THE NEW BABY OWNERS MANUAL FOR DADS

Index
PERFORMANCE ........................................................................................................................ 3 FUEL CONSUMPTION.............................................................................................................. 4 SAFE OPERATION .................................................................................................................... 8 DO-IT-YOURSELF SERVICE ................................................................................................... 8 DAD'S TOOL KIT ..................................................................................................................... 12 FINE TUNING AND FUN ....................................................................................................... 13 TROUBLE SHOOTING ............................................................................................................ 14 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND HELP............................................................................. 16

Trouble Shooting Problems

Noisy exhaust system Spots, blotches, red rash

Causes
Normal infant bowel sounds (sometimes heard across the room) Normal newborn rash (anywhere on body) Diaper area Thrush (white spots in baby's mouth that look like milk curds) The birth process Don't know

What to do?
Change diaper and do laundry Nothing. This will clear on its own. If it looks strange, compare notes with mom and call for help if needed (i.e., BabyTalk: 549-1154 or 1-800-267-7875, ext. 555 or doctor) Go to the Doctor as baby needs medication. Mom will need to treat her nipples as well. Nothing. Baby's head will become less pointy in a very short time. Call BabyTalk at 549-1154 or 1-800-267-7875, ext. 555. Phone is answered by a Public Health Nurse Monday to Friday, 8:30 am 4:30 pm.

Cone head Anything

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Trouble Shooting Problems

Crying baby Hungry Tired Gas Boredom Cold Smelly or damp Normal baby blues Overtired and overwhelmed Mom and baby learning what to do

Causes

What to do?
Bring baby to mom for feeding. Rock, put in crib or cradle and rub baby's back. Burp. Change baby's surroundings. Hold baby and rub his/her back while walking around your house singing Elvis tunes. Bundle baby in blanket or put on another layer of clothing. Change diaper (and clothes if necessary). Be supportive and reassuring. Be patient. Call for help if concerned. Encourage mom to nap, take over as many of household chores as possible (take the initiative and don't wait for mom to ask for help), limit visitors, tell her what a good job she's doing. Encourage mom to get help before she stops breastfeeding. Call BabyTalk at 549-1154 or 1-800-267-7875, ext. 555, a Breastfeeding Buddy if you have one, La Leche League, doctor or midwife or go to a BabyTalk Drop-in. Don't give up because breastmilk really is the best food for your baby.

Crying Mom

Breastfeeding difficulties

PERFORMANCE
Now that you're a proud owner of a new baby, here are a few tips on getting the best performance out of your model.

WARNING! Your baby requires a "breaking-in" period. You need to spend lots of time during this "breaking-in period" to get to know your unique model. Free time might be limited. You might wonder what youve gotten yourself into but be patient. Remember, mom has been test driving this model for the past 9 months and has a head start. Before you know it, youll be head over heels in love. It is important to start a good routine of regular maintenance. The baby will become much more portable and flexible as days go on. Taking care of such a small baby may feel awkward at first but the sooner you get to it the faster you will become an expert. It has been shown that top performing babies have very involved fathers. 3

FUEL CONSUMPTION

A good supply of top grade breast milk and a happy mom are important to top performance of your model. Breastfeeding: ! is free, ! is ready to feed - no mixing or heating, ! is easy to digest for a smoother running baby, ! increases the immune system which guards against illness (just like rust proofing), ! may reduce the risk of crib death (SIDS Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), ! improves babys wiring system (better brain development), ! increases protection against allergies, ! is guaranteed to pass the emissions test (less garbage in our world), ! offers may more benefits for baby and mom, too. Male owners do not have the right equipment for the job. Father's support is very important for successful breastfeeding. 4

FINE TUNING AND FUN

Exhaust(ion) is likely with a new baby. Your baby will not sleep through the night for several months. This can be hard on drivers. Babies are designed to wake up and refuel every few hours. Eventually, they will start sleeping longer. In the meantime, try to take turns at sleeping-in, go to bed earlier (and not necessarily at the same time), and nap. If one partner is rested, the other partner can function better. When will we ever have sex again? It is important to remember that after having a baby, mom needs time to recover. Good communication and not pressuring or rushing mom helps. Also remember, to use birth control. Breastfeeding can be 98% effective as a method of birth control IF your baby is under 6 months old, moms monthly period has not returned, and your baby breastfeeds at least every 4 hours during the day and has no more than one 6 hour stretch at night. Condoms and contraceptive foam are also a good choice when used together. Mom may be hesitant at first, however, with time (and some sleep), this shall pass. For a well-tuned family, it is important to talk to mom and maintain your relationship as a couple. You may be worried about balancing work and home. This may be a time to look at your options and talk to your partner about them. Plan time together. Go on a date. Average Fuel Consumption 13 8 - 12 feedings per 24 hours (amounts and time different for every model) WARNING! Growth spurts at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months cause an increase in feeding consumption. During these times, it is normal for a baby to seem to be permanently attached to mom for 2-4 days. This too will pass.

