Feeding
Your baby’s stomach is small and he will feed about once every three hours, or about eight times a day. You are both still “in training” and things may not always go smoothly. During this period, don’t be concerned about the number of feeds-just give your baby as much as and whenever he wants it.
Growth-Development
During the first month, your baby will wake every 2 to 4 hours and cry for milk. After drinking breast milk, your baby will go back to sleep, and will spend two-thirds of his time sleeping. Your baby can hear your voice and can see things up to 30 to 40 cm away, so look at him gently and speak softly to him as you feed.
Caring for Your Baby
During this stage, your baby will soil his diapers frequently, so be sure to change them often. The condition of the stool can give a good clue as to the health of your baby, so don’t forget to check color and softness whenever you change diapers!
Feeding
At this time too, the baby is able to suck strongly and skillfully when he drinks breast milk. The amount of milk the baby drinks during one feed also increases. Your baby’s weight may increase by 600 g or more since birth.
Growth-Development
The baby is able to stretch out his arms and legs and wave them about quite vigorously. Slowly but surely the baby’s facial expressions develop, so be sure to talk to your baby often. Variations in the way your baby cries will let you know whether he wants to be fed or if his diaper is wet and so on.
Caring for Your Baby
Physical contact between mother and baby, or “skinship,” is an extremely important part of mother/baby bonding. So don’t be afraid of spoiling your baby – pick him up and hold him often! As the baby is still unable to support his own head, it is important to hold his sideways close to your body and cradle the head.
Feeding
Feeding becomes more regular and some babies even go through the night without needing a feed, making life easier for you. Some babies start requiring less at this stage too. This is because they have developed the ability to know when they have had enough. Providing the baby is content, there is no need to make him drink.
Growth-Development
Your baby is now capable of a wide range of expressions and turns and shows great pleasure when called by name or when you shake a rattle or a toy. When happy he might say “aah”or “ooh” and may be able to move his hands and feet quite freely. More and more babies are able to suck their thumbs or fingers at this age.
Caring for Your Baby
Your baby is just beginning to be able to support his own head. This is a good time to begin holding them vertically and walking with them for ten to fifteen minutes a day. However, as he is not fully able to support his head yet, it is important for you to cradle the head and support the body firmly on your arm and shoulder.
Feeding
Your baby’s feeding pattern will be more settled, with feeding during the day taking place every 3 to 4 hours, and with some babies going through the night without a feed. On average babies will be feeding 5 or 6 times a day. Be sure to give your baby all the breast milk that he wants.
Growth-Development
DYour baby’s expressions become more and more clearly defined during this time. When you call his name and play together, you can see his pleasure in the face and he may giggle. While this will vary from baby to baby, sometimes if he has a good feed before going to sleep at night, he will sleep right through to the morning.
Caring for Your Baby
Once the baby is able to support his own head, it is ok to hold him upright for a longer time. With the help of a baby carrier, it should be possible to take the baby out shopping for a short time or for a walk.
Feeding
By this stage, a feeding schedule will be pretty much decided, with feeding taking place about five times a day.
Growth-Development
Most babies can support their own heads now and can be held upright without becoming unsteady. Physical development has also improved, and they will try rolling over by themselves; some babies will even bounce on their feet if held with an adult’s hands under their arms.
Caring for Your Baby
With baby sleeping through the night, patterns of daily life can be established. You can help do this by taking the baby out with you during the day and providing a quiet peaceful environment for him to sleep easily at night. As the baby will start picking up things and putting them in his mouth, make sure you don’t forget to put dangerous things out of reach.
Feeding
If your baby watches with interest as adults eat and looks like he might like to try it himself, it is probably a good time to consider preparing to wean the baby. Please note that the main form of nutrition a baby acquires is from breast milk.
Growth-Development
As a result of continuing mental development, your baby’s dexterity will increase and you will find him actively picking up things of interest and shaking or banging them. Some more advanced babies may succeed in rolling over.
Caring for Your Baby
Now that your baby is becoming more and more active, particular care must be taken to prevent falling or eating or drinking something he shouldn’t. Fore example, don’t forget to fasten safety belts on baby chairs and never carelessly put your baby on the sofa. Also, only lay your baby down to sleep in a place where they will be safe even if he manages to roll over.
Feeding
It is time to start thinking about baby food. Try starting during one of the five daily feeding times when your baby is in good condition. Initially just give one spoonful, and limit this to one type of baby food only. Until a baby reaches 7 months, please note that his main form of nutrition will come from breast milk
Growth-Development
Movement of the arms and legs becomes increasingly active. The baby has become sufficiently dexterous to play with small, simple, baby toys. Some babies also grab their own feet and play with them while lying on their backs. Your baby can now distinguish between you and other people and some babies even become afraid of strangers.
Caring for Your Baby
As the number of opportunities to go out with your baby increases, and the immunity they initially received from you ends, the likelihood of him developing his first illness increases. If your baby develops a temperature but still looks cheerful and active, there is no need to panic; just keep calm and look after him. If necessary, consult a doctor.
