newborn - Baby's First Year

Breast Milk Is Best for Your Baby

2008-01-12T04:41:00.000-08:00

Breast milk is the perfect food for your baby. It is the only food your baby needs during her first six months. A baby is not ready for other foods, except formula, during the first few months of life.

A breastfed baby usually doesn’t need water. However, you may give her water if the weather is hot and your home is not air-conditioned. Don’t add sugar or honey to the water. Don’t give flavored drinks or soda pop to your baby. Don’t give fruit juice to a newborn baby.

Breast milk is best for your baby’s health. Breastfed babies don’t get sick as often, and they usually don’t have as many allergies. They may even be smarter! Also, breastfeeding seems to protect mothers from certain types of health problems.

Mothers often find that breast milk is the easiest way to feed their babies. Also, there is no cost.

You don’t have to wash and sterilize bottles and nipples when you breastfeed. This leaves more time for other things. Breastfeeding your baby can even help you lose some of the weight you gained when you were pregnant. Breastfeeding can be a pleasing experience for baby and mom.

Your Baby Should Sleep on Her Back

2008-01-12T04:38:00.000-08:00

You want to keep your baby safe when she sleeps. Most babies are healthy and have no problems when sleeping. But sometimes babies die in their sleep. This is called Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or crib death. Doctors have not found out what causes SIDS.

Research shows that babies who sleep on their backs are less likely to die from SIDS. If your baby has a health problem, your doctor may tell you to put her in another position. Otherwise, always put your baby to sleep on her back.

Other factors in lowering the danger of SIDS are:

• Breastfeeding–Your breast milk is the perfect food for your baby. Breast milk helps protect your baby from many illnesses, as well as SIDS.
• Smoke-free environment–Don’t smoke around your baby. Don’t take her around others who smoke. Babies in smoke-free homes have fewer colds and infections.
• Closeness–Keep your sleeping baby nearby. It’s good for your baby to learn to sleep in her own crib. Be sure you can hear her if she cries or is in distress.
• Bedding–Be sure your baby is sleeping on a firm mattress. Don’t put your baby to sleep on soft or fluffy things, such as a pillow, quilt or waterbed. Keep stuffed animals out of the crib at sleep time.
• Temperature–Make sure your baby is warm but not too hot.
• Doctor visits–Take your baby in for her regular checkups. Any time your baby seems sick or has trouble breathing, take her to the doctor or clinic.

Your Baby’s Nine-Month Checkup

2007-12-13T08:25:00.002-08:00

Babies need to go to the doctor often, even when they are well. They get shots to keep them from catching diseases. They get a physical exam to see how they are growing. If a problem is found, your doctor will suggest what to do. Taking care of small problems now will often keep them from becoming big problems later.

Doctor visits are also a good time to learn more. Ask the doctor or nurse about such things as:

• taking the baby’s temperature,
• giving medicine or home remedies,
• feeding milk and solid foods,
• giving vitamins or other supplements,
• putting the baby to sleep, and
• following advice on baby care that others give you.

Games for Learning

2007-12-13T08:24:00.000-08:00

Children learn through play, and your nine-month-old is ready to learn. Try some of these activities to help him learn about his world while you both have fun.

Read pictures. Share pictures, magazines and the newspaper with your baby. Point to and name things, actions, colors and people. You might, for example, look at a colorful ad. Point to the girl, boy, stove, radio, lawn mower, blue shirt and gardener.

Feel textures. Cut squares of fabric and glue them to a piece of cardboard. Try to have a variety of textures like corduroy, satin, burlap, vinyl and fake fur. Let your baby sit with you and help him feel each of the different textures with his hands. Describe the textures with words like rough, smooth, soft, bumpy and prickly.

Fill and dump. Gather five or six small, empty food containers like gelatin boxes, an oatmeal box and small cereal boxes. Tape or glue the containers closed. Give your baby a small paper bag. Show him how to fill the bag with groceries and dump them out again.

Love the baby. Give your baby a large baby doll or stuffed animal. Show him how to rock and cuddle with the doll. Point to and say “eyes,” “nose,” “mouth,” “ears,” “tummy” and “legs,” for example. Show your baby where these features are on his body. Say “Here are the baby’s ears. Where are your ears?”

Other Possible Hazards Need Special Attention

2007-12-13T08:23:00.000-08:00

Electrical cords: Cords invite pulling and tripping. Secure the cords along the base of the wall with clips or tape.

Electrical outlets: Cover outlets with plastic plug inserts available at the grocery or hardware store.

Blind cords: Mini blinds and drapes often have long cords. Tie these up, out of your baby’s reach.

Lead paint: Wooden trim in older buildings is sometimes covered with paint that contains lead. This long-acting poison can hurt your child.

Lightweight furniture: Before long, your baby will be pulling himself up to stand. Almost all children use furniture to hold on to as they stand. Top-heavy furniture, like a TV stand, could topple over onto your baby. Rearrange furniture now, and you won’t have to worry later.

When your baby does begin to reach for something he shouldn’t, telling him “no” in a warm but firm voice will help him learn what’s not okay to touch. It will take many “nos” before your baby will avoid reaching for something he shouldn’t. You must say “no” and continue to watch your baby carefully. Babies this age are too young to trust to do the safe thing. Anger isn’t helpful and may only scare him.

Water safety

2007-12-13T08:22:00.000-08:00

Water is great for cleaning and drinking. But it can be a hazard for babies. They can drown in only a few inches of water. Here are some water safety tips:

• Empty your mop bucket right after using it.
• In the house and outside, store buckets, wash tubs and other large containers upside down.
• Always keep one hand on your baby while he’s in the bath.
• Use a rubber mat, rubber decals or a bath chair to keep your baby from slipping in the bathtub.

