Infant care

• State of arousal refers to an infant's physiological and behavioral status at a given moment in the periodic daily cycle of wakefulness, sleep, and activity.
• Swaddling is a traditional practice of wrapping a newborn baby snugly in a light, breathable blanket to calm and soothe them. It mimics the feeling of being secure and confined in the womb, aiding in making some babies feel settled and sleep better.
• Kangaroo care, also known as skin-to-skin care, involves holding newborns upright, skin-to-skin, on a parent's bare chest. This practice benefits both the baby and the parent(s) by promoting bonding and providing comfort.
• A postmature baby, also referred to as post-term or postdates, is a baby born after the expected due date.
• The infant mortality rate (IMR) is a crucial indicator of the overall health of a society, reflecting the health status of mothers and newborns.
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death of a seemingly healthy baby under 1 year of age. It is the leading cause of death for infants between 1 month and 1 year old. The cause remains unknown in each case even after a thorough investigation.
• Kwashiorkor is a condition caused by severe protein deficiency. It is characterized by the child's abdomen and feet becoming swollen with water. This condition usually appears between 1 to 3 years of age.
• Marasmus is the wasting away of body tissues in the infant's first year. It is caused by severe protein-calorie deficiency.
• Postpartum period is the time after childbirth when the mother adjusts physically and psychologically to the process of childbirth. This period typically lasts for about six weeks or until her body has returned to a near prepregnant state.
• Breastfeeding is the act of feeding a baby breast milk directly from the mother's breast. It is a natural way to nourish an infant and offers various benefits for both the mother and the baby.
• Bottle feeding involves feeding an infant formula or expressed breast milk from a bottle with a nipple. It is a common and acceptable method to nourish babies, especially when breastfeeding is not feasible or preferred for certain reasons.