Children's Services

Commonly Heard Terms

BABY FOOD/NUTRITION

Breastmilk is the optimal method of feeding infants. It provides a combination of nutrients that are perfectly absorbed by babies, as well as some natural protection against infections. For mother's who choose not to breastfeed, iron-fortified formula is an acceptable alternative.

Breastfed infants require a Vitamin D supplement to meet their requirements. If you are breastfeeding, discuss with your physician when and how much to give your infant. Infant formulas are fortified with Vitamin D therefore formula fed babies do not require supplementation.

Between four to six months of age, solids can be introduced to an infant. Due to increased requirements for iron between four to six months of age, it is recommended that iron-fortified infant cereal be the first solid to be introduced. Following iron-fortified cereal; the recommended sequence of introduction is pureed and strained vegetables, fruits, and finally meat and alternatives.

Introduce new foods one at a time, several days apart, in small amounts. If an allergic reaction occurs, you will then know which food caused it.

Between seven to nine months is the usual time to switch from smoothly pureed foods to mashed and lumpy foods. Commercially prepared junior foods contain pieces large enough to encourage chewing, while still being safe.

At nine to twelve months, it is appropriate to start introducing finger foods. Healthy and safe finger foods to offer your baby at this stage include cooked soft vegetable pieces, pieces of banana, soft ripe seedless fruit, small tender pieces of meat and chicken, pieces of cheese, bread crusts, dried toast, or unsalted crackers. Infants should be closely supervised during the introduction of finger foods.

If your infant is consuming a wide variety of solids, infants can be switched from breastmilk or formula to whole cow's milk (or homo milk) between nine to twelve months of age. Homo milk is recommended until two years of age. Fat reduced milk, such as 1%, 2% or skim milk, may deprive your infant of the calories and essential fatty acids necessary for their rapid growth in the first two years of life.

If you have any questions about feeding your infant, talk to your doctor or a dietitian. Other resources include the Healthy Children's Information Line at (519) 883-2245 or the Cross Cultural Telephone Line at (519) 883-2202, ext. 5252.

BED WETTING

Most children achieve nighttime dryness by five years of age. Typically, boys achieve nighttime dryness later than girls do. At age five, approximately 15% of children continue to wet the bed, by 10 years of age 5%, and at sixteen years of age 2%.

Reasons that may lead a child to wet the bed beyond the fifth year of age include a delay in the maturation of normal sleep patterns and a family history of bed wetting. There is between a 44% and 77% chance that your child may wet the bed if one or both parents were late bed wetters.

Parents often will state that their child is a "deep sleeper". There is some evidence that arousal times are different for bed wetters than other children. Limiting the amount of fluids your child drinks prior to bedtime may or may not be helpful. Children should not go to bed thirsty.

Waking a child to go to the washroom is also not helpful. You may attempt a reward system to reward "dry nights". This has shown to be successful in some children. Use of alarm systems or medications can be discussed with your doctor. Beyond age seven, continuing problems with bladder control should be discussed with your doctor.

It is important to remember to praise your child for dry nights and be patient with wet nights.

BLOOD CULTURE

It may be necessary to take a sample of baby's blood to test for an infection in the blood. We usually know the results after 24-48 hours. Most babies will receive antibiotics until the results are known, as a precaution.

BRADYCARDIA

This is a term used when a baby's heart rate decreases lower than normal. A slowing down of the heart rate below normal is not uncommon in premature babies. This also usually disappears as the infant gets older.

BURNS

Burns occur in varying degrees. First-degree or superficial burns are the least serious. With this type of burn your child's skin will turn red and swell slightly, heal in a few days and leave no scars. Second-degree burns will involve redness and swelling but they will also appear wet and sticky and affect the deeper layers of the skin. Healing usually occurs within a few weeks and scars often develop.

Third-degree burns will be less painful than first-degree and second-degree burns but involve the whole depth of the skin and sometimes tissues beneath and are much more serious. The pain decreases because the burn damages the nerve endings in the skin. Third-degree burns can take months to heal, may require surgery, and always leave scars.

First-degree burns can usually be treated at home. Immerse the burned area in cool water or cover the burned part with cold wet cloths until the pain stops, which could be at least 15 minutes. Never apply butter or shortening or ointments to a burn.

Contact your physician or emergency department to treat more severe burns and chemical burns. Watch for red streaks on the burn and for an unexplained fever as they might indicate a possible infection. A burn wound must be kept clean.