Your baby, 0 months


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Congratulations on the birth of your baby! Caring for an infant can be scary and overwhelming at times, but you and your baby will get to know each other in no time. Becoming a parent is a big change and can take some time to adjust to. Make sure that you accept help from friends and family in the early weeks.

Newborn babies move between six states throughout the day. Your baby could be in deep sleep, light sleep, a drowsy state, awake alert, fussy alert or crying stage. It is important to recognize these stages so that you can adapt to your babies needs and develop a better understanding of what soothes him the best.

Babies like to look at human faces the most. They can not see very far and can not distinguish colors very well. Besides the human face, babies like brightly colored patterns, mirrors and objects that are red, black or white. Babies will stare at things but can not grab ahold of anything quite yet. It is comforting for your baby when you hold her close, rock her and speak gently to her. It is important to handle your baby carefully and always support their underdeveloped neck.

You may be tempted to put your baby to bed with you, but this is dangerous. Babies should sleep on their backs in their own crib. Young babies can begin to develop some type of a schedule. All stuffed animals, bedding and pillows should be removed to reduce the risk of suffocation. You can put your baby on her belly for tummy time several times a day. This will help your baby develop muscle strength that will be necessary for rolling over, sitting up, crawling, standing and walking.

When traveling, always use a properly installed infant restraint seat. To ensure the safety of your baby, have their carseat checked or installed by a licensed car seat installer. Because car accidents reduce the quality of a car seat, never buy used car seats and replace yours if it is in an accident.

Babies cry for many different reasons. When a baby is crying, that his means of communication. He is experiencing a need that is not being met. Babies cry because they are hungry, wet, tired, hot/cold, experiencing pain, overstimulated and many other reasons. Soon you will be able to decode your babies cries. Sometimes babies can not be comforted and it seems that the crying will never end. When you have tried everything and nothing seems to work, it is okay to put her in her crib and close the door. Come back in a few minutes to check on her. Whatever you do, do not take any frustration out on your baby.

Your newborn will be ready to eat every two to three hours on average. Formula fed babies may go longer in between feedings. Remember to burp your baby after each feeding to reduce gas and fussiness. Breast feeding can be challenging for the first few weeks. It takes patience, support and dedication, but you can do it. If you are encountering problems, ask for help. Call your doctor, the pediatrician or a lactation consultant.

Developmental Milestones Newborn


Physical

• It may look as if your newborn baby is scrunched up with his arms and legs not fully extended. Your baby is used to being inside the womb, and this is normal. If he appears bowlegged, do not worry. It is part of the stretching-out process and will most likely fade away by the time he is five or six months old.
• Your baby may lift his head briefly when he is lying on his stomach by the end of this month. Give your baby plenty of tummy time to help him develop his muscles. He may also be able to turn it from side to side. Jerky movements give way to smoother ones as his nervous system and muscle control mature. Your baby has primitive reflexes, such as sucking and chewing on his hands, and these reflexes will remain dominant.
• In a newbornm, vision is still fuzzy and he can not see very far. Your baby likes to look at your face. Keep it close by and talk to him when you are holding him.

Intellectual

• Right now food is the most important thing in your babys life. Sleep comes in at a close second. Most newborn babies will feed every two to three hours around the clock. Sleeping patterns are equally intermittent. Most newborns sleep for a total of 16 to 17 hours in a 24-hour period, but that is usually broken up into eight to ten naps. By the end of the month your baby may have developed somewhat of a feeding and sleeping pattern, but you may not notice any real pattern for months. It is hard to put a newborn on a strict schedule. Sleeping helps your baby regain energy and it also helps brain development.
• Right now your baby does not have much of a personality. Crying is the only way that your baby knows how to express himself. He spends his time moving in and out of several different states of sleepiness, quiet alertness and active alertness.
• Your face is the most interesting thing to your baby right now. He also likes high-contrast objects. Show him black and white toys at playtime.
• Learning begins immediately, so take all opportunities to teach him about the world around him. Use his quiet and alert times to play and talk with your baby.
• Your baby can recognize faces and may try to imitate gestures. Give your baby the chance to imitate you. Stick your tongue out and give him a chance to repeat it. Then, do it again. Even if he does not do it, he is watching you!
• Mobiles with high contrast patterns and picture books with strong line drawings will capture their attention. When your baby starts fussing, its time to stop and move on to something else.
• Babies like their own reflection. Place unbreakable mirrors at cribside or on the floor for them to focus on.

