Baby Development Stages

Baby Information & Milestones Guide - Preview

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Chapter One

Pregnancy is over...and as one special part of your life comes to an abrupt end, a new, even better and more exciting one begins. The first year with your baby will leave you humbled and breathless and more in love than you ever thought possible.

You have brought to fruition your dream; and nine long months of waiting are over! Finally, you are eye-to-eye, cheek-to-cheek and heart-to-heart with your baby. Feeling their toes, the softness of their skin and smelling their hair as you hold them is just the beginning of the long road ahead that is called parenthood!

The relationship with your child begins long before pregnancy and is a culmination of the entirety of your life. Watching them grow up, although bittersweet, is just one of the many joys that being a parent brings. You shouldn’t have to go it alone and this book is intended to shed some light on the millions of things that new parents want and need to know to make the first year one of your very best ever.

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So many new mothers are overwhelmed during the first year. The phases and stages of infancy are short lived and come and go at such a rapid pace that it can be difficult to keep up. This is especially true if this is your first child.

Pediatricians, family members, other mothers and well meaning strangers will add their two cents worth of knowledge about what to expect, what you should be doing and what baby development milestones and accomplishments your baby should be making.

However, rest assured that your instincts and feelings are two of the most important components of raising your baby and that you really can make applicable decisions from your own heart without worrying about scorn from others or making a mistake.

Each of us has our own parenting style and the way you choose to raise your baby is as personal as the perfume you wear or the way you feel about religion. Be confident in yourself and realize first and foremost that everything you need to raise a healthy baby is already inside of you. The rest you can be confident can be found in this E-Book!

Much of what you read about the first year of your baby’s life is purely meant to be used as a guide to compliment your own personal style of parenting. When you combine the information from guides like these with your heartfelt ideas of how to take care of your baby, you will encounter a fabulous first year that you will never forget.

You may be wondering as you hold your newborn baby, what now?

Just a few weeks ago, you were overwhelmed with incidental decisions about what color to paint the baby's nursery or needlessly worried about having enough clothes to bring your baby home.

Today, you are faced with vital decisions about everything from...

Breast feeding versus the bottle
To how to implement a baby sleep schedule that works for baby and leaves you free from exhaustion
You may wonder if your quick tears mean you are suffering from post partum depression
Or whether or not you are bonding appropriately with your baby

Then there are questions about when and how to...

Introduce solids
What to do if your baby is sick
Concerns about SIDS
And whether or not your baby is meeting the milestones of this important time in their life
Immunizations
Dealing with colic
Teething
Baby sleep patterns
Balancing work and parenthood
Daycare

And other questions will flow in like a constant wave from this point on and continue for the rest of your life.

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This book is designed to stay with you every step of the way so that you can turn to it for a monthly baby checklist of baby milestones and development, as well as steal helpful and inspiring ideas that will help you make informed decisions, understand what you and your baby are going through and be the best parent that you can be. After all, the goal of parenting is just that!

This E-book is split into two sections and is carefully designed to give you a thoughtful overview of the things you will be most concerned about during this special first year of life with your baby. The second section provides a snapshot of the month by month baby milestones and developmental stages your baby will be reaching from months 1–12.

Armed with knowledge and know how, you will feel more confident in your parenting abilities and can have the insight necessary to know exactly what to expect and when.

Baby Milestones Month One

The Journey Has Just Begun

The first month is one of wonder and transition for you and your baby. You are now a parent and your baby is out of the warm interior of the womb, experiencing life for the first time. They seem so still and silent. The first month can be the easiest of all 12, so enjoy this time together, hold them as often as you like and find ways to make them feel safe and secure. This month is largely about bonding and adjusting to your new life and the new addition to your family. You may find that an infant carrier or sling helps keep your hands free and baby calm and this can help with the bonding for you and your baby.

Hints for Baby's 1st Month – Making Things Easier for You & Baby

Keep your baby swaddled to prevent uncontrollable muscle jerks that can wake or frighten baby (see: how to swaddle your baby later in this chapter).
Never keep the house silent when baby is sleeping. Carry on as usual so they adjust to sleeping with background noise.
Make sure that everyone in contact with you and your baby washes his or her hands. If someone is sick, have them put on a mask before entering your house.
Your baby will sleep most of the time, only waking to eat. Take advantage of this time to ensure you are well rested as well.
Rocking, swaying or riding your baby in the stroller or car are relaxing for one month olds.
Lying baby on your chest will soothe as they can hear your heartbeat.
Use an infant car seat (avoid second hand ones), rear facing with a 5-point harness in the car and always make sure baby is in the backseat. This seat should be used until your baby is BOTH one year AND 20 pounds. When using bouncy seats make sure that baby is always strapped in.

