|
|
 |
| |
|
| |
Despite how much you may know about newborns
in general, you know almost nothing about
your little tot. You would probably do a
lot of guesswork until your baby gets accustomed
to the world outside the womb, and you have
somewhat understood a little about her behavior. |
|
Behaviors that may
puzzle You!
|
There are little, little things
about your baby that's going to confuse
first time parents or even seasoned parents.
They are still adapting to the change and
new surroundings. Something so natural and
second nature to you like breathing is something
totally novel to the little baby. Here are
but some of those things:
Breathing:
With small lungs breathing may seem shallow,
irregular with occasional snuffling sounds.
Breathing in neonatal is through the nose.
Their nasal passages are lined with mucus
that causes them to cough and sneeze frequently
but this does not mean they have a cold.
Sneezing is also a reaction to bright lights
caused by nerve stimulation found in the
nose and eyes.
Hiccups:
Irregular contractions of the diaphragm
known, as hiccup is common. You don't need
to do anything; they normally go away by
themselves. Hiccups reduce significantly
after a few weeks.
Cheesing:
This is a common occurrence for babies to
bring up some milk when being burped. The
texture is lumpy rather than liquidy because
it is curdled. Usually it happens due to
overfeeding.
Feeding:
It may take weeks for baby to settle into
a predictable routine. She may be hungry
every 30mins, every 2hrs, every 3hrs; or
after half an hour now, then again 2hrs
later and then 4hrs after that. If she takes
a while to build a feeding schedule, there
is no need for concern. Everything takes
time. It is normal for your tot to lose
weight for the first few days after birth,
only to gain it back. Any concerns on nutrition
contact your baby's pediatrician.
Early Reflexes:
The sudden, unexpected little movements
(reflexes) your baby makes may surprise
you. Reflexes develop in the initial periods
to help baby fend for himself. When a newborn
is startled, which is often, he responds
by arching his back, kicking his legs and
flailing out his arms. This is known as
the Moro Reflex. It resembles a baby attempting
to grab something with both hands and legs.
Rooting reflex is when your baby is searching
for food. She will open her mouth and turn
her head toward that side if you stroke
her cheek. When your baby is drowsy or sleeping,
you may notice her smiling. She is in a
dreamy state; this is termed Reflexive smiling.
Soon enough she will be smiling back in
response to your smile.
Sleeping:
It is difficult to keep baby awake and equally
difficult to wake her up from her nap. In
the initial weeks she won't be able to distinguish
night and day and will spend most of the
day sleeping, feeding, pooping. Her alert
moments are just a few minutes at a time,
often before eating or during baths. But
all babies are different. They cannot be
typecasted in any regard. Some sleep 15hrs
out of 24 from the start and have several
waking minutes in the day; others sleep
almost 22hrs and are groggy when awake.
There is little to do this month except
to go along with their self-imposed behaviors.
Sleep apnea is a condition fairly uncommon
but it is good to be aware anyway. It is
a temporary cessation of breathing that
occurs during sleep. Babies hold their breath
for 10-15 seconds; with gentle nudging they
grunt or snort and breathing resumes. This
problem is more prevalent in premature or
low birth weight infants. They usually outgrow
this condition. Make notes of the frequency
and duration of apnea episodes and discuss
with your doctor.
|
| |
Newborn Senses &
Your Sensibilities!
|
Brain
growth:
A baby's brain grows most rapidly from the
last trimester of pregnancy through the
first 3 months of life. Stimulation from
you helps make his nerves stronger. Interacting
with his environment with your help develops
connections in his brain. Avoid over-stimulation
as it results in fussy, cranky babies.
Baby's hearing:
Although your baby's
middle ear is still somewhat immature at
birth, as are the sound processing centers
of his brain, your newborn can hear you
and will prefer human speech over any other
sounds, especially if the voice is yours.
Hearing sounds are very important to baby.
They can recognize mum's voice over other
female voices. Speak in low tones, hum and
sing when baby is restless. Get baby accustomed
to white sounds from the vacuum cleaner,
dishwasher or washing machine, running water
as these sounds can soothe babies too. Use
baby's name often, in parentese or regular
speech and he will soon recognize it. Introduce
baby to the music world through CDs, radio,
and musical toys.
