually. You
should start with one eighth of a hard boiled yolk, mixed with milk. If the
baby shows no allergic reaction, the following week you may give her one
quarter of the yolk. Every successive week, increase the amount by one
quarter. By the end of the eighth month, rye or wheat bread and biscuits
are introduced.
In the ninth and tenth month, your baby’s nourishment includes new food:
cauliflower, pumpkin, lentils, spinach, cheese, yoghurt, white fish meat and
a strong meat soup. The child now eats by herself, sitting in her chair at the
table with other family members.
In the twelfth month, your child should be eating all the basic foods, but,
of course, not under compulsion. Foodstuffs can be divided into four basic
groups:
1) cereals (rice, wheat, maize, rye, barley, oats) and cereal products
2) fruit and vegetables
3) meat, fish and eggs
4) milk and dairy products
1
Guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics
A healthy diet largely depends on the child’s eating habits and behaviour. It
is precisely at this age that children acquire the correct eating habits. Your
baby will often give you different signals, so observe them carefully. The
baby’s negative experiences (hunger before starting to eat, choking during
eating, vomiting after eating, etc.) may result in his rejection of food long
after the problem has been eliminated. This usually creates a vicious circle
– the baby refuses food, recalling a former unhappy incident, you go on
forcing him to eat, and the end result is the child’s even more adamant
refusal to eat. As soon as you alter your behaviour, ignoring the child’s
negative reactions and praising the positive ones, you break the chain and
re-establish a harmonious relationship.
Don’t stop this game. Instead, try to encourage your child to feed himself.
This is a very important stage in developing the child’s independence and
self-confidence. Your task is to teach the child through positive example
(how to sit properly at table and how to use cutlery correctly).
Food should not be diluted with water because then the baby does not
experience the natural taste of the food.
While eating, the baby should be sitting comfortably in his chair. She should
be fed solid and mashed food from a plastic teaspoon (not a metal one).
Switch off the radio and TV during the meal. Talk to your baby. Do not rush
him – babies eat more slowly than adults .
• The more you talk to your baby and the more carefully
you listen to him, the better his speech will develop.
The baby realizes the principle of communication
– while he is speaking, you are listening, while you are
responding, he is listening (we adults seem to have
forgotten that principle).
Children of this age can put a name to many objects, but they still cannot
describe feelings. If they cannot name their own feelings, they certainly
cannot name those of other people.
MAYA: I decided to
skip this one,
but you’ll
get a double
dose tonight.
Never smack or punish your child for hurting another child during play.
Physical punishment teaches children bad behaviour.
Children are tireless walkers. Move the furniture aside so that your
toddler can walk freely through rooms with no risk of hurting himself.
Children need different kinds of toys: big ones, small ones, and toys that can
be squeezed, pulled, pushed or carried. Toys need not always be bought nor
need they be expensive. Find a plastic box with rounded edges in the kitchen
and you will see that your child finds it just as interesting as any costly toy
from a shop. It is important that you keep stressing the appearance, colour
and size of everyday objects. For example:
Talk to your child, answer his questions, listen to him while he is talking, and
read to him. The toddler will copy you by saying the sentence in a shorter
form. When you repeat children’s sentences, feel free to add new words. For
example if your toddler says, “There, Grandma!” you can say, “Yes, Grandma
is coming.”
Let’s play!
At this age, various functions are developing: standing, walking, catching
with the fingertips, etc. Therefore, play is based on functional abilities.
Games with object are becoming more and more complex. Toddlers can
classify objects by quantity (one – many), by size (small – big), by colour
(red – yellow).
In the second year toddlers begin playing symbolic games – they pretend
to cook, eat, go to the doctor’s, rock their dolls to sleep, and travel. Although
toddlers begin to notice other children of the same age, they most often
play alone.
Suggestions on games to play: put an object into a magic bag. Let toddlers
guess what is inside. During the game, use make-believe hats, bags, cars,
airplanes, etc. You can use other materials for creative activities: sand, water,
dough, plasticine, paints…
Play games with rhythmic movements and singing (Here we go round the
mulberry bush, Run, rabbit, run, Prick, prick hedgehog!). Children love games
involving squeezing through an obstacle, climbing and running. They like
games with sounds and speech: the melodic repetition of words, chanting,
building sentences.
The beginnings of drama are born at this age. Toddlers can connect several
different actions: we are doing the shopping, we are cooking lunch, the
postman is coming, we are visiting someone, etc.