• Keep toilet lids closed. Use safety latches, if possible.
• Save swimming until your baby is out of diapers. Play with a trickling hose or sprinkler instead. Babies are not toilet trained, so they can leave germs in swimming pools. Chlorine kills most swimming pool germs but not all of them. And it takes only a tiny number of germs to cause infections.
• If you live near a swimming pool, make sure it is fenced and has a locked gate. Keep your baby away from any pools, ponds and creeks.

Safety First—at Every Age

2007-12-13T08:21:00.000-08:00

Always remember

• Buckle your baby into a car safety seat every time he rides in a car. Make sure the safety seat is correctly secured.
• Stay with your baby when he is playing near or in water. Watch him closely.
• Never, ever shake your baby.
• Put your baby to sleep on his back unless your doctor tells you to do otherwise. Insist that others who care for your baby do the same.

• Serve healthy foods. Avoid sweetened, salty or fatty ones.
• Lock up alcohol, drugs and other chemicals. These can kill your baby.
• Put away knives, guns, matches, bug spray, medicine, detergents, disinfectants and other items that can hurt your baby. Put them in a place your exploring baby can’t reach or open.
Home hazards

Your baby is moving around a lot more. At this age, babies are naturally curious and get into everything. But they don’t know what can hurt them. It’s up to parents to keep babies safe. Check your house for safety hazards often:

• Vacuum or sweep the floors. Pick up any small items such as buttons, coins and paper clips.
• Latch window guards or open windows from the top.
• Latch safety gates across stairs.
• Lock the doors to balconies and decks.
• Move electric fans out of baby’s reach.
• Place a protective screen around a space heater. Keep the heater away from curtains, paper and other materials that can catch fire.
• If you have a gun, store it under lock and key. Make sure it is not loaded.
• Check toys. If you find any loose or broken parts, repair the toy or remove it right away.

While your baby is awake and moving, stay close. Look for possible dangers. A pencil may seem harmless, but in a baby’s hand it could poke an eye. Your careful watching will prevent accidents.

Questions Parents Ask

2007-12-13T08:19:00.000-08:00

Question

My mother is always telling me how to take care of my baby. I know she means well, but it makes me upset. I don’t want to hurt her feelings. What can I do?

Answer

Grandparents naturally want to be involved in your baby’s life. Other relatives may also offer advice. They often think they can save you from mistakes they made. They only want the best for your child.

All parents have to find their own way of rearing children. Everyone makes mistakes. No one does it perfectly. Here are some ideas to try:

• Be open-minded. Use the advice that makes sense to you. Forget the rest. For example, your mom may insist that you “dress up” the baby when you take him out. But you may find that your baby is more comfortable without a bonnet and shoes. So you dress him in a play shirt, diapers and socks.
• Explain what you are doing. “We don’t toss him in the air or play ‘horsy.’ That kind of rough play can damage his brain.”
• Point to an expert. “My doctor told me to put him to sleep on his back.”
• Talk it out. Discuss feeding and snacks. “Bananas are more nutritious than doughnuts.” Explain about bedtime and naps. “I sit by his bed and pat him on the back until he stops crying and falls asleep.” Talk about playing and toys. “He loves to play ‘patty-cake’ over and over.”
• Let grandparents know specific ways they can help. “Dad, you could help me most by baby-sitting once a week.” Or, “Mom, I never have enough quarters for the laundromat. Could you save some for me?”

After your explanations, grandparents and others may say, “Well, we did it this way, and all our kids turned out all right.” Avoid arguments. Say, “Thank you for your opinion. I know you are trying to help.” You may also let them know that new information is now available on what helps babies develop and what things to try to avoid.

When grandparents baby-sit, give them food and diapers for your baby. Explain safety issues to them. They may have old-fashioned ideas about safety or they may have forgotten how active a nine-month-old can be. Have on hand anything else your baby may need, such as medicine. Explain about any allergies or problems, like teething.

Remember that no one will care for your baby exactly as you would. Everyone does it differently. Your baby will come to know and love his grandparents in a special way.

Reading to Your Baby

2007-12-13T08:17:00.000-08:00

Reading to your baby is a way to spend special time with her. And it is one of the best ways to help your baby learn. Read to her every day.

When you read to your baby, you are helping her learn new words. Reading to her lets her know that books and reading are important. Reading to her now will help her do well in school later on.

At this age, your baby can pay attention for only a short time. Read only a few pages to her with lots of large, colorful pictures. She loves to have you read the same book over and over. Hearing the words over and over helps her to become familiar with them. She will begin to point to pictures to get you to name them for her.

Your baby likes to touch things. You can make a book for her with different pictures of her favorite things. Cover the book in plastic. She will like to feel it. You can paste pictures onto sheets of paper in the book. Use pictures of toys, family members or friends, foods, flowers or other things she likes. It will make her happy to look at these pictures and to feel the pages. She will like to listen to you as you talk to her about them.

You can even make a book of textures. Paste pieces of fabric onto the pages. You can use fabrics that are rough, bumpy and scratchy. You can add fluffy, stretchy and other kinds of fabrics. You can even paste in a piece of leather or some soft fur. This can be her special book. She will enjoy handling its pages. The important thing is to spend time reading to her every day. Reading to her is good for both of you.

Do you want to learn to read better? A public library might be able to help. You can also call America’s Literacy Directory at 1-800-288-8813 to find out about programs in your area that help people learn to read. The call is free.

Mealtime with Your Eight-Month-Old

2007-12-13T08:16:00.000-08:00

Mealtimes are still messy for you and your eight-month-old. She continues to need your special attention at meal times.

Your baby is probably able to pick up food with her fingers. By now, she is learning to drink from a cup. When she chews, she can move the food to the sides of her mouth.

