Infant Health Promotion and Safety

Infants' Health Promotion Needs (1 month to 1 year)

• Develop a strong bond with the baby
• Ensure a healthy and safe baby
• Protect baby from serious diseases
• Reduce childhood obesity
• Identify problems in baby

Immunization

• All children should be offered access to the routine child immunization schedule

Infant Safety

• Importance of supervision
• Ensure car seat, crib with a firm mattress, playpen, bath, and home environment safety measures
• Avoid stuffed animals, pillows, or blankets in the crib
• Avoid toys with small parts or sharp edges

Nutrition

• Exclusive breast-feeding to 4 to 6 months
• Introduce solid foods between 4 and 6 months
• Need for iron supplements at 4 to 6 months
• Continued breast-feeding to age 12 months

Rest and Sleep

• Establish a routine for sleep and rest patterns
• Ensure a safe place for sleep
• Provide a quiet environment
• Consider baby's temperament

Sensory Stimulation

• Touch: holding, cuddling, rocking

Toddlers' Health Promotion Needs (1-3 years)

• Health Examination at 15 and 18 months and then as recommended by the primary care provider
• Protective Measures: screenings for tuberculosis and lead poisoning
• Toddler Safety: home environment safety measures, stove guard, and outdoor safety measures
• Nutrition: importance of nutritious meals and snacks
• Elimination: toilet training techniques
• Rest/Sleep: established routine for sleep and rest patterns
• Play: encouraging regular, vigorous physical activity

Preschoolers' Health Promotion Needs (4-5 years)

• Health Examination every 1 to 2 years
• Preschool Safety: educating child about simple safety rules
• Nutrition: importance of nutritious meals and snacks
• Play: encouraging regular, vigorous physical activity

School-Age Children Health Promotion Needs

• Screening for tuberculosis
• Periodic vision, speech, and hearing screenings
• Regular dental screenings and fluoride treatment
• Providing accurate information about sexual issues and sexual abuse

Adolescents' Health Promotion Needs

• Protective Measures: screening for tuberculosis, periodic vision and hearing screenings, and regular dental assessment
• Adolescent Safety: taking responsibility for using motor vehicles safely, making certain proper precautions are taken during athletic activities
• Parents keeping lines of communication open and being alert to signs of substance abuse and emotional disturbances
• Nutrition and Exercise: importance of healthy snacks and appropriate patterns of food intake and exercise

Young Adults Health Promotion Needs (20-40 years)

• Health Tests and Screening: routine physical examination every 1-3 years for females and every 5 years for males
• Nutrition and Exercise: importance of adequate iron intake in diet, doing daily exercise, and nutritional and exercise factors that may lead to cardiovascular diseases

Middle-Aged Adults Health Promotion Needs (40-65 years)

• Annual physical examination
• Regular dental assessments every 6 months
• Tonometry for signs of glaucoma and other eye diseases every 2-3 years or annually if indicated
• Screening for cardiovascular disease, breast, cervical, uterine, and prostate cancer
• Screening for tuberculosis every 2 years

Older Adults Health Promotion Needs (65 years and above)

• Health Tests and Screening: diabetes mellitus screening every 3 years, if in high-risk group
• Depression screening periodically
• Family violence screening periodically
• Height and weight measurements annually
• Immunization: annual flu vaccine if over 65 or high-risk group
• Safety: home safety measures to prevent falls, fire, and burns