What Activities Should I Be Doing With My Newborn
Play ideas for newborns
- Sing, chat, tickle, count toes, blow raspberries simple things are best for newborns. …
- Make faces, smile, laugh, roll your eyes or poke out your tongue. …
- Give your baby different objects to feel soft toys, rattles or cloth books with pages of different textures are fun.
Learning Play And Your Newborn
Play is the main way that infants learn how to move, communicate, socialize, and understand their surroundings. During the first month of life, your baby will learn by interacting with you.
The first thing your baby will learn is to associate you with getting their needs met. So, the feel of your touch, the sound of your voice, and the sight of your face will begin to mean nourishment, warmth, and comfort.
Even at this young age, babies are ready to learn about the world around them. Your newborn loves to look your face. Newborns can recognize and respond to a parent’s voice by looking alert and becoming less active. Babies may try to find out where a sound is coming from by looking around.
What Routines Can I Start With My Newborn
It helps to remain flexible with newborns. However, you might choose to start doing simple things with your baby in a similar order when it comes to sleeping, feeding and playing:
- when your baby wakes from a sleep, offer them a feed
- in the middle of, or at the end of the feed, change your baby’s nappy
- have cuddle, talk and play time
- settle your baby down to sleep
At night you may prefer to skip play time and simply try to settle them back to sleep.
You should do what you feel is best for you and your baby, but seek advice if you are not sure. Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 to talk to a maternal child health nurse.
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Newborn Development At 0
Cuddling, sleeping, feeding. Thats what its all about in the first few months.
Your baby is also learning a lot as you spend time together every day. Your babys brain is growing and developing as they see, hear and touch the world around them.
Around this age faces are the most interesting thing to your baby, and your baby might be able to follow your face with their eyes. Your baby will also like looking at toys with contrasting colours like red, black and white, as well as toys with faces or patterns like swirls or checks.
Your one-month-old can hear you and knows your voice, but your baby might sometimes startle when they hear you or another sound.
Although eye contact is one way your baby tells you they want your attention, your baby communicates with you mostly through crying. For example, your baby will cry or make throaty noises if they need you.
Your baby might lift their head briefly when theyre lying on their tummy or turn it to the side when theyre lying on their back. This helps your baby see where you are and whats around them.
Sometimes your baby will hold your finger, but most of the time theyll keep their hands in a tight fist.
Daily Activities For Newborn Development: Talk To Your Baby
Your baby will need to hear words many times before they are able to understand or repeat them.
Narrate your day in order to give them lots of exposure.
For example, when you are making dinner tell them about it!
Label the ingredients when you take them out and describe the process.
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Months: Read Or Sing Nursery Rhymes
The old Mother Goose nursery rhymes can seem a little uncool, but theyre classics for a reason. Whats wonderful about Mother Goose is the rhythm and the rhyme, Morrison says. The classic rhymes also contain all kinds of unique and unusual vocabulary , which is great for your childs cognitive and verbal development.
Good to know: Studies have shown that the more words kids are exposed to, the better they typically do in school. So the more we can stretch his or her vocabulary, the better. And children between the ages of 16 and 24 months are real sponges for language. Thats when language is really blossoming, and a very important window in terms of child development.
/15 Attraction To Stuffed Toys
The baby will develop its attraction to different kinds of toys, but those being stuffed are seemingly more appealing, especially if they have an animal-like appearance. Actually, stuffed toys can be considered less dangerous than plastic ones or those that are likely to be swallowed and choked on. Some babies express their attachment to a certain toy to the extent that it feels the need for this toy to accompany it all the time, as if it is a close friend. Many children form an emotional attachment to the item that gives them comfort.
Again, it is the parents duty to be careful about what kind of toy to allow as a friend of her baby, she has to ensure the absence of any suffocating or allergic actions possible to be caused by the material of which the toy is manufactured. The baby may love to have the toy beside it during sleep, therefore, she has to be attentive to place them properly.
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How To Tell If Your Baby Is Seriously Ill
It can be difficult to tell when a baby is seriously ill. Above all, it’s important to trust your instincts.
You know your baby better than anyone else, so you’ll know if their appearance or behaviour is worrying.
See does your child have a serious illness? for a checklist of “red alert” symptoms that should always be treated as serious.