You can now offer her thicker and lumpier foods. Here are some foods that she should be able to eat now:

• Soft, small pieces of meat.
• Mashed beans or peas.
• Bite-size pieces of bread.
• Cooked, mashed fruits and vegetables.
• Noodles.

Your baby is not yet ready for some foods. Here are some foods that you should not give her yet:

• Cow’s milk.
• Egg whites.
• More than 4 ounces of juice per day.
• Honey or Karo syrup.
• Wheat cereal.

Instead of drinking cow’s milk, your baby should continue to be breastfed or to get formula with iron. Egg whites and milk can make a young baby sick. If your baby drinks too much juice, she may lose her appetite. Then she might not eat the foods she needs. Honey may have bacteria. This can make your baby very sick. Wheat cereal can be hard for your baby to digest.

Remember, your baby knows how much food to eat. Give her a choice of foods that will help her grow. Do not force your baby to eat her food. She knows how much food she needs.

Meals should be offered at regular times each day. Meal times should be pleasant and as quiet as possible. Turn the TV off. Don’t have a lot of other activity going on. Enjoy your meals together.

Your Baby’s Next Checkup

2007-12-13T08:15:00.000-08:00

Now is the time to make an appointment for your baby’s nine-month checkup. At this checkup, the doctor will measure your baby’s head. The doctor will weigh your baby and measure her length. The doctor will give your baby a physical exam. You will need to remove your baby’s clothes before the doctor can do this. You will need to bring an extra diaper, too.

The doctor will also check to see how your baby is developing. Here are some of the things the doctor will check:

• How well she can sit by herself.
• How well she reaches for objects.
• How well her eyes are able to follow moving objects.
• The sounds she makes.

If she did not have a blood test at her six-month visit, your baby may have a test for anemia. She may also be tested for tuberculosis (TB). If you think of questions you would like to ask the doctor, write them down. You might want to bring your questions with you to the checkup. That way, you won’t forget what you wanted to ask. If the doctor’s answers are not clear to you, say so. It is important that you understand what is best for your baby.

Early Intervention and Your Baby’s Developing Skills

2007-12-13T08:14:00.000-08:00

Children learn skills as they grow. These skills happen by certain ages. A child learns skills at her own pace. You can see how your baby is doing. Watch when she starts to crawl, walk, talk and feed herself.

If you are concerned that your baby is learning skills too slowly, talk to your doctor. You can also call 1-800-695-0285 to get information. The call is free. When you call, you will be told how to contact the early intervention program in your state. Staff of your state’s early intervention program can assist you in finding help in your state.

What is an early intervention program?

An early intervention program helps children from birth to age three. Early intervention staff can help your baby learn to roll over, sit up, crawl and grasp toys.

They also help children who are having problems seeing, hearing and talking.

How does an early intervention program help?

It can help your child with needed services and also help you join a support group.

Your family and early intervention staff can work together to plan services. These services teach basic skills and can be done in your home or during child care.

Ways To Keep Your Baby Safe

2007-12-13T08:13:00.000-08:00

Your baby needs to be safe. But she also needs to explore. You must decide when to tell her “no.” And you must decide when to let her discover things on her own. You can keep your eight-month-old baby safe. But you always have to stay one step ahead of her!

Baby-proof your house:

• Lock up all of your medicines, vitamins and pills.
• Be careful when visitors come—people often carry medications in their purses or handbags.
• Remove sharp things from your baby’s reach.
• Put covers on all electrical outlets.
• Move all electrical cords and extension cords out of your baby’s reach.
• Keep your baby away from fans and space heaters.
• Put away small things that your baby can swallow.
• Keep cleaners and detergents out of your baby’s reach.
• Put latches on dresser drawers and cupboards.
• Place tight covers on trash cans and diaper pails.
• Keep your toilet lid down. Your baby can fall into the toilet and drown.
• Be sure to cushion the sharp corners and edges of furniture where your baby plays.
• Avoid using any toy chest or other container with a hinged lid that can fall freely and smash small fingers and heads. To learn more about toy chest safety, call the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772, or visit their Web site at www.cpsc.gov/.

Prevent falls:

• Do not leave your baby alone on a bed, changing table or chair.
• Do not put furniture on bare floors. Put it on top of rugs or small rubber squares that you can get from the hardware store to hold it in place so it does not slide away from your baby trying to stand up.
• Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs. This includes porch stairs.

Prevent drowning:

• Never leave your baby alone in the bathtub.
• Never leave her alone near a swimming pool or any amount of water including a pail of water. It doesn’t take a lot of water to drown a baby.

Closely watching your baby is the best way to keep her safe. Check on her frequently. If you leave the room for a short time, make sure she is in a safe place, such as a crib or a playpen. And be sure to keep a list of emergency phone numbers right next to your telephone.

Feeding Your Baby

2007-12-13T08:11:00.000-08:00

At meal times, your baby may show you that he wants to do things himself. He may want to hold his cup by himself.

You can avoid spills by putting just a little liquid into his plastic cup for him. Or you can give him an empty cup to hold while you feed him from another cup.

Your baby may not always be interested in eating at meal times. He may be more interested in playing with his spoon or his food. This means that meals may take longer than when he was younger. Let him explore. Learning new skills is important.

Never add corn syrup or honey to your baby’s food or drink. These foods may contain germs that can make your baby sick.

Breastfeeding Advice, Breastfeeding and Pregnancy

2007-12-13T08:09:00.000-08:00

Breastfeeding Advice

At seven months, your baby may begin to eat mashed or pureed vegetables and fruit in addition to infant cereal. These foods are not as important as breast milk. Do not worry if he is more interested in playing with his foods than eating them. Nursing him will meet most of his food needs.

