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 26-50 of about 24462 for month 0
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suzmBLUE! - Wednesday, 8 Feb
Hi ladies, my baby boy Cameron was born on 2/1.. He was due 2/28. I found out at an u/s to check placenta position and found out my amniotic fluid was low so we had to deliver! He was 7 lbs, and today at 1 week old he is 7.2. I am breastfeeding. My dd was ebf for 9 months, then I supplemented a bit when I was having issues keeping up pumping. I plan to do the same with this little guy. His disposition is so much different from dd, so calm and easy going..she was colicky the first 6 months and it was rough! She is a sweet angel now,,so it was worth it. I am so happy with our little family.

rls- I♥mythreebabies - Wednesday, 8 Feb
Seb is almost too big for the Moses basket (I reckon he is 14lbs + now) so I need to do the transition into a cot! It's going too fast :-( he us also in 3-6 month clothes already and is not even a month old yet (will be on the 15th). Think we have had our first smiles in the last few days, I've been trying to get him to take a pacifier as I read it could help sooth reflux - well he spits it straight out and gives me a cheeky grin! Love him :-)

charmedby3 - Wednesday, 8 Feb
charchar, yes, my first was EBF till he was 3 months old, went back to work, and did breast milk at home, formula at daycare for another month, then strictly formula. My second was EBF until he started solids at 6 months, and we continued to nurse till he was 17 months old, and only stopped because my milk dried up with Caitlyn's pregnancy. He never had any formula.

charcharsuperstar - Wednesday, 8 Feb
Milkyway, Strange... my son had a little crusty eye, too! Dr. Said its fine, did the same thing, I moistened a q-tip & cleaned it for 3 days, now its fine !! Charmed, I'm curious, were your boys EBF, too? My Dd had some reflux, too.. She was 99% BF, only given an ounce or two a week or every few days if hubby was watching her & we ran out of expressed Breast milk. Is anyone pumping?? I am up to a total of 2 oz. Lactation consultant said that's a LOT for him being under 2 weeks old . I def feel I have more milk this time.

charmedby3 - Tuesday, 7 Feb
Caitlyn is 18 days old today, and is EBF, but she is only pooping every other day now. This is so weird for me, my boys used to poop with every feed, just goes to show that every baby is different. She's also my only one of the three that never had a blocked tear duct, or infant acne, OR reflux! She does spit up, but not nearly as much as the boys, and usually only a tiny bit at a time. I don't even have to use a burp cloth with her, and have yet to have her spit up on my clothes. Usually it's just a little dribble running down her chin, and twice she has spat up a bit more during tummy time. She is such a good baby!!

rls- I♥mythreebabies - Tuesday, 7 Feb
Milky - Sebastian has acid reflux too and is on gaviscon. I have noticed he has a thickish chalky poo after a dose, I am bf-ing so have to give it in a syringe either mid or after a feed. Seems to help the reflux (his main symptom was to stop breathing!). I tend to give it every other feed and that means he also has a good liquid poo between each thicker one.

MILKYWAY - Tuesday, 7 Feb
Hi all, we've had a few rough days. My son has been crying ALOT at night and vomiting and generally in pain. Took him to the HV yesterday and she suspected acid reflux. So had to go to the GP and was prescribed gaviscon. So last night he had 2 doses, and then cried from 9pm to 1am...then he slept from 1am to 6am!!! The last time he slept that long was the day he was born! Now his poo is really hard and I'm thinking he has constipation from the gaviscon, but don't know if that's possible? Anyway, he's nearly 1 month old! I can't believe how quickly time has passed!

rls- I♥mythreebabies - Tuesday, 7 Feb
Mrssmith - formula takes longer to digest so you an expect poo less frequently - watch out for constipation though as that can happen with formula.

Mrs. Smith08 (BLUE) - Monday, 6 Feb
Hello! My baby, Maddox, was born on January 23rd (now 2 weeks old) and I was originally breastfeeding but we have now transitioned to formula. I am just a little concerned because before he was having poopy diapers almost every diaper change but has now gone a full 24 hours with none at all?! Is that normal while transitioning to formula?

spacechicken - Monday, 6 Feb
i hear ya charchar i cant believe how little sleep im getting! we got weighed and measured yesterday my little boy has grown 4.5cm and put on 230 grams in 10 days no wonder he eats every two hours!!

rls- I♥mythreebabies - Monday, 6 Feb
So far do good. Also pleased as I managed to get our of maternity jeans and into normal ones (not pre-pregnancy size mind you!). Feeling more human again by the day!!

rls- I♥mythreebabies - Sunday, 5 Feb
Mines under the moses matters now and flashes okay. The charging monitor seems a bit wobbly to get into charge position though - will keep an eye on it.

blueboy - Saturday, 4 Feb
Rls, that sounds scary I hope it doesn't happen again. I've got my monitor because my lo had heart surgery at 2 days old so it gives me peace of mind.

