2 Month Visit Bright Futures Handout Edited By Mark Simonian MD

How You are Feeling?
1. Taking care of yourself gives you the energy to take care of the baby. Remember to go to your postpartum visit.
2. Find ways to spend time alone with your spouse
3. Keep in touch with your family and friends
4. Find small but safe ways for your other children to help with the baby, such a s bring things you need or holding the baby's hand
5. Spend special time with each child such as reading, talking or doing things together

Your Growing Baby
1. Have simple routines each day for bathing, feeding, sleeping, and playing
2. Put your baby to sleep on her or his back in your room, not in your bed in a crib with slat less than 2 3/8 inches apart with the crib's drop side always up
3. Give your baby a pacifier
4. Put your baby to sleep when drowsy
5. Hold, talk, cuddle, read, sing, and play often with your baby. This helps build trust between you and your baby
6. Learn what things your baby does and doesn't like
7. Notice what helps calm your baby like a pacifier, fingers or thumb, or stroking, talking rocking or going for walks

Safety
1. Use a rear facing car seat in the back seat of all vehicles
2. Never put your baby in the front seat of a vehicle with an air bag
3. Always use your seat belt and never drive after using alcohol or drugs
4. Keep your car and home smoke free
5. Keep plastic bags, small balloons and other small objects like small toys from small children, away from the baby
6. Set the hot water heater at a temperature below 120 degrees F
7. Never leave your baby alone in bath water  even in a bath seat or ring
8 . Your baby can roll over so always keep a hand on her or him when changing diapers or changing clothes

Your Baby and Family
1. Find clean, safe, and loving child care for the baby
2. Consider when you will be returning back to work
3. It is normal to feel sad when leaving your baby or upset when going to child care

Feeding Your Baby
1. Feed your baby when he or she is hungry when there are signs like putting hands in mouth, sucking, rooting, and fussing
2. Ending feeding when you  notice your baby is full like turning away, closing mouth, relaxed arms and hands
3. Avoid feeding your baby solids foods before 4 months of age or juice before 6 months
4. Feed only breast milk or iron fortified formula in the first 4 to 6 months
5. Burp baby when there are natural feeding breaks
6. Feed your baby eight or more times a day
7. Make sure to prepare, heat, store  formula safely
8. Hold your baby so you can look at each other
9. Do not prop a bottle

What to expect at the 4 month visit
1. Feeding the baby
2. Sleep and Crib Safety
3. Calming your baby
4. Playtime with your baby
5. Keeping your home safe for your baby
6. Healthy teeth

Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
Child Safety Seat Inspection: 1-866-SEATCHECK; www. seatcheck.org