First Time for Everything: When to Do What with Your Child

Are you a new parent? Are you overwhelmed with caring for your newborn and stressed about what the future holds? Take a deep breath – you can do this!

Here’s a helpful timeline on when and how to best care for your child.

Newborn to Six Months

Within this crucial time, focus on meeting your baby’s needs. If they’re crying, then they need something – food, a diaper change, or comfort. Provide plenty of skin-to-skin time with your baby during these early months, and you’ll secure a deep attachment with your little one.

First Doctors Appointment

Your baby’s first paediatrician’s appointment will occur when they are three to five days old or just two to three days out of the hospital. Very likely, you and your child will both be exhausted and adjusting to life at home, but this is a crucial doctor’s appointment for your infant.

At the appointment, the doctor will check your baby’s vitals and answer any questions you have about the transition to home life. If you’re breastfeeding and have questions, you can meet with a specialist. You’ll return to the doctor when your infant turns one month old for another well-baby check-in.

First Vaccinations

At two months, you’ll return to the paediatrician to receive your baby’s first set of vaccinations. The vaccines include protection against hepatitis B, pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, polio, Haemophilus Influenzae type b, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.

Following vaccination, infants may experience some sensitivity around the area where they received the shot. They may also run a mild fever. Administer a minor dosage of baby Tylenol to relieve both side effects. Consult your paediatrician for dosage information. 

Start Daycare

Depending on the length of your leave or your work situation, you may have to consider childcare for your baby. Prepare for the transition in advance so that you won’t be waitlisted at daycare and stuck without options. Most care centres will take babies as young as eight weeks. The idea of leaving your infant with people you don’t know can be emotionally wrenching but take comfort – daycares often ease this transition by allowing you to visit and check on your baby in the first weeks.

Many care centres also have apps that you can download. The daycare teachers upload pictures of your child to the app regularly throughout the day and send you updates on when staff changed their diapers, how they napped, and how they took their bottles. This provides an additional measure of comfort as you tackle this difficult transition back into the workplace.  

Begin Solid Food

Because every infant is different, you’ll want to check in with your paediatrician for confirmation, but most babies are ready to begin eating solid foods during four to six months. Start with a simple single-grain cereal like baby oatmeal or infant rice. Once your baby masters the single-grain cereal, you can move on to simple fruit and vegetable purees. Your infant’s world is about to get a lot more exciting!

Seven Months to One Year

Your baby is hitting milestones – rolling, sitting up, and starting to babble. Soon nothing will stop your little one!

First Dentist Appointment

Get your baby to their first dental appointment by the time they turn one year old. It’s crucial to establish your infant with a pediatric dentist because more than 20% of American children have cavities between the ages of two and five years. If a dentist routinely sees your child, they can prevent tooth decay and other dental issues.

At your baby’s first dental appointment, expect the pediatric dentist to examine their teeth. The dentist will look for signs of tooth decay and enamel defects in your infant’s mouth. The dentist will also discuss the proper ways to care for your baby’s teeth and gums.  

Bottle Weaning

If you haven’t already started, around twelve months, you’ll want to begin weaning your baby from the bottle and start introducing them to a sippy cup. This is also the perfect time to cut formula from their diet and introduce whole milk. If you breastfeed your infant, you can continue doing so until you plan on quitting. But if you pump and feed your baby breast milk, switch the milk to a sippy cup.

Wean your infant from the bottle gradually over several weeks. It can prove to be a difficult transition for any child, so take it slow and offer lots of affection during the process. Try and complete the transition to sippy cups by 15 months.   

First Eye Appointment

When your child hits their first birthday, make sure they’ve had their first comprehensive eye exam. Eye care professionals can perform these exams to detect many serious conditions such as lazy or crossed eyes. Early detection of these issues can reverse severe problems and even prevent vision loss. If an eye care professional determines your baby has lazy or crossed eyes, both diagnoses respond well to treatment with eye patches and special eyewear.

First Pair of Shoes

Babies typically start cruising between the ages of ten and eighteen months and walk soon after. Keep in mind that it’s easiest for infants to master the skill of walking when on bare feet. However, your child will quickly need a pair of reliable shoes.

Consider purchasing a pair of shoes with lightweight, flexible soles to help your baby’s walking development. Ensure that there’s room in the shoe so your child’s foot can grow and adequately move. Adjustable fastenings like Velcro are extremely helpful when putting the shoe on and taking it off your infant’s foot.

Caring for Your Child

As a first-time parent, caring for your child can have plenty of stressful moments. Don’t forget – you can do this!  Respond to your baby’s needs, follow this handy guide, and you’ll be on your way to being a fantastic parent in every way.

*This is a collaborative post