Emotional

• This month your baby becomes quiet and calm when you speak to him gently and hold him upright. He may even make an "ah" sound when he hears your voice and sees your face. Most babies love to be held, caressed, kissed, stroked, massaged and carried. Touch is an important means of communicating with your baby.
• Your baby can show you their feelings. She may yawn, arch her back, turn her face, fuss or cry if she is overstimulated. She will coo if she is enjoying something. Pay close attention to what your baby is `telling` you.

Age Appropriate Toys:

• Rattles
• Play gyms
• Unbreakable mirrors
• Mobiles
• Soft toys
• Musical toys
• Toys with lights
• Swings
• Bouncy seats

Comments:

Comments 1-25 of about 136 for month 0
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haysnbaby - 17 minutes ago
hi ladys. im just curious about what all your tummys look like now that you have had your babys?? does it eventualli regain shape or will it stay saggy for quite some time? kind of a silly question, i no everyone is different but just wanting to no what to expect..... this is my first baby and i have got quite a few stretch marks

lilmamma - 6.5 hours ago
Does anyone know when we can start exercising again? My tummy looks like a deflated balloon (which I guess is a good thing) and I am trying not to think about dieting and all, but I am so sick of wearing these pregnancy jeans! I am breastfeeding and am hoping that will help... but I want to start looking like my old self again! :/

booyoung - 7 hours ago
Hello All! Congrats on your baby's. I too am glad to see all the familiar people on here from the 2 May crew. My Isabella is 3 weeks and 1 day old today. Time is going by so quickly. Look forward to keeping in touch and sharing the milestones of our little ones. Best-Karen

nina - 10.5 hours ago
I agree ~ great to see the names of fellow weekers. I must say it is helpfiul to read the comments below and know that we are all going through the same. Kinda helps me when I am having trouble putting Pollyanna into her moses basket or she's screaming her head off in the middle of the night and a burp won't come up!! Some useful advise being given. I might advise a couple of the friends I have made on her to check this page out as they have said that talkingbabies isn't all that..

beckym - 11.7 hours ago
I put up some new pics of baby Felicity, come check them out! She has such a cute cry! Sometimes sounds sheepish, sometimes sounds cat like, I love it.

xpecting1 - 11.8 hours ago
hey guys its so nice to see some of the same names from my pregnancy weeks! Tristan Luke is one week old today! You guys might think I'm nuts but I really miss being preggo I love my son sooo much but I sure got a lot more sleep n less headaches when I was pregnant!

beautifulbebe - 11.9 hours ago
CrazyEights - Thanks so much for the suggestion on how to burb baby. I was having trouble with this and was up a good part of last night because baby was having gas. Since following your suggestion, he has been sleeping like an angel.

DeeRod - 12 hours ago
Hi All. I just wanted to share something...my little one wants to be held all the time which I don't really mind but needed to get stuff done. Well, we bought a sling from Peanut Shell and it is AWESOME!! Maxx loves to be in it, I can make my bed and put away laundry and we are all happy. Just wanted to share this advice!

OakleesMommy - 12.1 hours ago
I was having a hard time getting my baby girl to go to bed also and she hates her cradle and she doesnt like to be swaddled or wrapped tight... she loves to be held constantly and thats the only way to get her to sleep besides a car ride! Well i figured out that when i set her in her boppy she thinks its someones lap! it works wonders she always falls asleep!

petersonj - 14.5 hours ago
I don't know if this is all in my head but my little love whom is 6 days old will not sleep in his bassinette. The only way he will go to sleep at night is if he's in our bed. I think he's already playing us like a fiddle ha-ha. Can anyone help? I don't want this to turn into a really bad habit.

ladobruk - 14.7 hours ago
Thanks crazyeights ~ I will try this also, my little one is difficult to burb..and she is always eating!

shola - 14.9 hours ago
Hey mummies! my baby girl is 8 days old and i must say i'm enjoying myself immensely- now tht we know hwo to change her diapers and bath her my hubby and i are more confident..... cant wait for her to develop more.

