First poo

Your baby's first couple of poos will be tar-like, sticky and greenish-black in color. Termed meconium, this waste product was accumulated in the womb. Most babies, over 90% of them, will pass meconium within 24 hours with about 2-4% passing it within 48 hours.


Drinks other than milk


Cooled boiled water can be introduced to formula-fed babies from the age of six weeks, especially when in warmer climates; breastfed babies do not need anything else to drink. Regular tap water which is boiled is sufficient; do not add flavorings or sweeteners. However limit this to 2-4 oz per day as too much water can disturb the delicate balance of salts in your baby's body. Well diluted unsweetened fruit juices such as apple can be gradually introduced after baby turns nine months old. Avoid giving sparkling mineral water or water with high mineral content to babies under 2 years of age.


First meal

Ideally babies should be breast-fed exclusively until six months but if you choose to wean earlier, solid foods should not be introduced before 17 weeks or only after baby is four months old as a baby's digestive system is not mature enough. Further to this, he will extrude most of the food out of his mouth with his tongue until the tongue-thrust reflex is lost which happens after baby turns 4 months old.

Research suggests that babies and young children who sleep with the light on are more likely to be short-sighted than those who sleep in the dark.

Best first foods


Baby rice is the best first food. Comes in powder form, it is convenient to prepare since the portion is tiny at this stage. The taste and texture are quite similar to milk so most babies take on to it without much fuss. Once your baby has adjusted to this initial change, you can add apple puree or mashed potato, carrots for example, building a range of different textures and tastes in the process.


Vitamin supplements

Confusing for many parents but the general advice is this: for an exclusively breast-fed baby who is six months and beyond, you should give her vitamin drops containing vitamins A.C and D. Check with your pediatrician on which kind is suitable. For bottle-fed babies you do not need to do this because formula is fortified with vitamins already.

Research has found that many babies cry without any explicit source of discomfort.

Mobile now

In the 4th or 5th month baby learns to roll from his back onto his abdomen. In his 6th month he makes paddling movements while lying on his tummy and holds his head in different directions. He is able to grip and let go. He is beginning to sit up without support - a good time to invest in a high chair.



First crawl

Baby will make attempts to crawl in the 7th month to move from his current position to another. Some babies don't crawl at all and instead go from sitting to standing to walking; crawling should therefore not be used as a gauge of proper motor development.

A recent study suggests that if babies are not introduced to new textures and tastes until six months or older, they are more likely to be fussy or difficult eaters when they become toddlers.

Swimming

Once your baby has had his first set of immunizations you can take your baby to a public pool. The water and surrounding air temperatures should be warm (at least 33°C or 91.4°F) and the swimming session should be short (not more than 20 mins) to avoid baby from catching a cold. After introducing him to the water and when baby is relaxed you can let him float on his back with your support. Babies who are introduced to swimming early usually don't have to overcome fear later. Your child can't learn to swim until he is three; so for babies swimming has more to do with moving in the water and some together time with their parents. If your child has a tendency to develop respiratory infections, it is best to delay swimming for a while.


Bonding

Bonding between you and your baby can take anything from a few days to a few months or even longer. Research shows that a child who has not formed a secure psychological connection with a caring adult by the age of four is likely to have social problems throughout his life.

By the age of two, the rapid early growth rate has slowed down and boys are generally taller than girls. The ratio of clumsy boys to clumsy girls is about 2:1.

First words

Research shows that over 50% of early words are general in nature such as 'ball', 'car', while a word such as 'dog' may be used to refer to all animals. Less than 15% are specific referring to people such as 'mama' and 'teddy'. Many of child's first words are connected with things she uses in some way or the other such as 'juice', and 'spoon'. This only goes on to prove that your child's language is reflective of her everyday experiences. On the average, first words are spoken around the age of 9-12 months, and by the age of 15 months about six clear words will be used by your toddler. Most often these are names of family members or familiar objects. By age of 18 months your toddler is able to combine two words to form a meaningful phrase such as 'me cup' meaning I want my cup.


First tooth

Most babies are born toothless and most babies cut their first tooth around 4-6 months of age. Some babies teethe earlier than this and some later. Most have all their milk teeth by the time they are two and a half. There are twenty baby teeth, ten at the top and ten at the bottom. In some cases a tooth appears without much warning signs while in others babies go through a lot of discomfort.

Survey indicates that 20% of fat children become fat adults.

First step

Between 9 and 12 months some babies start to take their first steps - they discover how to 'cruise' around the furniture. Although some babies leap to their feet and waddle off as early as 10 months, others are still seated contentedly months after their 1st birthday. Walking your baby around will not make her walk earlier. Don't bother buying a walker - they don't teach a baby to walk and they do cause a large number of accidents!


Holding a Newborn

Be sure to always support your baby's head when picking him up and putting him down. Always make sure you are comfortable yourself because if you feel tense he will too. One of your hands should always be behind baby's head, neck and shoulders to give proper support. Once his head is well supported, he will feel secure and will relax. Most babies like to be held close to your body against your shoulder. Once baby's head and neck are well supported there is no right way to hold and lift your baby - just work out what feels right to you both.

Virtually all babies build their language skills in the same way, using the same 'building blocks; in the same order and usually at around the same time.

Temperature

A fever is a temperature of about 37.7°C (100°F) or over. A normal temperature is anything between 36°C (96.8°F) and 37°C (98.6°F). 'Strip type' thermometers are convenient but inaccurate. Taking temperature under the arm can be hard to manage. Digital thermometer that goes in the ear is expensive but very handy - fast and accurate.