Baby's vision:
At birth, a baby's vision
is very poor — about 40 times worse
than an adult with good vision. Even so,
the baby can still see a lot. Although her
eyes are capable of excellent vision, her
brain is still too immature to distinguish
between different shades of color. She'll
prefer bright colors to duller ones and
sharp contrasting images, and her favorite
thing to look at will be a human face, especially
one with expressions. She is near-sighted
and will stare at objects placed in the
8-12 inches range of her vision. Very soon
she will be able to see objects that are
18 inches away. She is able to recognize
mum's face from the rest. To help build
eye muscles, move your head from side to
side which would encourage baby's eyes to
follow you. Although they prefer black and
white patterns, introduce baby to bold colored
shapes.
Baby's taste:
In
the womb, your baby gets a sampling of flavors
as he swallows amniotic fluid. Studies have
shown that fetal swallowing increases with
sweet tastes and decreases with bitter or
sour tastes. That explains the liking for
milk, both breast and formula milk, since
they are sweet.
Baby's touch:
Your
newborn's skin is his largest and most highly
developed sensory organ. At birth, your
baby can respond to variations in temperature,
texture, pressure, and pain. Your newborn's
lips and hands have the largest number of
touch receptors, which may account for why
newborns enjoy sucking on their fingers.
Touch your baby's skin often; massage baby,
hold baby close to you. The more love and
affection you display by touching, the more
self-assured and happy your baby will be.
|
| |
Top 5 soothers
|
Sucking:
Your
baby's mouth muscles stimulates the release
of endorphins during sucking - the body's
natural feel-good chemicals. This helps
her relax; as well as blocks the pain. Sucking
also offers a distraction from the pain.
Cuddling:
Cradling your baby helps control her limbs
and the feeling of containment helps her feel
less distressed. Cuddling is particularly
effective when you hold your baby with her
hands together on her chest and her fingers
near her mouth. Try swaddling your baby by
wrapping her up firmly in a blanket.
Rocking:
Rocking
motion stimulates cells in your baby's inner
ear, which have a calming effect. However
this may backfire when baby is ill or in
pain as any stimulation may distress her
further. So if she does not respond to your
rocking quite soon then stop.
Gentle massage:
Gently, but firmly rub
your warm hands over her bare skin. The
contact with you, as well as the gentle
motion of deep touch, may be just the thing
to get your baby completely calm and even
ready for a sleep.
Warm bath:
Many
babies love water as it reminds them of
the cozy, watery world of the womb. Without
too much fuss, run a lukewarm bath.
If
you have tried everything you know to calm
your baby, and nothing seems to be working,
take a break before you become stressed
and frantic. If possible, call in someone
else to take over for a while. If that's
not an option, then leave your baby safely
in her cot, close the door and go to another
room. If you are lucky, your baby may just
cry herself to sleep. |
| |
Milestones-your newborn's
achievements
|
Physical development:
His grasp reflex is developing. He may briefly
hold onto something before letting it go
e.g. your finger. Play this game with your
baby to strengthen hands and fingers:
• Hold your infant in your lap.
• Put your index finger in your
baby's hand.
• She probably will
grasp your finger, as this is a natural reflex
with newborns.
• Each time she
grasps your finger, say positive words or
praise your baby.
• Just reaching
for an object helps the brain develop hand-eye
coordination.
Head movements:
Turns
his head from side to side to follow object
with his eyes, called tracking. May be able
to hold up his head for brief seconds when
placed on his stomach. According to research,
developing strength and balance lays the
groundwork for crawling. This is a game
that strengthens the back and neck:
• Lie on your back and put your baby
on your tummy.
• With your hands firmly around his
chest, raise him in the air and up to your
face.
• Say the following and do the actions:
Where's my baby?
There he is. (lift him up to your face)
Where's my baby? (bring him back down to
your tummy)
There he is. (bring him back up to your
face)
Where's my baby? (bring him back down to
your tummy)
Up high, high, high. (bring your baby up
high over your face)
Starting to move:
When your baby kicks
legs in the air, he is starting to move.
