One Month
By Dr. Brown
You've made it through the first month! After those first days and weeks of being unsure of things, by now many parents have developed enough confidence to really begin to enjoy their baby. However, its still normal to have intermittent periods of anxiety, depression, feelings of inadequacy, and extreme lack of sleep! You've probably learned to calm your baby in a variety of ways such as a smile, touch, or voice, but recognize that she may not be consoled regardless of what you do. Crying may increase over the next few weeks, with a peak of about three hours per day usually at about 6 weeks of age.
DEVELOPMENTAL PLAY
Babies are doing more "growing" than "developing". Your daughter is still mostly eating or sleeping, although wakeful times are getting longer. Remember to do lots of "tummy time" so that your daughter gets used to being on her tummy and develops strength in her neck muscles. She is staring at things, and may follow a little with her eyes. At this age, sharp contrast patterns are what most babies like to look at. Make sure your baby still hears well and "startles" to loud or sudden sounds.
FEEDING
All your baby needs at this age is either breast milk or formula, and the amount each baby takes can really vary. As long as she is gaining weight, she's getting enough! Cereal isn't usually started until after 4 months of age. If your daughter is being breastfed, you may want to have introduced a bottle of either pumped breastmilk or formula on an occasional basis. Breastfed babies may need a vitamin, check with your doctor. Water is usually not necessary.
SLEEPING
Make sure your baby is sleeping on her back, but don't forget "tummy time" when she is awake. Most babies are sleeping anywhere from 14-18 hours in a 24 hour period; hopefully most of this is at nighttime. Be sure to not let your baby take too long of naps during the day so she can sleep longer at night.
If possible, see if you can begin to put your daughter in her crib to begin to learn to fall asleep by herself. In other words, try to not always either rock or feed your baby to sleep. Your baby may protest a little, but keep at it if you can. Try to put her down in the crib when she's really drowsy so that she may do the last bits herself.
SAFETY
Please don't leave your baby unattended on the changing table or anywhere else that she may fall. Some babies begin to roll over at this age. Always use your car seat, and watch where you put the seat as it can be tipped over if put on a table or counter.
Always check water temperature before bathing your baby. You may want to consider lowering your hot water heater temperature to 120 degrees for safety.
COMMON PROBLEMS
Colic
About one in four babies have "colic" - a period of unexplained fussiness. Usually this period occurs at the same time every or most days, typically in the evenings. The crying can last for three hours or longer! No one knows what causes colic, but its more annoying and upsetting than it is serious. It usually ends by 3 or 4 months of age. Sometimes putting a warm compress or heating pad on your daughter's abdomen may be helpful. Our best advice is "damage control" - if you need to hold, rock, feed, or whatever for the time period, that's o.k.
If your child is running a fever or the fussiness seems to be all day or unpredictable, it may be something else. Let us know!
Baby Acne
Baby acne can get bad at this age, peaking at about 5-6 weeks of age. The acne can extend from the face all the way up to the scalp or down the shoulders to the back and chest. Rest assured, this should only be temporary. Keep it clean and dry. If its particularly severe, you can try applying a good moisturizer like Eucerin or Cetaphil.
Fevers
Babies this age should not get fevers! If your daughter develops a rectal temperature of 100.5 or greater, let us know! If her fever is not that high, but she's acting strange, let us know! Don't give acetaminophen, Tylenol, or other medicines without letting us know.
Diaper Rashes
If your child gets a diaper rash, the best thing is air! If you can allow your child's bottom to stay open to air, that will help with the healing. When you have to re-diaper, put a good diaper cream on to protect the skin from the next bowel movement or urination.
WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT
Hopefully your baby will begin to become more "regulated" and get into sleep/feed/wake rhythms. Think about this and try to get your baby to fall into routines. Don't forget lots of "tummy time".
Your daughter will become more sociable and begin to start smiling . Allow your child's neck to build strength by letting her hold up her head by herself every once in a while.
