How big is your baby?
This week your baby will be weighing around 11 pounds and measuring 22 1/2 inches if he/she was of average size at birth.
Baby may sleep through at this early stage! However, if he/she isn't, don't worry, as it wont be long.
Development in your baby usually progresses from the head to the feet. This means that you will see baby develop strength in his/her neck and arms before his/her legs and feet. Likewise, development will move from the center of the body outwards, and so this means baby will be able to control his/her torso before his/her feet.
Your baby's head will be less wobbly as his/her neck becomes stronger, and at this stage may even be able to sit with a little help from you, even though he/she will not be sitting erect. When baby is on his/her tummy, he/she will be able to push off his/her chest.
Baby's arm movement will also be more controlled, and he/she may move his/her arms symmetrically while on his/her back, or he/she may move his/her legs in a bicycling motion.
As language development moves along, your baby may coo and gurgle while eating, or he/she may babble when someone talks to him/her. So when baby gurgles or coo's at you and you respond, you are playing a game with him/her, you are also help baby to discover sounds that will eventually become language.
Baby will be recognizing family members, and he/she may widen his/her eyes, or wiggle or smile when he sees family members.
Your baby can see color, and it is exciting for him/her. Baby will like vivid colors, simply because pastel colors are harder for him/her to distinguish, and so bright primary colors in bold shapes and patterns will be interesting for him/her to look at.
Baby Development Milestones This Week
Physical Development
- Holds Chest and head up for a short time while on stomach.
- May move arms and legs together
- Brings up own body compactly when picked up.
- Grasping reflex disappears
- May bring own hands together
- Follows Slowly moving object with eyes and head
Mental & Social Development
- Explores own face
- Stops sucking to listen
- Gurgles and coos in response to sounds
- Crying decreases
Feeding Your Baby
Some people may have told you that you should feed your baby solids to help him sleep. However, this is not true!
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you should not feed your baby solids until he/she is at least 4-5 months old. Up until then, baby should have just breast milk or formula. Feeding your baby solids before4 or 5 months may actually give your baby tummy ache, which will certainly not cause him/her to sleep through.
Baby Care
When Baby Gets A Cold
The common cold is an upper respiratory tract infection, mainly caused by a virus. It will usually last a week or two, but may occasionally last longer. Colds are commonly spread through droplets in the air from others coughing or sneezing, or by person to person contact.
What to Do- When baby gets a cold, give him/her plenty of fluid to drink. Because the cold may make it hard for baby to feed properly, try and encourage more frequent feeds. Drain his/her nose with a bulb syringe, as needed, especially before feeding.
When to call your doctor
If baby has difficulty breathing
Flares nostrils with each breath
Wheezes
Has a pale, ashen, bluish or grey color to skin
Is not eating
Cries uncontrollably
Is listless
Has a fever which rises above 101F/38.3C
Tugs on ears
Is not having wet diapers
Toys and Play
The looking game
One simple way to play with your baby is to sit him/her on your Lapl and look into each others eyes. Your baby will look away, and then you look away. When baby sees that you are not looking at him/her, then he/she will make a noise to get your attention and to look back.
Reaching Game
This involves holding a string of brightly colored objects above baby's head. He/She will reach up to try and grab the objects, and by holding the objects just out of reach you will encourage him/her to stretch and reach. Don'tmove the objects out of reach when he/she reaches, as this will be teasing and may cause baby to get upset.
Quick Tips For This Week
You can do several things to help prevent baby getting a cold. Wash your hands frequently, avoid taking your infant out in crowded places, try not to let baby place objects in his/her mouth which have been handled by others.
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