Warning: If your toddler has been eating only one type of food, some
deficiencies may occur in her organism. Children not taking enough milk,
dairy products and meat may experience a shortage of calcium, phosphorus
or iron. If there is too much milk in the toddler’s diet, a lack of iron and zinc
may result.
Here are some practical tips on how to balance child’s food intake:
I
n the period between two and three years, children are becoming more
and more independent. Now that toddlers have become more developed,
we should not forget that they are still young and that they still need
care and attention.
Teach your toddlers to recognize their feelings. Comfort them when sad,
have fun with them when they are happy. When you ask your toddler to
do something, use a friendly tone of voice and shape your request like an
invitation instead of a command. As often as possible, use the expressions
please and thank you. If your child says no, do not overreact. Answer her
challenge by repeating your request calmly and clearly. It often happens that
children automatically say no in order to gain time to think things through
and understand what is happening at that moment.
DAD: Yes.
Learning through imitation brings joy both to children and everyone around
them. Taking on someone else’s role is a great achievement for a child. (e.g.
mimicking the way Grandma walks, imitating a doggy or a kitty). This is a
good way to understand another person and to put oneself in their position.
These are lessons for life.
DAD: Maya, show Grandpa
reading the paper.
Somewhere in her third year, the toddler tends to use one or other part of
the body more often (arm, leg, ear, and eye). It is important to encourage the
toddler in the free use of that part of the body which is more agile, stronger,
and more precise. For example, if the child does most things using the left
side of the body, then she should later draw and write with her left hand.
If the left-handed child’s parent forces the child to use her right hand, this
may seriously affect the child’s development. When this happens, children
can begin to stutter or to exhibit other behavioural difficulties.
Potty-training
Control of physiological needs requires the full development of the child’s
nervous system (normally after the eighteenth month). So be patient and
consistent. Some toddlers simply prefer nappies to sitting on a potty. They
feel comfortable in nappies and do not understand why they have to sit on
a potty. It often happens that older siblings revert to nappies when a new
baby comes home. Let them follow their own rhythm, and encourage them
to take on part of the responsibility. If it turns out that there are problems
using the toilet, wait for a while until the child is older.
Take off your child’s nappy and put panties on her. After she has had a
nap and eaten, sit her down on the potty. Let dolls and teddies sit on the
potty, too, and get used to these new requirements.
Even after the child masters potty-training, there will be times when she
will again pee or poop in her pants. These mishaps usually occur when the
child is sick or upset about something. For a while, the toddler loses her
recently acquired skills and abilities. If such situation persists, consult your
paediatrician.
Be careful when talking to other adults if your child is within earshot. The
child hears what you are saying and may misinterpret some words and
become anxious as a result.
Reveal the world to your child in easy stages. Do not burden him with
information he cannot absorb.
Toddlers like copying adults, both in how they look and what they do. They
find it difficult to distinguish between reality and fantasy, which is why they
enjoy playing make-believe. They may play with other toddlers for a while,
but they are still unable to share toys. It is not easy for them to wait and they
find it difficult to make decisions. No is their favourite word. When they say
no, they are demonstrating their independence.
At this age, children question limits, so they often want to do something they
cannot or are not allowed to do. Help them learn the rules of behaviour, set
limits, and encourage them to respect values. Avoid coercion, punishment,
and scolding your child.
Watch your child. If he is sick or in need of sleep, if he does not have your
support, if he has been in a closed space for a long period or if there are too
many limits, the child will become anxious, oversensitive and irritable.
At this age, children are speaking with increasing fluency. They pronounce
some sounds as clearly as adults do. Children have already gained
considerable experience of objects and their environment. They can focus
their minds on people who are not present and understand an event that
happened in the recent past. They begin using time adverbs, but in their
own childlike way (this day, the other day, that other day). They will learn the
terms yesterday, today, tomorrow at a later stage.
While playing, children make choices. They plan and decide how to solve a
problem. The imaginary situation is harmless, but it is an excellent practice-
ground for skills in later life.
Your role is to provide the right conditions for play, to tell stories, to
extend existing ideas, and to introduce new elements into your child’s
games.
If you think you are losing control, move away from the child. Let someone
else take over care of your child for those few minutes. If you are alone
with your child, leave him in a safe place. During that time, calm down and
think whether you had to react like that. Wait for a while before saying or
doing something nasty to your child, as you will certainly regret it later. It
is essential that you set clear limits as to what is allowed and what is not
allowed and that you keep consistently to these limits.
