Caring for your baby

Keeping your baby clean is vital to their health. That's why it's important for you to bathe them regularly and in the proper manner. If your baby isn't crawling yet, it's advisable to give them a bath 2 or 3 times a week, generally at a time when they are calm and not after they've eaten. You should, however, clean their hands, neck, face, and bottom every day.

Nasal suction bulbs or aspirators can help you clear up your infant's stuffy nose caused by a cold or other infection. The bulb draws out mucus from the nose so your infant can breathe easier.

The sensations a baby experiences during teething likely aren't very pleasant. After all, having sharp chewing instruments gradually push through your gums is a good reason to be cranky. So what can parents do to facilitate the process? One tool to soothe a teether is a teething ring. Make sure the one you provide to your baby is approved by the government.

Ear piercing is a popular cosmetic custom. Know the risks of infection and the steps required to care for newly pierced ears.

Would you let your child play in the dirt, chew on a toy used by another child, or eat food that fell on the floor? In today's sanitized climate - where things like antibacterial soaps, lotions, portable gels, and handwipes fly off the drugstore shelves - we're more aware of germs today than ever before.

When babies are born, they have a limited amount of immunity - the ability to fight off diseases. And while breast milk has an abundance of antibodies and can boost the baby's immune system, ultimately, this immunity dwindles, leaving the baby susceptible to many diseases. To counter this risk, babies and young children can be vaccinated.

Touch can actually give more than a momentary tingle or a second of solace; touch can comfort and heal.

Research on cord blood stem cells and a look into the future Several areas of research are actively underway to answer the following questions: What is the minimum dose of stem cells per kilogram of body weight required for a successful graft? What is the potential for increasing the number of umbilical cord blood stem cells in the laboratory? Are cord blood stem cells the best cells to use for gene therapy? Complete this questionnaire to help decide if you wish to save your child's cord blood.

To swaddle or not to swaddle your newborn? Learn more about the benefits and risks of swaddling.

The temperature reading you get on your thermometer depends on the body area you measure from. This chart shows the normal temperature readings for different body sites.

Find out which temperature-taking method will give you the most accurate measurement of your child's temperature.

When does the foreskin separate naturally? Normally the inner layer of the foreskin (prepuce) adheres to the glans (tip of the penis) at birth. Separation occurs slowly over the next few years, starting at the tip and progressing back. The time of foreskin separation is quite variable, and can occur as early as a few months or as late as age 10 but usually by age 6 or 7.

Planning for storage of blood cord cells Expectant parents who want to save their child's cord blood stem cells have 2 options available to them. Based on an informed decision, they can: store the cord blood for their own family usage (a fee is charged for this service), or donate the cord blood to be utilized by the general population (similar to blood donations given to the Canadian Blood Services), free of charge.