blueboy - Saturday, 4 Feb
Rls, I have mine in my Moses basket. Seems to work fine. It fits under the Moses basket mattress. My one flashes green on the monitor part if it's working, does yours do something similar?

rls- I♥mythreebabies - Saturday, 4 Feb
Serious boob ache :-( it's hot and throbbing and painful to touch.

rls- I♥mythreebabies - Saturday, 4 Feb
After seb's breathing problems I have invested in an angel monitor, only trouble is it needs a solid surface and the Moses basket is not. Anyone used one of these with a Moses basket?

charmedby3 - Friday, 3 Feb
Caitlyn is 2 weeks old today! We visited the doctor this morning for her 2 week check up, and she is now 3003 grams, or 6 lbs 9.7oz. That means she's gained almost 6 oz since she was born. She's definitely a little one! My boys were both over 7 1/2 pounds when they were born, and both of them gained over a pound within the first two weeks. It will be nice to have a little baby for longer this time around :) Caitlyn is doing great, she has her days and nights perfectly straightened out. She doesn't go to sleep until about 11pm - midnight, but then she only wakes twice a night usually. Except I've got her sleeping in my bed... I tried to keep her in her crib last night, but that backfired on me, she was up for an hour at 4am. I am getting used to being a single mom of 3. It's been 8 days since my husband moved out, and it's easier than I thought, though it's still hard in many ways. I'm still learning how to juggle being out with a toddler and a baby together, and going for a car ride anywhere is a nightmare - Caitlyn HATES the car. I think the two hardest things are finding time to have a shower (usually happens at midnight when Caitlyn is finally down for the night) and feeling guilty because my husband doesn't understand why I want a divorce. Even his own family says they don't know how I put up with him for so long, but to hear him tell it, he's completely innocent, and he just can't understand what went wrong :( I feel like an awful person, but I have to look out for my kids, and myself, and having him around was good for no one!

milkyway - Friday, 3 Feb
Thanks Charchar - I've also noticed he has had mucousy poo since the day he was born and today there were green specks in the poo aswell. Googled it and apparantly it all points to dairy intolerance like you say. I'm going to try and cut down on my dairy now - hard as I love my cheese and hot chocolates, but will be worth it if I have a happy baby without tummy aches. He has also developed an eye infection in his left eye, so I'm using breast milk to clean it so it clears up quickly.

ukchick - Friday, 3 Feb
Wow rls, that must have been so scary for you, but excellent news that he's ok :). I didn't realise thats a symptom of silent reflux. I keep wondering if my lo has it, she screams every time I put her in the car seat and constant feeding is also a symptom... Although she seems ok lying flat. Confusing. I'm trying to force her to take a dummy because I think half of it is that she constantly wants to be sucking!!! Thanks Cedarsmom, I know all babies are different, it just makes me wonder how I'm ever supposed to leave the house without a screaming baby!!!

rls- I♥mythreebabies - Friday, 3 Feb
Seb is almost 3 weeks old and feeds every 2-3 hours for about 10-20 minutes. That means a 2.5 maximum gap between feeds. *** we jut got back for 2 night in children's hospital - seb had taken to occasionally stopping breathing for a few seconds (would start as soon as i poked him) - oxygen level monitoring and breathin monitoring indicated reflux rather than anything serious like sleep apnea (sp?) or other neurological issues so it's a relief to get a diagnosis of silent reflux. He is now on gaviscon in the middle o each feed and has not had a breathing episode for 24 hours so we were discarded :-) so happy to be home!!

cedarsmomplus1 - Friday, 3 Feb
ukchick dont feel bad my baby is six weeks old and still its every 2 hours if not more often during thru day.. but she does give me one good long strech at night usually

cedarsmomplus1 - Friday, 3 Feb
ukchick dont feel bad my baby is six weeks old and still its every 2 hours if not more often during thru day.. but she does give me one good long strech at night usually

charcharsuperstar - Thursday, 2 Feb
Spacechix, I'm jealous your Lo sleeps 3 hours! Yep were up every hour , I am zombie !!!

charcharsuperstar - Thursday, 2 Feb
Milkyway, I had to give up cows milk with my dd 2 years ago, so as of yesterday I went ahead & made the switch to vanilla soy milk. It's really helped with my daughters gas if I cut it out while I was nursing . When She was 6 months, I could start drinking it again. Hope it helps

spacechicken - Thursday, 2 Feb
hi everyone, jacob was born on the 23rd of jan, same as my birthday, three weeks early. I have finally gotten the hang of breastfeeding 11 days in, no one told me it would hurt so much at first. How often does your newborn go number 2s? seems that jacob refuses to burp so he can fart really loudly and poo every second nappy. Lucky he doesnt get fussy when he has wind, he just lets it out! Hes also only thrown up three times so far, he loves feeding times and last night was the first time i got to sleep thrre hours between each feed. Before that its been every 1-2 hours with the worst night him being awake every 40 mins.

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