Hepatitis A Vaccine Protects You and Your Baby

"Hepatitis A Vaccine Protects You and Your Baby

 The best way to prevent hepatitis A is by getting the hepatitis A vaccine. Babies infected with hepatitis A may not show any symptoms, and can pass the virus on to unvaccinated adults who can get very sick. 

What is Hepatitis A, and How Does It Spread?

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. When symptoms are apparent, it can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. Although rare, hepatitis A can even cause death in some people. Hepatitis A virus is found in the stool (poop) of a person who has the virus. It can spread when:

• Infected persons do not wash their hands properly after going to the bathroom and then touch objects or food
• Caregivers do not properly wash their hands after changing diapers or cleaning up the stool of an infected person

Babies and Hepatitis A

Babies can get hepatitis A by putting contaminated objects or hands or food in their mouths. Hepatitis A spreads easily, even when people use good hand washing practices. Babies can pass hepatitis A infection to their caregivers who come in contact with the virus from diapers or stool. That’s why the hepatitis A (hepA) vaccine provides the best protection for everyone!

Why Should Your Baby Get the Hepatitis A Vaccine?

Hepatitis A infection rates have declined more than 95 percent since the hepatitis A vaccine first became available in 1995.

The hepatitis A vaccine:

• Protects your child from hepatitis A, a potentially serious disease.
• Protects other people from the disease. This is because children under 6 years old with hepatitis A usually don’t have symptoms, but they can still pass the disease to others.
• Keeps your child from missing school or childcare (and keeps you from missing work to care for your sick child)..."
  Hepatitis A vaccine

Best at Birth: Get Your Baby the Hepatitis B Vaccine

"Ensure your baby gets the hepatitis B vaccine shortly after birth. The CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend all children receive their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine shortly after birth and complete the vaccine series by age 6–18 months.

Babies and Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is an infectious liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. Some people are able to fight the infection and clear the virus. For others, the infection remains and is “chronic,” or lifelong. Over time, the chronic hepatitis B can cause serious health problems, and even liver cancer. There is no cure for hepatitis B.

Mothers can pass the hepatitis B virus to their baby during childbirth without knowing it, since it is passed through blood and bodily fluids. Babies can also get hepatitis B through blood or other body fluids that contain a small amount of blood from an infected person. People can spread the virus even when they have no symptoms..."
Babies and Hepatitis B

Helping Babies Sleep Safely

"Expecting or caring for a baby? Take these steps to help baby sleep safely and reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

There are about 3,500 sleep-related deaths among US babies each year. CDC supports the 2016 recommendations issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to reduce the risk of all sleep-related infant deaths, including SIDS. See How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained to learn more about these and other actions.

Parents and caregivers can help create a safe sleep area for babies by taking the following steps.."
Babies and sleep

What are the Reasons to Vaccinate My Baby?

"Protecting your child’s health is very important to you. Giving your baby all the recommended vaccines by age two is the best way to protect her from 14 serious childhood diseases. Choose immunization; it’s the powerful defense that’s safe, proven, and effective.

Raising a child means you’d do anything to help them grow up healthy and safe. You watch them as they explore new places and baby proof your home against potential hazards. But, what about the hazards you can’t see that can cause serious illness, disability, or even death in young children? Immunization gives you the power to protect your baby from 14 serious childhood diseases. No matter what parenting challenges come your way, there are many reasons to vaccinate.

Serious Diseases Are Still Out There

Vaccines are one of the top public health achievements because they have reduced or even eliminated many diseases. Thanks to vaccines, most young parents have never seen the devastating effects diseases like polio, measles, or whooping cough (pertussis) can have on a child, family, or community. It’s easy to think these are diseases of the past, but they still exist. Children in the United States can—and do—still get some of these diseases. In fact, when vaccination rates are low in a community, it’s not uncommon to have an outbreak.

Diseases Don’t Stop at the Border, and Many Can Spread Easily

You may have never seen a case of polio or diphtheria, but these diseases still occur in other countries. For example, measles is rare in the United States because of vaccination, but it is still common around the world. Unvaccinated travelers who are infected while abroad can easily bring the diseases to the United States.

After reaching the U.S., measles can spread quickly among unvaccinated people. In 2014, the United States had a record number of measles cases (667) and many were associated with cases brought from the Philippines, which experienced a large measles outbreak. Most of these people were not vaccinated, or didn’t know if they were vaccinated, and nearly all the cases were associated with international travel. From January 1 to July 14, 2018, 107 people from 21 states were reported to have measles. The majority of people who got measles were unvaccinated.."
Vaccinate babies

Can your baby hear you say “I love you?”

"The best way to find out if your baby may be deaf or hard of hearing is by a hearing screening. Early diagnosis and intervention will help them reach their full potential.

Thousands of babies are born deaf or hard of hearing each year in the United States. Babies diagnosed early with hearing loss and begin intervention early are more likely to reach their full potential. The best way to find out if your baby may be deaf or hard of hearing is by a simple hearing test, also called a hearing screening.

Why is a hearing screening important for my baby?

Starting from day 1, babies begin to learn language skills by listening to and interacting with those around them. If babies miss these opportunities, their language development can be delayed. Many times, children’s hearing loss is not obvious and can go unnoticed for months or even years.

