Your baby, 0 months 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 and older

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 to develop muscle strength.

When traveling, always use a properly installed infant restraint seat. To ensure the safety of your baby, have their carseat checked 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 lots of 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, put her in her crub and close the door. Come back in a few minutes to check on her. Whatever you do, don't 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 trying 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 baby's doctor 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, don't worry. It's part of the stretching-out process and will most likely fase away by the time he's five or six months old.
• Your baby may lift his head briefly when he's 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 more smooth ones as his nervous system and muscle control mature. Your baby's primitive reflexes, such as sucking and chewing on his hands, remain dominant.
• Baby's 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 newborn's 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's usually broken up into eight to ten naps. By the end of the month your baby may have developed something 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 doesn't 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-contast 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 your baby's 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 11259 for month 0
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habibi7689 - 29 minutes ago
ModelMommy1- my son is 1 week old today and he only gets up one or two times a night that to me is a blessing so i can get rest lol

lorelaismom - 1 hours ago
mommynwifey5 - you can definitely try an herbal supplement called Fenugreek. It worked wonders for me and helped me produce more milk. My OBGYN suggested I use it with my first after I had gone back to work and therefore wasn't pumping/bf enough so I started to produce less milk. It's pretty easy to find, it's with all the different vitamins in most stores. Good luck getting the flow going! :)

mommynwifey5 - 3.1 hours ago
~*thank u to everyone!! I feel so much better now im getting out 2oz every 2 hours now! I'm using a hand pump right now I'm waiting on my sis in-law to find her elec pump for me cause i cant afford $40 plus right now! hubby took off work all week to be with me! He has been sooo supportive and is proud of me for not giving up on the pumping! What should I do to get more milk to come in? I'm pumping for 10 mins on each should i go longer??*~

beckie - 3.4 hours ago
i really wish i had tried breast feeding again,i tried it with my last son (2yrs) but i just wasn't producing enough,so i gave up after 1wk.This time i said from the go that i wasn't going to breast feed as it didn't work last time.But the day after i had Archie my boobs filled up,never had so much milk in all my life,lol But because i had already started him on the formula i thought i'd stick to that.And 3wks later my boobs are still leaking,not alot but i have to continue to wear pads.If i'd have known they were gonna have so much milk i would've deffinetly have given breastfeeding a go!

OrganicMomma - 3.5 hours ago
Mommynwife~ that is awesome! I'm quite pleased for you and your LO. This breast feeding/motherhood is a great lesson in powerlessness!

PregMeag - 4.5 hours ago
mommynwifey5, I know how you feel. My LO is 5 weeks old now, but when I breastfed him the first two or three weeks, my poor nipples were scabbed and extremely painful. It was so painful that I bought a pump to let them heal and when I first pumped, about half and ounce of just blood came out. TMI, I know, but the point is that I stuck with the pumping until they healed, and now I basically pump during the day and BF directly at night and it works out well. There is hope!

~Mendy-Tinksfairydust76~ - 6.4 hours ago
Well, i guess im going to have to wear a bra (with nursing pads in) at night, because this morning I woke up and my breasts started leaking, and my shirt was soaked on the right side...I nursed him both breasts afterwards, but they still are leaking...This is crazy engorment..Yesterday i took a warm shower and massaged some milk out in the shower, that helped yesterday...Baby eats about every 2 hours, and I try to nurse both sides...Oh, and he loves to pee when im changing him. So far he has peed 4-5 times on the changing table, and yesterday i was wiping him and he had poo come flying out all over my hand! Ugh! I don't remember my other son (now almost 11yrs old)peeing on me/him but once...LOL..

