| Babies born prematurely may require
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| | soft mattresses and pillows has been
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| special care during their first 2 years
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| | known to increase baby's risk of sudden
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| of life. This is especially true if the
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| | infant death syndrome (this is for
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| baby weighed 3 pounds or less at birth.
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| | full-term babies as well as the premature
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| Premature Baby's Growth and Development
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| | baby).
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| Take your baby to your doctor's office
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| | Common vision and hearing problems in
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| soon after the baby leaves the hospital.
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| | premature babies include:
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| The doctor will check the baby's weight
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| | - Crossed eyes (or strabismus) are a
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| gain and inquire of how the baby is doing
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| | problem that often goes away on its own
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| at home.
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| | as your baby grows up. You may be
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| Discuss with your doctor about feeding
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| | advised to see an eye doctor if your
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| the premature baby. He may recommend
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| | premature baby has crossed eyes.
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| vitamins, iron and special formula if the
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| | - Retinopathy of prematurity usually
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| baby is bottle-fed. Doctors give
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| | occurs in babies born very early, at 32
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| vitamins to premature babies to help them
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| | weeks of pregnancy or earlier
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| grow and stay healthy. The doctor may
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| | - Hearing problems are more common in
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| also prescribe extra iron for a premature
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| | premature babies than in full-term
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| baby for at least four months. At four
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| | babies. If you notice your premature
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| months of age a premature baby will have
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| | baby does not hear well, discuss this
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| about the same amount of iron as a
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| | with your doctor for further evaluations
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| full-term baby, however, your doctor may
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| | of premature baby's hearing. Check your
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| still have a premature baby take iron
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| | premature baby's hearing by making noises
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| drops for a year or more.
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| | behind or to the side of the baby. If
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| Premature babies are usually smaller than
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| | your premature baby does not turn his or
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| full-term babies for the first 2 years of
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| | her head, or jump at a loud noise, tell
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| life. They usually catch up after a
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| | your doctor.
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| while. Keep a record of your premature
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| | Traveling with your premature baby in
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| baby's development. Your doctor will
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| | cars poses extra problems. Review the
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| need to know how active the baby is, when
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| | following information to help you
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| your baby sits up for the first time and
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| | transport your premature baby in a car
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| crawls for the first time for example.
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| | safely:
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| Premature Baby's Immunization Schedule
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| | - Select a car safety seat that fits your
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| Immunization or "shots" are given to
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| | premature baby
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| premature babies at the same ages they
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| | - Do not use a car safety seat with a
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| are given to full-term babies. Some
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| | shield or tray
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| doctors may recommend a flu shot for a
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| | - Place rolled receiving blankets on both
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| premature baby when he or she is 6 months
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| | sides of your premature baby to center
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| of age. There is a chance that premature
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| | him or her in the car safety seat.
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| babies will become sicker with the flu
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| | - Place a rolled diaper or washcloth
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| more often than full-term babies. He may
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| | between your premature baby's diaper area
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| also recommend the entire family taking
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| | and the crotch strap to keep your baby
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| flu shots to help protect the premature
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| | from slipping down.
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| baby in the home.
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| | - Do not place the rolled diaper or
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| Premature Baby's Feeding Schedule
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| | receiving blankets behind or under the
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| Right after birth, premature babies need
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| | baby.
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| 8 to 10 feedings per day. Do not wait
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| | - Your premature baby may need to use a
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| longer than 4 hours between. Premature
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| | car bed that meets Federal Motor Vehicle
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| babies are very susceptible to
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| | Safety Standards to allow babies to
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| dehydration. Waiting longer than 4 hours
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| | travel while lying down if he or she has
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| between feedings may cause a premature
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| | any of the following while in a car
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| baby to become dehydrated. A good rule
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| | safety seat:
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| of thumb is if your premature baby is
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| | 1. A decrease in oxygen levels
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| wetting 6 to 8 diapers per day then he or
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| | 2. Slow heart rate
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| she is getting enough breast milk or
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| | 3. Apnea (breathing stops for a moment or
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| formula. Spitting up is often a common
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| | two)
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| problem of premature babies after
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| | Other reasons babies may need a car bed
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| feedings. Be sure to talk to your doctor
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| | rather than a car seat includes:
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| if your premature baby spits up a lot.
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| | - Problems with breathing when sitting
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| He or she may not gain enough weight if
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| | upright or semi-reclined
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| this occurs.
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| | - Decreased muscle control
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| Solid Food for Premature Babies
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| | - Bones that break easy
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| Four to six months after the baby's
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| | - Recent spine surgery
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| original due date (not the birth date) is
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| | - Baby is wearing a cast
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| usually the time doctors advise putting a
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| | At this time car beds are designed for
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| premature baby on solid food. Putting
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| | babies and not larger children. They
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| premature babies on solid foods before
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| | vary in design. All car beds must be
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| this time could create a choking hazard.
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| | installed lengthwise with the baby's head
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| Premature babies need more time to
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| | toward the center of the car.
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| develop their swallowing abilities. If
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| | Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
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| the premature baby has medical problems,
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| | Disclaimer: These statements have not
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| the doctor may prescribe a special diet.
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| | been evaluated by the Food and Drug
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| Premature Babies Sleep Time
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| | Administration. The information in this
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| Premature babies usually sleep more hours
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| | article is not intended to diagnose,
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| each day than a full-term baby; however,
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| | treat, cure or prevent any disease. All
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| they sleep for shorter periods of time
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| | health concerns should be addressed by a
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| and wake up more often. Put your
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| | qualified health care professional.
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| premature baby to bed on its back, never
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| | This article is FREE to publish with the
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| on its stomach. Use firm mattresses and
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| | resource box.
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| pillows. Sleeping on the stomach or on
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