Baby Care Honor

Household Arts

Requirements

1. Be able to care for a baby for at least 5 hours on at least 3 days of 1 week.

   Answer: You need to attend to feeding, sleep, diaper changing, hygiene and age-appropriate stimulation. — The Brazilian Society of Pediatrics recommends constant supervision of babies under 1 year old, as drowning, suffocation and falls are the main causes of accidents in this age group.

2. Which foods should not be given to a baby under 1 year old? List all the precautions that must be taken when preparing food for a baby. Prepare a food and feed the baby.

   Answer: FOODS THAT SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN to a baby under 1 year old: honey (risk of infant botulism), pure cow's milk (allergy and low iron), sugar/honey/sweeteners, salt and strong seasonings, sodas/processed juices, coffee/tea/caffeinated drinks, processed meats and canned goods, fried foods, and hard, rounded foods that cause choking (whole grapes, popcorn, nuts, sliced sausage). PRECAUTIONS WHEN PREPARING FOOD FOR THE BABY: 1) Wash your hands well before preparing and feeding; 2) Sanitize and sterilize utensils, plates and cutlery; 3) Wash and peel fruits and vegetables well; 4) Cook/roast the food well (without leaving it raw); 5) Mash, grate or shred to the texture appropriate for the age, avoiding pieces that cause choking; 6) Do not add salt, sugar or processed seasonings; 7) Check the temperature before offering (warm, never hot); 8) Prepare it fresh and do not reuse leftovers stored for a long time; 9) Offer one new food at a time to identify allergies; 10) Keep the environment and the preparation surface clean. — The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics recommend exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months and the gradual introduction of solids with specific precautions by age group to prevent allergies and accidents.

3. Prepare the bath, bathe the baby, change the baby, and dress it.

   Answer: You check the water temperature with a proper thermometer (~37 °C), prepare all the items beforehand, never leave the baby alone in the bathtub, support the neck and head, and dry the skin folds carefully to avoid rashes. — The Brazilian Society of Pediatrics advises that infant drownings can occur in a few centimeters of water in seconds, and the body temperature of babies changes quickly, requiring warm, short baths with constant supervision.

4. Prepare the baby's crib, and put it to sleep at night.

   Answer: You use a firm mattress that fits the crib perfectly, with no toys, cushions or loose blankets in the space. — The 'Back to Sleep' campaign, started in 1994 by the USA, reduced SIDS deaths by more than 50% by recommending that babies sleep on their backs until 1 year of age.

5. What is the normal weight of a baby at birth? What is expected at 6 and 12 months? Look at your growth curve (or that of the baby you are caring for) and compare it with the expected values. What should be done so that a baby has adequate growth?

   Answer: Weight at birth: on average between 2.5 and 4.0 kg (average ~3.3 kg). At 6 months: the baby usually doubles its birth weight (about 6 to 8 kg). At 12 months: it triples its birth weight (about 9 to 10 kg). To compare, locate the point on the growth curve in the child's health booklet and see if it is within the range between the WHO reference lines (percentiles/Z-score). For adequate growth: exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months and complemented afterward, healthy introduction of food at the right age, periodic monitoring at the health center with weighing and measuring, vaccination up to date, hygiene, adequate sleep, affection and stimulation. If the weight is far below or above the reference lines, seek guidance from the pediatrician. — The WHO published in 2006 the International Standard Growth Curve, based on a multicenter study in 6 countries, used as a worldwide reference for infant nutritional assessment.

6. Explain why bottles and pacifiers should be avoided.

   Answer: The bottle interferes with the correct latch onto the breast, harming breastfeeding and jaw development, and can cause dental malocclusion. — The WHO and the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics discourage the use of artificial nipples before 6 months, as they can reduce breastfeeding time and cause permanent dental problems.

7. How long should a baby be breastfed exclusively at the mother's breast? What is weaning?

   Answer: Exclusive breastfeeding (only breast milk, without water, teas, juices or other foods) is recommended until 6 months of age. From then on, breastfeeding is maintained complemented with other foods until 2 years or more. Weaning is the process of gradually interrupting breastfeeding, replacing breast milk with other foods and liquids, until the child stops breastfeeding; it should be done gradually and respectfully, without rushing. — The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months and complemented until 2 years or more, the founding principle of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative program in 152 countries since 1991.

8. What is the fontanelle (soft spot)? Around what age does it disappear?

   Answer: The fontanelle (soft spot) is the membranous, soft space between the bones of the baby's skull, covered by a fibrous membrane, which allows the growth of the brain and passage through the birth canal. The posterior fontanelle (the smaller one) closes at around 1 to 2 months, and the anterior fontanelle (the larger one, at the top of the head) disappears at around 12 to 18 months of age. — Examining the fontanelle is part of the neonatal pediatric routine: a very early closure (<6 months) may indicate craniosynostosis, and a late one (>24 months) may signal a nutritional deficiency or hypothyroidism.

9. Interview the staff of a daycare center and ask about the work there, and the help offered to mothers.

   Answer: You ask about the age group served, the number of caregivers per baby, the daily routine (sleep, feeding, activities), the pedagogical stimulation offered, the forms of support for working mothers (flexible hours, communication, guidance). — Research by the Maria Cecília Souto Vidigal Foundation shows that quality daycare centers have a maximum ratio of 1 caregiver to 6 children up to 2 years old, a decisive factor for healthy child development.

10. Know your country's child health card and tell what basic information is found on it.

    Answer: You find personal and birth data, the vaccination schedule, growth charts (weight, height and head circumference), developmental milestones, records of appointments, feeding and breastfeeding. — The Child Health Booklet was created by Brazil's Ministry of Health in 2005 and is distributed free of charge to all newborns by the SUS (public health system), being essential for pediatric monitoring.

11. Know the basic vaccination schedule of your country. Which vaccines are part of it? Which diseases do they prevent? When should they be administered? Check your vaccination card and that of the baby you are caring for. If it is incomplete, inform your mother and/or the baby's mother to seek a health center and update it.

    Answer: Basic vaccination schedule of the SUS (Brazil) with vaccines, the diseases they prevent, and age: At birth: BCG (severe forms of tuberculosis) and Hepatitis B (1st dose). 2 months: Pentavalent (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Haemophilus influenzae b, and hepatitis B), IPV (poliomyelitis), Pneumococcal 10, and Rotavirus. 3 months: Meningococcal C. 4 months: 2nd dose of Pentavalent, IPV, Pneumococcal 10, and Rotavirus. 5 months: 2nd dose of Meningococcal C. 6 months: 3rd dose of Pentavalent and IPV; Influenza (flu) annually. 9 months: Yellow fever. 12 months: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), booster of Pneumococcal 10 and of Meningococcal C. 15 months: DTP (booster), OPV (polio), Hepatitis A, MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox). 4 years: booster of DTP, OPV, Yellow fever, and Varicella. Check the vaccination cards and, if they are incomplete, inform the mother to update them at the health center. — The Brazilian PNI (National Immunization Program) was established in 1973 and offers 19 free vaccines through the SUS, being one of the most comprehensive immunization programs in the world according to the Pan American Health Organization.

12. Know the main emergency numbers of your country, such as, for example, police, fire department and medical service.

    Answer: You need to memorize 192 (SAMU - medical emergencies), 193 (Fire Department - rescue, burns, drownings), 190 (Military Police - safety), 100 (Human Rights Hotline, especially for cases involving children). — SAMU 192 handles about 5 million calls annually in Brazil, and the average response time in the capitals is 12 minutes, according to official data from the Ministry of Health from 2024.