Grandma, now I’m on my way to you for a hug. As soon as you kiss my
hair, the two of us set off for the market. I like it most when we go from
stall to stall choosing what to buy. First, we’ll go to Auntie Zlata’s stall to
find out if she’s got those pink hairslides with the teddy bears. Okay?
Love Maya
Principles of good
communication
F
rom the very first day, babies are equipped with various skills to
help them communicate with other people and draw attention
to themselves. They cry, smile, and make movements and facial
expressions. They wait for responses from the people around them and
respond to them. They are interested in the human face, voice, and touch.
You know intuitively how to communicate with your baby – you look at
your baby’s face from a close distance with wide-open eyes, you move your
head, imitate your baby’s voices and movements and choose simple games
where your baby can join in. Whether you want to or not, you automatically
adapt to your baby’s mood. You show joy when the baby is lively, whisper
when the baby seems sleepy, etc. In this way, you create a harmonious
relationship.
What you think is the most natural form of communication with your
child is probably the right one - one that your child will understand.
Good communication requires taking turns. This means that you are
watching and listening to your baby while he is communicating a message.
While talking to your baby, take breaks to give him a chance to answer – to
smile, to stretch out his little arms, to coo… Games like Where’s your clever
little head? and Where does Bunny drink water? are a good way to learn about
turn-taking.
You can never spoil your child with love and attention!
Very soon after your baby’s birth, you can start communicating with him.
Look into his eyes, smile, and make gestures. Answer your baby’s sounds
with a happy expression and positive comments. The baby is now attaching
Try to focus your attention on what the child is interested in and share the
experience, but also try to direct your child’s attention towards things you
are interested in.
Ask yourself if you spend enough time with your child to share
experiences and interests.
Talk to your baby while changing him: “Now I’m going to change your nappy…
See, how much better you feel now…!” Name objects and show how they
work. Show your pleasure and interest in things you experience together
With older children, you can tell stories, give explanations, ask questions,
find similarities and dissimilarities, etc. In this way, children experience
what is essential for their intellectual development.
Make up and tell stories about your shared experiences. Draw, look at
pictures, and do role-plays based on your experiences. Even when you are
too busy, stop for a while and explain things to your child when he asks.
UN Convention on the
Rights of the Child
Article 29: The child shall be
prepared for “responsible
life in a free society, in the
spirit of understanding,
peace, tolerance, equality
of sexes, and friendship
among all peoples, ethnic,
national and religious
groups, and persons of
indigenous origin.”
I can understand that you’re not always in a good mood and that I
sometimes go too far when I’m naughty, but I really don’t see
why I have to put a sweater on when you’re cold.
Love, Maya
Say hello to Auntie
W
e all want our children to gain self-control and obey the family
rules. However, it often happens that children are disobedient
and we ourselves are overwhelmed by everyday stressful
situations. We feel helpless and confused. We lose control of our emotions,
react impulsively, or rely on our instincts.
Teach your child to control himself and plan his actions. This is usually
achieved by guiding and praising the child’s positive behaviour. Explain
to your child why something is inappropriate or dangerous. For example,
instead of the stern warning, Don’t do that, explain to your child why he
should obey you – Watch out, it’s hot! You might get burnt! Instead of giving
an order, Don’t pull your doll’s hair, offer a constructive suggestion and turn
your child’s attention to the positive side – Look what nice long hair your doll
has. Why don’t you comb it for her!
Children copy you. If you do not want your child to be selfish, you yourself
should be open-handed and generous. Children learn how to cope with
stress by watching how you do it. When you cope well with some daily
problem, you will be a role model for your child and show her how to manage
her own frustration, consider other people feelings and communicate with
respect.
If your child constantly misbehaves, it might be a cry for help. Try to find out
what is troubling your child by or what she is lacking. If she is hungry, thirsty,
sleepy or upset, the child will be irritable and will hardly obey the rules!
Interrupt your child when he is doing something wrong. Point out to him
what he may do. Each no must be explained. If you want your child to
change his activity, prepare him, “Play a little longer, and then go and wash
your hands. Dinner will be soon.” Do not suddenly interrupt your child’s
favourite activities.
