Important lessons from the latest research to bring you the 15 things you need to know to keep your baby happy and healthy. From taking care of Baby's skin to car seat safety, we've got you and your baby covered so you can sing, play and cuddle up with your little one.

1 - Pop in a pacifier.
Pacifiers have long had a bad rap for possibly misaligning Baby's teeth or changing the shape of their mouth. Now, a retrospective analysis published in the January/February issue of "General Dentistry" found that using a pacifier might reduce the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Doctors are not sure why, but they suspect it could help keep the airway open, prevent Baby from rolling over onto his face, or strengthen the muscles of the upper airway. "The important thing to note is that none of the potential downsides of using a pacifier are life-threatening," says Luke Matranga, DDS, with the Academy of General Dentistry . Matranga advises using the pacifier after the first month, when nursing has been well-established, and giving it to Baby only when they are going to sleep. Also, he says to wean the child off of it by age 2.

2 - Consider breastfeeding.
A study published in the medical journal "Pediatrics" in July found that breastfeeding longer than three months may protect against bed-wetting during childhood. Researchers looked at two groups of children -- those who were wetting the bed and those who were not -- and asked about whether they were breastfed and for how long. The children who wet the bed at night were 81% less likely to have been breastfed for more than three months. "Breastfeeding has been associated with several developmental advantages in kids," says Joseph Barone, M.D., Chief of Pediatric Urology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey . "Bed-wetting is considered a developmental delay. It also runs in the family. If one parent wet the bed as a child, then their child has a 40% chance of wetting the bed. If both parents wet the bed, then it's 80% likely their child will. Breastfeeding may protect against that. All of this is another piece of information for parents to look at when they're trying to decide whether or not to breastfeed."

3 - Tend to Baby's skin.
Skin is considered the largest organ of the human body -- even when it's the tiny body of your baby. How can you take care of their skin right from the start? Try some of these tips from Sandy Johnson, M.D., a Dermatologist and Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Arkansas . Johnson made her recommendations at the American Academy of Dermatology's Skin Academy :

Use bath products and clothing detergents that are gentle on the skin. Aim for products that are fragrance-free, with fewer than 10 ingredients.

Use moisturizer after Baby's bath. It provides a barrier between baby and the environment and can help with those who are predisposed to eczema and rashes.

Between 2 and 3 years, they can start taking part in their bathing. In the beginning, double-check that they are rinsed well and don't have any soapy residue remaining. When they can brush their teeth without you having to closely supervise, then they are ready to wash their self as well.

4 - Be conscious of fluoride consumption.
In October, 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced bottlers could make claims that fluoridated water may reduce the risk of tooth decay. Because parents often use bottled water to make Baby's formula, the American Dental Association cautioned that too much fluoride could make Baby susceptible to enamel fluorosis, a cosmetic condition that can leave the teeth pitted. The ADA suggests that concerned parents who use powdered infant formula avoid mixing it with water that contains fluoride. Instead, if you want to use bottled water, look for a brand that is labeled purified, demineralized, deionized, distilled or reverse-osmosis filtered.

5 - Cuddle up.
Getting Baby to sleep through the night is a common challenge for parents. A recent study indicates how much time you spend holding your little one may help. Researchers looked at three groups of parents and how much time they spent holding their child and whether or not they slept with Baby. Whether or not parents slept with Baby didn't seem to affect their sleep, but they did benefit from lots of physical contact. "I would recommend that parents give their infants a lot of physical contact during the day, not only when the infant is crying, but also when the infant is content and awake," says Marissa Alvarez, one of the study's authors. "At the same time, I would remind them that even babies who are being held and well cared for have periods when they cry and cannot be consoled."

6 - Respond to Baby.
Babies who are born weighing under approximately 3 pounds tend to have developmental delays. A study published in the May issue of "Pediatrics" found that babies who have a very low birth weight showed stronger cognitive development when their mothers were highly responsive to their needs during infancy. Being responsive has benefits for babies of all birth weights, explains Karen Smith, one of the authors of the study. She suggests that parents respond promptly and in a warm and sensitive manner when Baby offers cues such as crying or fussing. It's also important to pay attention to what your baby is interested in and help him explore that for as long as he is able or interested. For example, if he's playing with blocks, talk about them with him. Say things like, "This block is blue," or "See how we can pile them up?" Avoid redirecting his attention to another toy until he loses interest on his own.

7 - Don't forget playtime.
Today, even toddlers are at risk for being overscheduled with play dates, music classes, sign language classes and other things. But free and unstructured play is essential to social, emotional and cognitive development, so this year the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report on playtime. "We are trying to give parents the freedom to get back to the basics," says Kenneth Ginsburg, M.D., pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and lead author of the report. "You don't have to sign up for this activity or buy this product. We are trying to remind parents that it is the basic engagement between parent and child that gives children the security to explore the world, as well as improve their brain development." For children under 2, Ginsburg suggests active interaction between parents and children -- reading, singing, talking, cuddling and playing. Use toys such as blocks, basic dolls, art supplies and books that foster imagination. "Look for active toys that don't let the child be a passive recipient," he says.

