Newborns are developing at a very rapid rate. Your baby can see objects that are less than 14 inches away quite clearly. Their eyes get wider when looking at movements or faces. He reacts to voices and gets easily startled at loud voices or other noises. Talk to your baby often. He is learning your voice. His nervous system is not yet fully mature. It is normal to see shaky hands, lips, or wandering or crossing eyes. His respiratory system is working well. However, babies breath irregularly often with times of speeding up and then slowing down. As he gets older, the breathing will become more regular. Most babies will have grown since birth. This is a time of adjustment for you and your family. It is normal to feel a mixture of emotions; joy, happiness, and often fatigue and worry. Your parenting experience is increasing and getting better. If you are feeling overwhelmed, ask family and friends for help.
A well child check includes a physical exam to follow growth and development and to detect health problems early. Nutrition and safety issues are discussed. The appropriate immunizations against preventable diseases are given. A growth chart, which is updated with every visit, is maintained. This information is helpful to compare your baby’s growth to other children. Vision and hearing are assessed. A complete exam will show how your baby's body is developing. You and your family’s adjustment to your baby is assessed. In the early months, lack of sleep increases stress. Many new mothers feel some depression and, if you have another child, you may have to deal with jealousy. Fathers may feel a bit left out. These are important emotions to discuss.
Nutrition - Your baby is eating often, about every 2 hours. As she gets older, she will be able to go for longer periods of time in between feedings. Proper nutrition is very important in these early years of development. Continue to breast feed your baby as long as possible, preferably for the first year. Most babies nurse 8-12 times a day during the first 3 months. Offer both breasts at each feeding and nurse until she stops nursing or falls asleep at the breast. When only one breast was used, offer the other first at the next feeding, or if one breast was not emptied, offer that one first at the next feeding. DO NOT give your baby any water, just breast milk. It is best not to introduce your baby to a bottle until she is at least one month old. This is also important for your milk production to be firmly established. Be sure you are drinking plenty of fluids every day. Keep taking your prenatal vitamin until you stop nursing. Check with your doctor before taking any medication because the medicine may pass in the breast milk and harm the baby. If you need to leave your baby for a short time, leave a bottle of your expressed milk (preferred) or infant formula. DO NOT leave her alone with a bottle because of the potential for ear infections. Use caution if heating your baby's milk in a microwave oven, as there may be hot spots. Always check the temperature of the baby’s milk before you give it to your baby. If you are having any problems with nursing such as sore nipples, discuss this with your obstetrician or a lactation consultant. DO NOT give solid foods (including cereal) because her digestive system cannot tolerate them. Your baby will have several bowel movements a day. They are loose and frequent. Stools from breast fed babies are loose because breast milk is so perfectly digested that there is little waste. The amount of bowel movements will decrease in the coming months.
Physical Development - Your baby is growing at a rapid rate. His body systems are developing and maturing every day. His neck is still not fully developed but is getting stronger every day. He will be able to lift his head and hold it steady soon. He is not yet able to roll over. This comes later, at about 4 months. He is able to see and will soon be watching more and more. Faces, black and white contrasting items, colorful objects are all fascinating to him. Stimulate him by showing him different things with lots of color. Talk to him with your face next to his. This is all part of his development. He moves his hands and feet but does not have full control over them yet. Let him feel and touch various items that have different texture. Be sure the items are not so small that they could be accidentally put into his mouth and swallowed. Your baby sleeps off and on throughout the day. He will sleep longer at night in the coming months. Place the baby on his back or side for sleeping. It is not advised to place the baby on his tummy for sleeping because this increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Your baby’s skin is sensitive and slight peeling is normal. Pimples may develop on his face at about 3 to 4 weeks and will probably go away in several weeks. Clean the umbilical cord with rubbing alcohol after each diaper change until the cord falls off. DO NOT cover it with the diaper. Give the baby a sponge bath until the cord has fallen off and is healed. A full bath is needed only 2 or 3 times a week. Use a mild soap and shampoo. It is important to clean the diaper area with each diaper change. You may use warm water on a face cloth or a baby wipe. If a rash develops in the diaper area, follow the cleaning with a diaper cream or ointment.
Immunizations - Your baby’s health is very important. Proper immunizations against disease are part of good health. There are many recommended immunizations during the first 18 months. Your doctor will be discussing which immunizations to give and when to give them at each well child check appointment.
Social Development - Even though your baby cannot talk, she can interact.
Babies love to be held, talked to, sung to, smiled at, and rocked. You cannot spoil a baby at this age. You are a big part of teaching your baby about love and feeling secure when you comfort her as she is fussy. You can soothe her by talking to her and rocking her.
Cuddle her and talk to her often. She is learning from you. By talking to her, you are helping with her language development.
All babies cry. This is normal. Babies cry when hungry, need a diaper change, are tired or sleepy, or for no reason that you can find. You will be learning your baby’s different cries. Crying may increase for the first 6-8 weeks. Some babies are fussier than others. This does not necessarily reflect on your parenting skills but rather on the baby’s temperament. Your baby will begin to smile intentionally within a few weeks.
Injury and Accident Prevention - It is very important to safeguard against injury and accidents during your baby’s childhood. Many injuries and accidents are preventable.
Always use an infant carrier/car seat for your baby while traveling in the car. The safest place in the car for the baby is in the back middle seat. If you must put the baby in the front, DO NOT use the airbag (check the owners manual of your vehicle for further directions). Always place the baby facing the rear of the car.
DO NOT leave your baby unattended on the changing table, in the bathtub or baby-bath tub, couch, bed, or chair. Even though your baby cannot roll over, he could suddenly extend his body and fall off. Use seatbelts in the stroller.
Never shake your baby; this could kill him. DO NOT tie strings or place necklaces around the neck. Keep long cords away from the crib. This includes mini-blind cords and religious medals. If you use a pacifier and a pacifier keeper/cord, be sure the cord is not longer than 6 inches.
DO NOT leave young children or pets alone with your baby. They may unintentionally hurt the baby.
DO NOT allow cigarette or any other smoke in your home. Exposure to this smoke increases the chance of the baby developing ear infections and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It is also very harmful to developing lungs. If you must smoke, it is best to not expose the baby to the smoke. Your doctor can help you stop smoking. Make sure your smoke detectors are operational with new batteries.
Select toys that are unbreakable and contain no small detachable parts or sharp edges.
Contact your doctor if the baby develops any fever, fussiness that you cannot stop, or any other symptoms that need medical attention. If any immunizations were given, notify your doctor if a severe reaction develops.
