Bringing your new baby home can feel overwhelming and scary. That’s normal. Arkansas Medicaid wants to help you provide the safest home possible by giving you important information you need to know before you bring baby home.
- Babies need extra protection in cars. Arkansas law requires that all babies and children up to age 6 or 60 pounds be in a car seat when in a moving vehicle. Car seats can save your baby’s life in an accident. Arkansas Children’s Hospital has more information about the types of seats to use at what age and when it is safe to move to a booster seat or regular seat belt.
- Breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition. Breastfeeding has many health benefits for baby and mom. If you need support to breastfeed, Arkansas Medicaid covers lactation consultant services. Talk with your baby’s doctor if you have concerns about breastfeeding.
- Know the ABCs of safe sleep. The safest way for a newborn to sleep is ALONE, on his BACK, and in a CRIB.
- Keep pillows, blankets, toys, stuffed animals, and crib bumpers out of the baby’s sleeping space. Those items can increase the risk of suffocation. Babies can sleep in a swaddle for the first eight weeks and a sleep sack with their arms out after that.
- The safest position for babies to sleep in is on their backs. That position reduces the risks of sleep‑related death.
- Use a crib, bassinet, or portable play yard with a firm mattress and fitted sheet only. Avoid placing babies to sleep on a couch, in a chair, or in the bed with you, especially if you or your partner have been drinking or are impaired in some way.
- Read aloud to your baby every day. Reading to babies, even newborns, is important for brain development. It also builds the foundation for language and will help create a bond between you and your child.
- The Arkansas Imagination Library will send your child a free book every month from birth to age five. Enroll by going to the Imagination Library website.
- Violence is never OK, especially with a new baby in the home. There is help available if you are experiencing violence or abuse from your intimate partner. Talk to your doctor, a trusted adult, or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1‑800‑799‑7233 or text “START” to 88788.
- It’s normal for newborns to cry a lot. The crying can be because a baby is hungry, has a wet or dirty diaper, is sick, or is overstimulated. Try addressing these issues and call your baby’s doctor if you think that is necessary.
- Sometimes you may not be able to identify the reason for the crying. Try to soothe the baby through touch, music, or white noise.
- If the crying is causing you to get angry or frustrated, it’s OK to put the baby in a safe location, like a crib, and to briefly step away to the porch or backyard for a few moments to reduce your stress.
- Take deep breaths and call a trusted friend or family member if you need time away.
- Home-visiting programs can help. The Arkansas Home Visiting Network delivers family support programs often called home-visiting because trained professionals will come to your home to help you build your parenting skills, strengthen your family, and help you support your baby’s development. Learn more and enroll at the home visiting network’s website.
- There are lots of places to find help. The State of Arkansas is committed to supporting moms and babies. Learn more at healthyar.info/ARKMOMS.