How Much Does Baby Formula Cost
Theres no getting around it: Formula can be expensive. You can expect to shell out between $1,200 and $1,500 on formula before your babys first birthday, which comes to about $100 to $125 a month. Prices vary depending on the type of formula you use. For example, specialized formulas can be up to 20 percent more expensive than the iron-fortified, cows-milk variety.
The least expensive option is usually powdered formula that you mix yourself. Next comes liquid concentrate and finally, at the top of the formula pyramid, ready-to-feed.
Looking for a way to keep costs down but not ready to give up on convenience? One approach is to splurge on ready-to-feed formula during your babys first few weeks when sleep is hard to come by and the last thing you want to do is measure and mix at 2 a.m.
Another way to save on formula? Try registering on the manufacturers website for coupons and rebate checks. Buying generic formula will also save you money.
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How To Keep Track Of Your Babys Development
With so many different things going on tracking your babys development may not be the first thing that comes to your mind to do.
However, knowing what your child is doing can be helpful at various appointments including your well child checks with your doctor.
One way to keep track of your babys development is by using the Tryde app.
Reducing The Risk Of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
SIDS is rare, so do not let worrying about it stop you enjoying your baby’s first few months.
Putting your baby on their back to sleep, in a cot in the same room as you, for the first 6 months is one way to reduce your baby’s risk even further.
Not smoking during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and not letting anyone else smoke in the same room as your baby, will also help protect them.
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When To Be Concerned
It is quite scary as a new parent to notice anything irregular with your baby. And bowing of legs can be quite alarming. To make sure that your baby does not have bow legs when he grows up, you should ensure that you don’t rush your child into early walking! In addition, ensure that:
- He has an adequate intake of vitamin D. So ensure outdoor time and a good diet.
- Introduce nutritional supplements especially if you have an urban lifestyle.
- Overweight children may continue to have problems with their knees, so ensure he gets plenty of exercise.
Look out for the red flags .
Your child does not need special footwear, braces, or correction if it is physiological bowing.
The red flags:
- The bowing is quite severe and interferes with walking.
- It persists after the age of three.
- The child is limping or in pain.
- Only one leg is affected.
- The child appears very small for his age.
If you do not observe these red flags, your child is just growing up and the bowing is something he might just go through. If you are concerned though, don’t hesitate to visit your doctor.
The majority of bowlegged kids recover from their condition and can walk, run, and play without any difficulty.
Treatment is frequently necessary for severe bow legs or bow legs brought on by an underlying disease. Otherwise, severe bow legs can result in limb deformity, difficulty running or walking, and an increased chance of developing arthritis as an adult.
Months: Sing Simple Songs
Classic nursery rhymes and childrens songs like This Little Piggy and Five Monkeys on the Bed help kids understand basic mathematical concepts such as taking away and adding to, Laing says. Kids this age arent going to be able to add and subtract, but he or she can begin to understand the concepts.
Good to know: Combining the songs with the appropriate actions really drives home the message. So youll want to play with those piggies too.
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Stretch Pedal And Tickle
Lay baby on a blanket and help them get moving. Gently hold their hands while you move their arms up, out to the side, and around. Give those adorable toes a little squeeze and pedal their legs . Gentle massage and tickles from the bottoms of their feet to the top of their head can offer fun for both of you.
This is also a great time to introduce some simple toys. A rattle, high-contrast stuffed toy, or an unbreakable mirror are all good options. Hold them close enough for your baby to focus, talk about what youre doing, and give them a chance to reach for and touch the items while you play.
How Much Does Bow Leg Surgery Cost
If you’re thinking about having surgery for bow legs, you might be curious about the price. Bow leg surgery expenses might vary based on the institution and the physician, but they normally range from $2,000 to $10,000. The kind of operation done and if you have insurance are two factors that may have an impact on the overall cost of surgery.
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Big Breakthrough: Evaporated Milk
Perhaps the greatest advance in milk science occurred before the Civil War. Gail Borden discovered and patented a process of heating milk to high temperatures in sealed kettles, which removed close to half the water content of the milk. By adding sugar as a preservative to the resulting product, Gail Borden invented sweetened condensed milk that had a long shelf life and could be transported easily without fear of spoilage. Condensed milk was an invaluable ration for soldiers during the Civil War and was later promoted to mothers as an infant food. Because of its high sugar content, however, physicians discouraged its use as an infant formula.
