Baby's Day & Immunization

 

 

 

Your baby will now be spending more time awake during the daytime and you will be wondering how to divert her. From six weeks on you can sit her in a bouncing cradle and move her from room to room with you so that she can watch you as you work. Never put the cradle on a high surface as the baby's movements could easily shift it. 

With the baby in a carrier or sling, you can keep her close to you while you do talks around the house. Many parents find a sling particularly valuable for carrying a crying baby around, leaving both arms free while at the  same time giving the baby comfort and security. 

You can also take your baby round the house in her carrycot so that  you can talk to her while you work. 

 

First Immunizations

 

At two months your baby will be due for her first set of immunizations against potentially life-hreatening diseases. By immunizing your child, you are not only protecting her but, by reducing the number of people  who catch such diseases, you are also protecting your next baby and other people's children who have not been immunized. Because diseases like polio and diphtheria have  become so  rare, some people have become careless about having their children immunized, it becomes more likely that  these diseases will reappear.

 

The usual vaccines given at this age are the polio vaccine nowadays given by month and the triple vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (Peruses). The repeat vaccines are given at three months and then at four months. It is important that your child has all three sets to be fully protected.

 

The vaccines should hot cause any side effects, except perhaps for a a reddish patch at the site of the injection and occasionally a temperature. The whooping cough vaccine can very rarely cause serious side-effects, such as a fit or convulsion leading to brain damage. It is important though to  remember that whooping cough is a serious disease which itself can lead to brain damage or even death. You will  be advised not  to have the whooping  cough vaccine if there is a history of epilepsy or convulsions in the  baby's immediate family or if she has already suffered a fit herself. 

 

At the same time , your baby will be given the Hib injection. (Hib is short for Homophiles influenzae type b, a bacteria which causes a range of illnesses.) The injection immunizes against, among other things, croup and some forms of meningitis  and pneumonia.

 

In some areas you may be advised to have your baby immunized against T.B ( tuberculosis) at six weeks. Tuberculosis has become more common in some communities and individuals or groups at special risk may benefit from having their babies vaccinated. Be guided by your doctor or health visitor. 

 

Some time after your baby's first birthday you will be advised that  she should have the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR). Measles, for example, can be very unpleasant illness and sometimes has serious consequence, such as ear infections and pneumonia. When your baby is immunized you can discuss the MMB vaccine too. 

 

If you have any worries about your baby's immunizations do discuss these with the doctor or health visitor at the clinic, who  will be able to give you all the facts and reassure you. 

 

Immunization Timetable 

 

2 months *Diptheria *Whoping Cough

               *Tetanus * Hib Injection 

               *Polio Drops By mouth 

3 months *Diptheria *Whoping Cough

               *Tetanus * Hib Injection 

               *Polio Drops By mouth 

4 months *Diptheria *Whoping Cough

               *Tetanus * Hib Injection 

               *Polio Drops By mouth 

12-18 months * MMR Injection

 

 

 

 

Keep Notes 

Keep name, address and telephone numbers of your nearest health center for child and mother care.