Sometimes, your baby may bite down on your breast with his new teeth while he is breastfeeding. He doesn’t know that it hurts you. Usually, this happens late in the feeding. If it does, slip your finger in between his gums and gently say, “No.” If he does it again, slip your finger in between his gums and gently say, “No” again.

To learn more about breastfeeding, you may want to contact your local health department, WIC clinic, hospital, La Leche League or doctor. You can call La Leche League at 1-800-LALECHE or visit their Web site at www.lalecheleague.org/.

Breastfeeding and Pregnancy

Maybe you’ve heard that you can’t get pregnant when you’re breastfeeding. That’s not always true. It depends on how much you breastfeed. And it depends on when your monthly period returns. Breastfeeding should not be used as the only method of birth control. There are various methods of birth control that work well with breastfeeding. Your doctor can help you choose the one that would work best for you.

Your Family’s Future

2007-12-13T08:07:00.000-08:00

Are you thinking about having another baby?
Would you like your children to be born close together? Or would you like them to be born further apart?

Everyone has a different answer. Some parents wait. They have a second baby after their first child is five or six.

Some parents have their children closer together. Other parents decide to have only one or two children.

Talk to your spouse. Do you both have time and energy for another baby? How much can you give? How will you feed him? How will you give him clothes and medical care? What kind of house or apartment will you need? What do you want for your children?

It makes sense to plan your family. Planning ahead lets you give the best care to your children. Talk to your doctor, or talk to a nurse at a public health clinic. Ask how you can space your pregnancies.

There are many safe ways to delay getting pregnant until you are ready. Most are simple and cost little. Some work better than others. You can choose the one that is best for you.

Your Baby’s New Independence

2007-12-13T08:06:00.000-08:00

Your baby is now playing more with his toys. At seven months, he may try to move around more by crawling on his belly to get a toy. Be sure to inspect your house for possible dangers. Babies find everything. They can see tiny things on the floor and under furniture that you may not see when you are standing. When checking to make sure the floor is a safe place, be sure to get down on the floor yourself, and search carefully with your eyes and hands for any dangers.

Your baby’s memory and attention span are increasing. He may try to imitate noises or simple actions, such as clapping. He likes to play peek-a-boo. He may move his head or body around to look for toys that he suddenly cannot see.

Your baby will begin to drop toys on the floor to see you pick them up. He is learning that his rattle makes noise when he hits it or waves it around. He is learning that he can make a noise by banging a toy on the floor or a table. He can move a toy from one hand to the other. He may hold two toys for a very short time.

Your baby knows you. He knows that you are the same person who greets him every morning. He may be shy around people he has not seen before. He may not like it if someone rushes up to him and picks him up. He may need a little time to get used to someone new before he gets picked up by that person.

Falling Asleep on Her Own

2007-12-13T08:05:00.000-08:00

Question
“My baby wakes up almost every night and cries until I go to her. Then she wants to play instead of sleep. What can I do?”

Answer
If she wakes in the night and cries for you, wait for about five minutes. She may be able to fall back to sleep by herself. If her crying continues, go to her. Speak softly to her to comfort her. You can rub her stomach, but don’t pick her up.

If she needs a diaper change or seems sick, take care of that. Avoid feeding her unless you think she is truly hungry. Then tell her it is time to sleep, and leave her alone. Don’t play with her, or she will begin to expect you to play every night.

Most babies will learn to fall back to sleep by themselves. Babies who wake up a lot or cry for a long time during the night may be sick. Talk with your doctor or clinic about what to do.

Try this idea as you train your baby to fall asleep on her own:

Your baby needs to learn how to fall asleep by herself. You can help her by doing the same things each night when you put her to bed. Doing the same things before bedtime will help her know that it is time to sleep.

At the same time each night, rock her for a few minutes and sing to her or read her a book. Don’t let her fall asleep in your arms. As she gets sleepy, put her down in her bed. Put a favorite toy in bed with her. Stay with her for a moment. Then leave her alone to fall asleep by herself.

Let Your Baby Feed Herself

2007-12-13T08:04:00.002-08:00

Your baby will be a messy eater as she learns to feed herself. She might put her fingers into her mouth to suck on while she eats. It helps her swallow solid foods. She might also spit out foods. It will take time for her to learn to feed herself.

Put a bib or apron on your baby, or let her eat with just her diaper on. You can put a washable cloth under her high chair to make cleaning easier. Let her play with her food. Always watch your baby when she is eating.

She may want to grab a spoon while you feed her with another spoon. If she drops her spoon on the floor, she will want you to pick it up for her.

Make sure you know what to do if your baby starts to choke. Call 911 right away if you don’t know what to do. To become prepared, you can get instructions from your doctor or from your local American Red Cross. After you learn what to do, you will be able to help your baby. Always keep emergency numbers near your phone.

Try giving your baby a little fruit juice, breast milk or formula from a cup. When you give her a cup to drink from, help her hold it. Use a tippy cup with two handles. It is easier for your baby to hold.

Babies with a disability or medical problem may need special help. They may have physical problems that make it hard to feed themselves or chew. They may not be able to digest food like other children. Ask your doctor how best to help your child with solid foods.

Baby Bottles Can Cause Tooth Decay

2007-12-13T08:04:00.001-08:00

If your baby needs a bottle to help her fall asleep, fill it with water only. Don’t put breast milk or infant formula in the bottle at night. Don’t put fruit juice or sweetened liquids
in the bottle. These liquids pool around your baby’s teeth while she is sleeping. They can damage and decay her teeth. Water cannot hurt her teeth in this way. Any drink other than water in the bottle at bedtime can cause “baby bottle tooth decay.”

Baby bottle tooth decay can cause your baby a lot of pain. Damage to her teeth may have to be treated in a hospital. Protect your baby’s teeth even before you can see them. Gently wipe inside her mouth with a clean, soft cloth each day. Be sure to wipe her gums and teeth.

