Getting Ready for Baby: Fact Sheets and Resources

Healthy Pregnancy Home > Getting Ready for Baby > Fact Sheets and Resources

The following resources also can help you with preparing for your new baby:

• Immunizations
• Newborn Care
• Newborn Safety
• Product Safety

Immunizations

Publications

1.   Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants,Children, and Adolescents - This cornerstone publication of the Bright Futures project is a practical, comprehensive resource to help professionals, families, and communities more effectively promote the health and well-being of our nation's children and adolescents.

   http://www.brightfutures.org/bf2/pdf/

2.   Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule - This publication contains information on when children should receive their immunizations.

   http://www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/child-schedule.htm#Printable

3.   Guidelines for Vaccinating Pregnant Women - This publication provides information on the different types of vaccinations and whether it is safe for a pregnant woman to receive them.

   http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/preg-guide.htm

4.   Pocket Guide to Good Health for Children - Working with the doctor, nurse, other health care provider to keep your child well is as important as getting treatment when he or she is sick. This guide briefly explains preventive care for children—such as checkup visits, immunizations, and tests and exams—and provides guidance on related issues. Easy-to-use records help you keep track of preventive care for each child and know when shots and other services are needed.

   http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/childguide/

5.     Polio Vaccine (IPV) - What You Need to Know - This publication provides recommendations for the use of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV). This vaccine is commonly use for polio. There is also discussion of possible side effects and other concerns about the vaccine.

   http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-IPV.pdf

6.   Vaccine-Preventable Childhood Diseases - This on-line fact sheet lists descriptions, symptoms, and vaccines for numerous diseases that can be prevented in children.

   http://www.cdc.gov/nip/diseases/child-vpd.htm

7.   Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) - VFC helps families by providing free vaccines to doctors who serve eligible children and is administered at the national level by the CDC through the National Immunization Program. CDC contracts with vaccine manufacturers to buy vaccines at reduced rates. States and eligible U.S. projects enroll physicians who serve eligible patients up to and including age 18 years, providing routine immunizations with little to no out-of-pocket costs.

   http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/default.htm

8. Your Child's Immunizations (Copyright © The Nemours Foundation) - This publication provides information on when and why your child should receive some common vaccines, when a vaccine should be delayed, what the possible risks are, how to care for your child after he or she receives the vaccine, and when to call your doctor.

   http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/vaccine.html

Organizations

1.   National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases , CDC, OPHS, HHS
2. Immunization Action Coalition
3. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

= Indicates Federal Resources

Newborn Care

Publications

1.   Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants,Children, and Adolescents - This cornerstone publication of the Bright Futures project is a practical, comprehensive resource to help professionals, families, and communities more effectively promote the health and well-being of our nation's children and adolescents.

   http://www.brightfutures.org/bf2/pdf/

2.   Healthy Start, Grow Smart: Newborn through 12-month old [English Kit] - This kit includes all 13 books in the Healthy Start, Grow Smart series. They provide detailed information to parents about important issues in caring for the health and development of their baby in the first year of his or her life.

   http://www.ntis.gov/cms/index.aspx

3.   Pocket Guide to Good Health for Children - Working with the doctor, nurse, other health care provider to keep your child well is as important as getting treatment when he or she is sick. This guide briefly explains preventive care for children—such as checkup visits, immunizations, and tests and exams—and provides guidance on related issues. Easy-to-use records help you keep track of preventive care for each child and know when shots and other services are needed.

   http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/childguide/

4. A Guide for First-Time Parents (Copyright © The Nemours Foundation) - This publication covers many of the topics that new parents need to know. It discusses handling your newborn, soothing techniques for when your baby is crying, umbilical cord care, and sleeping position. It also gives tips on diapering, bathing, feeding, and burping your baby.

   http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/guide_parents.html

5. Baby Basics: Trimming Your Baby's Nails (Copyright © The Nemours Foundation) - This article explains how to trim your baby's nails safely to prevent scratches.

   http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/basics/trimming_nails.html

6. Caring for a Newborn (Copyright © YNHH) - This publication provides recommendations on caring for a newborn, including how often to feed your new baby, what to do if the baby has colic, the best way to feed your baby, and what kinds of expectations a parent should have.

   http://www.ynhh.com/pediatrics/newborn/index.html

7. Colic: Learning How to Deal with Your Baby's Crying (Copyright © AAFP) - This publication explains what colic is, how long it will last, and what you can do to help your baby stop crying.

   http://familydoctor.org/036.xml

8. Diaper Rash: Tips on Prevention and Treatment (Copyright © AAFP) - This fact sheet explains what diaper rash looks like, what causes it, and what you can do to prevent and treat it.

