Chaska
Delano
Maple Grove
Minnetonka
Spring Park
Main Fax
(952) 473-7908
2 months
Nutrition
Most babies nurse 5-8 times a day or take 20-32 ounces of iron-fortified formula (or a combination of the two). No solid foods are advised yet. We recommend always holding your baby for feedings.
Wellness Visits
Infants may start "sleeping through the night" between 3 and 8 weeks of age. This is typically a 6-hour stretch of uninterrupted sleep. Naps will vary in number and length. We recommend routinely putting your baby in his crib, on his back, for sleep. Babies occasionally wake during sleep, but can start settling alone.
Sleep
Most breast-fed infants continue to have frequent loose stools, but this can change dramatically in the next few months. Some breastfed babies can have a stool once a week or less! As long as these stools are soft there is no need to worry or "treat" your baby for constipation. Bottle-fed babies typically have pasty, soft or semi-formed stools. Frequency and color will vary greatly.
Constipation is the difficult or painful passage of hard, pellet-like stool. Please tell your health care provider if you feel your baby is having problems with this.
Elimination
ALWAYS use an approved car seat, and face it backward in the center back seat of the car until your baby is 20 pounds and age 1. All children should ride in the back seat until age 12.
Your baby will be rolling over soon. To prevent falls, never leave him unattended on a sofa or changing table.
Be cautious of burns. Do not smoke cigarettes or drink hot liquids while holding your baby. Falling ashes or spilled coffee can result in significant burns. In addition, tobacco smoke is irritating to a baby's developing lungs and may contribute to the development of asthma and ear infections.
WE STRONGLY DISCOURAGE THE USE OF INFANT WALKERS!! These rolling seats provide a young infant much more mobility than he or his parents are ready for. Walkers flip over easily, and many infants have gone roaring down stairways, even with protective baby gates in place. Walkers also speed access to open oven doors, space heaters, broken glass, etc.
Childproof your baby's environment. Remove small objects (buttons, coins, pins), bags, balloons, food, or toys with detachable parts that could cause choking. Never tie a pacifier around your infant's neck - it could become entangled on a crib or other furniture.
Sunscreen and insect repellent are now considered safe and recommended.
If you feel your baby is crying a lot (not related to illness) and you are at your wit's end, put your baby in a safe place and take a break. Call a relative, friend, or the Parent Warmline (612-813-6336) for support. If your frustration is increasing, call Crisis Connection (612-379-6363) or Minneapolis Crisis Nursery (763-591-0100).
Safety
This is a good time for parents to plan an outing away from the baby (to reestablish their relationship or individual interests). Leaving your infant with a trusted sitter is very appropriate at this age. You will miss your baby more than he will miss you! Weather permitting, stroller rides are a nice break, too.
Family Adjustments
If your baby is uncomfortable due to fever or leg soreness from the injections, you may give Acetaminophen as often as every four hours. A dosing sheet can be found in your clinic baby book. If your baby has a temperature greater than 104 degrees (rectally), is inconsolably irritable for 2-3 straight hours, or is more irritable than usual for more than 24 hours, please call us.
Your baby's next regular health care visit is at age FOUR MONTHS. By that time he will probably be reaching out and grabbing things, learning to roll over, and smiling at everyone. We will discuss starting solid foods at that time. The scheduled vaccines are the second DTaP, Hib, Polio, PCV7, HBV and oral Rotavirus. Please try to be at least 10 minutes early for all scheduled well child visits.
The first smile makes it all worthwhile!