At six months, show your baby how to use a cup. You can put some breast milk or formula in the cup. By the time your baby is one year old, she will stop needing a bottle and will use a cup instead. Introducing the cup now helps prepare her for this development in her life. It also helps prevent baby bottle tooth decay and give your baby a bright, healthy smile.

Before bedtime, give your baby a hug. Instead of a bottle, give her extra attention for comfort. You can also give her a soft blanket or toy to hold. You are more of a comfort to her than a bottle ever can be.

Eating New Foods

2007-12-13T08:03:00.001-08:00

The types of foods your baby eats will change over the next few months. Breast milk or infant formula is still the most important food for your growing baby. Sometime between six and eight months of age, your baby will be able to eat strained or mashed fruits and vegetables in addition to infant cereal. Try meats if your doctor says your baby needs more iron. You can tell when she is ready. She will show interest by leaning forward and opening her mouth. Her teeth may begin to appear. She needs to be able to sit up and hold her head steady in order to avoid choking.

Use a fork or potato masher to prepare your baby’s foods. The consistency of food you feed your baby should be like mashed potatoes. Foods such as ripe bananas and cooked apples, squash, carrots or potatoes are good to use. Be sure to remove any seeds from your baby’s food. Don’t add salt, spices or fats to your baby’s food. You can also use baby foods in jars.

Try new foods one at a time. Offer her one to two teaspoons. Wait one week before trying another new food. Watch her for any reactions like diarrhea or rashes. Choose plain foods rather than mixtures. Your baby may not like some foods. Don’t force her to eat. Wait for one to two weeks before trying them again.

Finding a Doctor You Trust

2007-12-13T08:02:00.000-08:00

Your Baby’s Six-Month Checkup

2007-12-13T07:59:00.000-08:00

Your baby needs another checkup at about six months of age. Several things will take place at this visit. The doctor will check to see how your baby is developing.

Here are some of the things the doctor will look at:

• Your baby’s ability to control her head
• Her ability to reach and grab objects
• Her ability to roll over
• Her ability to make sounds
• Her ability to stand while she holds on to someone

The doctor will also check your baby’s weight, length, and the size of her head. Your baby should have what is called a “hematocrit” blood test to check for anemia. The test is done by pricking her toe.

Your baby will also get the shots she needs to stay healthy. Ask the doctor for a copy of the shot record.

Your doctor or nurse will talk to you about your baby. They may ask about her development and about how well she is eating and growing. You should make a list of questions to ask before you go to the doctor.

They may ask about your baby’s sleeping and her behavior and mood. They may talk about how you can keep your baby healthy. Be sure to write down any instructions that the doctor gives you.

Interacting and Playing

2007-12-13T07:58:00.000-08:00

It is important to make time to play with your baby. How he understands the world comes from playing with other people. Two of his best playmates are his parents. Here are some tips for playing with your baby:

• Sing nursery rhymes or songs to your baby.
• Dance to music. Hold your baby firmly in your arms or in a baby carrier and dance to music you both like.
• Hold your face close to your baby’s. Copy his looks and his sounds. Laugh with your baby.
• Your baby is interested in his hands and feet. Touch his fingers and toes while you talk to him or sing to him.

Dads and other caregivers should play with the baby, too. This is an exciting time for your five-month-old. He needs to get to know all the people who will take care of him besides his mom and dad.

Babies need to be around different types of people. This helps babies learn about themselves and the world. They need to learn to tell the difference between family members and strangers. There are many things brothers, sisters, grandparents and others can do to help your baby grow and learn.

Stimulating Your Baby with Toys

2007-12-13T07:57:00.002-08:00

At five months of age, your baby is likely to enjoy anything that he can push with his feet. He is also getting very good at reaching for objects and grabbing them. He is interested in exploring his body. He likes toys he can touch, suck on, look at and chew.

He likes to explore toys on his own, but he loves to explore them with you.

Your baby learns from playing. He likes to explore each toy just to get the feel of it. He likes to take a toy and twist it, shake it and suck on it. He likes to bang it against other objects.

Here are a few things that will help him explore himself and the world around him:

• Give your baby a roly-poly toy that comes back up when it is knocked over.
• Put pictures in his crib or carriage. Make sure the pictures are out of his reach. Hang something bright on the wall of his bedroom.
• Give him teething rings and plastic toys that are clean. Make sure his toys cannot be broken. Make sure they have no pieces that can come off.
• The toys should all be made of safe materials, because your baby will put them into his mouth. Make sure they are too large for your baby to swallow or choke on them.
• Give him a toy that is brightly colored like red or green.
• Give him toys that make a noise like a squeaky stuffed animal, or give him a ball with bells inside.
• Let him play with toys that make music. Make sure the toys are safe for him to play with or put in his mouth.

Sometimes babies are very happy playing with safe things that are not toys, like pots and pans.

Help Your Baby To Explore

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Here are a few things that will help him explore himself and the world around him:

• Hold your baby up in front of a mirror. Point out mommy and baby in the mirror.
• Hand your baby a toy, first to one hand and then to the other. He will soon learn to pass the toy from one hand to the other.
• Bounce a large ball up and down. Soon your baby can follow the ball with his eyes.

• Roll a ball toward a wall so that it hits and comes back. Your baby will learn to watch for the ball to come back.
• Help your baby to stand up by holding him under his armpits. Babies will straighten their knees before they learn to relax them.
• Sing songs when you are dressing or bathing your baby, or make up rhymes about his eyes, nose and mouth.

