Health Tip: Colicky Baby?
Colic -- an attack of unexplained crying that affects young infants -- can frustrate many new parents.
The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions when your baby shows signs of colic:
* Colic does not mean that your baby is unhealthy. Its exact cause is unknown.
* Don't feel guilty. You didn't do anything to cause your baby to be upset.
* Colic generally subsides by about 3 months of age, and almost never occurs beyond 6 months.
* It's not a bad thing to give your baby extra attention when colicky. Don't worry about spoiling your baby.
* There are lots of ways to calm your baby. Try different things until you find what calms the infant down, such as feeding your baby in an upright position, burping the infant often, or rocking the baby gently in a rocking chair.
Health Tip: Considering Adoption?
If you're thinking of adopting a child, choosing the right agency is an important step.
Here are guidelines to help select an adoption agency that's right for you, courtesy of the American Pregnancy Association:
* Get references and recommendations from friends or family members who have adopted. The agency should also be willing to provide references.
* Find out how long the agency has been working with adoptions. Have candidates disclose details of fees, contracts, legal documents and other requirements.
* Ask about services that the agency provides, for both the adoptive parents and birth parents.
* Find out whether the agency offers open or closed adoptions, and what experiences agency staff has had with both.
* Ask about the average wait time for completing an adoption.
* Inquire about procedures used to identify the health of the child.
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