Use the table of contents below to quickly jump to what you need.
Safety
Sleep Safety: ALWAYS put your infant on their back to sleep at bedtime and naptime. Remove stuffed animals, pillows or other soft, fluffy and loose bedding from the baby’s sleep area. This includes crib bumpers – they can be a suffocation hazard.
CT Poison Control Center – 800-222-1222
Anchor It educates parents and caregivers about the importance of anchoring furniture to prevent tragic tip-over incidents. Check out their website for how to properly anchor furniture.
Carseat Safety – Reach out to our local Carseat Technician, Kate Merchant (860-753-1059) to have your carseat checked at South Killingly Fire Dept.
Vision
Many parents don’t realize that infants aren’t able to see color right away. Check out the baby vision stimulation video below to learn more. This is why high-contrast cards, toys, and books are so important for your baby to look at from birth.
Tips & Help For Parents
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline – HRSA – 1-833-TLC-MAMA
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is a free, confidential and 24/7 hotline offering help for mothers that are pregnant or just had a baby. You can call or text number or chat on website.
Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) connects you with a registered nurse who provides free trusted support, advice, and information to help you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Your nurse can help you with nutrition and a healthy pregnancy, breastfeeding, infant care and safe sleep, child development and building confidence as a new parent. Pregnant mothers expecting their first baby must enroll before 29 weeks. Call (860) 425-6549 to see if you qualify.
Cluster Feeding – Cluster feeding is when a baby wants to nurse more frequently than usual over a few hours, often with short breaks between feeds. It’s common in newborns and typically happens during growth spurts or in the evening. Cluster feeding helps babies get the extra nutrition they need and can also help build a parent’s milk supply. Read more about cluster feeding here.
Infant Massage – Infant massage can help bonding, aid digestion, reduce colic and more! DKH’s Nurturing Families Network offers a free infant massage series. Check their website to find out more information and see when their next class is.
Sleep Challenges: Why It Happens, What To Do
The Daddy Factor: How Fathers Support Development
7 Things Dads With You Knew About How They Really Feel About Parenting
A Guide for First-Time Parents from KidsHealth
Attachment Parenting is a style of raising infants that aims to promote a close relationship between the baby and it’s parent. Learn about 7 tips for attachment parenting from Ask Dr. Sears.
More Helpful Resources
CT Baby Bonds is Connecticut’s first-in-the-nation initiative to invest directly in children born into poverty. The program invests funds on behalf of each baby born in Connecticut whose birth was covered by Husky Health. Those funds will be held, managed and invested by the Office of the Treasurer to grow as the child grows. There is no need to enroll or apply. Eligibility is automatic for children who were born on or after July 1, 2023 & whose birth was covered by Husky Health, Connecticut’s Medicaid program.
Peace At Home Parenting is an evidence-based parenting wellness benefit that supports parents at every stage of parenthood, reducing burnout for working parents, keeping them healthy and engaged. They offer everything from free virtual workshops, 1-1 consulting to quick tips to cover every stage of parenting.
Sparkler App Sign up for Sparkler with a baby on the way and use it through age 5 to support healthy early development. The app offers access to a Yoga and Pilates series, local support and helpful tips!
Reading to Baby
Reading to your infant helps build their brain from the very start – you can even start reading to your baby while they are still in your belly! The sound of your voice strengthens language skills, supports early learning, and creates a strong emotional bond. Even before they understand the words, babies are learning rhythms of speech, building listening skills, and feeling comfort and connection through shared moments with you.
Types of books that are great from birth:
- Rhyming & repetitive stories
- Books with real faces and people
- Touch & feel books
- Board books
- High-contrast books for younger infants (see our section on vision above)
- Interactive books
Read to Grow offers free books to families, programs, and they have a Bookmobile! To request free books, complete the form here: Family Book Request Form
Inclusive and Diverse Books For Babies & Toddlers
Three Core Concepts in Early Development: Serve & Return Interaction Shapes Brain Circuitry
Video from Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child
Check out our Infant & Toddler page for more resources and tips on parenting and development!