Tuesday, February 28, 2006

update on my growth

7 weeks



Head's up!
Your baby's neck muscles are getting stronger, which allows him to hold up his head for short periods. He can hold it up for a few moments while lying on his stomach, for example, and he may even be able to turn it from side to side. He may be able to hold it up when he's in a car seat or front carrier, especially if he has lots of support and you use special baby headrests designed to help him in those situations.

Exploring extremities
At birth, your baby had no idea his arms and legs were attached to him. That's all changing now as he starts exploring his body. The parts he'll discover first are his hands and feet. You can encourage his interest by holding his arms above his head and asking, "How big is baby?" or by reciting "This Little Piggy" and counting his toes.

Learning to soothe himself
Babies love to suck. They need to suck. In fact, you may have discovered that a pacifier works wonders in helping your baby calm himself now. And when his binky's not around, he may even be able to find his thumb or fingers to pacify himself.

Look who's baby-talking now
Your 1-month-old may gurgle, coo, grunt, and hum to express his feelings now. A few babies also begin squealing and laughing. Be sure to coo and gurgle back, and talk to him face-to-face. He'll enjoy holding your gaze now. If you have things to do, though, he'll still enjoy hearing your voice from across the room.

Even though your baby has been able to recognize you since he was just a few days old, by the end of this month he may be able to show it. About half of all babies this age begin to exhibit an obvious recognition of their parents. (They react differently to mom and dad than they do to strangers.) Your baby may quiet down and make eye contact with you, or he may smile when he sees you.

Music appreciation
Now that your baby is awake for longer periods during the day, you can use these times to stimulate his sensory development. Try singing your favorite lullabies or playing tapes or discs of childsong troubadours such as Raffi, Linda Rondstadt, and Peter, Paul, and Mary. But you needn't restrict his listening fare to children's' songs. Fill the house with the sounds of music — from Talking Heads to Mozart — and watch as waves of pleasure (expressed in coos, lip smacks, and spasmodic movements of arms and legs) pass through your child. The sound of wind chimes or a ticking clock will also amuse your baby. The more varied the offerings, the richer the impact. Inevitably, you'll see your child react more pleasurably to one selection over another as he begins to develop preferences.

Eyes can track objects now
With both eyes now able to focus, your baby can track a moving object, something he may have been able to do for only brief periods since birth. The stores are packed with developmental toys, but you'll do just as well with everyday objects. Pass a rattle or a bright plastic ladle from side to side in front of him. Then try moving it up and down. This should attract your baby's attention, though he probably won't be able to smoothly follow vertical motion for about three months. You can also play eyes-to-eyes by moving very close to his face and slowly nodding your head from side to side. Often his eyes will lock onto yours.

Is my baby developing normally?
Remember, each baby is unique and meets cognitive milestones at his own pace. These are simply guidelines to what your baby has the potential to accomplish — if not right now, then shortly.

If your baby was born prematurely, keep in mind that he'll almost always need a bit more time before he can do the same things as other children his chronological age. That's why most preemies are given two ages by their pediatricians — their chronological age (calculated from their birthday) and their adjusted age (calculated from their due date). Doctors generally assess a preterm child's development from the time he should have been born and evaluate his skills accordingly.


6 weeks



How your baby's growing: By now roughly half of all babies recognize their parents and openly prefer Mom and Dad to strangers. Your baby may actually smile when she sees you and coo and kick with pleasure.

In general, she's become more sensitive to her surroundings. If you ring a bell, she'll respond in some way by starting, crying, or even quieting. She's beginning to take a real interest in music, whether it's you singing to her or classical music coming from the radio. She notices things more acutely,too — staring intently at a plush toy, for instance, placed in front of her. For parents, it's a gratifying experience, especially coming as it does after weeks of diapering, feeding, bathing, kissing, and cuddling with little response.

How your life is changing: One word — exhaustion. The initial rush of adrenalin that carried you through the first few weeks has probably worn off by now, and your life may seem like an endless chain of diaper changes, feedings, and soothing-fussy-baby sessions. And yet, deliverance — at least from the chaotic nature of these days — is ahead. Your baby may have started napping at roughly the same time every day. And even if she hasn't, it's only a matter of weeks before a pattern, or routine, emerges. In the meantime, check out our strategies from other new mothers on how to stay sane during these sleep-deprived times.

5 weeks



How your baby's growing: That smile lighting up your baby's face — and your own — may be the real thing. You can tell it's a social smile (as opposed to gas) if he uses his entire face to tell you he's pleased. Though babies will smile only when they're ready, you can get yours there faster by cuddling, tickling, and playing with him.

By this time your baby can focus both eyes on an object and has begun to prefer more complex designs, colors, and shapes. He can track movement, which means that a simple rattle passed in front of his face can transfix him. Or you can play eyes-to-eyes — move very close to his face and slowly nod your head from side to side. He'll follow you raptly, and you may even get another smile, or chuckle, out of him.

How your life is changing:Your healthcare provider says you're ready to have sex again. But are you? Or maybe you're ready, but your partner isn't. You're not the only one wondering whether it'll ever be the same. Chat about sex and romance after baby with other BabyCenter members, or go to our bulletin boards to discuss your changing relationship as new parents.

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