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Formula Can Be Pricey How Can I Save Money
Shop around for the best deals on the formula youve chosen:
- Take advantage of the free samples and coupons sent to you in the first few months after your baby is born.
- Clip coupons and sign up for online coupon clubs and apps that let you print and save coupons.
- Sign up for formula companies clubs and special programs that may offer discounts, coupons, and/or free formula and other products.
- Compare prices on formula at online retailers. Some online stores have special mom clubs that let you save regularly on some products every month.
- Check for specials at your grocery store, baby store retailer, or local wholesale/bulk items store.
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How To Transition To Whole Milk
And now the million-dollar question: How exactly do you make the transition from one creamy drink to the other?
Thankfully, you dont have to stealthily remove babys favorite bottle the minute they blow out the candle on their first birthday cake. Instead, you may prefer to switch from formula to milk somewhat gradually especially since some babies digestive tracts take a little time to get used to a steady intake of cows milk.
In cases where a child experiences tummy upset or constipation, mixing breast milk or formula with cows milk may smooth the transition, says Lvova. I recommend starting with 3/4 bottle or cup breastmilk or formula and 1/4 bottle or cup cows milk for a few days, then increasing to 50 percent milk for a few days, 75 percent milk for a few days, and finally giving the baby 100 percent cows milk.
According to the AAP, babies from 12 to 24 months should receive 16 to 24 ounces of whole milk every day. Its possible to break this up into numerous cups or bottles throughout the day but it may be easier and more convenient to simply offer two or three 8-ounce servings at mealtimes.
Things You Should Do With Your Newborn
28 May, 2018
The excitement of finally having your newborn baby in your arms makes all the pain worth it. But after childbirth, there are a few important steps that have to be taken.
The emotion of the moment might make it easy to forget a few things. As mothers its important that we take the necessary precautions to make sure everything goes well with our newborn.
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Bottles For Expressed Breastmilk Or Infant Formula
When buying bottles, remember that:
- You will need at least 3 large bottles with leak-proof caps, discs and teats.
- Plastic bottles are better, because glass breaks more easily.
- Bottles should be smooth on the inside surface , so they are easy to clean properly.
- Bottles should have clearly marked measurement guides that will not wear off over time.
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Prevent Uncomfortable Engorgement Leaking And Clogged Ducts
When you start introducing formula, your breast milk production will take a few days to adjust to the reduced demand. In the interim, your breasts may become uncomfortably engorged, which can lead to embarrassing leakage, clogged ducts or even mastitis a painful infection of the breast tissue.
Thus experts generally advise introducing formula slowly, gradually replacing breastfeeding sessions with formula feeding.
One method is to replace one nursing session per week with a formula feeding session. Start by giving your baby one bottle of formula at around the same time each day. This will train your body to stop producing milk at that time.
Another way to start introducing formula, according to the National Childbirth Trust, a nonprofit based in Britain, is the top it off method, which involves giving a small amount of formula after a nursing session. The extra nourishment will make your baby feel more full, extending the time until your next nursing session and gradually reducing the amount of milk you produce at that time.
If your breasts still become engorged, you can relieve some of the pressure by pumping or hand expressing a little milk, but only until you feel relief, said Dr. Neifert. She warned against draining your breasts completely, as that signals to your breasts to continue to produce milk.
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Breastfeeding Your New Baby
In the beginning it can seem like you’re baby is constantly feeding, but gradually you and your baby will get into a pattern and the amount of milk you produce will settle.
Feed your baby as often as they want. This is called baby-led feeding. Let your baby decide when they have had enough.
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Months: Build With Boxes
Cardboard boxes are cheap, easy to find and endlessly entertainingnot to mention cognitively stimulating. Children are little scientists, Morrison says. Many kids this age are fascinated with filling up boxes and dumping out boxes. And while that can be annoying for parents , your little scientist is actually learning about cause and effect.
Good to know: Building with boxes can also help kids grasp complicated concepts. One of the things that very young children are exploring is the idea of conceptual language, like inside and outside, on top of, underneath, Morrison says. He or she really gets to experience that when playing with boxes.
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Knowing About Child Development Is Powerful
When you understand child development and know what milestones to expect you will feel empowered as a parent.
If you know what milestones will be in your babys future you can choose appropriate toys and activities that will promote new skills.
You are also able to spot when things are not going as they should and request help early on.