New Parent Expectations
Informing people about the upcoming birth and taking care of an infant is a crucial part of a successful upbringing. When becoming a parent, one can expect the newborn’s and early infant’s needs of specific nutrition, psychological development, and precautions for the safety of a vulnerable organism. Thus, one must be prepared for the possible dangers to an infant’s health and well-being. Understanding how the child develops cognitively and mentally is also vital for facilitating healthy growth. Nutritional needs and behaviors, sleeping patterns, and psychological nuances must be taken into account when expecting a baby. This essay will provide an overview of aspects of infant development that new parents need to be aware of: breastfeeding and bottle feeding, SIDS, shaken baby syndrome, as well as the attachment.
Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding
Firstly, an informed decision between breastfeeding and bottle feeding a newborn child is essential for every parent. Numerous aspects need to be discussed when prioritizing one approach over the other. American Health Association and WHO recommend breastfeeding a newborn for 6-12 months before switching to alternatives (American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP], 2016). This approach allows a child to develop long-term cognitive abilities and improve motor skills, supplies them with all the needed nutrition, and prevents an infant from developing various diseases (AAP, 2016). Sufficient breastfeeding should occur 8 to 11 times per day. When a mother is unavailable due to hospitalization, bottled human milk should be provided temporarily to supply a child with a consistent diet. Thus, breastfeeding is the recommended approach to infant nutrition as opposed to bottle feeding.
On the other hand, some parents might choose a bottle or formula feeding as the preferred strategy. This option is often used as a result of birth traumas, insufficient milk, infections, and diseases that may prevent the milk from being safe for an infant. The usage of alternatives is also explained by the specific medical needs of a newborn like a tube feeding or the necessity of a particular diet. It is also essential to note that switching between breastfeeding and non-milk supplements is not recommended (AAP, 2016). Despite many precautions, the formula can be a viable option for specific cases when adequately adjusted to the particular medical needs of the newborn and the mother. Consequently, although this type of infant nutrition is not preferred, it can serve as an alternative to breast milk with the necessary precautions.
SIDS and Shaken Infant Syndrome
The dangers of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and the shaken baby syndrome are what new parents should also be aware of. As per shaken baby syndrome, it is characterized by a set of brain damage symptoms with dangerous consequences that are caused by the violent shaking of an infant. Often a result of frustration or anger, shaking a baby for as little as five seconds can cause irreversible brain damage. The primary consequences of the syndrome are subdural and retinal hemorrhage, or bleeding in the brain and eyes, as well as brain damage and swelling (AAP, 2016). Due to this condition, an infant can suffer irreversible brain trauma; thus, shaking a baby is not permitted under any circumstances and needs to be reported to the medical facilities immediately if occurred.
SIDS and other sleep-related deaths of newborns also need to be considered by new parents. SIDS has been reported to cause 3500 infant deaths in the US annually (AAP, 2016, p. 1). The causes of lethal SIDS often remain unexplained due to challenging autopsy procedures; however, most deaths are linked with suffocation. To avoid SIDS, the AAP (2016) recommended placing infants entirely on the back as a permanent sleeping position, using firm sleeping surfaces, and breastfeeding rather than using formulas for nutrition. AAP (2016) also noted that “it is recommended that infants sleep in the parents’ room, close to the parent’s bed, but on a separate surface designed for infants” (p. 4). Such steps and necessary precautions will help to prevent SIDS and other sleep-related unexpected deaths of infants.
Attachment
Attachment is the psychological bonding between a child and a parent, which then transcends into childhood and adult behavioral patterns. Thus, understanding how attachment might affect an infant is vital for shaping a child’s psyche and relationship with the parents and family. The attachment has been categorized into secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-resistant, and insecure-disorganized types (AAP, 2016). Loving and present parenting will result in insecure attachment, while others provoke insecure behavior in a child. Insensitive, inconsistent, or rejecting actions from the caregiver’s side will result in a child feeling anxious and avoiding or resisting the parenting figure correspondingly. Lastly, inconsistent parenting will make an infant act in an unexpected and atypical way. These relationships with the primary caregiver from the earliest stages of life determine the way the child bonds with others and expresses emotions. In the newborn and early development stages, forming a healthy attachment pattern means paying attention to the child’s body language and needs, and then receiving positive feedback from the infant.
Conclusion
In conclusion, new parents have to take many factors that influence their expected baby’s well-being into consideration. These vital aspects include a nutritional choice between breastfeeding and formula, avoiding SIDS and other dangers to fragile infant’s health, and developing healthy attachment levels. The overview given in the essay provides general background on new parent education; however, expecting parents are encouraged to research and deepen their knowledge on the topics to ensure that they are ready to provide sufficient care for the child.
Reference
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths: Updated 2016 recommendations for a safe infant sleeping environment. Pediatrics, 138(5), 1-14.