Ask your child: What do you think, about the little boy whose toy was taken from
him? How do you think he is feeling? Develop your children’s consideration
for other people and their feelings. Try to be calm and collected. The more
calm and composed your behaviour is, the greater the likelihood that your
child will imitate your pattern of behaviour. Admit to your child if you have
made a mistake.
When you set limits for your child, bear in mind your child’s development level.
You should know what you can honestly expect from a child of that age.
Avoid physical punishment. Children may feel that it is all right to hit those
smaller and the weaker than they are. Physical punishment can engender
a feeling of fear in children and destroy their natural desire to learn from
those taking care of them.
Parenting is not an easy job, but do not try to solve conflicts by physical
punishment. In this way, children get the wrong impression that conflicts
can be solved by force instead of negotiation. Physical punishment may
put a temporary stop to some behaviour, but it rarely brings a permanent
change in behaviour. Children may become frightened and feel helpless.
Terms abuse and neglect describe various types of violence against children.
Abuse is a forceful act, while neglect is a failure to provide adequate care
for the child.
Helen was sitting on her Mum’s lap. They were playing “Gee-up, gee-up”
and were having a great time. Then her Mum reached towards the table to
pick up her cup of coffee. She just wanted to take a sip and go on playing.
At that moment, Helen laughed and suddenly waved her arm. The cup
turned over and the boiling hot coffee spilled over the tablecloth, carpet,
her Mum’s dress, but mostly over Helen’s arms and legs. All that could be
heard in the house were shrieks and screams. Fortunately, everything
ended happily. The doctor did everything that was necessary. Then
he patiently explained to them how many accidents
can be prevented. Let’s see how together!
Love Maya
Accidents can be prevented
A
great many accidents can be prevented if the appropriate steps are
taken. It is your job to introduce safety measures at home and in
the immediate vicinity, to behave responsibly and, most important
of all, to teach your children to be cautious and to take care of themselves.
Join in campaigns to promote child safety.
Safety at home
Children have inquisitive minds and like exploring new objects and places
in the house. However, they are not aware of the possible dangers. Therefore,
you have to keep watching them and remove anything that might hurt them.
Accidents mostly happen at home, mainly in the kitchen, bathroom, on the
stairways, and in the garage. There is danger lurking around a hot barbecue,
a medicine chest and a slippery floor. Move the following objects out of the
reach of children: matches and lighters, all kinds of medicines, cigarettes and
alcohol, tools, sharp objects (scissors, knives, needles, saws, etc.), rubbish
and cleaning agents, disinfectants, insecticides, and rat poisons,
From time to time, check that household appliances and heaters are in good
working order. Replace damaged cables and cracked plugs and switches.
Turn the backs of the TV and hi-fi sets towards the wall so that your child
cannot reach them. Every wire should be insulated.
Do not leave your children alone in the room with a heater or other heating
device switched on. You must block access to the stove so that the child
cannot approach it.
Walls in the flat must not be painted with a paint containing lead. Poisonous
plants must be taken out of the reach of children.
Smokers, if you really have to smoke, go out of the flat and smoke a cigarette
on the balcony or in the entrance to the building. Save your child!
There must not be any possibility for your child to lock herself in. Secure
windows. Raise pulls, ropes and drawstrings for window blinds to prevent
children from reaching them. Remove fragile objects from shelves. Do not
buy furniture with sharp edges. If you have furniture like this, then, protect
the sharp edges. Lock drawers and chests to prevent children from crushing
their fingers.
Never leave your children alone in the car, in the street, in a restaurant or
shop. Hold your child’s hand while walking on the pavement. If you drive
Do not let your child walk across the street alone before she is ten years old.
Make sure that the child’s tricycle/bicycle is in good working order. Insist on
your child wearing a helmet and kneepads while riding.
You should encourage your children’s love of animals, but teach them not to
touch animals they do not know. You should also explain to them that they
should not provoke animals, pull their ears and tails or take a bone or toy
from their mouths. Never leave children under five alone with a pet. Keep
your child at a distance from a dog with puppies.
LUKE: Why?
A
ll of us want our child to be healthy. Unfortunately, accidents
happen. We should keep a cool head at such times in order to give
our child the proper help. The more we know, the better able we will
be to assist our child if an accident takes place.
