Congratulations on your new baby! You have just brought your baby home and are pretty excited about everything. Perhaps you don't even mind the fact that getting a good night's sleep is getting tougher by the day.
Getting into a routine
This is not easy, but rest assured, it will happen. By the end of the first month, new parents discover that their baby lets them slip into a comfortable (but exhausting) routine. If this is your first baby, you probably feel totally amateurish. Relax, let your baby's cues guide you and very soon you will be a seasoned pro!
Rock-a-bye baby
Your baby will probably sleep 12-18 hours a day between regular feedings. If you are lucky, your baby will sleep for longer stretches at night. Do not let your one-month old baby sleep through the night. At this age, infants need to feed at least every 2-3 hours for healthy development. Regular feeds are also important in stimulating your milk supply, which will get established during the first month.
Baby is growing
By the end of one month, your baby should be able to focus on faces, lift his head briefly when on stomach, and probably startle in response to a loud noise. All babies reach developmental milestones at a genetically set time, which differs with every baby. Do not expect your baby to go by the book. Your baby's weight might decrease in the first few days as he loses fluids postdelivery. Most newborns stop losing weight by the fifth day and surpass their birthweights in about fifteen days.
Cause for concern?
More than fifty percent of babies develop newborn jaundice because their immature livers cannot handle the extra bilirubin (the yellow pigment) they produce. Mild to moderate physiological jaundice requires no treatment. Others might require medical attention in the form of bililight therapy.
Babies born by normal deliveries usually have misshapen heads. Your baby's head will gradually attain a regular shape; you can prevent flattening by giving her a little 'tummy time' everyday.
Colic and continuous crying are things that most parents dread. Hours of dealing with a crying baby coupled with lack of sleep and exhaustion can drive anyone crazy. It is vital to seek help and give both your baby and yourself a break during spells of colic. Time tested methods such as rocking, "the colic carry", swaddling and soothing music can work wonders 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 month of life. This shot is not known to cause fever. Your baby will probably cry for a few minutes and that will be all.
Allergic to milk?
Milk allergy is the most common form of food allergy in infants. Frequent throwing up, loose watery stools and wheezing might be signs of a milk allergy. If your baby is intolerant to milk, try another formula before switching to soy substitutes.
Explosive bowel movements and frequent passing of gas are common in infants and will disappear once the kinks in his bowel get straightened out.
We are different
All new parents have numerous questions lurking in their minds, especially first time parents. No book or article can explain everything about your baby, who like all babies is different from the rest. Write down the specific questions you have about your baby to ask your healthcare provider.
Enjoy the time you spend with your baby and make the best out of your first month together. The first month is the perfect 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 to discover 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.
limousine chicago serviceMinus all meningitis thoughts. The flu symptons were strong. Headache,... Read More
What do you do when your child begins talking to... Read More
The initial state of happiness about an own child is... Read More
Many parents seem to be more than a little confused... Read More
Fall marks the beginning of many new things both for... Read More
There are a lot of sophisticated parenting theories and techniques... Read More
There has been much attention in the media of late... Read More
Summer Survival The... Read More
This can be a very complicated issue, so I don't... Read More
Vinegar or honey, what do kids really want? "Toys, candy,... Read More
Do you think you really know your child? I don't... Read More
You no longer have to use Ritalin or other stimulants... Read More
It can be said that any man who procreates is... Read More
The 'phone conversation had nothing at all to do with... Read More
My son recently had his third birthday party and it... Read More
Many public schools not only fail to educate our children,... Read More
Many young people don't know how to study efficiently and... Read More
"Good parents give their children Roots and Wings." --Jonas SalkThe... Read More
Q. I don't like my children spending so much time... Read More
Checking accounts are an absolute necessity these days. You can... Read More
How to Get Your Child to Love Reading was conceived... Read More
LOS ANGELES (May 19, 2005) - With Memorial Day weekend,... Read More
Dexedrine is not prescribed very often for the treatment of... Read More
Perhaps I could make a lot of money by founding... Read More
Home-schooling removes children from public school. That alone makes home-schooling... Read More
led lighting bulbs efficient street lamps Pete's produce ..When David was nine and Laura was twelve, the battles... Read More
When my firstborn arrived into this serene and peaceful household,... Read More
Dining in a restaurant with kids can be very enervating... Read More
Being a single mother is no easy task. I know.... Read More
On one of her quarterly visits to see her grandson,... Read More
Over a number of years there have been issues raised... Read More
Isn't it ironic that a country whose constitution allows for... Read More
How can two or three children in the same family... Read More
To protect children's self-esteem or deflect complaints by parents, many... Read More
My son is 6 yrs old. He came home the... Read More
When my daughter was born, I must admit there was... Read More
Minus all meningitis thoughts. The flu symptons were strong. Headache,... Read More
Annie easily slipped into becoming the sole caregiver of her... Read More
Many public schools not only fail to educate our children,... Read More
Maryann is so focused she's blind. She's slipped over the... Read More
The hot new reality TV show "Nanny 911" has been... Read More
Most of us recognize the continuing escalation of violence around... Read More
I really like all natural remedy for Attention Deficit Disorder... Read More
Do you remember how you first learned the alphabet? I... Read More
A while ago I received this story from David in... Read More
Identity and Your Fraternal TwinFor the most part, throughout this... Read More
It's a familiar scene: Kids screaming at each other, complaining... Read More
In stepfamilies, big holiday expectations can lead to big disappointment--and... Read More
Finding answers to a child's underachievement is often a difficult... Read More
It is hard to believe that summer is coming to... Read More
Parenting Parenting |