It’s a boy! It’s a girl! Or maybe it’s even both if you’ve had twins! Caring for an infant can be exhausting, but there’s so much to look forward to. With the arrival of your newborn baby, your life has forever changed. A lot happens during your baby’s first three months. Most babies reach certain milestones at similar ages, but infant development isn’t an exact science. Here’s what to expect during your newborn baby’s first month of life.
What To Expect
During the first year of your baby’s life, he or she (or they) will grow and develop at an amazing speed. A baby’s weight can double by 5 to 6 months, and triple by his/her first year During this point of time, your baby is constantly learning as you spend time together every day. Your baby’s brain grows and develops as she sees, hears, and touches the world around her.
Life may feel considerably more complicated and imbalanced. It is important to prioritize. Focus on the essentials — your baby’s basic needs. A baby’s needs can keep you busy as you slowly get the hang of things. Put laundry, cleaning, and other chores on hold as much as you can. Do not be afraid to ask your family or friends for help. Order dinner in or get someone to do the cooking. If you are a working mom, you need to accept that you will not keep up with your emails.
A Baby’s Major Achievements
Rolling over, sitting up, standing, walking and the sound of his/her first “mama” or “dada” will make your heart melt! No two babies are exactly alike. Your baby will develop at his/her own pace. Most babies reach certain milestones at similar ages. However, it’s not unusual for a healthy, “normal” baby to fall behind in some areas or race ahead in others.
By around 2 months of age, your baby will smile in response to you! The sound of your voice or the sight of your face is often all it takes to trigger your baby’s irresistible grin!
While it’s helpful to understand how your baby’s development generally unfolds, it is crucial to not behave like an obsessive mother, monitoring your child’s progress against the baby milestone chart. As long as you keep up with your baby’s well visits, the doctor will keep track of you.
Newborn Development At 0-3 month
Here are a few simple things you can do to help your newborn’s development:
- Spend time with your baby
Read and tell stories to your baby, sing songs, and create conversations every day to help your baby get familiar with sounds and words. In turn, this develops the language and communication skills he/she needs for the future. Playing with your newborn also helps the brain to grow. - Always look into your baby’s eyes
Look at your baby when he/she is looking back at you. This creates a stronger bond between you and your baby. - Smile at your baby
Smiling releases natural chemicals from both you and your baby’s body. Smiling makes your baby feel good, safe, and secure. It also helps build an attachment to you.
Parenting A Newborn
Every day you and your baby will learn a little more about each other. As your baby grows and develops, you will also learn more about what he/she needs and how you can meet these needs.
Taking good care of our own physical and mental health is an important part of being a parent. When you are focused on looking after a baby, you may not have enough time to look after yourself. However, looking after yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally will only help your baby grow and thrive!