ModelMommy1 - 6.5 hours ago
Thanks for he advice Beckie and Purple. I always get mixed opinions when I ask that question. He did so much better lastnite (first nite in his crib). He only woke up once throughout the nite at 3am. I changed him, fed him, burped him and then he was knocked out. So I put him back in his crib and he slept until 5. Oh and Mommy, are you using an elctric or manual pump? I have an electric one and I adore it! I can always get atleast 3oz out of each..more if i'm engorged. Pump often. Since your milk supply is low it will stimulate your milk so you can produce more. Good luck!

mommynwifey5 - 7.3 hours ago
~*Omg ladies guess what!!! So my breasts started leaking real bad so I thought hmmm since they are just running out lol maybe the pump will work now! So guess what I tried it and bam got out an oz per breast!!!! So now my question is how often do I do this?? I'm soo happy he can still get my milk!!!*~

beckie - 8.2 hours ago
i find if you need to wake your baby up to feed them,then it's good to keep chatting to them,playing with them for a good 15-30mins before you feed them.there have been times with Archie when i've tried waking him and gave him his bottle straight away,therefore he ends up just dosing on the bottle and not drinking it all.And will end up waking up an hour or so later for his bottle,thats why i try nd make sure he's fully awake before i feed him.Then come night time he's alot more tired! All babies are different tho,so it's what works best for you and you baby.x

beckie - 8.2 hours ago
Archie is 17days old and since being born his sleep pattern has been really good.He sleeps alot during the day,i sometimes have to wake him for feeds,but he tends to wake when he's due for a feed.Once he's awake i lay him on his mat so he can have a good kick around,lay down beside him and chat to him.i also tend to let his brothers have a hold at this time as it makes him wake up more,half hour later i'll change his bottom then give him his feed.He'll usually stay awake for a little while after his feed so i just sit him in his chair to relax him,and then an hour later he'll probs have 1oz to send him off to sleep.He has his last feed between 9:30pm-10:30pm and will wake around 2-3am,then it's straight back to sleep till 6:30-7:30am.I've even been bleesed that he's slept through on 3occasions now,forgot how good sleep was,lol!

mommynwifey5 - 8.5 hours ago
~*So ladies I stopped breastfeeding. I feel like I failed but now I know my son is getting enough to eat! The bleeding nipples and feeding him every 45mins was way to much on me! I have 4 other children that wasn't even looking at me anymore b/c I couldn't even hug them! I could only sit one way to feed and with 2 pillows under him I tried my best to pump and couldn't get anything out!It was getting so bad that i was crying every feeding and then he wouldn't take me so hubby said it was enough and went to the store. He saw my nipples and got so mad at me (blooding was dripping off them) so all I can say is I tried my best but it just wasn't for us! He now eats 2oz every 3 hours and acts full after feedings! so if he is happy I am too! I still do the skin to skin so the bonding will still be there!!!*~

babyluv843 - 8.8 hours ago
Hi all, my little one is 8 days old. He is VERY MILD MANNERED. My first son who is now 2 1/2 was .colic...bad, well my new one...like ive seen alot of others post....sleeps ALL DAY...he may wake for like a half hr or so like maybe 3 times a day,(I have to try to wake him to eat, it seems l;ike most of the time he eats while sleeping. but thats it. It worries me!) He wakes up more through the night, maybe 4 times to eat... my big thing is really that during the day I try to keep him awake so that he will sleep the way he does during the day at night instead....it doesnt work! I cant even get him to open his eyes!has anyone else found a way to do this or have any advice, as I said my first was the complete opposite so I find myself in unchartered water! feel free to msg me on my page. thanks so much!

Purplesugar - 12.3 hours ago
ModelMommy1 - My son is doing the exact same thing. He sleeps all day then is awake all night. We bathed and fed him at 8pm and he slept from 9pm until 12am. I then fed him again when he woke and he wouldn't settle until 3:45am. He woke at 5:15am for another feed. I'm even giving him a formula bottle on a night to see if the fills him up for longer but it doesn't work! We keep things bright and cheerful during the day, the after his bath we turn all the lights of and keep the telly turned down low and making sure we don't talk to him or give him eye contact to avoid stimulating him. Hopefully this will teach him the difference between day and night. My midwife told me he will settle into a routine from 6 weeks onwards. Roll on him being 6 weeks! lol

serenitysmommy - 17.9 hours ago
Model... My son has rhe same problem with his days and nights.. He sleeps all day and no matter what I do to try n keep him awake durring the day he won't wake up he sleeps very heavy!! My daughter who is now five had the same issue but she grew out of it eventually

ModelMommy1 - 18.3 hours ago
How is everyone's baby's sleeping? My son keeps me up many nights and sleeps most of the day. He definitely has his days and nights mixed up. How do I help him sleep at night and be awake during the day? Oh and the warm baths with lavendar do nothing, but keep him awake longer. Will he grow out of this or do I need to help him by trying to keep him awake during the day?

