Baby Care Encyclopedia

Parents often find this time period extremely exciting because of all the new things the baby can do when reaching out literally to grasp the world. The baby develops increasing control over body movements, and the early reflexes such as the grasp, Moro, and tonic neck, disappear. At the same time, the baby increasingly takes charge of planned, voluntary movement. Using The Muscles Babies learn to use different groups of muscles at different times. Gaining control of the body progresses from head to foot and from the center of the body to the limbs. Thus, babies can control their arms before their legs, and their shoulder muscles before their fingers. While the ability to turn the head and shoulders to follow an interesting object or sound comes almost automatically, it takes some practice to be able to grasp something with the hand. By the age of about six months, babies learn to control the muscles of the neck. This increased control is apparent when you pull the baby to a sitt...

While life with a three- to six-month-old still has its ups and downs, it's calmer and more predictable than the first few weeks. The whirlwind of activity that greets the arrival of a new baby has died down; cards and gifts have stopped arriving; and both parents (but especially the mother) are beginning to feel a bit more like themselves. Feeding, diapering, dressing, and bathing the baby have become second nature. Things are easier from the baby's point of view as well, largely because you have relaxed enough to learn the meanings of the various cries, gestures, and other signals with which she communicates. When your baby starts to fuss, you know what types of small adjustments less light, less noise, less intense interaction your baby may require to become content. As a result, you can both focus your attention on your budding social relationship. The third month marks an exciting turning point in the baby's development as a social being. Infants begin to cry less and spend ...

The developmental landmarks that babies ordinarily reach at certain ages are known as milestones. That word may make parents think of a kind of baby race run along a straight, narrow freeway. Unfortunately, parents sometimes buy into this view and worry excessively about how their babies are doing in comparison to others. It is important to remember that some people always fall on one side or the other of an average. (Otherwise, it wouldn't be an average!) While you may be very pleased if your baby turns over or sits on the early side of average, a baby who does these things a little later is no less likely to grow up healthy and intelligent. PHYSICAL MILESTONES Birth To Two Months Turns head when lying on stomach or back Holds chin up momentarily when lying on stomach Begins supporting head slightly Maintains strong grasp reflex Two To Three Months Raises head and chest when lying on stomach Makes swimming movements when lying on stomach Rolls from side to back Begins to los...

After birth, different regions of the brain mature at different rates. As a result, motor activity (movement) develops first in the head and neck, then progresses down the body. A newborn can lie on his back or stomach with the head turned to the side. Many babies can raise their heads briefly while lying on their stomachs as early as the end of the first month of life. In the second month, they can raise their heads for longer periods, and when held upright, they show the first wobbly traces of head control. By three months, they can sit supported in a lap, head upright, for several minutes at a time. Hand control comes more slowly. Your baby will probably mouth and suck his fists and -fingers right from birth. Newborns typically keep their fists curled during sleep. By about four weeks, though, your baby's sleeping and waking postures will start to look a little more grown-up, with hands held loosely closed or open. By the second month, the strong reflexive grasp of the newborn ...

To say that my boyfriend was being neurotic about the impending birth of our child would be an understatement. By the time I was 28 weeks pregnant he had built a cot, painted and decorated the spare room in the house, bought a boys and girls new born outfit and planned the route to the hospital! To be honest I didn't mind so much and it was nice to see him taking such an active interest in the planning of the whole thing. There seemed no end to his enthusiasm for the birth of the child. He had bought books for the baby to look at from a young age, and he had devoured three different baby manuals himself in preparation for the big day. There seemed nothing I could do to stop him going slightly over board, and I was lost for words when he walked into the living room one day with a big bag that turned out to be my overnight bag for my hospital stay for the birth. It had everything in it that I would possibly need for the birth and more! I tried to pick it up and I couldn't! He told me...