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Children’s health information and parenting tips to your inbox.Sign-up to get Mayo Clinic’s trusted health content sent to your email. Receive a bonus guide on ways to manage your child’s health just for subscribing. Email Infant's First Year (0-1) Toddler (2-4) Elementary Children (5-10) Tween & Teen (11-17) ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Subscribe Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data.To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. The world can be a big and scary place for a new baby. They don’t know you’re there to comfort, feed and care for them. Your baby can’t understand that they’re comfortable because they're full and safe, or uncomfortable because they’re afraid or hungry. From your smell and voice, your baby will quickly learn to recognise you’re the person who comforts and feeds them most, but not that you’re their parent. However, even from birth, your baby will start to communicate with signals when they’re tired and hungry, or awake and alert. Your baby is learning all the time. Your job is to help them know that the world is a friendly place, where their needs will be met, so they can learn to feel safe and loved. For your new baby, everything is new and scary at first, even a nappy change.
CryingBabies under 3 months often cry a lot, especially in the late afternoon or evening. We’re not sure, but this crying, often called colic, might be partly caused by your baby simply being overwhelmed by everything that’s happening, both inside their body and outside. ‘Jiggling’ is not a good way to settle your baby. It can be very scary or even painful, even if they stop crying. It is important to never shake a baby.Newborn babies do not cry ‘for attention’ or to punish their parents. In their first 3 months, a new baby cannot decide to cry. They’ll cry because of something they’re feeling or that’s happening. They don’t understand what is happening and that you might be able to help them feel better. Your baby likes the full feeling they have after a feed, when they hear your soothing voice, or when they’re being cuddled. They don’t like feeling hungry or frightened. But they can’t understand that feelings are caused by a full tummy or hunger. Why does my baby cry when I’m upset?Because babies feel but aren’t yet able to think, your baby will pick up your feelings. They’ll be calm when you’re calm and unhappy if you are unhappy. If you feel upset, they’ll feel upset too, though they won’t know why they're feeling that way. So, when you’re tired and frazzled, your baby may be hard to settle, making things seem even worse! Each baby is differentIt really is true. Each baby has a different personality. They may be easy going and placid, or shy and worried, or easily upset. You’ll get to know this over the next few months. Your baby is different and will grow and develop in the way that is right for them. Your face and voice
When it’s all too muchSince your baby doesn’t understand what’s happening around them, your baby can become upset if there’s too much to see or do. They can easily feel overwhelmed by sounds, colours, shapes and touch. Sometimes it’s just too much! Loud noises may frighten your baby in the first months, but you can soothe them by talking in a gentle voice, humming, playing lullabies, or playing music they heard during pregnancy. Still developingAlthough babies are ready to live and grow outside the womb, parts of their bodies are still immature. Your new baby’s body is all brand new and never been used before. It will take the first 3 months to get your baby’s digestive system running smoothly. You can tell by your baby’s face when they’re focused on whatever’s going on inside their tummy. MovingYour new baby will move their body while they’re awake, but your baby doesn’t know how to make each part of their body move, or even that all the bits belong to them. In the first 8 weeks, your baby has no control over their movements; the movements are an involuntary reflex. Sucking, grasping (holding something tight in the hand), and startling (‘jumping’ when there is a loud noise or when they're suddenly moved) are all reflexes. From about 8 weeks, your baby will begin to watch their hands and feet wave in the air, and to wave their fist towards your face or something they want. Your baby’s starting to get the idea that they have a body that moves, feels and has skin all around it, and that they have some control over what it does. Your baby will start to work out how to lift their head when lying on their tummy, and kick their legs. SafetyEven though your baby can’t roll, they can wriggle and kick, so never leave them alone on a high surface such as your bed or a change table. Newborn babies can hear – your baby has been hearing noises from well before they were born. They can see, but only see close things clearly.
Babies need to feed throughout the night in the first few months. Most babies wake every 2 to 3 hours for a feed, and sleep a total of 12 to 20 hours each day – this is normal. Some babies will resettle when you just touch and soothe them – others may need a feed. Do not leave your baby on their tummy when they sleep. Sleeping on the tummy increases the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy. Every baby is different and may develop at different rates. So, if your baby does not do some of these things, they may be ‘working’ on a different area of learning and development. However, babies usually follow the same pattern of development, and it’s good to feel that your baby is developing normally, in their own unique way. If you are worried about your baby’s development, or if they are very different from other babies, talk with your doctor or child health nurse. If there is a problem, it’s better to get help early. More informationLocal community, school or child health nurse
Local family doctorNgala Parenting Line
Raising Children NetworkAcknowledgements Child and Adolescent Health Service – Community Health (CAHS CH) This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions. What are the 3 development stages of a baby?From beginning as a one-cell structure to your birth, your prenatal development occurred in an orderly and delicate sequence. There are three stages of prenatal development: germinal, embryonic, and fetal.
What are the 3 biggest milestones of newborn?Although babies develop at their own rate, most babies reach developmental milestones (important skills like smiling, rolling over, and sitting up) at around the same age.
What are the 5 developmental stages of a baby from start to finish?The 5 Stages of Child Development are Newborn Development, Infant Development, Toddler Development, Preschooler Development, and School-Age Development.
What is the first thing that babies develop?Just four weeks after conception, the neural tube along your baby's back is closing. The baby's brain and spinal cord will develop from the neural tube. The heart and other organs also are starting to form.
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