To Your Health
A Dozen Tips for a Safer and Healthier Child

by Paulette Avery RN, MSN

U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., has designated 2005 as the Year of the Healthy Child. Recently Dr. Carmona released twelve tips to help parents keep their children safer and healthier. Read on for a summary of his recommendations.

1. Eat healthy. Follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and, if you are a woman of childbearing age, be sure to consume at least 400 micrograms of folic acid each day to help prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

2. Don't drink alcohol when you are pregnant or might become pregnant. Since there is no known safe level of alcohol consumption for pregnant women, be safe and don't drink at all. A fetus may be adversely affected by alcohol even before a woman knows she is pregnant, resulting in adverse health effects for the child that last a lifetime. The birth defects caused by alcohol are completely preventable. By avoiding alcohol, you can protect against all alcohol-related birth defects such as growth deficiencies, facial abnormalities, central-nervous-system impairment, and behavioral disorders.

3. Get prenatal care early. Begin care as soon as you know you are pregnant. Doing so will make preterm labor less likely and help to improve your pregnancy and delivery.

4. Don't smoke. Protect yourself and your baby by avoiding second-hand smoke as well. Smoking during pregnancy makes it more likely that your baby will be low birth weight and have reduced lung function. Disorders related to low birth weight and preterm labor are the second cause of infant death.

5. Breastfeed your baby. The surgeon general recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. I'll add to that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that, in addition to giving only breast milk for the first six months, you continue breastfeeding for at least a full year, or longer if both you and the baby choose to do so. Breastfeeding offers many health benefits for your baby, not only during infancy, but later in life. It has also been shown to reduce the incidence of obesity.

6. Place your baby "back to sleep." That means to always put your baby to sleep on his or her back. Doing so significantly lowers the chances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the third cause of infant death in the US.

7. Always use a car safety seat. Be sure your baby or child is correctly secured in the car seat and that the seat is properly installed in the car. In California, car seats or booster seats are now required for children up through age six or until they weigh at least 60 pounds.

8. Never leave your baby unattended. Following this guideline will help protect your child from unintentional injuries, the sixth cause of infant death. Even a newborn may move more than you expect and fall from a bed or other high surface. Use safety gates and window guards, and always secure your baby into a high chair or stroller.

9. Safety-proof your house. Protect your child from poisoning by moving medications and household cleaning products out of reach. Lower the temperature of your hot water heater, and use other safety precautions to lower the risk of drowning, falls, choking, and other potential hazards around your home.

10. Never shake your baby. Shaking can lead to severe brain damage and even death.

11. Fully immunize your baby. Check with your pediatrician, and follow recommendations for all vaccinations.

12. Learn first aid and infant CPR. Be prepared, and know how to call for help in anemergency.

May you all have a safe and healthy summer!

Paulette Avery is a registered nurse and a freelance writer who specializes in health issues.