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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 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 176-200 of about 25295 for month 0
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abbieandbensmummy - Thursday, 17 Jan
Justgirls~ gla to hear tahzanee is doing so well! 3love~ you should definitely get a carrier for Noah. It has been a life saver! Verena~ I have taken to using it instead of the pram if we are only going a short distance. Wikki~ sorry little maija has thrush. Hope it goes away quickly. Laura~ how frustrating, I kept checking to see if mamarunyan had been on to update birth story and realised that no one has added since mine on the 30th :9 ness if both u and Laura are letting ur lo's tummy sleep I might do too. They definitely sleep better that way!

wikkismomma - Thursday, 17 Jan
justgirls- Maija doesn't always burp after feedings. Depends on the kind of bottle of feeding her from and how fast she eats. She's still getting up every 2 hours on the dot. I think it's because she's only eating an ounce to and ounce and a half at each feeding. She thought she was super hungry last night and ate 3 ozs. Well, needless to say, when I went to burp her, she puked what seemed like 2 ozs of it! Pointless! Ha. I'm used to my 4 yo when she was a baby. She was eating 2-3 ounces every 3 hours at a week old. But she was also almost 8 pounds. Maija's not even 6 pounds yet!

verena - Thursday, 17 Jan
justgirls, lucky you with 4h sleeping! Samuel doesn't always bur after feeding. And as he's apparently ok with that, I don' worry. If they don't sallow lots of air while feeding, they should be ok.

justgirls3 - Thursday, 17 Jan
hey mommies any body elses babies not burping after feeding? i have never had this problem with any other baby of mines. other than that she sleeps well wakes up every 4 hours. it will be great if by 3 weeks old she is sleeping all night.

verena - Thursday, 17 Jan
Oh Ness and Laura, if you are doing that, then maybe I will try too.. Sam had me up a 23.15pm, 01.45am and then at 4am just to be fuly awake and not wanting to sleep, then throwing up (whole pyjama and bed change.. DS1 got up at 7 and that was it! I look and feel like a zombie and am in a 'considering-switching-to-formula' mood..

wikkismomma - Wednesday, 16 Jan
verena- I knew you meant thrush! :) It actually gave me a good laugh! laura- I added Maija and the site and I couldn't do 2013 either. So she's listed under the 12 month section. So frustrating! I'm honestly scared of getting PPD this go round. I honestly don't know if it's because I'm physically worn out from feeding Maija every 2 hours around the clock or what, but recently my mood swings are CRAZY! I can be happy one minute, pissed off the next, crying the next...ect. I think it's just hormones settling back out and lack of sleep. Anyone else feeling this way?

nesspop *team blue* - Wednesday, 16 Jan
justgirls, that is great bubs is putting on weight :) I found mine unsettle the other day due to being over tired. i settled him 3 times, the next time i went in I unwrapped him & flipped him over to his tummy. he went straight to sleep & slept for 4 hours :)

nesspop *team blue* - Wednesday, 16 Jan
Hi ladies just though i would share this, as i found it interesting :) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2054393/Bad-news-dads-Babies-share-mothers-bed-age-good-hearts.html

verena - Wednesday, 16 Jan
Of course I meant to write thrush NOT trash!

verena - Wednesday, 16 Jan
Abbie, I had Maxime in a carry-on right from the start, and now I'm using it for Samuel, I put him in there and go pick up Maxime from daycare so I have my hands free. andlike that I can be on the phone or do things on the side while I'm out. i think they're brilliant! I think I carried mxime around in it until he could walk with 9 months. Oh Wikkismomma, sorry to hear about the trash, ust be pretty unsettling, especially if she's not taking her meds properly! Have you tried to mix it with some milk? I also have a near 4 year old (beginning of feb) and it is VERY trying, ABBIE can sing a song of it! JUSTGIRLS; great on your LO's weight!

justgirls3 - Wednesday, 16 Jan
well Tahzanee had her newborn check up and she gained 9 ounces yay!!! doing very well i must say. And i know shes not supposed to but she loves sleeping on her stomach and not on her back very much. but my first 2 were like that.!!!

laura (team surprise) - Wednesday, 16 Jan
This site drives me mad at times, I am trying to add that I have had my baby. But because she was born in 2013 I can't. As they have not updated the site. I sent Laura the admin a message but no response yet.

laura (team surprise) - Wednesday, 16 Jan
Sorry Maija has thrush.Hope it clears soon. Emily is breastfed but feeds all over the place, sometimes every hour sometimes every three.

wikkismomma - Tuesday, 15 Jan
Well ladies, I was right. Maija has thrush :( Queen- I remember my 4 yo having it. She has it all over her tounge, cheeks and gums. It's pretty bad. So now she's on Nystatin to clear it up...and she hates it. Spits it right back out. How often are your babies feeding? Maija seems to wanna eat every 2 hours! She's formula fed too. Maybe it's because she's so small, but man! Dealing with a very independent 4 year old everyday and then getting up every 2 hours in the middle of the night to feed Maija is wearing me out! We're going to go hang out with Maija's dad tomorrow, so I'm planning on taking a nap...he can watch her for a while!

laura (team surprise) - Tuesday, 15 Jan
I have a Manduca baby carrier, anyone any idea how soon after a section I can use it??

