Having a child has been a life changing experience. We now have a daughter who is with us 24/7. As her parents, it is our sole responsibility to love and nurture her. Since her stomach started out the size of a marble, she needs to eat frequently until her stomach grows and becomes more elastic. Until then, we'll continue feeding her every 2 to 4 hours around the clock. Between feedings, there is a constant barrage of poop. My wife, Alice, has instantly become an expert at changing diapers. I'm still a novice; but I'm not too bad considering. Actually, I've been more of a diaper changing assistant. In spite of all the feeding, changing of diapers and lack of sleep, it's totally worth it for our precious Emma.
As new parents, it's natural for us to worry about our baby's health. From reading and taking a couple classes at the hospital, we learned that it's best to limit the number of visitors while the baby is very young. The recommendation for length of time will vary. Most doctors suggest limiting exposure during the first one or two months. If visitors do stop by, they should wash their hands before handling the baby.
Our doctors informed us that if our baby develops a fever (over 100.4 degrees F), then we should take her to the emergency room immediately. The scary thing is that they will likely do a spinal tap along with some other tests. The reason is that when newborns develop a fever, there is a higher likelihood that it's caused by a serious infection or illness. I guess compared to the risk of letting something as serious as meningitis go untreated, a visit to the E.R. isn't so bad. It would be nice if more people were aware of the dangers. It's sometimes been an exercise in our people skills to educate family and friends who are eager to meet the new member of the family.
Along similar lines, a major toy manufacturer has just announced it's third wave of recalls on toys that were manufactured in another country. (I don't even need to mention names here.) Probable cause: Lead paint. For those who think that these things aren't cause for alarm, there was an article the other week about an Oregon family whose children have developed learning disabilities because their contractor used a torch to melt the paint off their walls. The paint contained lead. There are actually many toxic chemicals surrounding us in this day and age. Toxins can often be found in plastic baby teethers, second hand cigarette smoke, and treatment for wood found in playgrounds to name a few. To be fair, I understand that a number of toy manufacturers have been eliminating the use of toxic chemicals in their baby products. News like this makes me want to buy "natural" toys like wooden toys with safe pigments or stuffed animals made from organically grown cotton. As expected, these are a bit pricier than toys made of cheap plastic. But, isn't baby worth it? Also, it may be a good way to avoid buying an excessive number of toys to spoil our child. Another plus is that simpler toys (compared with high tech gadgets) are believed to better stimulate a child's creativity.
Speaking of harmful substances, a major popcorn manufacturer has announced today that it plans to stop using a flavoring chemical linked to lung problems in some of its plant workers. There is also reason to believe that the chemical might be harmful to consumers as well. A coworker who first brought this substance to my attention a few weeks ago said he's been popping his popcorn in a wok lately and it works really well.
No matter how hard we try, however, we will be exposed to germs and toxins. Fortunately, humans can often develop a resistance to germs. I don't think the same holds true for toxins. So, as far as germs are concerned, it's beneficial for children to be exposed to a "reasonable" amount of germs in order to develop their natural resistance. My wife and I are pretty careful when it comes to hygeine; but I'm certain that our daughter is still getting exposed to her share of germs (in reasonable amounts). So, I'm not concerned about her not having enough exposure to bugs. In fact, we plan to purchase an annual membership to the Los Angeles Zoo and try to make regular visits once Emma gets a bit older (maybe at three months). There are a couple studies that indicate that children with regular exposure to farm animals, especially within the first year of age, may see a reduced risk of asthma, eczema, allergies and inflammatory bowel disease. I'm hoping that the benefits apply to zoo-goers as well as farm dwellers even though there usually aren't any cows at the zoo. In any case, it'll be a good time to take lots of family photos.
Sources:
Vincent Iannelli, M.D., Babies and Infants with Fever
Kelly Marshall, Rob Kelley, Mattel announces third toy recall
David Perlmutter, MD, FACN, Raise A Smarter Child by Kindergarten, Sep 2006
Associated Press, ConAgra to remove popcorn chemical
Alan Greene, MD, FAAP, Cows, Cats, Siblings, and Immune Health
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