Babys First Month At A Glance
|
Congratulations on your new baby! You have just brought yourbaby home and are pretty excited about everything. Perhapsyou don't even mind the fact that getting a good night'ssleep is getting tougher by the day.
Getting into a routine
This is not easy, but rest assured, it will happen. By theend of the first month, new parents discover that their babylets them slip into a comfortable (but exhausting) routine.If this is your first baby, you probably feel totallyamateurish. Relax, let your baby's cues guide you and verysoon you will be a seasoned pro!
Rock-a-bye baby
Your baby will probably sleep 12-18 hours a day betweenregular feedings. If you are lucky, your baby will sleep forlonger stretches at night. Do not let your one-month oldbaby sleep through the night. At this age, infants need tofeed at least every 2-3 hours for healthy development.Regular feeds are also important in stimulating your milksupply, which will get established during the first month.
Baby is growing
By the end of one month, your baby should be able to focuson faces, lift his head briefly when on stomach, andprobably startle in response to a loud noise. All babiesreach developmental milestones at a genetically set time,which differs with every baby. Do not expect your baby to goby the book. Your baby's weight might decrease in the firstfew days as he loses fluids postdelivery. Most newborns stoplosing weight by the fifth day and surpass theirbirthweights in about fifteen days.
Cause for concern?
More than fifty percent of babies develop newborn jaundicebecause their immature livers cannot handle the extrabilirubin (the yellow pigment) they produce. Mild tomoderate physiological jaundice requires no treatment.Others might require medical attention in the form ofbililight therapy.
Babies born by normal deliveries usually have misshapenheads. Your baby's head will gradually attain a regularshape; you can prevent flattening by giving her a little'tummy time' everyday.
Colic and continuous crying are things that most parentsdread. Hours of dealing with a crying baby coupled with lackof sleep and exhaustion can drive anyone crazy. It is vitalto seek help and give both your baby and yourself a breakduring spells of colic. Time tested methods such as rocking,"the colic carry", swaddling and soothing music can workwonders on a baby who seems to be screaming his lungs out.
Ouch! It hurts
Your baby will receive a Hepatitis B shot in the first monthof life. This shot is not known to cause fever. Your babywill probably cry for a few minutes and that will be all.
Allergic to milk?
Milk allergy is the most common form of food allergy ininfants. Frequent throwing up, loose watery stools andwheezing might be signs of a milk allergy. If your baby isintolerant to milk, try another formula before switching tosoy substitutes.
Explosive bowel movements and frequent passing of gas arecommon in infants and will disappear once the kinks in hisbowel get straightened out.
We are different
All new parents have numerous questions lurking in theirminds, especially first time parents. No book or article canexplain everything about your baby, who like all babies isdifferent from the rest. Write down the specific questionsyou have about your baby to ask your healthcare provider.
Enjoy the time you spend with your baby and make the bestout of your first month together. The first month is theperfect time to forge a bond with baby, a bond for life.
* About the author *
This article has been provided by ParentingSurvivalGuide.com.
Please visit our web site at http://www.ParentingSurvivalGuide.com todiscover more articles.
Copyright 2005 ParentingSurvivalGuide.com, all rights reserved.
This article may be freely republished for noncommercial use as long as the article, including the author information and this reprint policy statement, is republished in its entirety, unedited, and with all links working.
|
|
|
An Overview Of Alternative Treatments For Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Since so many would rather avoid the use of stimulant medications for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder if possible, a growing need for the development of alternative treatments for ADD ADHD has developed over the past twenty years. Although there are many products that claim to help any child with ADD ADHD, the truth is that there are only a few non-medication treatments for attention deficit disorder that have actually undergone even the simplest of clinical trials. Most alternative treatments have never been carefully studied to determine their effectiveness in the real world.
Our four favorite non-medication treatments for attention deficit disorder have been studied in the real world. They are Behavior Modification therapy, the Nutraceutical medicine...(related: Parenting)
Bird Flu Pandemic
What are the easiest things citizens can do to prevent spreading in an epidemic outbreak in America of a virus. There are many things you can do and warn your kids not to do; for instance tell your children; Do not touch handrails in public places and buses. Whenever possible; do not sit on and stay off park benches. You should wi...(related: Parenting)
7 Ways To Survive The Start Of The School Year
It happens every year. Just when you are settled in to the lazy days of summer, you are startled to find Back to School catalogs in your mailbox and bikinis going on sale in favor of turtlenecks. Your local store has devoted an entire aisle to pencils, notebooks, and lunch bags. Soon there will be no more long days at the beach, late nights watching movies with popcorn, or mornings free of alarm clock jitters. It's enough to make you dread...(related: Parenting)
Parenting Your Teenager: How To Say No!