Injuries can be such that they require a doctor’s advice or professional aid, but
most troubles (a small cut, a bruise, a nose-bleed etc.) will not need prompt
reaction or an ambulance. With elementary first-aid skills, you will be able
to help your child yourself. However, there are situations in which you must
act immediately. These are situations when the child’s life is endangered
and when you must not hesitate. In such cases, the best thing is to call the
doctor. Here are some typical situations where this is imperative:
- loss of consciousness (you cannot rouse the child or the child does
not respond)
- convulsions of some or all parts of the body with a loss of attention
or total loss of consciousness
- choking on food, drink or some other substance
- a fall from a great height
- wounding with a firearm
- severe burns
- breathing difficulties (heavy breathing, rapid breathing, intermittent
breathing, or irregular breathing)
- food or drink poisoning
- continuous bleeding
- injuries sustained in a car or other accident
I
f the child has been hurt in a car accident, has been seriously burnt, is
drowning or unconscious, choking or bleeding, you should immediately
seek professional help. Until help arrives, it is essential to assess the
situation and react appropriately.
With any badly injured child, you should assume that the spine may also
have been damaged.
- Ask all those hampering your efforts to give the child first aid to
move away from the scene (panic-mongers, drunks, etc.)
- If you feel that the injured child is not in a safe place, move him to
another place. You will need to enlist the help of several people to
do this.
- Call the emergency medical service.
- Cover the child with a light blanket or clothes. Hold his hand and
talk to him in a calm voice.
Children start exploring their surroundings as soon as they can walk. It often
happens that they put their hand in a pot of boiling water, pull a tablecloth
off the table, pour hot coffee over themselves or touch unsecured objects
out of curiosity (stoves, hotplates, irons, etc.). The burnt skin becomes red
and swollen and blisters may appear. The child is frightened and crying
because he is in a great deal of pain. Immediately proceed as follows:
When drowning, the child holds her breath for the first two minutes, as
infants have a dive reflex, and then she inhales water, which enters the
airways. Grass and sludge are often inhaled with the water. The heartbeat is
slow and irregular.
Suspect drowning if you see a child waving her arms and legs uncontrollably
on the surface of the water and then slowly disappearing under the surface.
If this happens, immediately proceed as follows:
Do not enter the water if you can pull the child out from the riverbank, edge
of the sea or swimming pool. When drowning, a bigger (stronger) child
may grab you and pull you down with her into the water. This makes the
rescue more difficult.
- If the loss of consciousness has not been caused by an injury, lay the
child on his right hip, with his right arm and leg stretched out. Bend
the left arm at the elbow, and bend the left leg both at the hip and
the knee. Put a pillow or some soft object under the left arm and leg.
It is important that the child does not turn onto his back.
- If loss of consciousness has been caused by an injury, do not move
the child unless he is in danger in that place (from cars, the cold,
electricity, etc.).
Children aged one to five put various objects they find into their mouth. If
the child swallows a foreign body and it enters the airways, it can block them.
In this case, breathing is difficult, the child starts choking and coughing, and
her face and neck turn red. If the coughing starts to subside, breathing slows
down, the face becomes dark blue, and the child loses consciousness, this
means that a foreign body is blocking the airways.
Coughing something up is the best way to remove an object from the airways.
So encourage the child to cough. If the object is visible and accessible in the
throat, it should be reached and pulled out.
When a child injures herself, the blood vessels may be damaged (cut,
broken) causing bleeding. Bleeding can be:
- arterial (the blood is bright red, spurts out rhythmically and bleeds
profusely in accordance with the heartbeats
- venous (the blood is dark red, it oozes out and flows steadily)
- mixed (when both arteries and veins are injured).
Do not wash the wound! If there is a foreign body in the wound, it must
not be removed. It is best to leave this particular intervention to the doctor.
Your paediatrician
Pharmacy
93 – FIRE BRIGADE
92 – POLICE
96 THE SMART BOOK FOR MUM AND DAD
THE SMART BOOK FOR MUM AND DAD 97
6.
Care of sick
children
Dear Mummy,
You usually panic and overreact, but you were right
this time. If you hadn’t taken me to the doctor in time and if I hadn’t
started taking the medicine immediately, I think I would still be sick now.
And that means that I’d be in bed for New Year’s Eve. I wouldn’t be able to
go and see that show we’ve booked and who knows if I’d get a present from
Santa Claus. In fact, I think I’d get worse just thinking
about it. I daren’t even imagine it.