Adequate fuel consumption can be seen in the following ways: Waterworks (peeing) Day 1 1 wet diaper Day 2 2 wet diapers Day 3 3 wet diapers After Day 3 6-8 wet diapers/day

Septic (pooping) - Don't be surprised if every time something goes in, something smelly comes out the other end. However, for the first month, owners should be happy with 3 poops per day. Electrical (sleep or activity) Baby settles after feeds. Baby is active and alert at other times. Weight - Baby gains approximately 4 to 8 ounces (120 - 240 grams) per week; regains birth weight by two weeks, doubles birth weight by 5 to 6 months, and triples birth weight by a year (remember this is baby not dad). 6

Is it supposed to be that colour? ! ! ! ! Black - baby's first poops are black and sticky. Once the baby is getting good amounts of breast milk it will change from black to greenish black. White - it is normal for girls to have a whitish jelly-like discharge from their vagina. . Red - girls also can bleed a small amount from the vagina in the first few days. This is normal and is caused by mom's hormones. Orangey red - babies that are 1- 2 days old may have one or two orangey-red coloured pees. The baby is not bleeding but has passed uric acid crystals. If this colouring continues, call your doctor or BabyTalk: 549-1154 or 1-800-267-7875, ext. 555. Mustard coloured - seedy, loose poops are normal for breastfed babies, and should be seen by the time your baby is four days old.

? ?

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Looking under the hood (tips on diapering)

Does it really need to be changed? Some dads prefer the sniff method, some peek, and others can tell by the feel of the diaper. Oil Changes ! ! ! ! ! ! Girls - wipe from front to back. Boys - when washing, treat the penis like a finger. DO NOT PULL BACK FORESKIN! Most babies will pee when they get cold, so keep that penis covered unless you want to get showered. Don't forget the petroleum jelly or diaper cream. Tabs come from the back of the diaper and fasten to the front. Cloth diapers need to be rinsed in the toilet and stored in the diaper pail. Don't forget to dispose of the disposables. 10

**Low Fuel Warning:

Get help if your baby:
-

E
is feeding less than 8 times in 24 hours, has less than 6 wet diapers in 24 hours by 4 days old, has dark urine, has less than 3 dirty diapers in 24 hours, is very sleepy and hard to wake up to feed, has yellow skin and eyes and is not feeding well, has a dry sticky mouth.

Call: BabyTalk at 549-1154 or 1-800-267-7875, ext. 555

8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday to Friday Call your doctor or midwife - Anytime Go to the hospital emergency if your baby seems sick or very dry.

For those fathers who wish more technical information regarding breastfeeding, refer to the KFL&A Health Unit's Breastfeeding Handbook (given to breastfeeding moms in hospital). Also available by calling BabyTalk. 7

SAFE OPERATION
For your baby to have a safe and long life the manufacturer recommends: ! always use a car seat, ! read the instructions before putting together baby equipment, (their lives may depend on it), ! keep one hand on baby at all times during diaper changes, (models may lurch and roll unexpectedly), ! Never shake a baby! (they don't rattle).

DO-IT-YOURSELF SERVICE
Dad's guide to effective burping: (the baby that is) ! Burping is helpful to avoid build-up of gas. ! Dads can become pros at this in no time (some babies burp on their own). ! Place baby on your shoulder and pat, gently but firmly on the back. This can easily be done sitting in your favourite lazy boy chair or while strolling around the house. WARNING! Some models will eject liquid when burping (this is normal). The manufacturer recommends use of some kind of tarp (i.e. blanket) on your shoulder, or stand near a sink. 8

Five ways to calm a cranky baby ! ! ! ! ! Cuddle (you remember cuddling) or wrap baby up in a blanket. While holding baby, gently bounce or walk with the baby while speaking softly ("sh...sh..." works well or point out the interesting features in your workshop or on your computer). Whisper in their ear. Go for a walk or car ride. Be silly - tickle, sing or make funny faces

If you think your baby makes too much noise, call the Health Unit's BabyTalk line at 549-1154 or 1-800-267-7875, ext. 555 and talk to a public health nurse about it. 9

Dad's Tool Kit ! ! ! ! ! ! diapers - at least 3 or 4 wipes change pad complete change of clothes for baby (pick an outfit you can put on easily) diaper cream or petroleum jelly plastic bag (for dirty diapers)

Sometimes as a dad you may feel awkward, but as your baby grows you will develop a very special relationship. Even though it may seem like mom is in the driver's seat, take responsibility for some aspect of regular maintenance like the bath or bedtime.

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For a good supply of breast milk, fathers can do the following: ! go to breastfeeding classes with mom for technical advice, ! feed mom, ! check baby's attachment to mom's breast (latch) during operation, ! help with positioning of baby at breast, ! support mom and tell her she's doing a great job, ! bring baby to mom, ! burp baby, ! change baby when asked or whenever needed, ! hold baby before and after feedings to help settle to sleep, ! run interference with public, family, meddling neighbours, or whoever challenges your decision to breastfeed, ! try to help mom relax and get extra sleep, ! whatever mom asks (could be anything at any time of the day or night). To make enough breast milk, mom needs rest, sleep, and food (especially if problems occurred during labour and delivery). Your help is vital. Cooking (which also includes getting take-out from mom's favourite restaurant), cleaning (yes, the vacuum), answering the phone, entertaining guests (or telling them to come back another time), doing the dishes, shopping, laundry, along with all the things you did before, are but a few small things which will help keep the breastmilk flowing.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND HELP

Call BabyTalk 549-1154 or 1-800-267-7875, ext. 555 8:30 4:30 Monday to Friday Attend a BabyTalk Drop-in (call BabyTalk or visit our Health Unit Web site for time and locations) Find out about Breastfeeding Buddies (call BabyTalk for info) Call or see your Family Doctor or Midwife Visit the KFL&A Health Unit Web site at www.healthunit.on.ca

Main Office 221 Portsmouth Avenue Kingston, ON K7M 1V5 Tel: (613) 549-1232 1-800-267-7875 Fax: (613) 549-7896 Branch Offices Cloyne Tel: (613) 336-8989 Fax: (613) 336-0522 Sharbot Lake: Tel: (613) 279-2151 Fax: (613) 279-3997 Napanee Tel: (613) 354-3357 Fax: (613) 354-6267