8 - Double-check Baby's vaccinations.
In 2000, a new vaccine was introduced for babies. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine protects against serious diseases such as meningitis and blood infections. Now researchers have learned that the vaccine also may protect children under 2 years of age from ear infections. A study published in September found ear infections dropped 20% in children who had been routinely vaccinated. "Sometimes when new vaccines are introduced, people are cautious," says Marie Griffin, M.D., one of the study's authors. "You want to make sure this one is on the list."

9 - Talk to your doctor about newborn screening.
A study published in the medical journal "The Lancet" found that early detection of certain disorders was key to Baby's survival. The study looked at newborns screened with a pinprick blood test in their heel. Researchers found that screened babies had drastically increased survival rates, thanks to early detection. For example, babies found to have MCAD, a condition that causes patients to improperly process fats, had only one-quarter the risk of death or a severe illness compared with those who weren't tested. The heel stick screening is done in every state, however, the number of conditions tested for varies. "It's best to learn about newborn screening before you have the baby," says Celia Kaye, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. "Identify who your pediatrician is going to be and talk to him about this before the baby comes, so you'll know what to expect."

10 - Quit smoking so that Baby can sleep soundly.
Parental smoking may exacerbate sleep problems for babies who already struggle with snoring, according to a study recently published in "Pediatrics." The study found that 100% of babies who lived in a house where one or more parents smoked awoke at least once during the night, but only 50% of those who lived in non-smoking households awoke.

11 - Try countering colic with probiotics.
A study in "Pediatrics" found that using probiotics, "good" bacteria that help maintain a healthy digestive tract, may help colicky symptoms. The initial study isn't conclusive, but probiotics may be worth adding to the range of treatments pediatricians suggest for colic. Those treatments vary from hot water bottles to letting Baby cry to medication. "It's not a cure-all for colic," says Frank Greer, M.D., chairman of the Committee on Nutrition for the AAP. "This is one thing you could try. If it works, it works." Interested parents should consult their pediatricians. Ask your doctor if you are interested in probiotics, which could be added to Baby's formula or bottled breast milk.

12 - Don't use cough medicine.
Cough and cold medications that use nasal decongestants, antihistamines, cough suppressants and expectorants are commonly used to treat sick children. Yet an oversight group reports that over the course of one year, more than 1,500 children under the age of 2 were taken to emergency rooms -- and three infants died -- because of adverse effects from such medicines. "The American Academy of Pediatrics does not support the use of over-the-counter cough medications for children of any age," says Ian Paul, M.D., of the AAP Section on Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. "There is no evidence that they are effective, and there is a safety concern." Instead, Paul suggests treating the symptoms to make the child more comfortable. Keep Baby hydrated, and use saline nose drops or spray.

13 - Take a nap.
New parents rarely get enough sleep, but now the findings of a new study may help you get a few extra minutes of slumber. Researchers gave 15 new mothers sleep education and support while another 15 didn't get any training. After six weeks, the moms with the training got an average of 57 minutes more sleep a night, and their infants slept for longer stretches. "Sleep deprivation makes it more challenging to balance the physical and emotional demands of being a new mom," says Robyn Stremler, Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Toronto and lead author of the study published in the journal "Sleep." So you and your baby get those extra zzzzzzs, Stremler suggests the following:

Recognize when your baby is sleepy. Crying is a late indicator. Watch for her to zone out or rub her eyes or ears.

Put Baby down when she is drowsy. It helps her learn to settle down and fall asleep on her own.

Make sleep a priority for yourself, and give yourself permission to rest.

Transitioning from tending to Baby to napping can be tough. To fall to sleep yourself, try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing.

14 - Watch what (and how much) Baby drinks.
Water intoxication, or what happens when the body takes in more water than it can process, can be deadly. Although most associate the condition with athletes refueling in hot weather, Baby's still-developing kidneys make her particularly susceptible. In fact, athletes and infants under 6 months of age are most at risk. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recommends that infants under 6 months get only breast milk or formula, no water. Infants ages 6 months to 1 year should get only formula or breast milk, 4 to 6 ounces of juice and up to 8 ounces of water each day.

15 - Use a car seat.
"Consumer Reports" released a study indicating that most infant car seats "failed disastrously." The report unleashed a storm of protests. A few weeks later, the consumer product testing magazine withdrew its report after receiving information that brought up questions about whether the tests accurately simulated the conditions they were supposed to. The report's withdrawal pleased the American Academy of Pediatrics. "Car seats have absolutely been shown to save lives and prevent serious injury. What happens to a car seat in a crash is far less important than what happens to the child in a car crash," notes Gary A. Smith, M.D., chair of the AAP committee on injury, violence and poison prevention. "We have very good real-world data that shows children who use car seats that meet current standards do much better than children who are not properly restrained. Every child, during every ride, should use the proper restraint for that child's weight and size." According to AAP guidelines, all infants should ride rear-facing until they are at least 1 year old and weigh at least 20 pounds. Toddlers should ride in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until they have reached the seat's weight or height limit.

"The above article is for informational purpose only. Consult with your doctor or other qualified child rt."