   http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/infants/051.html

9. Feeding Your Newborn (Copyright © Kids Health) - This publication contains information on breastfeeding or bottle-feeding your baby, the advantages of breastfeeding, limitations of both, and possible challenges.

   http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/food/infants/feednewborn.html

10. Newborn Screening Tests (Copyright © MOD) - This fact sheet provides information about some of the disorders that newborns are tested for shortly after birth.

    http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/298_834.asp

11. Preparing Your Child for the New Sibling (Copyright © Nemours Foundation) - This on-line resource contains information on ways you can prepare siblings for the arrival of a new baby.

    http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/home/sibling_prep.html

12. Spitting Up in Babies (Copyright © AAFP) - This publication explains why babies spit up, whether or not it will cause long-term problems, what you can do to help prevent it, and when to visit a doctor.

    http://familydoctor.org/218.xml

Organizations

1.   Back to Sleep Campaign, NICHD, NIH, HHS
2. American Academy of Family Physicians
3. American Academy of Pediatrics
4. Kids Health
5. March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
6. National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families: Zero to Three

= Indicates Federal Resources

Newborn Safety

Publications

1.   Crib Safety & SIDS Reduction (Seguridad en la cuna y prevencion del sindrome de muerte de cuna) - This web section contains a list of publications about crib safety and SIDS reduction. It includes resources available both in English and Spanish.

   http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/cribsafe.HTML

2.   Safe Sleep for your Baby: Ten Ways to Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) - This publication explains what SIDS is and what you should know about it. Also, it provides 10 tips to help reduce your baby's risk of SIDS and an explanation of why it is safer for babies to sleep on their back.

   http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/safe_sleep_gen.cfm

3.   Toy Safety Publications - This site lists publications on toy safety, including information on selecting appropriate toys for your children and safety alerts on certain types of toys.

   http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/toy_sfy.html

4. Auto Safety (Copyright © The Nemours Foundation) - This publication explains the importance of child safety seats and gives tips on how to select an appropriate car seat. It provides information on how to use infant-only seats, convertible seats, and booster seats. In addition, it lists suggested rules for safety in the car and on the bus.

   http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/home/auto.html

5. Baby-Proofing Your Home (Copyright © NSC) - This publication suggests things you can do with dangerous items in your home to prevent your baby from suffocating, choking, drowning, being burned, and falling.

   http://www.nsc.org/resources/factsheets/hl/baby_proofing.aspx

6.   Breastfeeding after a Natural Disaster (Copyright © OTIS) - This fact sheet contains questions and answers about what things a mother could be exposed to during a natural disaster that might be passed to her baby in breast milk. It explains how to keep your breast milk as safe as possible and what to do if you have to use formula.

   http://otispregnancy.org/pdf/breastfeeding.pdf

7. Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families (Copyright © AAP) - This booklet provides information on using and installing car safety seats and answers some common questions about car seat safety. It also provides a list of car seats with the weight restrictions and price.

   http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm

8. Childproofing and Preventing Household Accidents (Copyright © The Nemours Foundation) - This publication provides information on the different types of accidents that can occur at home and links to articles on how to prevent these accidents.

   http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/home/childproof.html

9. Preparing the Family (Copyright © UUHSC) - This on-line fact sheet contains information on preparing siblings, grandparents, and pets for the arrival of the new baby.

   http://www.uuhsc.utah.edu/healthinfo/pediatric/newborn/prepfam.htm

Organizations

1.   National Sudden Infant Death Resource Center
2.   U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
3. American Academy of Family Physicians
4. American Academy of Pediatrics
5. American Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Institute
6. Kids Health

= Indicates Federal Resources

Product Safety

Publications

1.   Crib Safety & SIDS Reduction (Seguridad en la cuna y prevencion del sindrome de muerte de cuna) - This web section contains a list of publications about crib safety and SIDS reduction. It includes resources available both in English and Spanish.

   http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/cribsafe.HTML

2.   Toy Safety Publications - This site lists publications on toy safety, including information on selecting appropriate toys for your children and safety alerts on certain types of toys.

   http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/toy_sfy.html

3. Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families (Copyright © AAP) - This booklet provides information on using and installing car safety seats and answers some common questions about car seat safety. It also provides a list of car seats with the weight restrictions and price.

   http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm

4. Choosing Safe Baby Products (Copyright © The Nemours Foundation) - This article provides information on selecting products that are safe for your baby. It covers backpacks and carriers, bathtubs, changing tables, cribs, gates, car seats, playpens, strollers, toys and walkers.

   http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/home/products.html

Organizations

1.   Federal Trade Commission
2.   U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
3. American Academy of Family Physicians
4. American Academy of Pediatrics
5. Kids Health
6. National Consumers League

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of March 2007