Child Development and Care – JSS3 Home Economics Lesson Note (First Term)

Care of the baby includes:

1. Immunization.
2. Feeding.
3. Clothing
4. Health care.

The reasons for clothing the baby are:

1. Protection. etc
2. Beautifies the baby.
3. To make the baby comfortable.

There are two types of feeding methods. They are:

1. Natural feeding.
2. Artificial feeding.

1. Natural feeding: at the first few months of life the baby takes breast milk. Breast milk is the best food for babies, which is why exclusive breastfeeding is always encouraged. Breastfeeding is the procedure whereby the baby is put into the mother’s breast to suck milk from it for food; it is the natural way of feeding a baby, and it is the best food for a newborn baby.

Advantages of breastfeeding

1.       Breast milk contains antibodies that protect the child  against diseases and infection
2.       It is easily digested and absorbed by the baby’s body.
3.        It is less expensive than artificial feeding.
4.      It does not require any elaborate preparation.
5.      It is sterile and free from diseases and germs.
6.      It is produced at the right temperature
7.  It contains almost all the nutrients a baby needs.
8.    It gives natural immune
9.    It brings mother and baby very close, so it promotes love and affection in both.
10. Breastfeeding helps the mother’s womb to return to its normal position.
11.       The milk that is produced in the first few days after childbirth is called colostrum which helps to clear out the baby’s first sticky stool called meconium. 

2. Artificial or bottle feeding: This is the situation whereby the child is fed with processed animal milk, a cup and spoon can be used to feed the baby with this milk.

DISADVANTAGES OF ARTIFICIAL FEEDING.

1.     It is expensive.
2.     Baby milk can easily be contaminated.
3.    Constipation is common with artificially fed babies.=
4.     It requires elaborate preparation and sterilization of eating utensils.
5.     It is not as rich as breast milk.

Bathing the baby.

Considering the delicate and tender skin of the baby, one should not allow them to get dirty. Babies should be bathed at least twice daily.

THINGS NEEDED FOR A BABY’S BATH.

1.       A bathtub made of plastic or rubber.
2.       A soft towel; large enough to cover the baby.
3.        A small soft towel for drying the baby.
4.       A face towel {or flannel}
5.       A soft sponge.
6.       Baby’s comb and soft brush.
7.         Pampers
8.       Clean clothes for dressing baby after bath.

EVALUATION: mention the items needed for a baby’s birth.

1. b. state the importance of clothing the baby

ASSIGNMENT: state the various immunizations that must be given to a baby at different developmental stages.