Here are some things you can do with your baby to help him learn:

• Get down on the floor with him and give him toys to play with. Sometimes, put the toy out of his reach so he will have to stretch for it. Other times, cover part of the toy with a blanket and see if he can find it. Be sure to make it fun so your baby doesn’t get frustrated.
• Talk to him and repeat the sounds he makes. When he says “baa,” you say “baa.” He will smile and laugh and try to make the same sound again.
• Read a book to him every day, even if it is the same book.
• Dance to music with him in your arms.
• Sing children’s songs to him.
• Take him for a walk in his stroller or in a cuddly pack when the weather is nice. Talk to him about what you see.
• Sit with him in your lap and show him color pictures in magazines.
• Show him toys of different colors.
• When he gets tired of playing or trying to talk, cuddle him and hug him. Let him know you love him and care about him.
• Babies love doing the same thing over and over and over again. This repetition is an excellent way for your baby to learn.

Brain Development

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The brain grows fastest in the first three years of life. That is why you see lots of changes in young children. Each child is unique. Each baby grows differently. There are things you can do for your baby that will help him learn. Here are some tips:

• Talking to your baby helps him to learn how to speak. It’s good to start talking to him long before he can speak. Talk to him while you are in the car and at other times, too. Talk to him when you take him for walks. Talk to him when you change his diaper. Talk to him when you feed him.
• Babies learn things at different rates. They learn in different ways. Some babies learn quickly. Others take more time. If you are concerned, talk to your doctor. It’s always good to encourage your baby when he tries to learn. Make a big deal of it when he tries to learn. This will help him. It will make him feel good.
• Even at this young age, your baby will notice how you care for him. He will notice how you behave with others.
• Many babies and young children have trouble with sudden change. Try to give your baby time to adjust to new places and new people.

Your Baby’s Sleep

2007-12-13T07:55:00.000-08:00

A five-month-old baby may sleep for longer periods of time, like five to eight hours. But babies are individuals. Each baby has his own sleep patterns.

Babies are not always awake when they sound like they are. They can cry out and may make all kinds of noises in their sleep. Even if they wake up at night, babies may be awake for only a few minutes. They may fall asleep again on their own.

Don’t get up right away if you hear your baby at night. It’s best if your baby learns how to get back to sleep on his own. If your baby cries for several minutes, it’s time to respond. He could be hungry, wet, cold or even sick.

When you get up to take care of him, do it as quietly and quickly as you can. Don’t give him any extra stimulation. Don’t talk or play with him. Don’t even turn on the light. He needs to learn that night is for sleeping. Your baby doesn’t care what time it is, as long as he gets what he needs.

What’s It Like To Be Five Months Old?

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How I talk:

• I like to watch other people make sounds. I try to make new
• sounds on my own.
• I may say sounds like “ah-ah-ah,” “ee-ee-ee” and “oo-oo-oo.”
• I may babble to get attention.

How I grow:

• I can sit with support.
• I explore my world with my eyes, fingers and mouth.
• I reach for things when I see them and am able to grasp them.
• When I’m lying down on my tummy, I can push myself up with my arms. At the same time, I can turn my head to look around.
• When I’m lying on my back, I may touch my feet and may play with my toes.
• If you hold me under my arms, I like to stand and move my body up and down.

What I understand:

• I know my name when someone says it.
• I can tell the difference between strangers and family.
• I know familiar objects like my toys.
• I am discovering parts of my body.

How I respond:

• I like to watch other people’s faces.
• I like to smile and talk to myself when I’m looking in the mirror.
• I smile and make noises when I see a person.
• I may stop crying when someone talks to me calmly and softly.
• I may cry when someone leaves or when someone takes an object away from me.

Tips about Your Baby’s Playpen

2007-12-13T07:54:00.001-08:00

A playpen can be a big help. You can have your baby in the same room where you are working so that he will not be alone while you do what you need to do.

You can also take the playpen outdoors with you. Make sure it is in a shady and safe spot. Stay with your baby. Outside he can watch all kinds of things that are going on, safely. You can talk to him about what he is seeing.

Babies should only be in playpens for very short periods of time. They need to spend time on the floor. They need time to explore while a parent watches.
If you leave your baby in the playpen too long, he will let you know. When he first gets tired of it, you can give him something new to play with. He may be content to remain there for a while longer.

Here are some playpen safety tips:

• Make sure the mesh on the sides of the playpen has openings that are smaller than 1/4 inch.
• Make sure there are no tears, holes or loose threads in the mesh.
• Make sure the top rail cover has no tears or holes.
• Playpens made of wood should have slats that are no more than 2 3/8 inches apart, or even closer.
• Make sure screws and staples are firmly installed and that none are missing or loose.
• When you set up your baby’s playpen, make sure the sides of the playpen are locked in place. A partially set-up playpen can collapse on and harm your baby.

Safety and Your Baby’s High Chair

2007-12-13T07:53:00.001-08:00

You want your baby to be safe. This means looking closely at the things you buy for your baby. One thing your baby will need is a high chair. Your baby can start to use a high chair when he is able to sit up and is ready for solid food. Here are some tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on choosing a high chair and using it safely.

Choosing a high chair:

• High chairs should have a waist strap and another strap that goes between the legs.
• The straps should not be attached to the tray.
• The tray must lock securely.
• A buckle-on waist strap should be easy to use.
• High chairs should have legs spread far enough apart at the bottom so that they do not tip over easily.
• Look for a locking device on folding high chairs. The lock keeps the chair from collapsing.

Using a high chair:

• Always buckle your baby in. The straps keep your baby from falling or sliding under the tray, where he could be hurt.
• Never leave your baby alone when he is in the high chair.
• Lock the tray securely in place.
• Be sure that your baby’s hands are out of the way when you lock the tray.
• Be sure there are no sharp edges that could cut your baby.
• You may give your baby something to play with on the high chair’s tray.

Is Your Baby Teething?