SDBELH - 15.3 hours ago
I have a question for all of the new moms out there. I am a first time new mom and I am having a REALLY HARD TIME putting my new little one in her crib.It seems like her dad,and everyone else can put her in her crib and she stays asleep,but once I put her in her crib she is wide awake,and she starts to fuss,but once I pick her up she is just fine,so what should I do PLEASE HELP.

breezee - 16.2 hours ago
How much chammomile tea would I have to drink for it to do some good for baby?

MilMom2Be - 17.1 hours ago
crazyeights~ I will have to try that...

CrazyEights - 18.1 hours ago
After posting to another mom about getting baby to burp (it helped her YAY!) I was thinking that sometimes getting them to burp IS a big challenge so I copied what I wrote her to put here for everyone just in case anyone else is having a hard time. 'I have always been able to get my babies to burp by sitting them straight up on my lap with my one hand firmly supporting their back and my other hand holding between their chest and cheek. Keep him sitting as straight up as possible while you gently put pressure against his mid to lower back with your palm. Does that make sense?? It's kind of hard to explain.'

usagi - 18.3 hours ago
laurabelle: Paige does the 'aaahh, aaahh' too, while drinking her bottle. It's so funny! She is so content when she is making that noise... I call it her 'go noise' as in 'go for drinking the bottle' LOL.

chinglee0620 - 19.1 hours ago
Thanks Usagi, MilMom2be and NyMom. Yeah I think you're right. She's gassy. She's farting alot, and sometimes having hardtime to push poop. It's so hard to burp her, she's refusing (crying, pushing her head back). And sometimes she's falling asleep while im feeding her. Sometimes im feeling guilty if Im not able to burp her after breastfeeding. I'll try the camomile tea, hope it works for me and my baby as well.

laurabelle21 - 19.6 hours ago
Is anyone elses baby 'moaning' or like deep sighing while eating? Bridget will be sucking away and then ill hear swallowing and 'ahhhhhhh, ahhhhhhhh, ahhhhhh' lol I don't know if its satisfying or a 'I'm being squished' kinda sound.....any one else??

breezee - Tuesday, 13 May
AHHHH!!! O.K. My baby does nothing but cry, the only time she doesn't cry is when I'm feeding her. it's really taking a toll and my Hubby and I. Does anyone have any suggestions. I've tried gripe water and mylicon, sometimes I think she is just starving all the time because she always wants the breast??? I know I am producing adequate milk, my doc has been of no help! I just want to cry.

usagi - Tuesday, 13 May
Yay, Paige is finally doing something other than eat, sleep and pee. This weekend she finally started 'tracking' toys with her eyes. And on Mother's Day she rolled over for the first time (back-to-front). I know it was a total fluke that she did it, but I'll take it LOL. I know that Paige is only 2 and a half weeks adjusted age, but she has been a 'newborn' for so long I thought she was never going to move to the next stage!

luvbugkw - Monday, 12 May
hello well im going back to work wed. and ive been pumping but my question is how much should they drink at each feeding so i know how much to have for the sitter, help please

~NyMom - Monday, 12 May
One woman on here mentioned about gripe water and was happy to say it worked wonders no more gassy baby.

~NyMom - Monday, 12 May
She may be gassy chinglee try giving her some tummy time and rub her back ..sometimes a nice warm bath would do.. my little one was gassy the other day so I gave her a warm bath and when she was done I was getting her diaper on when she surprised me with some farts and a huge poo poo... if you are giving her formula try giving her a bit of water between her feedings.. but if you are breastfeeding drink some chamomile tea it helps calm fussy and gassy babies.. someone told me gripe water.. I have not tried the gripe because I have cured her gas and I breastfeed as well.

littlemama1989 - Monday, 12 May
hey clemson ask the doc first but try 'little tummies- laxative drops' if the doc okays it...i don't have this problem with my girl but my sister did with her son and it worked great!


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