The Test

As a parent today, you have access to more sources of information about babies than any other generation of parents. But how much do you really know about your baby’s early life? Take our comprehensive quiz, then follow our suggestions to find out more about your new knowledge.

1. By the second month of life, your baby should be able to:

Often focus on objects that are a few feet away from him

Be more attracted to soft colors than bright contrasting patterns

Follow moving objects visually

Demonstrate hand-eye coordination

2. What to do if an infant under 4 months old has a runny or stuffy nose

Suck mucus out of her nose with a bulb syringe

Give her a medicated nasal spray

Help her blow her nose

Give her aspirin

3. right or wrong: When you suspect your child has an ear infection, you should give him ear drops.

A. True

B. Wrong

Infant health

4. Which of the following is NOT a symptom of colic?

Incessant crying

Excessive drowsiness

Enlarged stomach

Farting

5. What is the temperature of a fever in a newborn baby?

a. 99.6°

b. 100.2°

c. 101.4°

d. 103°

6. Which of the following statements about vaccines is NOT true?

A. Hepatitis A vaccine should only be given to children living in high-risk countries

Influenza vaccine is not safe for children who are allergic to eggs

When rabies vaccination is needed, only five shots are now required (instead of the dozen or so given years ago) and side effects are rare

D. Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine is currently in short supply and is only recommended for children who are at high risk of developing diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis and bloodstream infections

7. All of the following can help prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), except:

Place the baby in a crib without loose bedding (including pillows, quilts, blankets, bumpers and stuffed animals)

Keep a close eye on him while he sleeps on his stomach

Avoid exposing him to any tobacco smoke

Keep the temperature of his room comfortable

Nutrition and rashes

8. Which of the following foods is harmful to infants when cooked at home?

1. applesauce

Carrot puree

Pear puree

Mashed peas

9. Correct or incorrect: Children under 1 year of age often suffer from seasonal allergies.

A. True

B. Wrong

10. What should you do if your child has scabs, or scales on his or her head?

Avoid scrubbing the baby’s soft spots

Wash his hair and brush off the scales

Avoid washing his hair

Put baby oil on his head

Answer Key

1.C. During the first few weeks of life, the baby may stare at objects swinging in front of him, but after one to two months, he should be able to track objects moving in front of him.

Figure 2. Using a bulb syringe to remove mucus is the most effective treatment for babies, especially before feeding or putting them to sleep. —- Two nasal congestions are the most troublesome. Squeeze the bulb and insert it into her nose, then gently insert it into her nostrils and slowly release the bulb. Your pediatrician may also prescribe saline drops for you to put in your nose first to dilute the snot so it’s easier to aspirate.

Figure 3. B. If you notice symptoms of an ear infection —- including extreme irritability, irritability, difficulty sleeping or eating, fever —- you should contact your pediatrician. After examining your child, she may prescribe antibiotics or suggest ear drops to relieve the pain.

Answers

Figure 4. Unconsolable crying, an enlarged stomach, farting, and an infant arching his back or pulling his leg are all known symptoms of colic, which is crying intermittently for more than three hours a day, three or more days a week. Excessive lethargy is not a symptom, as infant colic is quite fussy and is due in large part to the discomfort caused by this condition.

5.B. Richard Saphir, M.D., a pediatrician in private practice and clinical professor of pediatrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, says that if your child is two months or younger and has a fever of 100.2 ° or higher, you must call your pediatrician. You should also call if your child is 3 to 6 months old and has a fever of 101 ° , or over 6 months old and has a temperature of 103 ° .

Figure 6. D. Shortage of pneumococcal tuberculosis vaccine (PCV) between August 2001 and May 2003 – PCV protects against pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections, and also leads to a reduced risk of ear infections – means that doctors regularly discontinued routine vaccinations. Since then, however, vaccine supplies have been restored and vaccines (and supplements for children who missed them during the shortage) are being reinstated in most parts of the country.

Figure 7. b. Infants should not sleep on their backs. Always put him to sleep on his back. Although the cause of sudden infant death syndrome remains largely unknown, the vast majority of studies indicate that infants who sleep on their backs appear to be more susceptible to sudden death syndrome, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics WHO study.

Figure 8. Carrots grown in parts of the United States – as well as beets, kohlrabi, collard greens and spinach – contain nitrates that may cause blood cell reduction (anemia) in infants. But store versions of these baby foods are safe for your child because the manufacturers are able to test for nitrate levels. You can’t do this at home.

How do you do it?

Figure 9. Certain pollens, pollutants and other elements in the air can irritate your baby’s senses, causing itchy eyes, a runny nose and sneezing. As your child grows, alert your doctor to those symptoms that occur frequently. In the meantime, learn prevention methods from the American Academy of Asthma Immunology at www.aaaai. org.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a form of eczema that affects the glands that produce oil. Washing your child’s hair may help control this condition, which usually goes away within a few months. In some cases, prescription shampoos may be necessary.

What is your score?

9-10. take a bow! Enjoy everything your first year has brought you – you’re ready.

6-8. Impressive. Get yourself one of the books we recommend for the Instant Baby Refresher Course.