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 251-275 of about 25295 for month 0
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abbieandbensmummy - Monday, 7 Jan
I'm with verena, I spend far less on groceries when I plan out meals for each day and it's less stressful knowing exactly what I will be cooking each day! Molly Rose is doing great, she's one week old and a great wee feeder. She too has her days and nights mixed up. She sleeps like an angel in her pram all day going three hours between feeds and at night feeds every 90mins and only sleeps in my arms lol.

verena - Monday, 7 Jan
On a more baby-ish note, Samuel Charlie is 2 weeks and 1 day today, he's great and has more or a less settled into a 3 hour feeding mode. Sometimes he goes longer, sometimge just under, but otherwise pretty great. Feeds are getting shorter too which I'm happy about as the 1 to 1.5h sessions were getting to me a bit.. He is actually already growing out of his first little clothes, I can't believe it, as he's got all DS1's stuff and it fit for much longer, as Maxime was 4 cm shorter! I am still bleeding, less, but still have to wear pads (hate them), especially strong bleeds after breastfeeding. Am sussing out at chiropractor for Sam, want to get him looked at asap, Maxime was 6 weeks old at his first treatment and went once a month for 18 months. Never sick, great coordination. I could do with some adjusting too.. So good to read you all, and happy your babies are doing well! Just read about Mamarunyan having her Olivia too, so looking forward to her joining us soon! Hope you are all well!

verena - Monday, 7 Jan
Queen and 3Love, yeah, I am totally with Ness, can't you do internet shopping? I do 1 big on-line grocery shope (mainly with all the heavy stuff, mil bottles, cleaning products, tins and cans, etc.) on-line and they bring it home right upstairs to the door. I have been doing on-line shopping for years and with DS1 I lived in Spain, 3rd floor with no elevator and we couldn't even drink the tapwater so had to buy bottled, Long Live on-line ordering! I do get hubby to do the fresh stuff every couple of days, or at weekends, or I go myself around the corner. What helps is making weekly food plans; sit down on Sunday for a couple of hours, plan your meals for the week and do the online shopping for it to arrive on Monday. I usually plan according to what is on offer that week too as that is visible on the sites I shop. Honestly, I am much more organised because I don't stress about what to cook every day as I've already planned it, it allows me to buy cheaper according to offers and I spend less because I only really buy what I NEED. I've got a whole array of week plans if someone needs input, I even had themed weeks, such as Thai, Mediterranean, Pacific, etc. that way I could buy ingredients which I could use throughout the week and not stop using them after one meal. Hope that helps?

nesspop *team blue* - Sunday, 6 Jan
3love & queen, do you guys have grocery shopping online where you are? We can go online here in Aust & walk the ilses so to speak & then pay for it online & it is delivered they day you choose. I haven't done it myself but my SIL has. I like to get my meat & veg every 2 or 3 days. or if you go into you supermarket can they deliver it for you? would be easier.

3loveofmylife - Sunday, 6 Jan
@2bBlessedw2 lol you'r right i was 27 days ahead of you ha. i guess we were meant to meet here lol i hope little Nate is doing better everyday. @Nesspop that is great that Ethan slept for 5 hour hope he keeps it up. Noah slept for 3 hours straight last night but then he went back to waking up every hour. @Laura i was tolled they have their nights and days mixed up till they are about 6 weeks old so that's what i waiting for just 3 more weeks and i'm hoping Noah will sleep through the night knowing my luck he won't lol. congrats @Ktmom2012 i thinks it gets better when you have 2 kids then your 1st i was lost with my 1st i couldn't go anywhere for 3 month without having hubby with me lol but i was better when i had my 2nd i guess cuz he wasn't crying as much as my 1st and 3rd.