Q: Whenever we tell my daughter "no," she just bugs and pesters until we give in. I know it's wrong to give in, but she makes things so unpleasant that we give in just to make peace. How can we turn this situation around?A: You have a problem. Your daughter knows that your nos are not to be taken seriously. When you say "no" and then give in to the inevitable hassling and b...(related: Parenting)
The Great Baby Name Debate
Winifred or Willow? Thomas or Troy? The name you choose for your child will last a lifetime. Whether you're looking for something original that will stand out from the crowd or a traditional name that people will instantly recognize, choosing a name for your new baby is a huge responsibility.It goes without saying that you as the parents must like the name. Names that hold bad associations for...(related: Parenting)
My Husband Prioritizes Making Money Above Family Time
"Money is tight, and my husband's obsessed with doing everything he can to make more of it. It's gotten so bad that he's lost interest in our daughter. He hardly spends any time with her anymore. What can I do?"Sounds familiar? I've heard countless stories similar to the above. Husbands ignoring family because of work. Are males wired to provide for the family so much so that they f...(related: Parenting)
How To Deal With Your Child?s Inappropriate Behaviour
Children bombard parents with many challenging behaviours. We are delighted if their behaviour is mostly positive. But what if your child constantly demonstrates negative behaviour? How are you going to deal with it?It can get very frustrating for a mother who is yelled at every time she says 'no' to a child. In my clinic, I've seen parents who feel desperate when their son or daughter who used to behave like a "saint" is now rebellious, oppositional, and involved in drugs.As a parent, what are your options?Establish a Hierarchy of Consequences ...(related: Parenting)
Getting Through To Your Teenager
Have you ever watched your teenager make a mistake (that you've made yourself) after you've warned them at least a thousand times? Is there anything more frustrating as a parent?Well, this is somewhat typical in most "normal" households across America. We (parents) screw up, tell our children about it, and what do they do? They go out and repeat the same mistake. It makes you question your own gene pool.In actuality, the problem isn't with the teenager (at le...(related: Parenting)
Single Mother Sanity Savers Pt. 1
Being a single mother is no easy task. I know. I was a single mother of two children less than six months ago, so I can say with some authority that being a single mother is a beast. It can drive you crazy if you let it. The insanity is not just that you have to raise children alone and be mother and father. The craziness gets worse when you add a full-time job, not enough money, societal pressure, not...(related: Parenting)
Children Cooperate When Appreciated
Do you want your child to cooperate with you more?Children are much more likely to cooperate with adults who like being with them and who let them know they are worthwhile. This builds a level of trust and a feeling of safety. Within that environment, they are more likely to respond by being helpful and pleasant.Relationships are created step by step. Sometimes the smallest things - a word of encouragement or small act of appreciation - can tilt the balance and create a whole new energy in a relationship.We all need to feel accepted and approved of.If your children walk into the room and you look up and smile, glad to see them, they will receive the message:"I am worthwhile.""I am welcome and appreciated."That u...(related: Parenting)
5 Ways To Tell If A Preschooler Is Living In Your House
1. You reheated the same cup of coffee three times this morning.2. There is always one more person in your bed in the morning, than there was the night before.3. You can't imagine life without the Cartoon Network.4. The lock on your bathroom door is purely for decoration? After all, no locked door could withstand, "Mom? What are you doing? Mom? Can I come in? Mom? Can I show you something? Mom? Can I give you a hug? Mom? Can you hear me? Mom?5. You have started -or signed- a petition to banish the word "why" from every language known to man.Ab...(related: Parenting)
The Long Journey Home
Once upon a time, I thought I had it all. I had a child, a career, the world at my feet. Or, so I thought.With the birth of my second son, my whole world changed. I moved into a new home, got a new car, made new friends. The biggest change, though, was internal. Suddenly, my head started listening to my heart a little more. My career and moving up in the corporate world suddenly became something I HAD to do, because I needed to pay the bills. Suddenly, I wanted what other people had. I wanted to stay home with my kids and take care of my family.Wait a minute, who was this straight from 1950 woman taking over my brain? Was it post-partum insanity or had someone mysteriously slipped me some sort of anti-feminist drug? I was raised to believe that I was EQUAL to every man, in fact, maybe even a little better. I believed that I should not...(related: Parenting)
site-map - Copyright © 2006 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved. | Parenting