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Self care refers to all the things we do to keep our bodies safe and healthy. For an infant, it is the parent who is doing the care, and the baby is just taking part. The main areas of self-care for an infant are sleeping, eating/drinking, tooth brushing, dressing, and bathing/grooming.
For information about eating and drinking, please visit our eating and drinking information page. For information about the other areas of self-care for a baby, please read below.
Babies sleep a lot! When they are first born, babies spend the majority of their time sleeping - between 16 and 20 hours per day. By the time your baby is a year old, he will likely be sleeping about 14 hours per day, including 2 naps. However, all babies are different, and some will sleep more than others.
Because of the dangers of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the BC Government has published some guidelines for safe sleeping practices for infants. To read these guidelines, please click the link below:
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/pregnancy-parenting/parenting-babies-0-12-months/baby-safety/safer-sleep-my-baby
Getting your baby to sleep is often one of the most difficult tasks for a parent, and there are many different opinions for the best ways to do this. We do not support one method over another, but recommend that parents find the method that they feel most comfortable with and that fits their child and family.
If you are feeling overwhelmed with trying to help your baby sleep, you can talk with your doctor, a public health nurse, an occupational therapist, or another health professional in the community.
A baby’s teeth usually start to appear anywhere from 4 months to 1 year of age. It is very important to clean your baby’s teeth as soon as they appear, and the best way to develop that routine is to start cleaning their mouth right from birth. You can start with a small soft washcloth or toothbrush with a bit of water on it, and just gently rub your baby’s gums twice per day. Once the first tooth erupts, use a small toothbrush with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste to clean their teeth, again twice per day.
Try to make toothbrushing time a relaxing time for your baby. Put them in a comfortable place, either laying down or sitting in a supportive chair. Sing a fun song while you brush! Try to do the toothbrushing routine at a time when your baby is well rested and fed.
If you are frustrated because your baby will not let you brush their teeth, talk to your dentist or doctor, a public health nurse, an occupational therapist, or another health professional in the community.
Dressing your baby can be quite a challenge. When they are first born, it is difficult to hold them AND get their limbs into their clothes. Once they start moving around, then it is hard to get them to stop long enough to get clothes on! The good news is that your baby should be able to help you a bit when they are close to a year old by holding their arm or leg out when you are putting on their clothes.
If you are having difficulty dressing your baby for any of the following reasons, you may want to talk to an occupational therapist:
Babies are not usually able to help with any bathing or grooming tasks, but they often protest when you try to do them! For some tips on washing and grooming your baby, check out the BC Government’s website by clicking the link below:
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/pregnancy-parenting/parenting-babies-0-12-months/newborns/bathing-and-skin-care-newborn-babies-0
If you are having difficulty washing or grooming your baby for any of the following reasons, you may want to talk to an occupational therapist:
If you have concerns about your child at any age, please feel free to contact us to speak to a professional. You can also make a referral to our centre at anytime.
R.E.S.T. Workshop
We received physiotherapy for our daughter who was being considered for a helmet for plagiocephaly. From our first appointment to our last, we received wonderful care. The staff at CTFRC were always very friendly, welcoming, and had a great spirit. The Physiotherapist was very kind, gentle and provided us with so much knowledge!
The outlet to have a professional available for help and advice and direction was key in our success, along with the tips, tools and education I received. They are so great at checking in and making sure I know there are supports, if necessary.
Having someone to talk me through the stages and calm my nerves about [my child's] development is what helped me the most. the sessions were always super informative and gave great advice on what to work on with [my child]. Just having the peace of mind that we were on the right track. I appreciate the service so much and I would recommend to any concerned parent!