He will move more as he grows older. Leaving
him unattended even for a minute on any
high level surfaces such as the changing
table is not advisable as he can risk a
fall. |
| |
Toys and Play
|
Choosing appropriate
toys:
Think
about your baby's capabilities when choosing
toys. The smart move is to select toys that
he can play with in many different ways
as he matures. However avoid toys that are
too intricate for him to enjoy. If you have
not bought her a hanging mobile yet, now
is the right time for one. She will enjoy
the music and the moving colorful figures.
Music box or CDs of soft lullabies
Make funny faces:
Babies love to watch
faces with expressions. You can play with
him by holding your face about 12 inches
away from his and making funny faces. Stick
out your tongue. Blow gently on his neck.
Hold his hands near your eyelashes so he
feels the movement. Open and close your
eyes and mouth in an exaggerated manner.
Babies at four weeks are able to use their
facial expressions to engage your attention.
It becomes a duo game.
Put baby in the middle of things:
It is beneficial
and fun for baby to be part of the everyday
family interaction. Carry her in sling as
you go about your daily chores. Seat her
in her bassinet during family meals.
Talk to your baby:
When you play with baby,
vary your tone of voice (switching pitches)
between parentese and low tones. Talking
in high-pitched, singsong tone of voice
(parentese) causes her heart rate to increase,
an indication of a cheerful and secure baby.
Alternate this with regular speech, which
will soothe and comfort baby. Babies not
only enjoy this but also stand to gain as
it helps them to recognize connections between
objects and words. Babies will also start
to understand that communication is a means
of expression. Sing nursery rhymes and clap
your hands while you sing. Read him books,
a magazine, anything; baby is more interested
in your voice than the material at this
point. |
| |
Your baby's first
check-up:
|
Most babies have their
first medical checkup within the first few
weeks after birth.
Measurement:
Most well baby
checkups begin with measurements of your
baby's length, weight and head circumference.
Keep a blanket handy to undress your baby.
The measurements will be produced on a growth
chart. The doctor will use these measurements
to make sure your baby's growth is on mark
from one visit to the next.
Head-to-toe physical exam
Head:
The doctor will check the size and softness
of the fontanels, the soft spots on your
baby's head. These gaps between the skull's
bones give your baby's brain plenty of room
to grow. They're safe to touch and typically
disappear within 12 to 18 months, when the
skull bones combine together. Your doctor
will also measure baby's head and make a
record of it.
Ears:
The doctor will check for fluid or infection
in your baby's ears with an instrument called
an otoscope. The doctor may check the shape
of your baby's ears as well. If there is
any wax buildup, your doctor will note it,
as well as fluid behind the eardrum.
Eyes:
The doctor will look for blocked tear ducts
and discharge, may examine the inside of
your baby's eyes with an instrument called
an ophthalmoscope. The doctor will look
for crossing of the eyes (strabismus) and
ask if you've ever noticed your baby's eyes
crossing at home. Baby's eyes are examined
to see how the pupils dilate; vision and
eye movement will be assessed with a moving
light in baby's visual field.
Mouth:
The doctor may check your baby's sucking
reflex by placing a fingertip or pacifier
in your baby's mouth. A look inside your
baby's mouth may reveal signs of oral thrush,
an easily treated yeast infection common
in babies this age.
Nose:
Doctor will examine the nostrils to check
on infections. Nasal passages are checked
for signs of abnormal development that could
interfere with breathing.
Skin:
The doctor will look for various skin conditions,
including birthmarks, rashes and jaundice
- a yellowish discoloration of the skin
and eyes. Mild jaundice that develops soon
after birth often vanishes on its own within
a week or two, but more severe cases may
need simple therapy or other treatments.
The doctor will also make sure the area
around your baby's bellybutton is beginning
to heal.
Heart and
lungs:
The doctor will listen to your baby's heart
and lungs with a stethoscope to detect any
abnormal heart rhythms, sounds or breathing
difficulties. Heart murmurs are common in
infants and are rarely a concern.
Abdomen:
By gently pressing your baby's abdomen,
the doctor can detect softness, enlarged
organs or an umbilical hernia. Feeding routine
and bowel habits will be addressed and discussed.
Hips and
legs:
The doctor will move your baby's legs to
check the hip ligaments and joints and overall
muscle tone as well. Legs and feet are examined
for proper growth and development.