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When will my baby get his baby teeth? Most babies will start to get their baby teeth between six and 10 months of age.

Watch for your baby’s first teeth to show up in the lower front of his mouth. When this starts to happen, your baby may have some discomfort. The discomfort makes him fussy. The gums may be swollen and tender. He may want to chew things.

The two upper front teeth will probably be the next teeth to come in. The rest of his teeth will come in slowly. In time, he will have a total of 20 baby teeth.

Teething sometimes causes a temperature. If your baby has a temperature of 100 degrees or more, call your doctor or clinic. He may be sick and need treatment.

Gently rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger, cool spoon or wet cloth can be soothing. You can also give your baby a teething ring or pacifier to chew on.

Some teething rings are made to be chilled. This cool object against his gums may feel good and make him less fussy. You don’t need to put any kind of pain reliever on his gums. These wash away quickly and don’t help much.

Avoiding Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

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By now, you are enjoying your baby’s smile. You can help your baby have a beautiful smile by taking care of his mouth before he gets his baby teeth. Even though his baby teeth will fall out, it is important to keep them healthy. Healthy baby teeth lead to healthy permanent teeth.

Before you can even see your baby’s teeth, they need care. Clean your baby’s mouth every day. Wipe it out with a soft clean cloth. This will help remove germs and keep his mouth healthy.

Protect your baby from the pain of “baby bottle tooth decay.” Always hold your baby when feeding him. Never put your baby to sleep with a bottle. Formula or juice that stays in his mouth while he sleeps can harm his baby teeth. When his baby teeth appear, continue to gently wash them with a soft cloth. Do not use toothpaste until he is about three years old and able to spit it out.

When he is about one year old, you can start to brush gently your baby’s teeth with a soft, baby-size toothbrush.

Your baby should get his first dental checkup when he is one year old. You may have questions about how to protect your baby’s teeth. If you have questions, ask your doctor or dentist.

Safety Corner

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As your baby grows older, he will become more active. He will move around more and explore his world. Keep him safe as he grows and learns. Here are some dangers to watch out for:

• Never leave your baby alone in a bath for even a few seconds. Never leave your baby alone near any pool of water or even a bucket of water, no matter how shallow it is.
• Never leave your baby alone on a high place, like a tabletop.
• Never leave your baby alone in a crib with the sides down. If he does ever fall and begins to act strangely in any way, call the doctor right away.
• Never smoke around your baby. Be careful when you eat or drink hot fluids while holding your baby.
• Never give food to your baby that can make him choke. Foods should be soft and runny. They should be ground up or soft, so that your baby can swallow them without chewing. Some babies become constipated when they start to eat different foods at this age. If this happens to your baby, call your doctor.
• Older brothers and sisters may be jealous of the baby. They may try to hit, poke or squeeze him. They may not like it that you spend a lot of time with your baby. Talk to them about it. Let them know that you love them, too.
• Watch your baby when he plays with older children. By mistake, they may give your baby something harmful to play with, or they may be too rough with your baby.
• Make sure that your baby doesn’t grab objects that could hurt him.
• Put plugs in all open electrical outlets.
• Never leave your baby alone with a pet, even if the pet appears to be child-friendly.

Questions from Parents about Medicines

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My baby hasn’t been feeling well. It doesn’t seem to be serious. Can I give him nonprescription medicine or home remedies?

Talk to your doctor before you give your baby any medicine. Some won’t help. Others may be harmful.

Some labels are hard to understand. Once the doctor has approved a nonprescription medicine, ask the pharmacist at the grocery store or drug store for help. You can ask questions at any time. You can ask for help even after you buy the medicine.

Here are some tips to follow when you give any medicine to your baby:

• Never give aspirin to a baby or a child with a fever. Giving aspirin can cause a severe problem called Reye’s Syndrome.
• Always give medications according to your doctor’s directions.
• Read the label completely and carefully.
• Do exactly what the label says to do unless your doctor directs you otherwise.
• Always give your baby the correct dose of medicine.
• Never give medicine for a longer time than the label says.
• Never give medicine more frequently than the label says.
• Always keep medicine out of the reach of children.
• Keep medicine lids closed tightly.
• If you are giving a prescription medicine, always give it as often and for as many days as the doctor says, even after your baby seems well.

Many infant medications come with a measuring device to make sure that you give your child EXACTLY the right dose of medication. You can also buy special measuring devices in the drug store or supermarket to ensure that you know exactly how much medication to give your baby.

When to call the doctor:

• Your baby has a fever.
• Your baby has diarrhea.
• Your baby is vomiting repeatedly. If your baby vomits once and then seems healthy, he should be OK. If he vomits more than once, call your doctor. A lot of babies spit up, especially after feeding or with a burp. Spitting up usually involves bringing up only small amounts of liquid or food.
• Your baby is pulling at his ear and screaming. Maybe he has discolored fluid coming out of his ear.
• Your baby refuses to eat.
• All of a sudden, your baby has trouble sleeping.
• Your baby seems to be drowsy or less active.

It is very important that your baby not become dehydrated. Babies are small and can dehydrate quickly due to a fever, diarrhea, vomiting or refusing to drink liquids. It is especially dangerous if your small baby has two or more of these symptoms at one time.

Questions Parents Ask

2007-12-12T21:06:00.000-08:00

“Whenever my baby cries, I pick her up. My friend says I’m spoiling her. Is my friend right?”

No, you don’t have to worry about spoiling your baby. When you pick your baby up, you are doing the right thing.

By reacting to her needs, you are teaching your baby that she can trust you. Holding her brings her comfort. It shows her that you care when she is hungry, in pain, afraid or unhappy.

Meeting your baby’s needs makes her feel safe and loved.

