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Healthy Babies
Countryside Public Health wants to provide you support and information to keep your baby healthy. There are important steps you can take to give your baby the best possible start. All parents in Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift and Yellow Medicine are eligible for visits and information from our trained Maternal and Child Health staff. Ask you medical provider to refer you to our agency.Whether you are a new or expecting mom, if you are on this section of the web site, you're probably interested in giving your baby the best care you can. And one of the best things that only you can do is to breastfeed for as long as possible. While breastfeeding isn't the only option for feeding your baby, every mother has the potential to succeed and make it a wonderful experience. Or maybe you are the partner or a family member of a breastfeeding mom and would like to learn more about breastfeeding. Breastfeeding — Best For Baby. Best For Mom. Formula: An informed decision about an infant's diet should be based on healthcare professional advice as well as the parents' lifestyles and preferences. If breastfeeding is not adopted or is discontinued before 12 months of age, iron-fortified infant formula is the best alternative. Visit this web site for guidelines for formula feeding: http://www.nncc.org/Nutrition/guide.bottlefed.html WIC: WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is a nutrition education program that provides free supplemental foods which promote good health. Your child may be eligible. Click here or call Countryside at 1-800-244 6026 Baby Blues (Post-natal Depression) Postnatal Depression (PND) is a recognized and treatable illness which affects approximately 10-15% of mothers. It may come on immediately after the arrival of the baby but can also present up to a year later. Postpartum Depression Immunizations are important to keep your baby healthy. Babies need to be vaccinated against certain germs that could cause serious illness or death. Vaccines are also called “immunizations” or “shots” and are an important and safe way to keep your baby healthy. We encourage visit your medical clinic for the needed vaccines. Immunizations are also available from your local Countryside Public Health Office. Call for an appointment. Visit the Minnesota Department of Health web site to see if your baby is current with the latest immunization guidelines.  Immunization for Babies
MIIC-Minnesota Immunization Information Connection is a confidential, computerized information system for health care providers, parents, public health and schools for immunization records. This provides health care providers access to one complete record a individual’s shots so that vaccines are not missed or an extra shots are not given. known as an immunization registry. Most medical providers participate in this immunization registry. If you would like to check your immunization record or need a copy, contact your medical clinic or Countryside Public Health. Minnesota Vaccine for Children can provide low cost vaccines at your medical provider or public health if you age eligible for the program. Shot Recommendations These are good sites to check for the latest in immunization recommendations for your children. Minnesota Vaccine for Children can provide low cost vaccines for children birth to age 18 at your medical provider or public health if you age eligible for the program New Eligibility Guidelines for Minnesota Vaccine for Children (MnVFC)
* Minnesota based health insurance companies are required to provide full coverage of vaccinations, regardless of deductibles or co-pays. Babies cry. That is a fact. Sometimes caregivers and parents get frustrated. Full-term infants cry frequently shortly after birth, however within a week or two the crying time drops. But crying time builds again, peaking between 4-6 weeks. Click here for additional information. Never Shake Your Baby You could cause irreparable brain damage. Click here to learn of ways to comfort a crying baby http://aboutshakenbaby.com/ Tummy Time Babies should spend some time each day on their tummies, to learn how to push up and crawl. This can be challenging for some babies that just don’t like to be on their tummies. Here are some good tips for Tummy Time: http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babybehavior/1439985.html Keeping Babies Safe Babies Sleep Safest on Their Backs. One of the easiest ways to lower your baby's risk of SIDS – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome- is to put him or her on the back to sleep, for naps and at night. Health care providers used to think that babies should sleep on their stomachs, but research now shows that babies are less likely to die of SIDS when they sleep on their backs. Placing your baby on his or her back to sleep is the number one way to reduce the risk of SIDS. For more information go to: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/safe_sleep_gen.cfm#backs Product Safety Is the crib we have safe? Are the rails too far apart? Has the product we bought for our baby we bought been recalled? Go to this excellent site for information on keeping babies safe: http://www.keepingbabiessafe.org/safety_cribs.shtml Car Seats What type of car seat is best? The convertible seats are a good approach as they can also be used as your child grows. Reliable information can be found at this site: http://www.carseatsmadesimple.org Your insurance may provide vouchers for car seats, so contact them before you purchase a car seat. Countryside Public health has trained car seat technicians to help you place the car seat correctly. Call or email us for more information or an appointment to check out your car seat. Nurse@countryside.co.swift.mn.us Choosing the Right Day Care There are many things to consider when looking at day cares. Some are family run, some are Child Care Centers or sponsored by employers. When choosing a day care, ask yourself the following:
Keeping Your Baby Healthy Well baby exams, are usually scheduled at 2, 4, and 6 months and at a year. These exams are important to your baby’s health. Immunizations can be done at this time. We encourage you to develop a relationship with your local health care provider. Your child may be eligible for CTC – Child and Teen Checkups. It is important to have your child tested for lead levels at 1 and again at 2 years of age. Lead is a component that was in paint until 1978 and can cause permanent brain damage to children if inhaled or ingested. Click here for more information about lead poisining. Our homes should be a place of health and comfort; too often they are places that cause illness. See Healthy Homes Dental Care You should never put your child to bed with anything in a bottle or sippy cup except water. Other liquids can cause very bad tooth decay and should be given at meal-times. Before your baby has any teeth, clean his or her mouth two times each day with a wet cloth, wiping gums and mouth. When a baby’s first tooth comes in, start using a very thin film of ADA approved fluoride toothpaste on a wet cloth or small soft brush. Only use a little bit – less than pea size- of fluoride toothpaste so the baby can’t swallow any. It is recommended that your child have his first visit to the dentist at about 1 year. Is My Child Normal? Health Tracks are newsletters that provide information specifically related to the age of your child. These are available on line or if you live in the counties served by Countryside and would rather receive it by mail, contact us at Nurse@countryside.co.swift.mn.us. A good website to know: Minnesota Department of Health has an excellent web site to provide trusted parenting information, resources and activities to help you child grow and develop. http://www.parentsknow.state.mn.us/ |
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Have a Question? Just pick up the phone and give us a call! Ortonville - 1-866-277-5587 Montevideo - 1-800-894-0192 Madison - 1-800-255-0736 Benson - 1-800-657-3291 Granite Falls - 1-800-407-3628 WIC - 1-800-244-6026 Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 4 pm |
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