- Always use a car seat : backward-facing in the back seat until your baby is at least 12 months old and weighs 20 pounds.
- Place your baby on his back to sleep.
- Make sure your baby's crib is safe.
- Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle or prop it in his mouth.
- Watch for signs of illness: fever, failure to eat, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, irritability, sleepiness, yellowing of eyes and skin (jaundice), skin rash.
- You cannot spoil a newborn. Try to comfort your baby when he cries, by holding, rocking or cuddling him.
- Encourage your partner to care for the baby.
- Accept support but not unwanted advice from family and friends.
- Rest whenever your baby is sleeping.
- Realize that you may feel tired, overwhelmed or depressed.
Schedule an appointment for your baby's next visit, usually at 1 month of age.
Date:____________________
Time:____________________
Based on health-supervision guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and from Bright Futures, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under the direction of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
Last updated December 2, 2011
