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October 2002Vol. 3, No. 8Healthy Start, Grow Smart Series

The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and Education released a resource for parents on how to care for newborn babies. The Healthy Start, Grow Smart Series (2002) provides easy-to-understand information about babies' monthly development and needs during their first year. The booklets include a variety of topics such as:

  • Newborn health screening and check-ups
  • Breastfeeding
  • Sleeping patterns
  • Brain development
  • Safety tips

Each booklet is specific to the age of the baby, and contains a range of particular information such as a special message to fathers, information for single and teen parents, information on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and the dangers of shaking babies. There are also informational resources for families.

The series was an initiative of Laura Bush as the First Lady of Texas and was sponsored by the Texas Department of Health. President and Mrs. Bush asked that the series be revised and distributed by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Education, and Health and Human Services.

The series can be obtained by contacting:

ED Pubs, Education Publications Center
U.S. Department of Education
P.O. Box 1398
Jessup, MD 20794-1398
Phone: 877-433-7827
Fax: 301-470-1244
Email: edpubs@inet.ed.gov

Order online at http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html.

Download in Word or PDF format at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/earlychildhood/healthystart/.