All Kentuckians are mandated reporters. If you believe a child is being abused or neglected, call the Child Protection Hotline.
For contact information in other states, please visit our Report It page.
Child help: National Abuse Hotline:
1-800-4-CHILD
or 1-800-422-4453
It is important to recognize the normal developmental stages for babies and to have appropriate expectations of what they are capable of. Every child develops differently.
Check out the American Academy of Pediatrics for more information. For a checklist of developmental milestones by age, download the CDC’s Milestones Checklist.
Remember the ABCs of Safe Sleep: Alone, Back, Crib, Danger. The safest way for your baby to sleep in alone and in a crib clear of blankets or toys, on their back, and in your care without impairment or other dangers. Find more information here.
Babies do not have regular sleep cycles until about 6 months of age. While newborns sleep about 16 to 17 hours per day, they may only sleep 1 or 2 hours at a time. As babies get older, they need less sleep. However, different babies have different sleep needs. It is normal for a 6-month-old to wake up during the night but go back to sleep after a few minutes.
Sleep Safety Tips
Check out a few simple tips to create a safer sleeping environment for your baby from
Safe Kids Worldwide.
Co-Sleeping, Room-Sharing, and Bed-Sharing
The practices of “bed-sharing” and “co-sleeping” are hot topics among parents and caregivers. To learn more about the differences of these practices and the pros and cons, visit KidsHealth.org.
Allowing others to watch your child is an important decision many parents face, and that could mean in a child care center or a trusted family member or friend’s home. Families’ access to high-quality, safe, and affordable child care helps ensure children are in a safe environment that encourages their healthy growth and learning.
Ensuring Safe Caregivers
Child care centers are required to do a criminal background check on their employees. Ask child care centers in your decision making process about their background check policies.
Since the passage of Senate Bill 236 in 2017, parents and caregivers have been the ability to request a background check of the child abuse and neglect registry when employing a nanny or babysitter for their child in their home. Find instructions on how to begin the request process for a Child Abuse and Neglect Registry Check, Criminal Background Check, and checking the Sex Offender Registry.
Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C)
Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C) is the central point of contact for the child care community, working to prevent child abuse by providing guidance and education for caregivers on appropriate expectations of children, disseminating information and resources to child care providers through Kentucky Shared Services, and advocating on behalf of children and families on a state and national level. Learn more about Face It partners, 4-C at www.4cforkids.org.
Breastfeeding provides much-needed nutrition for newborns and sets them up for healthy growth and development. Some nursing mothers face challenges when breastfeeding, which can be frustrating for both mom and baby. Talk to your pediatrician if you need help. The American Academy of Pediatrics also offer resources to help.
Crying serves as a way for your baby to call for help when they are hungry or uncomfortable. It helps them shut out sights, sounds, and other sensations that are too intense and helps release tension.
When you’re trying to comfort a crying baby, it can be frustrating if they don’t calm down. Find information on calming a fussy baby from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
If your baby does not stop crying and it intensifies and persists throughout the day or night, it may be caused by colic. Find information on identifying and relieving colic from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Parenting is hard, constant work. For some new moms (and dads), the experience of pregnancy and childbirth is followed by sadness, fear, anxiety, and difficulty making decisions. If you are a new mom and are experiencing signs of depression, know that you are not alone. Health care professionals—such as your doctor, your baby’s doctor, a nurse, or other health care provider—can screen for depression and can help set mothers up to heal.
Do I Have Postpartum Depression?
Find information on risk factors and types of depression during and after pregnancy from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Ways to Cope with Postpartum Depression
Though coping with postpartum depression can look different for each person, taking care of yourself must be at the top of the list. Making time to rest, developing a support network, and seeking mental health treatment are important to overcoming postpartum depression. Learn more via HealthLine.
Overcoming Postpartum Depression
Read Elaine’s story of recognizing and overcoming her postpartum depression.
Text Message Alerts
Text “FacingIt” to 833-FaceIt1 for conversation starters, humorous parenting inspiration, fun ideas, and more from Face It to remind you that you are doing the best job you can at raising little humans!
Text “remind” to 511411 for reminders for upcoming appointments. Text4Baby helps new and expecting moms keep track of upcoming doctor’s appointments.
Smartphone Apps
There are a number of free and paid apps to help parents understand and track child development, journal daily needs, and get reminders for appointments. While Face It does not endorse any particular app, here are a few popular apps:
Parenting Guides
Parent’s Guide to Child Safety from Safe Kids Worldwide is available in English and Spanish.
Commonwealth of Kentucky Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Parent Guides are available in English and Spanish.
Both the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics have resources about children’s developmental stages and tips for helping caregivers through the big transitions that happen so quickly in children.
The Financial Assistance Program provides direct financial assistance to families in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. The program is designed to help with medical, equipment, and therapy bills of children 17 years of age and under, or still attending high school, whose families cannot otherwise afford to pay. In addition, our staff provides support in purchasing needed medical equipment/devices. Each application receives a full review to determine how best Kosair for Kids can aid the family. Learn more at Kosair.org.
Look for any bruising on a baby who is not yet pulling up and taking steps; bruising to the ears, neck, torso, buttocks, or genitals of any child under four years; unexplained injuries on children of any age.
Look for an increase in nightmares and/or other sleeping difficulties, withdrawn behavior, angry outbursts, anxiety, and not wanting to be alone with a particular individual(s).
Children are afraid to tell about their abuse because they feel ashamed, don’t want the abuser to hurt them, don’t want to cause stress for their caregivers, or don’t want their abuser to go to jail.