2bBlessedw2 - Saturday, 5 Jan
Thanks 3LOVE! Congrats to u 2! Funny, u were overdue n I was underdue and we delivered 4 days apart. Therefore we were never in the same weeks forums but meet here. Cool!

ktmom2012 - Saturday, 5 Jan
Hey everyone! I guess it's about time I move over here. Baby Reece was born a week and a half ago now. He breast feeds really well and some nights lets me sleep in 3 hour stretches. Hoping for more of those and less of the 45 min stretch nights. As for you ladies with 3 kids and grocery shopping... I don't know how you do it! Reece is our first and it seems to take all sorts of new planning and effort to go out with just one! I guess it's something I'll get the hang of.

laura (team surprise) - Saturday, 5 Jan
Emily seems to be a bit confused also. It's 2.30 am and I can't get her to settle at all :(

3loveofmylife - Saturday, 5 Jan
@Queen-of-kings i'm the same way i don't know how i'm going to go shopping with 3 kids, but for now i just send hubby to get me what i need, and he doesn't always get everything i ask for lol but i'm ok with that till i can go with the kids how small is your car lol cuz i can fit all 3 car seat in my car but i have a SUV.

3loveofmylife - Saturday, 5 Jan
aww congrats 2bBlessedw2 omg you have been through a lot with both of your kids i'm glad they are both doing great, and baby Nate made it to full term yay. and i'm glad he is at home and doing well after catching RSV. wow 14 weeks on bed rest. i hope he goes back to sleeping more at night so you can rest. my Noah is also sleeping more at day time then night.

2bBlessedw2 - Saturday, 5 Jan
Nate has his nights and days confused. He was actually starting to get better with this and then we were back in the hospital again with drs and nurses waking him all the time to do vitals and what not. I'm so tired too as with all the sickness and being in hospitals has added to the already expected sleep deprived life of a mother with a newborn. I look forward to the night when he sleeps. He's great at it...just during the day! LOL I didn't have this problem with my daughter because she was born so early and in the NICU where they had her on a schedule by the time she came home. Still, having a term baby is sooooooo much better! If he wasn't then this RSV could have killed him!

2bBlessedw2 - Saturday, 5 Jan
Hi ladies! I have not been able to visit here since my little boy has been in and out of the hospital with RSV. I gave birth on December 14th via c section at 9:50am. Nathaniel Thomas was 7 lbs 11 oz and 20.5 inches long. What a nice blessing to have made it to 37 weeks!!! 14 weeks on bed rest!!! Our first 3 weeks since birth have been tough tho!!! I finally updated my page and selected the 'i gave birth' link and it won't let me put the proper year he was born!!!! Only goes up to 2011!!! So it looks like I have 3 children with one being born in 1980. Does not make sense and I wish it could be fixed. Uggghhhh! Help if you can! Congrats everyone!!!

laura (team surprise) - Saturday, 5 Jan
Thanks everyone! Milk came in today! Emily is in size 0-3 but some sleep suits already look too small! Goat mom hope everything is okay with your lo after the SD, they can be pretty scary. Section recovery is slow and I am aching all over! Not helped by Emily not settling at all last night!

GoatMom - Saturday, 5 Jan
Laura. Congrats. I had the same issue with my first so they induced me early in order to have a vaginal birth for this one. Good thIng too because despite being fairly small (7.9 lbs) he had shoulder dystocia as well. Luckily a second dr was there and climbed on top of me to help get the baby out and all was well. How is the c section recovery compared to your previous vaginals?

nesspop *team blue* - Saturday, 5 Jan
Queen I agree with time flying. Ethan was 4 weeks yesterday. He has already out grown 2 sizes in clothing. He has done a 5 hour block over night, this I could get use to ;)

nesspop *team blue* - Saturday, 5 Jan
Laura congratulations on Emily. how exciting to have a girl after 2 boys :)

laura (team surprise) - Friday, 4 Jan
Had my baby yesterday. We were team surprise and had a little girl Emily 10lb 14oz. Due to two previous shoulder dystocia births I was having daily sweeps from 39 weeks to send me in to labour. But that didn't work, so I had a c section yesterday. Just aswell as she was bigger than my second child. Still in hospital, feeling quite tired and sore. Emily is doing well she feeds for hours then sleeps for a good few. Can't believe I have a girl after having two boys! I was totally shocked!

nesspop *team blue* - Friday, 4 Jan
with bubs waking after being put down, I found DS1 use to do this. I would warm a wheat bag / hot water bottle & place it into his cot whilst I fed him, then the bed was warm when I put him back down. This was because he was a newborn during winter. I would also have a soft warm fleece blanket under his should / head area that I had been hugging for smell :) hope this helps someone :)