It’s all the snow’s fault. It looks like whipped cream, but when you taste
it, it isn’t sweet at all. I’m a hundred per cent sure of it. I first ate the snow
that was on my trike, and then I swallowed three snowballs in the park,
and last of all, I licked Mr. Snowman. There wasn’t a bit of sugar. Actually,
snow has no taste. It’s just cold. VERY, VERY cold. I’m a hundred per cent
sure of that, too. But what I don’t understand is how something so VERY,
VERY cold can suddenly turn into a high temperature and throat infection.
And, worst of all, it turns into awful nightmares.. Whenever I closed my
eyes, something big and ugly appeared before me. I haven’t found out what
it was as I had to keep running away from it. And when you have to run so
much, you sweat. So no wonder I kept waking up all soaked in sweat.
Love Maya
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Article 24: Every child has “the right to the
enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of health…” The state is
bound to ensure that “ no child is
deprived of his or her right of access
to such health care services... and
to make it possible that parents
and children are informed and are
supported in the use of basic
knowledge of child health and
nutrition, the advantages of
breastfeeding, hygiene, and
the prevention of accidents…”
Respiratory infections
C
oughing, sneezing, a runny nose, a sore throat – these are the most
common indications of a minor infection in children. Such infections
usually disappear in a short time without affecting the child’s health.
However, they can sometimes be symptoms of far more serious illnesses,
e.g. pneumonia. These illnesses are most commonly caused by viruses and
bacteria. The illness is spread by little particles and droplets in the air from
an infected person coughing or sneezing nearby or from touching hands or
objects contaminated by secretion from the airways.
Relieve your child’s cough – lay the child over your knee face downwards
and slap her gently on the back. Let the child inhale steam (above hot, not
boiling water) or moisture (let hot water run in the bathroom and sit your
child on a chair next to the bath). Damp air makes breathing easier.
As often as possible, clean the sick child’s nose, particularly before feeding
or sleeping. You can clean the nose blocked with secretion with cotton buds
moistened with a saline solution that will soften the secretion in the nose.
Cool down a child with a temperature using a wet sponge or you can bath
her in warm (not hot) water.
When the child recovers, give her an additional meal a day for a week. The
child is considered fully recovered when she regains the weight she had
before the illness. If the child does not want to eat and loses weight, take
her to the doctor. Proper treatment reduces the child’s pain and suffering,
and also any possibility of complication. Incorrect or delayed action may
result in serious disability (e.g., deafness after inflammation of the middle
ear, otitis media, or heart disease after a throat inflammation caused by
streptococci).
Today, there are many medicines used for the treatment of coughs and
colds. Some are not very effective, while others are actually harmful. Do not
give any medication to your child without consulting the doctor in order to
avoid possible complications and prolonged illness.
Pneumonia in babies aged two months may display signs like a “fluttering”
of the nostrils, a tight tummy, “shaking” of the head. At this age, besides a
high temperature, a low temperature may also point to a serious infection.
Diarrhoea
T he child has diarrhoea if she has more than three watery stools a day.
The more stools she has, the more serious the diarrhoea.
Breast milk is the best source of liquid and food for an infant suffering
from diarrhoea. It is nutritious, clean and helps protect against disease. The
baby fed solely with breast milk seldom gets diarrhoea. Breast milk prevents
dehydration and malnutrition. It replaces lost fluid. Mothers are sometimes
advised to reduce breastfeeding during diarrhoea, but this advice is wrong.
In fact, you should breastfeed the baby who has diarrhoea more often than
you usually do.
When older children or infants who do not suckle any more have diarrhoea,
it is best to give them oral rehydration salts mixed with the correct amount
of water (as advised by the doctor or according to the manufacturer’s
instructions). Loss of fluid during diarrhoea can be compensated for by
soup, rice water, freshly squeezed fruit juice, weak tea with very little sugar,
even clean water (if you think that the water is not clean, filter it or boil it
and cool it before use).
If the child is aged between six months and two years, give her a drink
after each stool – between one quarter and one half of a large tea cup.
The child with diarrhoea loses weight and may suffer from malnutrition. So
it is vital that the child continues eating regularly. Food helps stop diarrhoea
and aids faster recovery.
The child will soon regain his body weight and energy if he eats small
amounts of food more often (five to six times a day).
The best food for a baby is breast milk. You should give older babies and
infants pureed food because they can eat it easily and it contains more water
than solid food. A pureed combination of cereal, beans, fish, thoroughly
cooked meat, yoghurt and fruit is recommended.
