Baby’s First Year – Month One
As you take this small baby in your arms, you marveled at what a miracle had entered your life. You count his fingers and toes, touch the tiny little nails, and cuddle the little head that just fits inside the palm of your hand. Your baby is small and fragile and will need you to take care of his basic needs. He will look to you for his comfort and well-being. He will want loving caresses to make him feel secure.
Wide variations in baby’s length and weight are normal. Most full term newborns weigh between 5.5 and 9 pounds and their length is between 18 and 21.5 inches. If your baby is pre-mature, he may have to stay in the hospital after you return home. He will get the best of care there and the hospital will encourage you and his dad to visit each day. Even at this early age, it is best for him to start to bond with you through hearing your voice, smelling your skin and the sight of your face.
Crying
Crying is your baby’s way of communicating his needs to you. He’s trying to communicate when he is hungry, wet, cold, or wants to know you are close. When you comfort him with warmth and nourishment, he feels secure and begins to have trust in you.
Your Baby’s Body
You will notice that both hands are clenched and his arms and legs are curled up into his body very much as he was as a fetus. This is a normal position for your newborn. They have been in tight quarters and protected for the past 9 months. Soon his muscles will relax and his arms and legs will straighten out. You will see quick jerky arm movements and he will bring his hands to his own face. As his muscles develop, the motions will be more controlled and flowing in their motion. When placed in the crib on his side, the arm and leg that are down will be extended from his side. He will flex the arm and leg on the other side. This month your baby will start to lift his head for short periods and will move his head from side to side. His little hand will grasp your finger when you gently stroke the palm of his hand.
Touch
Touch is an important element for your baby right now. It helps to establish the connection and bond between you and your baby. You will have many opportunities to touch your baby as you take care of his needs during the next months. Hold your baby close to your body for feeding, cuddling and rocking to sleep.
Sleeping
Over the next few weeks, your baby is going to go through many changes as he adjusts to his new life. His first few days, sleeping and eating will be his primary focus. Sleeping 15-18 hours of each day is average. Don’t count on long period of sleep yet. He will sleep up 4.5 hours at a time, waking only to have his diaper changed or to eat. Be sure and get your rest while he sleeps because he will have you up to feed or change diapers in the middle of your night.
Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding
All babies have a strong urge to suck. For most babies, breastfeeding is the best possible nourishment. You should plan to feed him on a two to three hour schedule in the beginning. Your baby will let you know when he’s had enough milk to fill his little stomach. He will slowly stop sucking and gradually fall asleep in your arms. Your breast will be full and tender as your milk supply increases. To ease the tenderness, apply warm or cool compresses. Frequent feedings help to increase the supply of breast milk and will make your breasts more comfortable.
Some babies have difficulty digesting their mother’s milk. For some mothers, their nipples too tender and nursuring really hurts. Formula feeding provides good nourishment. Holding your baby as you feed it with a bottle still provides that special closeness and bond.
Neonatal Jaundice
Your baby may have a yellow coloring to its skin and the whites of his eyes from a condition called neonatal jaundice. Many babies have this at birth or within a few days of birth. This is due to a relatively immature liver function. This form of jaundice usually appears between the 2nd and 5th day and it will clear up by 2 weeks. It usually causes no problems.
Regurgitation (Spitting Up)
Most normal, healthy babies spit up. This usually occurs right after feeding. The spit up fluid may look like the milk you just fed him but it is partially digested. It will have more saliva and gastric juices in it than milk. It may have small curdles in it and will have a sour smell. This is normal. Your baby’s stomach and underdeveloped sphincter is not able to completely close. When his stomach is full, movement or tilting can cause his stomach to overflow. If your baby spits up constantly, you may need to change his formula and go to bottle feeding only rather than breast feeding. It may help to feed your baby less but more often to help correct this spit up situation. As babies grow, the sphincter develops and most babies overcome this situation during the first twelve months. Their growth and development are generally not affected as very little milk and nourishment are lost during from this. If your baby spits up constantly, check with your pediatrician regarding a change in his formula.
Hearing
During his first few days, he will recognize his mother’s voice and will respond by becoming more excited or by becoming more quiet. Some newborns actually turn their heads to their mother’s voice even if several people are talking in the room. Speak to your baby as you feed him, diaper, rock or bathe him. His first tools of communication will be what he hears from you. He will learn to speak and to listen from the communication that you start showing him at this early month. Your baby will like the sound of music whether you sing to him or let his mobile play a tune. Soft lullabies will help him to relax. Loud sounds may frighten him and momentarily make him cry. He will draw up his legs and arms and thrust them back. He will repeat this motion until he is comforted with your touch or the sound of your voice.
Eyesight
Your baby’s vision will first be a nearsighted. Bold shapes and black and white patterns will attract his attention. Bright lights will make him blink until these eye muslces learn to retract. He will be able to see objects 8 to 10 inches from his face. He’ll become famaliar with his Mother’s face as he nurses or takes a bottle. Your baby will turn his head to look at you. His facial expressions will mimic your facial expressions. As his father and others hold him close and talk to him, he’ll start to become famaliar with theirs too. Your baby’s neck muscles are still developing and he won’t be able to move his head to follow motion. By moving only his eyes, your baby will follow an object that moves about six inches above his face. Place a mobile over his head in the crib and watch his eyes follow its motion.
Bath Time
Most babies love the soothing, relaxing comfort of a warm bath. Some may be a little frightened at first. If you talk to your baby in soothing tones, his attention will start to concentrate on your voice and he will calm down. Be sure and check with your peditrician, but most doctors recommend a daily bath for newborns. A newborn’s bath is really a sponge bath. Draw just enough water in his tub to allow you to wet your washcloth. Use your washcloth to clean his face, neck and arms first. Be sure and clean the diapered area.
Remember that a wet baby is a slippery baby. Use both hands to bath him. One hand to hold him and the other to bath with the wash cloth. To keep him from slipping in the tub, lay a towel beneath him to act as a soft bath mat. Never leave your baby in the tub alone. He can slide into the water and onto his side and even an inch of water could do harm.
Be extra careful with the umbilical cord area until it has fallen off. For circumcised baby boys, you may want to wait until the circumcision has healed (about 10 days) before giving him his first full bath. You shouldn’t need to bath your baby more often than once a day unless he’s been extra messy in his bowel movements or spitting up. Your baby’s skin is very sensitive and will become red and irritated if not kept clean from the acids in his bowl movements and spit up. |