Genitalia:
The doctor will inspect your baby's genitalia
for tenderness, lumps or other signs of
infection. He or she will also check for
an inguinal hernia, which results from a
weakness in the abdominal wall. For boys,
the doctor will look for descended testicles
and a hydrocele, a fluid-filled sac around
the testes in the scrotum. If your son was
circumcised, the doctor will make sure the
area is beginning to heal.
General development:
Even with limited head, arm and leg movements
the doctor is able to assess muscle strength
and tone of baby. Your baby's reflexes and
overall responsiveness will be checked during
this visit.
Discuss with your Doctor during the appointment
on any issues or doubts you have. Your doctor
will ask a series of questions on your baby's
well being, feeding and sleep patterns and
on how well you are coping with your new
baby as well as your well-being in general.
Be ready to describe a typical day with
your baby. Be sure to bring up whatever's
on your mind. Nothing is too trivial when
it comes to caring for your baby. Your well
being is important, too. If you're feeling
depressed, stressed out or exhausted, explain
what's happening. Your baby's doctor can
offer suggestions to help you get through
this challenging time.
Immunizations:
Many babies are given a hepatitis B vaccine
in the hospital nursery shortly after birth.
If your baby's had this vaccine, he or she
is off the hook for this visit. If not,
the hepatitis B vaccine may be given now. |
| |
Temperature readings
and what they mean
|
Sometimes
you will be required to take your baby's
temperature and that can be quite a task,
especially when the little one is unwell.
You can take baby's temperature rectally,
axillary or with an ear thermometer.
Axillary thermometer:
When you take temperature
under his arm, use a rectal thermometer.
Make sure your baby's underarm is clean
and dry before placing thermometer in the
armpit. Press baby's arm tightly against
his side or hold it across his chest to
keep the thermometer in position. After
4-5 minutes remove and read.
Ear thermometer:
This is fairly new in
the market but the preferred choice over
others for older babies. Lay baby on his
back on a safe surface and turn his head
away from you. Gently pull back on his ear
to straighten the ear canal and point the
thermometer into the ear canal. Activate
the thermometer. Wait for the beep, and
repeat the procedure in the other ear. Use
the highest number. Because of the difficulty
with correct placement in young babies accuracy
might be affected.
A list of what a normal reading should read:
Axillary temperature: 95 to 99F (35 to 37.2C)
Ear temperature: 97.8 to 99.7F (36.6 to
37.7C)
Rectal temperature: 98.2 to 100.4F (36.8
to38C)
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| | |
Free!
Johnson's Baby Relief Kit For Your Baby.
|
|
| |
|
 |
The
importance of Colostrum |
| |
It is very important to start breastfeeding
soon after delivery so that your baby
receives the benefits of colostrum or
premilk. Since it is very limited in
volume but very valuable in content,..
Read More |
| |
|
 |
|
The
Essentials on Postpartum Depression |
| |
When it is the blues If you feel
down, low, helpless, anxious or teary
despite the joyous occasion in the family,
despite feeling enthralled with motherhood,
well you are not alone ..
Read More |
| |
|
|
|
The
Essentials on Postpartum Workout |
| |
Exercise is two-fold in benefit: to
be in better shape and to increase energy
level to deal with your newborn baby.
You may be in a hurry to trim down the
excesses but that cannot..
Read More |
| |
|
|
|
Umbilical
Cord Care |
| |
A newborn umbilical cord is a stump
of 1-2 cm long with a plastic clamp
attache Within one day the umbilical
cord which was shiny and moist at birth
will shrivel up, turn crusty and darken
in..
Read More |
| |
|
|
|
Nappies and Diapers |
| |
You will have to use nappies or diapers
until your baby is potty trained. Baby
can take up to minimum 2 years to gain
full bladder and bowel control. So,
you have to give consideration to..
Read More |
| |
|
|
| |
 |
| |
| ::
Parenting Articles by Category :: |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| If
you have'nt bought these items already,
here is your chance now to buy online |
| &
Save! |
|
| ::
Click
Here To View Full Range Of
Babies Products :: |
|
| |
| Track your baby's
development With Our FREE E-mail Updates
|
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
