Baby's First Four Months Continued....

The first four months of a baby's life is all about development and learning on both the baby's and parent's part. It is also about developing routines and rhythms. As the baby becomes more calm and secure so do the parents. This sounds so simple but when you have a crying baby and you are exhausted simplicity is the farthest thing from your frazzled mind. At that time there seems to be a thin line between sanity and insanity!

Baby can be fussy for no apparent reason. The deal is not to rely on the breast or the bottle as the only way to calm a fussy baby. These are not the only way to pacify a newborn. Nothing will matter if the baby is hungry. So making sure that  hunger is not the cause of his fussiness is of utmost importance!

There are definitely some subtle techniques that begin to lay the foundation that will help your baby become a good sleeper and have the ability to self soothe. This will also help the parents stay well rested. Well rested babies are more apt to be happy babies!

The term "bonding" will be very familiar to any parent that has read anything about having a baby. Essentially that is what has been happening since your very first "ultrasound" when you first were able to see your embryo's beating heart. Bonding was beginning at that time and now continues very much so during this "fourth trimester"

To continue bonding after you bring your newborn home begin to create a routine with your baby. Not too rigid but never the less a routine...something that the baby can count on and expect at bedtime, mealtime, naptime etc. It can be as simple as a favorite CD of lullabies or a lovey...whatever is soothing to your child. The newborn should be on a flexible "demand" feeding and sleeping schedule. Do not confuse routine and consistency with inflexible. Routines will make parenting easier in the long run and will assist you in figuring out what your baby wants when he becomes fussy.

Babies all need to know that they can count on their parents and caregivers. Therefore responding to their needs swiftly will be very important. You cannot spoil a child at this age. Do not let his needs or cry go unanswered. There is no such thing as too responsive to a child under the age of 1 year.

Holding your infant is so good for him and for you. This closeness is very soothing to both of you. Of course it is not necessary to hold him 24/7 but again it is not spoiling your baby in this "fourth trimester" of development.

Soothing techniques other than feeding must be learned and encouraged at this time.
Building a secure environment for your newborn is one of your primary concerns during this phase of development and will help to shape his future in many ways...becoming a good sleeper will be one of those ways.

Some soothing techniques, sucking on a pacifier, swaddling, swinging, shh...shhing noises and side holding are a few of the recommended ones in "The Happiest Baby on the Block" by Dr. Harvey Karp.
Baby massage is another soother.

Babies that develop "colic" during the "fourth trimester" can defy all of the above suggestions at times.
Colic deserves to be discussed in a separate blog.

Next time: Facts about colic...causes and cures!!!

Baby's First Four Months

Babies are extremely immature when they are born. They depend on their brains for survival and therefore their head is the largest part of their body. It takes a full three months for a normal newborn to develop the ability to do very small but significant behaviors.

Newborns initially can only focus on things that are about 12 inches away which is why they are fascinated by their mother's face. They can imitate facial expressions and can stick their tongues out in imitation of their parent's behavior.

They also enjoy looking at bright colors and contrasts. Socially infants are amused by their parent's voices and can actually recognize their mother's voice from the sounds they heard while in utero. They enjoy voices more than music or noise at this time in their growth and development.

Newborns have limited motor abilities. They cannot purposely put their fingers or hands in their mouths. They have jerky movements that are uncoordinated.

As the newborn's brain develops over the first three months it becomes easier for them to focus on large objects that are farther away. They can begin to purposely turn their heads when they hear their mother's voice. At this time they begin to coo and giggle. They start to smile and become socially interactive.

Now is also the time that babies start to put fingers in their mouths and perhaps suck their thumbs. Overall babies at four months old have more developed sensory, social, motor and physiological capabilities.

Understanding your baby's "Fourth Trimester" is crucial to understanding why in "The Happiest Baby on the BlocK", Dr. Karp's  5's help to soothe the newborn and why these 5's initiate the calming reflex.

During the first three months of life the newborn's brain grows another twenty percent in size. There are many changes in the neural pathways that lead to the baby developing more complex purposeful behaviors. The newborn reflexes will now diminish and disappear and will be taken over by purposeful behaviors.

Next:" Imitating the Uterine Environment for Your Newborn".

Sleepy Baby Spring is Here!

This week celebrates Passover and Easter. I hope that all of you have a very nice restful weekend!
Happy Spring!