Feeding
If your baby is in his first month of weaning, have him eat twice a day. But your baby’s main source of nutrition is your breast milk, so move at your baby’s pace. Don’t worry if he doesn’t eat very much at this point.
Growth-Development
Your baby’s expressions have become rich and varied, and he is starting to experiment with his voice, saying “ah, ah, ah.” This is called canonical babbling. Some babies at this age can even sit up by themselves. Your baby’s fingers and hands will become dexterous, and he will try to put everything he can into his mouth. Place any dangerous items or choke hazards out of his reach.
Caring for Your Baby
When you place his favorite toy away from him, he will search for it. Some babies at this time cry at night. This is because your baby’s emotions and knowledge have developed. This will no doubt be difficult on you, but you will get through it if you work together with your partner and get enough rest through such methods as taking naps with your baby.
Feeding
As the amount of baby food being eaten increases, the amount of breast milk or formula declines. There is a large variation in the amount babies eat, and even if they eat very little, there is no reason for concern providing they are active and healthy. There is absolutely no need to force-feed them.
Growth-Development
Some babies will have started crawling, and their range of activity has increased. When and how a baby starts crawling varies from baby to baby, and some babies just don’t like lying on their tummies and won’t crawl at all. Some babies will have started baby talk-“goo-goo,” “gaa-gaa”-and they are fast becoming able to show what they want.
Caring for Your Baby
Along with the increased range of activity comes the increased danger of accidents in the home. Check around the house to make sure that there is nothing that would present a danger to the baby. Your baby will react to what is said to him, and if there is something he wants you to do, he will let you know. So talk to your baby often and enjoy this interaction.
Feeding
Your baby will have entered the later stages of weaning and will be having three meals a day. He is becoming skilled at grabbing and holding onto things, and will begin holding food and eating or playing with it. This is an important part of development, and babies should be encouraged to feed themselves.
Growth-Development
By this time some babies are able to stand up by holding on to something. At first, even if you help them hold on to something, they will just lean against it, but as time goes by they will become able to hold on to something like the sofa and stand on their own two feet. They will also be watching adults and copying their behavior, waving bye-bye and starting to utter word-like sounds like “baboo” or “nnnba.”
Caring for Your Baby
Once your baby has learned to stand up while holding onto things, you must start making sure that there is nothing dangerous in higher places, such as table tops. As there is now a danger that your baby might fall over or bang his head on something, it is a good idea to clear a space in the room where he can play safely.
Feeding
At this time in his development, you will see “ups and downs” in your baby’s appetite. Some days he will want a second helping and then the next day will hardly touch the food. Try to provide a variety of food and a well-balanced menu.
Growth-Development
Babies can crawl quite fast now, and some babies manage to walk while holding onto something. A lot of babies also become worried when separated from their mothers and try to follow them around. This is proof that they have come to perceive their mother as the person they can trust and depend on the most. When they cry loudly, be sure to give them a big hug.
Caring for Your Baby
During this period, babies enjoy playing outside, for example a trip to the park where they can walk holding onto a bench or enjoy the swings or a slide while in their mother’s arms. As babies tend to sweat easily, it is advisable to dress them in easily removable layers, and to take off or add clothing as the need arises to control their temperature. So that babies do not catch cold, it is also a good idea to make a habit of washing hands after coming back from a trip out.
Feeding
Three meals a day will have become routine, but babies develop likes and dislikes, and there is a wide variation in the amount and in the way in which babies eat. Now is a good time to practice drinking from a cup during mealtime.
Growth-Development
Individuality is starting to appear and your baby’s likes and interests become clearer. Variation can be seen in daily routines and in physical development and the way in which they play. While a lot of babies are still unable to speak recognizable words, they are able to understand a significant amount of what adults are doing and saying.
Caring for Your Baby
A mixture of deep curiosity and significantly stronger arms enable your baby to move about in an ever-widening variety of ways, such as crawling up stairs or by holding on and walking as far as the veranda. This new freedom is naturally accompanied by the greater risk of an accident, such as falling from a chair or down stairs. Be sure to consider the dangers of each room to ensure your baby’s safety.
Feeding
Your baby is at the latest stage of weaning. You should be feeding him 3 meals a day and a snack, all centered on good nutrition. Think of the snack as a supplement, and use it as an opportunity to make up for nutrients he doesn’t get in his meals
Growth-Development
At this stage, he will be about 1.5 times taller than he was when he was born, and about 3 times heavier. Some children can even stand comfortably by themselves, while some are even taking their first steps. But these children are in the minority. Most children will not begin walking for up to about another six months. So do not rush and keep calm.
Caring for Your Baby
It is at this time you should get your baby in the habit of brushing his teeth. It is also a good idea to introduce basic aspects of the daily rhythm of life, such as washing his hands before and after meals and after going outside, as well as expressions such as “please” and “thank you.”