During the recovery period, it is recommended that you give your child at
least one additional meal or feed for at least than two weeks.
Love Maya
Protecting children
against stress
T
he most important things for a child’s healthy development are security,
emotional stability and a predictable course of events. However,
misfortunes happen. They occur suddenly and unpredictably and
introduce restlessness and insecurity into a child’s life. Children respond
differently to stressful situations. Their response depends on their age,
temperament, strength of character, previous experience, adaptability, etc.
The most important thing parents can do at such times is to provide a safe
and warm environment for the child.
Support
At life’s tough moments, children should not be separated from their parents.
Mummy and Daddy inspire confidence. If separation is unavoidable, a
person who is familiar and close to them should stay with the child.
Anything unclear and unknown induces fear and increases the feeling
of insecurity and anxiety. Explain to your child any unexpected events
that disrupt the normal course of life. It is very important that children
understand what has happened. Transmit the information as precisely as
possible in a language the child can understand. Try to create a relaxed,
warm atmosphere in which the child can express her feelings freely. Listen
to what your child has to say and try to clear up any misunderstandings.
Check whether your child has understood the explanation. Answer your
child’s questions patiently. If your child keeps repeating the same question,
repeat your answer each time, taking care not to depart from the previous
version.
Give your child time to revert to the topic when she is ready. It is important
to relieve the child of guilt and fear. Convince her that other children have
similar experiences in similar situations. Help your child to accept her fear or
sorrow as normal reactions. Let your child express the experience in different
ways: through play, painting and drawing, or make-believe role-plays.
Show your feelings in front of your child. If you hide your feelings, your
child might think that you are indifferent and that you are not feeling the
loss. Put your feelings into words so that your child can understand your
reactions.
When your child comes to understand what has happened, she will be
able to cope successfully with these and similar experiences in the future.
A child’s outward indifference may deceive you into thinking that the loss
has not affected the child. Do not forget that a child has a constant need to
be cared for!
After sudden, unpleasant and distressing events, the child needs to return to
his usual activities as soon as possible. In this way, the child will regain his
sense of order and normality. Socializing with his peers will help him to share
his feelings and experiences.
E
ach baby is unique. Some babies start to walk earlier,
some begin to talk sooner, hence it is rather difficult
to “map” their progress through the “development
chart”. However, we need some basic indicators as to what
a baby can do at a certain age. So study this development
chart. Compare your child’s abilities to those expected in
most infants of that age. If your child cannot do everything
listed below, continue to observe and encourage your child.
If you think that your child has development problems or
that your child is developing more slowly than her peers,
do not hesitate – take the child to a paediatrician for
consultation and examination.
- Lay your baby on a firm, flat and safe surface. Then, she will be able to
move freely and reach out for objects
- Respond to your baby’s babbling. Your communication will look like a
conversation.
- Talk to her, read and sing.
- Hold your baby in such a position that she can see what is going on
around her
- looks stiff
- moves with difficulty
- offers little or no response to sounds,
familiar people or the breast
- refuses the breast
T
he growth chart gives you a simple method of monitoring your
child’s growth in the first two years of life. A single measurement
may offer misleading information about your child’s nutrition, so
you should take periodic measurements. The chart is given in the form of a
graph showing the child’s weight in relation to the child’s age.
The World Health Organization has developed a new growth chart for
children up to two years. The chart resulted from monitoring the growth of
children who were fed in an optimum way.
Record the weight of your baby boy or girl in the appropriate growth chart.
The first and most important measurement is made at the child’s birth – enter
that information at the beginning of the growth chart. Keep on measuring
your child periodically. In the first year, it is ideal to measure the child once
a month, and in the second year, at two-month intervals. Record the values
you obtain in the growth chart. If you apply the tips for the child’s nutrition
in the first two years given in this book, the baby or infant should follow
the middle green line given in the growth chart. Naturally, discrepancies are
possible, as children grow at different rates. However, if your child’s growth
diverges so much from the given values that it falls between the orange and
red lines, consult your paediatrician.
16 16
15 97 15
14 14
85
13 13
12 50 12
11 11
15
10 10
3
9 9
Weight (kg)
8 8
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
Months 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Birth
Age (months and years)
125
Weight for age – girls
126
From birth to the second birthday
15 15
97
14 14
13 85 13
12 12
50
11 11
10 15 10
9 3 9
8 8
Weight (kg)
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
Months 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Birth
Age (months and years)