First Month Developmental Milestones

Baby will lift head for short periods and turn head from side to side when lying on their back.
Baby’s hands should stay clenched and they will have a strong grasp reflex, latching on to your finger if you hold it to their hand.
By the end of the first month they will begin following objects with their eyes.
Baby can see patterns in black and white.
May startle or calm when a familiar voice is heard.
Baby will cry with wet or soiled diapers or feelings of discomfort.
Will begin making sounds in their throat.
Maintains eye contact when being spoken to, recognizes familiar voices

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Month by Month Milestones Now

Baby Eating And Baby Sleep Expectations During the First Month

Formula fed babies will eat every 2 ½ to 3 ½ hours. They may eat an average of 6 ounces each time and by the end of the first month consume 8 ounces of formula at a time.
Breastfed infants will eat every 1 ½ hours to 3 hours.
Nothing but formula or breast milk should be given during this month.
One month infants will sleep anywhere from 19 – 21 hours each day with periods of wakefulness slowly increasing by month’s end.
Baby should always be placed to sleep on their back, using a positioner if desired and the crib should be free of pillows, heavy blankets, stuffed animals or bumper pads.
On average, your baby will wet or soil 10-12 diapers per day.

Things to Look for During Baby's First Month

It is common for tear ducts to become clogged, look for abnormal tearing or discharge from the eye.
Your baby should resume their birth weight by the two week mark.
If your baby gets a fever, make sure you take them to the doctor immediately.
The umbilical cord should be taken care of with peroxide. Never pull it off and only clip it back when necessary.
Purchasing mittens will keep your baby from scratching themselves.
Make sure to keep your baby’s head warm at all times.
Most babies lose their hair during the first few months of life. Don’t panic it’ll grow back!
Baby wipe warmers can make diaper changes more comfortable for baby.
Look for signs of thrush in the mouth which will be white patches on the tongue and gums.
Often, birthmarks like hemagiona will begin to show up in the weeks following delivery Don’t be alarmed, just contact your pediatrician for a quick inspection.
Vaginally delivered babies often have misshapen heads that will disappear in a few weeks post partum.
Baby blues are common during this month. If you begin to feel signs of depression talk to your doctor and make sure, you take steps to care for yourself. Continue with your prenatal vitamins and allow your body time to heal and transition from the massive hormonal fluctuations you are experiencing.
Consider using a swaddling wrap when putting baby to bed if they are unsettled. This can help them feel snug and secure like they did in mom’s tummy

How To Swaddle Your Baby Step by Step Instructions

To swaddle your baby you will need either a square cotton sheet, a muslin wrap or a purpose made swaddling wrap.

Spread the sheet out flat like a diamond with one corner folded over at the top.
Lay your baby face up on the sheet with the fold under his neck.
Wrap the right corner over his body and tuck it underneath him.
Fold the bottom corner up over his feet.
Wrap the left corner over his body and tuck it underneath him, leaving only his head and neck exposed.

Remember when you swaddle your baby the idea is to help him feel secure, not keep him warm. It’s best to use a light weight cotton baby wrap or a swaddling wrap such as the Miracle Blanket so you don’t risk overheating your baby.

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Baby Development Month By Month Milestones

As we mentioned earlier this E-book is split into two sections and is carefully designed to give you a thoughtful overview of the things you will be most concerned about during this special first year of life with your baby. The second section provides a snapshot of the month by month baby milestones and developmental stages your baby will be reaching from months 1–12.

Section 1 Baby Development Guide

So, You Had a Baby NOW WHAT?
Breast or Bottle? -What about Bottle Fed Babies? -What if It Doesn’t Work? Then What?
Baby Blues or Something More?
What you Need to Know About Postpartum Depression
How do You Know if You Need to Seek Help for Your Depression?
Taking Care of Yourself – Helpful Suggestions to Ward off the Baby Blues
Baby Sleep -The ABC’s of a Sleep Schedule!
Sleep Hints for the First Year
SIDS and Your Baby - Understanding the Risk
Is My Baby Healthy? Keeping Baby Healthy During the First Year and What to Expect from Your Doctor’s Visits!
What you should expect during your well visits with the doctor
My Baby Has a Fever! What Should I do?
Is it Colic or Is My Baby Sick?

Section Two Your Baby Month-by-Month Guide

Hints for each month including –

Making Things Easier for You & Baby
Monthly Developmental Milestones
Eating and baby sleep expectations during each month
Things to look for during the each of your baby's first 12 Months

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Baby development baby monthly milestones guide

Baby Development Month By Month Milestones