Mildstones

     There are many changes in a baby during the first six weeks of their life. They begin to look at the world around them and will let mom and dad know what they want. At this age babies begin to smile which is a wonderful reward for his/her parents. They also begin to develop trust for those who take care of them.

       It is important for the baby to be stimulated. They enjoy music weather it is from their mobile in their crib or music on the radio. They love colorful toys and lights. Just remember that they are still very young and can become over simulated. Their vision is developing as their muscles in their eyes are getting stronger which helps them to focus better.

       By now they are awake more during the day and will begin to sleep longer at night. They are able to tell the difference between night and day. Your little one will begin to hold rattles or other small toys if you put them in their hand. They begin to put their hands in their mouth and will suck on them. This is a way they learn to soothe themselves. Hanging toys above them to reach for will help them exercise their muscles.

        Babies begin to lift their heads and move it back and forth. A good way to help them strengthen their neck muscles is by letting them play on their stomach. They will begin to roll from side to back. They are changing so much each day and they will begin to make their own sounds when he/she is happy. They understand that crying is a way to tell you when she is tired, hungry, or needs attention.

          Remember to watch for signs your baby gives you. They will let you know what they want. This is a special time for bonding with your child and the beginning of a lifetime connection. Your baby now knows other members of the family and those who care for them. They will watch you and follow you as you move through out a room. They are learning to be social in there world. Remember to watch for the little changes in your baby and enjoy all these special moments.

Ways to Interact with your Infant

     Parents don’t realize how important it is to be active with their baby new born to one and a half months old. Well, they are mistaken. It’s very important to do things with your child, even though they are still at a young age. There are many things you can do that they will enjoy and benefit from. Kids love to have a lot of attention; it gives them interaction and a sense of being loved.

     A great activity that they love is being sung to. Some of their favorite songs are; Hush Little Baby, I love you, Row-Row Your Boat, Old McDonald and most any song a care giver will sing to them. Infants love to hear the familiar voice and know that they have someone paying attention to them. This helps them have eye contact and gives your baby social interaction. They especially love it when you change the tone of your voice and really makes them excited.

      Infants also love it when you make faces at them and play games. This makes them giggle and is a fun and special time for both you and the baby. Some of the most common games that can be played include: Peek-a Boo, Tickle, Tickle, and Pat-a-Cake. Other types of activities would be: setting the infant down and grabbing a stuffed animal and going up to them and saying “get you, get you” and keep repeating it. This gets the infant very excited!  Another common game is playing; This Little Piggy went to Market with their toes. Games are a critical part of development and are important to infants even at such a young age. Just being there and having a good times makes the infant very happy and feel loved.

       Infants love being read to.  Even though they are young and can’t understand what the book is about, but they will grow up remembering you reading to them and love to read themselves. They love the comfort of your voice while you are reading. It’s important to read several different times throughout the day. They love the books with bright colors, animals, numbers, and shapes on them. It’s a good idea to keep the book close to them so they can see until they get a little older. Infants like that the books are short and don’t have very many words on a page because they like to see different things. Touch and feel books are a good idea to read to them because they like the feeling but they are also learning to use their senses and get to know different feelings. Having separate soothing books for bed time is a good idea. This helps them calm down before they go to bed.

      There are endless ways to play and communicate with your child,  just use your imagination. It’s just very important to have interaction with you child at this young age.  It helps with their development and is the best way for communication between a parent, caregiver and the child.

What to Expect from Birth to Six Weeks

Each baby develops at their own rate, but remember to take into account if the baby was born premature or on its due date. Milestones are just an outline of what your child should be doing at a certain age. It gives the parents an idea of how their child is developing in different areas. At birth to one and half months your child will spend much of their time sleeping. Sometimes their naps are short but sleep is needed for your baby’s developments. Your child can fall asleep on their own, by simply patting them while they are lying in the crib when they are sleepy.

At this age the baby sees objects best when they are eight to fifteen inches away. It is important to talk to your baby, they are curious even at this young age. Talking softly will help them feel at ease as they learn to adapt to the work around them. It is also important to feed and change them as soon as they are ready. This helps him/her to know that they can count on you and will quickly realize that you are the person they can depend on.

                I remember the time when parents didn’t want their baby to suck on its thumb or a pacifier, but allowing them to suck on whatever they want will help them to soothe and calm themselves. This is a very important step in their growth at this age.

It is important for the child to know who you are and that you are there for them. This is the beginning of the bond that you will share with your son or daughter for the rest of their lives. Infants can hear sounds ten weeks before they are born and already know the sound of their mother’s voice. They love the sound of their mother singing a lullaby. It only takes a few days after birth for the baby to become familiar with the father voice and to be comforted by him also.