3loveofmylife - Thursday, 3 Jan
thank you ladies i was telling my hubby today is it Dec 18 2013 yet i need Noah to be a year old now lol, but i do want to injoy this time with him it will go by fast. @ luckysarh Noah dose the same to me he will sleep for hours on my chest but as soon as i put him down he wakes up just like layla i hope they do get better. @Queen-of-kings his DR tolled me the same thing but he said he will check his weight in a week just to make sure he is doing good, and you'r a superwomen i was always tolled to take a nap when the baby is napping i'm glad you had the energy to do all that house work. @verena and @nesspop i am going to try and change his nappy hope it works cuz i need to sleep at night cuz i can't take any naps during day time with my 5 and 3 year old. congrats Miricle3rd

luckysarah *pink* - Thursday, 3 Jan
3LOVE- i think layla expects me to beher human pacifier too! As much as i am excited thatshe has finally decided to breastfeed it is def waayyy more work! Instead of making a bottle and being done feedimg in like 10 minutes she nurses for almost an hour each time! I am literally not able to do anything else right now. Even once she falls asleep i cant put her down she wakes up and cries and wants to be held all day. Someone is too spoiled and as much as i love her and want to hold/look at her all day i have other things that need to get done too. Its crazy, hopefully it will get better soon. Congrats miricle! So happy for you! Goatmom- that sucks! Are you sure its your period? I thought i stopped bleeding after two weeks but then it started again off and on.. annoying because i dont want to wear pads anymore but i have to just in case. Ness- you arelucky ethan sounds like a great baby! Verena- i am pretty positive i have been getting real smiles too. So cute! Anyone elses baby get acne all of a sudden? Is there anything that can help get rid of it?

verena - Thursday, 3 Jan
3 love, mine does the same, and I do What ness says, change his nappy after one breast, so he wakes up for the second one! It really helps. Cold snowy winter here, so can't take clothes off, but I do tickle his feet or balance him from side to side and massage him in order to wake him! He sleeps great during the day, feeds about 3 times, and at night it's 4 times at least ,usually 5 times.. Am as lucky to have Hubble on holidays till Sunday to take care of ds1, that helps a lot! Am also getting smiles, apparently science had to change point of view, they now say that babies can start smiling as from 10 days / 2 weeks of age, so it's not only air in the tummy!! Still totally in prove with samuel, could look at him aaaallll day long.. Abbie, welcome to big boob club, mine are getting better, but if he goes overtime, the pressure still hurts..

nesspop *team blue* - Thursday, 3 Jan
3love, DS1 use to fall asleep on me in the early days. I use to have a wet face flannel & touch his feet with it to keep him awake so he fed properly. or even removing clothing helps (long as it is not winter & too cold) I also change the nappy / diaper after one side which also helps wake them up :)

nesspop *team blue* - Thursday, 3 Jan
luckysarah, are you using lansinoh on your nipples? I put it after every feed for the first 2 weeks & it helps a lot. I no longer need to use it :) Last night was the first night I managed to get some shut eye for a bit. Ethan woke at 1230am for a feed, we were back in bed by 130. Then i didn't see him till 550am :)hoping he does the same tonight..

GoatMom - Wednesday, 2 Jan
It's not fair. I'm 90% positive I've started my period yesterday. All of the sudden I'm bleeding a lot and having mild cramps. It's only been 4 weeks. WIth my first it took 4 months! And with my second it took 6 months. I'm breastfeeding with no supplements so why is it starting up again so soon?

miricle3rd - Wednesday, 2 Jan
congrats to all girls who had there baby's , Happy New Year to everyone I love the way we started our new year new baby and me and my hubby officially got married on the 28th and chapel will be on the Jan 11th, my hubby went back to work today and I don't like that because its me alone with 4 kids ,Emily wants to be carried all the time i took her to her first apt she is 8lbs 14 oz, 20 1/2 inches, looking good her umbelical cord feel week ago, God Bless you all

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