Hearing screening at birth can determine if your baby may have a hearing loss and if more tests are needed. An early diagnosis is essential to help babies who are deaf or hard of hearing reach their full potential, and allows families to make decisions about the intervention services that are best for their baby’s needs. Early diagnosis of hearing loss and beginning intervention helps to keep children’s development on track and improve their future language and social development.."
Baby hearing

Protect Your Baby with Immunization

"Immunization is one of the best ways parents can protect their infants from 14 serious childhood diseases before age 2. Vaccinate your child according to the CDC’s recommended immunization schedule for safe, proven disease protection.

Diseases that vaccine prevent can be very serious—even deadly—especially for infants and young children. Vaccines reduce your child’s risk of infection by working with their body’s natural defenses to help them safely develop immunity to disease. Immunizations have helped improve the health of children in the United States. Most parents today have never seen first-hand the devastating consequences that vaccine-preventable diseases have on a family or community. Although most of these diseases are not common in the United States, they still exist around the world, so it is important to protect your child with vaccines..."
Babies and immunization

Can your baby hear you say “I love you?”

"Find out why hearing screening is important, how to get your baby screened, and what to do with the results. Also included are helpful resources for parents.

Thousands of babies are born deaf or hard of hearing each year in the United States. Babies diagnosed early with hearing loss and begun on intervention are more likely to reach their full potential. The best way to find out if your baby may be deaf or hard of hearing is by a simple hearing test, also called hearing screening.

Why is a hearing screening important for my baby?

Starting from day 1, babies begin to learn language skills by listening to and interacting with those around them. If babies miss these opportunities, their language development can be delayed. Many times, children’s hearing loss is not obvious and can go unnoticed for months or even years.

Hearing screening at birth can determine if your baby may have a hearing loss and if more tests are needed. Early diagnosis is essential to help babies who are deaf or hard of hearing reach their full potential. Early diagnosis allows families to make decisions about the intervention services that are best for their baby’s needs. Early diagnosis of hearing loss and beginning intervention helps to keep children’s development on track and improve their future language and social development..."
Baby hearing

FASD Awareness

"September is FASD Awareness Month. FASD Awareness Month is an expansion of FASD Awareness Day that has been held each year on September 9th since 1999.

Alcohol use during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which are physical, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities that last a lifetime. Often, a person with an FASD has a mix of these problems. It is recommended that women who are pregnant or might be pregnant not drink alcohol. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are completely preventable if a developing baby is not exposed to alcohol before birth....:

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Newborn Screening is Important for Your Baby

"The nursery is decorated, the car seat is ready, and you can't wait to bring your new baby home. But before your newborn comes home, he or she will need some important screening done at the hospital. This screening is called newborn screening and includes a blood test, hearing screening, and, in many hospitals, screening for critical congenital heart defects. Newborn screening is important because even if your baby looks healthy, some medical conditions can't be seen just by looking. If your baby was not born in a hospital or was not screened before leaving the hospital, take him or her to the doctor's office or hospital to be screened as soon as possible..."
Newborn screening

Crib mattress dangers

"Babies spend over 50 percent of their day sleeping.  The National Science Foundation (NSF) Nordic Research Opportunity-funded researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and VTT Technical Research Center of Finland have discovered that while infants sleep, they also breathe in high levels of chemicals released from crib mattresses.

The team analyzed the foam padding in 20 new and old crib mattresses and found they emit significant amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), potentially harmful chemicals also found in household cleaners and scented sprays..."
crib mattress dangers

Where's Baby: Look before you lock

When preparing to take a trip with your baby, here are a few safety tips to consider.
Where's Baby

Immunization

"Protecting your child's health and safety is very important to you. That's why most parents choose immunization. Nothing protects babies better from 14 serious childhood diseases..."
Immunizations

Protect Your Unborn Baby or Newborn from Infections

"If you are pregnant—or know anyone who is—you need to know about group B strep. About a quarter of all women carry the bacteria that cause group B strep infection. Group B strep bacteria are usually not harmful to you and won't make the people around you sick. But these bacteria can be very dangerous for your newborn. Babies can get very sick and even die if their mothers pass group B strep bacteria to them during childbirth.."
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/PrenatalInfections/

Safe Sleep for Babies

Whether you just had a baby, expecting a new baby, or taking care of a young infant it's important to create a safe sleep environment for your baby. Take a few moments to see how to create a safe sleep environment for your baby.

Safe Sleep for Babies: Learn How

"Whether you just had a baby, expecting a new baby, or taking care of a young infant it's important to create a safe sleep environment for your baby. Take a few moments to see how to create a safe sleep environment for your baby. En Español: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx0txjBoXl8&feature=ch..."

Making your home safe for baby
"Before you bring baby home:

Check the safety of your baby's crib and other baby items. Many new parents welcome hand-me-down baby items from family and friends. Although it's wise to save money, some products could be unsafe if recalled or if parts are missing or loose. Unsafe cribs and other items can put your baby's life in danger. Most brand new cribs and mattresses purchased in the United States are safe. Make sure the crib conforms to the current government safety standards. Also, check to see if hand-me-down items, such as bassinets or portable cribs, have been recalled..."