3loveofmylife - Tuesday, 15 Jan
abbieandbensmummy aww molly rose is the same way as Noah. i think i'm going to get one of those baby carriers cuz i can't get anything done either, but i love it cuz soon they will be too big to carry them.

3loveofmylife - Tuesday, 15 Jan
Verena thanks my 1st was also on formula cuz he just wouldn't latch on and he also turned out ok too lol, my 2nd was BF for 11 month, and i tolled everyone i wanted to bf this one longer than my 2nd, but i guess thing don't always turned out the way we want them like you said i'm just not gana let people get to me and do whats best for Noah. oh and he went to sleep at 11pm last night woke up at 3am to eat bf and 2oz formula went back to sleep at 3:30am wake up at 6am feed him then back to sleep right away till 9:00am so that was good i got a little sleep. lol i think our 1st nap will be when they are in school.

abbieandbensmummy - Tuesday, 15 Jan
Have resorted to using a baby carrier in order to get anything done! Molly Rose either wants to be fed or held if she is awake and mostly will only sleep if I carry her. If I set her down she cries blue murder lol. Wee munchkin. Ah well at held I get lots of cuddles because the time comes all too soon when they don't want picked up all the time!

verena - Tuesday, 15 Jan
3love, I am sorry to hear about low supply, especially as you really want to BF. It is such a personal decision, I have a friend wh couldn't BF with her 1st one and she was devastated. Nothing we could say would cheer her up. Funnily nough, she was great BF with her second one. What can I say, my Mum couldn't BF me and I was on formula from the start and I turned out ok lol.. try and think that science nowadays is so advanced that formula is at its best. and they DO sleep longer inbetween feeds, that is the upside! I breastfed 10 weeks with my first one and only realised how much easier it was for me when I changed to formula. But again, as I said, it is a very personal issue, so don't let anyone get to you. NESS, Ethan rolling over already? wow, that IS fast!! good on him! He'll be crawling and walking in no time! Sam threw up ALL (my) milk this morning 45 min after feeding (my, there was a lot of it!) so he's been restless and feeding every half hour since. Just now gone back to sleep and nowI'm too far into the day to have a nap.. Just ordered the birth announcement cards (am later this time round than with Maxime) and can't wait to see them and send them out! Ness, I have now also restricted the space in Sam's cot, to make him feel more 'enclosed', and Queen is right, it's great to have you round for advice, thanks! Funnily enough, I also stopped turning the light on at night and use my mobile for light, haha, although it makes me drowsy during feeding not to have light, but if it helps them to go back to sleep easier..

3loveofmylife - Monday, 14 Jan
well ladies i fell horrible i know there is nothing wrong about giving formula to your baby, but i really wanted to bf only this time. so Noah wasn't gaining a lot of weight he was 8.9 at birth, 8.1 when we went home, 8.05 at one week, 8.5 at 2 weeks and 8.14 at 26 days old today and also he cries all the times and as soon as i put him down and wakes up every hour to feed, so his DR wants me to give him some formula with BF so i got him some similac advance and been giving him 2oz after BF and he has been sleeping more all day wakes up every 2 hours eats then goes back to sleep. i hope he will sleep more tonight. i am a little sad because i really didn't want to give him any formula. i just wanted to exclusively bf, but since my supply is low i guess i will have to do both for now and we will see if he will be doing better. @nesspop that excited that Ethan rolled over he wants to do things fast lol.

nesspop *team blue* - Monday, 14 Jan
Ethan was doing his tummy time this morning & he rolled over. So i put him back to see if it was a fluke, & he went over again.. This boy is in a hurry to catch up to his brothers lol

nesspop *team blue* - Monday, 14 Jan
Thanks Queen, i would only comment on something that I have experienced or helped me ;) With the Co sleeping, I have been lucky enough, to not have to over night. but I do do my morning daylight feed in bed, as I find they go back to sleep easier as they dont go in the daylight :) And when i freed over night I do not turn on lights, I work by phone or torch..

abbieandbensmummy - Monday, 14 Jan
Queen u must be exhausted :/ what does he want when he wakes? Have u tried letting him cry it out? I know it seems harsh but it works wonders. I did it when my daughter was 13mths and from then on she slept 13/14hrs a night! It took three nights to crack!

verena - Monday, 14 Jan
Abbie and 3love, thanks so much, I am sorry you're going (or went) through the same and at the same time I'm relieved to hear my son isn't an exception with his awful behaviour. Abbie, I AM loosing it soon!! 3love, yes, Maxime also comes and says how much he loves me, and I try to give him as much of my attention as possible when Sam is sleeping.. All; really like your advice on space in cribs, will also try that! It's logical actually, seeming as they have been enclosed in such a tight space for such a long time! Thanks!

abbieandbensmummy - Monday, 14 Jan
Verena~ my daughter was exactly the same at that age. It's just a phase. He will grow out of it if u continue to be firm. It's a very trying time though. I often felt like I was goin to loose it! They say terrible twos but I think age 3 and 4 is the worst! Wikki~ congratulations on baby maija :) Kristina~ all three of my babies were the same. This time round I'm just not stressing about it and now we co-sleep. I hardly feel sleep deprived at all despite several wakings at night because they are brief and she goes back to sleep in my arms so easily. I am however trying to encourage her to sleep in her Moses basket earlier in the evening so that he isn't completely dependant on me for sleep. Iv found that rolling up blankets to make the basket smaller and cosier helps, also swaddling seems to help.

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