Teach parents car safety with use of federally approved restraint, facing rearward, in the middle of the back seat—not in a front seat with an air bag.
Understand each parent’s adjustment to the newborn, especially mother’s emotional needs after birth.
Teach care of infant, and help parents understand his or her individual needs and temperament and that the infant expresses wants through crying.
Reassure parents that infant cannot be spoiled by too much attention during the first 4 to 6 months.
Encourage parents to establish a schedule that meets needs of child and themselves.
Help parents understand infant’s need for stimulation in environment.
Support parents’ pleasure in seeing child’s growing friendliness and social response, especially smiling.
Plan anticipatory guidance for safety.
Stress need for childhood immunizations.
Prepare for introduction of solid foods.
Second 6 Months
Prepare parents for child’s “stranger anxiety.”
Encourage parents to allow child to cling to them and avoid long separation from either.
Guide parents concerning discipline because of infant’s increasing mobility.
Encourage use of negative voice and eye contact rather than physical punishment as a means of discipline.
Encourage showing most attention when infant is behaving well, rather than when infant is crying.
Teach injury prevention because of child’s advancing motor skills and curiosity.
Encourage parents to leave child with suitable caregiver to allow some free time.