ModelMommy1 - 18.6 hours ago
Breastfeeding mothers in pain from sore, bleeding and craked nipples..try Lansinoh. It worked like a charm for me. My son is 4 weeks old on Saturday. Now if I could get him to stop tugging my nipple when he's done feeding. OUCH! LOL

lorelaismom - Thursday, 19 Nov
habibi - it definitely sounds like comfort nursing. If you want to try to 'free yourself' try using your pointer finger as a pacifier or nipple. This gives the baby something to suck on (which is usually all they want to do) and it won't lead to nipple confusion like a pacifier can. This is a little trick that a few different lactation consultants have given me. Also, it's something that Dad can do so that he can comfort the baby to and help build a bond. Hope this helps!

chellechelle - Thursday, 19 Nov
Lorelei- poor baby! I wouldn't have thought of that either but it makes perfect sense! I'm not a chili eater anyway, but now for sure I will stay away from it and any other foods that have the same effect!!

OrganicMomma - Thursday, 19 Nov
Habibi~ if baby has enough soiled diapers probably he is not going without. for the first 6 weeks i sat on the couch with my LO attatched to my breasts. he enjoys comfort nursing. as soon as the breast was removed from his mouth he would cry. most times he wasn't nursing, just hanging out in my arms very comfortable. some days i didn't get to shower, lol, but i'm glad i allowed it. now that i'm back to work he gets bottles of breast milk. its only been 3 days, but he's ok :) I called my local Le Leche League and it was confirmed, some babies are 'comfort nursers'... you could call LLL and get a consult, have them check baby's latch. i had a wonderful experience with them at a meeting... good luck

habibi7689 - Thursday, 19 Nov
Hi ladies I have a question about breast feeding when i feed my baby boy he feeds very well but it seems he always wants to suck on my boob i am wondering is he not getting a lot to eat I am worried that I am starving him and I feel so bad :(

lorelaismom - Thursday, 19 Nov
So I had the urge to cook dinner the other night which I hadn't had in a while. I used to cook every day and love it, but once I got pregnant, I didn't really want to anymore and just wanted to eat cereal mostly. lol Well, I made a black bean chili and it was so tasty! Unfortunately, I didn't think about what beans would do to a newborns stomach and my lo was sooo gassy all day yesterday!! It was horrible! She did pretty well though and just really wanted to be held, she didn't cry too much. But to make it worse, it was my hubby's first day back at work (he took off two weeks to help) so it was my first day alone with a two year old and a newborn! I didn't think we were going to make it! haha. Anyway, the moral of the story is that I won't be eating chili for a while!

serenitysmommy - Thursday, 19 Nov
Oh no the pelvic exam was horrible.. I don't remember how long I was in bc after a while they gave me moraphine and some other pain stuff in my iv and that's the last I remember but I know it was for ever and I don't like hospitals any way.. Oh well just glad its over now

beckie - Thursday, 19 Nov
I think the laziness with Archies feeding is because of the cold/snuffles he's had.Plus as soon as his bottles get the slightest bit cold he's just not interested,he'll drink 2oz then push the bottle out to be winded,by the time i put the bottle back in he's not interested because the milk ain't warm enough! Very fussy! So i end up making him up another 2oz to try and finish him off! As for sleeping at night i've been real lucky,since being born (3wks) he's always woke up just the once at night,slept through 3times.I'll give him his last feed around 9-10pm,he'll wake around 2am then up about 7am.

SPUDinTHEoven - Wednesday, 18 Nov
Serenitysmommy: Ya, it's scary stuff, they just did a urine and blood test for me, and a pelvic exam (which hurt considering I had just delivered 2 days before!) But it took for-EVER, since it was on a Saturday I went to the ER cus my reg dr's office was closed, and it was Halloween so the ER was busy, I think we were there for around 4 hours- BORING!

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