You've made it through the first month! After those first days and weeks of being unsure of things, by now many parents have developed enough confidence to really begin to enjoy their baby. However, its still normal to have intermittent periods of anxiety, depression, feelings of inadequacy, and extreme lack of sleep! You've probably learned to calm your baby in a variety of ways such as a smile, touch, or voice, but recognize that she may not be consoled regardless of what you do. Crying may increase over the next few weeks, with a peak of about three hours per day usually at about 6 weeks of age.
DEVELOPMENTAL PLAY
Babies are doing more "growing" than "developing". Your daughter is still mostly eating or sleeping, although wakeful times are getting longer. Remember to do lots of "tummy time" so that your daughter gets used to being on her tummy and develops strength in her neck muscles. She is staring at things, and may follow a little with her eyes. At this age, sharp contrast patterns are what most babies like to look at. Make sure your baby still hears well and "startles" to loud or sudden sounds.
FEEDING
All your baby needs at this age is either breast milk or formula, and the amount each baby takes can really vary. As long as she is gaining weight, she's getting enough! Cereal isn't usually started until after 4 months of age. If your daughter is being breastfed, you may want to have introduced a bottle of either pumped breastmilk or formula on an occasional basis. Breastfed babies may need a vitamin, check with your doctor. Water is usually not necessary.
SLEEPING
Make sure your baby is sleeping on her back, but don't forget "tummy time" when she is awake. Most babies are sleeping anywhere from 14-18 hours in a 24 hour period; hopefully most of this is at nighttime. Be sure to not let your baby take too long of naps during the day so she can sleep longer at night.
If possible, see if you can begin to put your daughter in her crib to begin to learn to fall asleep by herself. In other words, try to not always either rock or feed your baby to sleep. Your baby may protest a little, but keep at it if you can. Try to put her down in the crib when she's really drowsy so that she may do the last bits herself.
SAFETY
Please don't leave your baby unattended on the changing table or anywhere else that she may fall. Some babies begin to roll over at this age. Always use your car seat, and watch where you put the seat as it can be tipped over if put on a table or counter.
Always check water temperature before bathing your baby. You may want to consider lowering your hot water heater temperature to 120 degrees for safety.
COMMON PROBLEMS
Colic
About one in four babies have "colic" - a period of unexplained fussiness. Usually this period occurs at the same time every or most days, typically in the evenings. The crying can last for three hours or longer! No one knows what causes colic, but its more annoying and upsetting than it is serious. It usually ends by 3 or 4 months of age. Sometimes putting a warm compress or heating pad on your daughter's abdomen may be helpful. Our best advice is "damage control" - if you need to hold, rock, feed, or whatever for the time period, that's o.k.
If your child is running a fever or the fussiness seems to be all day or unpredictable, it may be something else. Let us know!
Baby Acne
Baby acne can get bad at this age, peaking at about 5-6 weeks of age. The acne can extend from the face all the way up to the scalp or down the shoulders to the back and chest. Rest assured, this should only be temporary. Keep it clean and dry. If its particularly severe, you can try applying a good moisturizer like Eucerin or Cetaphil.
Fevers
Babies this age should not get fevers! If your daughter develops a rectal temperature of 100.5 or greater, let us know! If her fever is not that high, but she's acting strange, let us know! Don't give acetaminophen, Tylenol, or other medicines without letting us know.
Diaper Rashes
If your child gets a diaper rash, the best thing is air! If you can allow your child's bottom to stay open to air, that will help with the healing. When you have to re-diaper, put a good diaper cream on to protect the skin from the next bowel movement or urination.
WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT
Hopefully your baby will begin to become more "regulated" and get into sleep/feed/wake rhythms. Think about this and try to get your baby to fall into routines. Don't forget lots of "tummy time".
Your daughter will become more sociable and begin to start smiling . Allow your child's neck to build strength by letting her hold up her head by herself every once in a while.