Baby Basics
What is the recommended primary source of nutrition for most babies during the first 6 months of life?
Breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula.
A new parent says, “He's crying ALL the time!” What's one of the first things you might ask?
“Tell me more about when he cries—when does it happen, and what seems to help?”
A 2-month-old is doing which of the following?
A. Saying “mama”
B. Smiling responsively
C. Walking independently
D. Using a pincer grasp
B! Smiling responsively.
The baby's health is the only thing you need to assess during a well-child visit.
False!
A pediatrician says, “The baby is medically fine, but Mom seems overwhelmed.” Who might be a great person to pull into the conversation?
Your HealthySteps Specialist-- me!
At what age do most babies start showing a social smile?
Around 2 months.
A parent of a 2-month-old says, “I feel like I'm doing everything wrong.” What might you do next?
Ask about how they're feeling, their support system, sleep, stress, and how they're adjusting to parenthood.
Which skill would you expect to see emerging around 6 months?
A. Sitting with little/no support
B. Riding a tricycle
C. Speaking in 3-word sentences
D. Writing their name
A! Sitting with little/no support
Name one thing you could ask a caregiver about their own well-being.
Mood, sleep, stress, support, anxiety, coping, etc.
A mother of a newborn says:
“Everyone keeps telling me to enjoy this time, but honestly, I'm miserable.”
What should you NOT do?
A. Ask how she's been feeling
B. Normalize that postpartum adjustment can be difficult
C. Ask about support
D. Immediately tell her, “You'll miss this someday!”
D! Immediately tell her, “You'll miss this someday!”
True or False: Babies should sleep with pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals to make them more comfortable.
False! The safest sleep environment is a firm, flat sleep surface with no loose bedding or soft objects.
A baby is gaining weight appropriately, but the parent says feeding has become stressful. What should you explore?
What feeding looks like at home, the parent's concerns, feeding interactions, hunger/fullness cues, and whether there are practical or emotional barriers.
A 12-month-old is most likely to:
A. Walk or pull to stand/cruise
B. Read a book independently
C. Tell a complete story
D. Tie their shoes
A! Walk or pull to stand/cruise
A parent says, “I haven't slept more than 3 hours at a time since the baby was born.” Why should you care?
Severe sleep deprivation can affect caregiver functioning, mood, safety, and the parent-child relationship.
True or False: A HealthySteps Specialist only talks to families when there is a major problem.
False!
Around what age do babies typically begin sitting without support?
Around 6 months.
A parent says, “She only sleeps if I hold her.” Name two things you might want to ask before giving sleep advice.
Where/how the baby is sleeping, what the current bedtime routine looks like, nighttime waking, feeding, caregiver exhaustion, and the family's goals.
Which is an important developmental question HealthySteps might ask at a well visit?
A. “Does your baby watch TV?”
B. “Does your baby respond to your voice and interact with you?”
C. “What is your baby's favorite color?”
D. “Can your baby spell their name?”
B! “Does your baby respond to your voice and interact with you?”
Why might we ask, “Who do you have helping you?”
To understand the family's support system and identify isolation or opportunities for additional support.
Name one topic a HealthySteps Specialist might discuss with a family.
Sleep, feeding, development, behavior, attachment, routines, caregiver well-being, social needs, etc.
A 9-month-old isn't crawling yet. Should the parent automatically be worried?
Not necessarily. Development varies, and there are multiple ways babies move. The bigger question is the child's overall developmental progress and whether there are other concerns.
A caregiver seems overwhelmed during a visit. What's one HealthySteps-style question that could open the door to a bigger conversation?
“How are things going for you?” or “What's been the hardest part lately?”
A parent says, “My four-month-old only wants ME. Nobody else can hold her!”
What might you say?
A. “You need to get her used to other people.”
B. “That's actually very common as babies develop stronger preferences and attachments.”
C. “She's becoming spoiled.”
D. “You should stop picking her up.”
B! “That's actually very common as babies develop stronger preferences and attachments.”
A parent tells you, “Sometimes I feel like my baby would be better off without me.” What should you do?
Take the statement seriously, assess immediate safety/suicidality according to clinic protocol, involve the appropriate clinical team (doctor, social worker, clinic manager, CALM Team, etc.) and connect the caregiver with urgent support when indicated.
A parent says, “My 8-month-old throws food on the floor every single night. She's doing it to make me angry!”
What's a HealthySteps response?
A. “She's definitely testing your authority.”
B. “She's probably learning about cause and effect—and gravity.”
C. “Take away her dinner.”
D. “Don't let her touch her food.”
B! “She's probably learning about cause and effect—and gravity.”