It’s good to respond quickly when your baby is crying. Her needs are immediate. When your baby is hungry, she wants to be fed. When your baby is wet, she wants a dry diaper. When she is uncomfortable or scared, it helps her to be held.

It’s not good to ignore your baby. She depends on you to respond to her needs. She learns to trust because you respond to her needs. Your baby needs a lot of love from you.

Dads Are Important

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Dad, it’s never too early for you to get involved with your baby. You have an important role to play in your baby’s life. She wants to play with you and learn from you. Showing your baby that you care about her will help her. It will make taking care of her more fun for you and her mom.

Babies learn from all the adults around them. It’s good for your baby to have someone besides her mom to learn from.

Taking care of your baby is important and can be fun. Be very gentle when you play with your baby. Use a calm voice.

If you do these things for your baby, she will reward you with smiles, happy sounds and love. She will smile when she sees you, and she will reach for you when she wants to play. The bond you make now with your child will last a lifetime.

You and your baby’s mom can learn more about how to care for your baby. Look in the Yellow Pages of your phone book. There may be a “community service” section near the front of the book. Look under “support groups” for parenting help.

Here are some things you can do with your baby:

• You can hold her.
• You can talk to her.
• You can sing to her.
• You can show her toys.
• You can bathe her and dress her.
• You can comfort her when she’s fussy.
• You can help teach her how to talk.
• You can take her to child care.
• You can take her to health checkups.
• You can help feed the baby. If your baby’s mom is breastfeeding she can pump some of her milk into bottles, and you can give this breast milk to your baby. As your baby learns to eat solid food, you can feed her with a spoon.

Your Baby’s Four-Month Checkup

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Your baby needs regular health checkups. She needs the checkups even if she’s not sick. Checkups can keep her healthy. She will have her vision, hearing, weight and length checked.

Your baby will receive shots. Ask your doctor or nurse what to look for and what you should do if your baby has any reaction to these shots, like fever or fussiness. Shots will keep her from getting sick and keep her healthy.

The doctor will also make sure your baby is developing as she should. The doctor will ask you if your baby is reaching for toys. He will ask if your baby smiles and coos.

Before the checkup, write down questions you have about your baby. Bring the questions with you to the checkup. This is a good time to ask any questions you have about your baby. This is a good time to ask the doctor or nurse questions like, “What are the symptoms a baby has when she has a cold? How should I treat her if she has a cold? What kinds of problems should I call you for? What temperature should I call you for?”

Always ask the nurse or doctor for a copy of your baby’s checkup results. It’s a good idea to keep the copy in a notebook or safe place. If the doctor tells you to give your baby any medicines, write down the names of the medicines and directions. Using a notebook will help you keep track of your baby’s health and development. Make an appointment for your baby’s six-month checkup.

Your baby may get her first cold or ear infection. As your baby explores her world and plays with other children and adults, she will have more contact with germs. If you don’t know what to do about her symptoms, call your doctor or clinic. They will be able to tell you if she needs to see a doctor.

Taking Care of Your Baby’s Gums and Future Teeth

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It’s never too early to start taking care of your baby’s future teeth. Here are some simple things you can do for her:

• Never put your baby to sleep with a bottle.
• Once a day, gently wipe her gums with a wet, clean soft cloth. Start doing this even before her teeth come in.

• Some babies show teeth as early as four or five months. Most babies show teeth between six and eight months.
• When her teeth begin to show, you may use a soft toothbrush for cleaning. Make sure it is baby-sized. Or you can continue to clean her teeth every day with a cloth.
• Gently brush her teeth with water only. Toothpaste is not needed until your baby is around three years old. She should be old enough to spit out the toothpaste after brushing.

Feeding Your Baby (Four-Month-Old)

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Make sure your baby is ready for solid food before you give it to her. Don’t rush her into eating solid food. Some babies are ready for it at four months. Some babies aren’t ready until they are older. Your baby’s weight or age alone does not determine her readiness for solid food.

Here are some signs to look for that will tell you if your baby is ready to
try solid food:

• She holds her head steady and sits with support.
• She reaches for and shows interest in food.
• She opens her mouth when she sees food.
• She no longer thrusts her tongue out during feeding, so she’s able to keep food in her mouth and swallow it.
• She turns her head away when she’s full.

Most babies are ready for baby cereal when they’re between four and six months of age. Ask your doctor about the best time to start your baby on solid food. Rice, oatmeal or barley cereals are OK if they are finely ground. Use them one at a time.

Mix some infant cereal with breast milk in a bowl. You can also use formula instead of breast milk. Don’t use cow’s milk or any other kind of milk or other liquid. Hold your baby in a sitting position or put her in a child seat on the floor (Be sure she is strapped in.) so she doesn’t choke. Always use a spoon to feed solid foods to your baby.

See if your baby will take half of a very small spoonful. If she turns her head away or cries, she’s not ready. Try again in a week or two.

When she is ready, she will take small, messy bites. She may roll the food around in her mouth or feel it repeatedly with her tongue. Making a mess is part of learning, so just have fun with her. At this age, your breast milk or infant formula provides all the nutrition your baby needs.

Give your baby only one new food at a time. You can then see if any one of the foods causes allergic reactions. Right now, only infant cereals are a good choice. If one of these types of cereals is a problem for her, she will vomit or get a rash. She may also have diarrhea. If this happens, call your doctor or go to your clinic.

Feeding Your Baby Formula

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Maybe you are not breastfeeding your baby but using formula. When you leave for work, make sure your baby’s caregiver knows how to prepare formula. There are three ways to prepare formula for your baby.

The three ways are:

• Powdered: This is the cheapest kind. You need to add water to it. First, boil the water. The water should be sterile. Just do what the label says.
• Concentrated: This is a thick liquid. You must also mix it with sterile (boiled) water.
• Ready-to-feed: This formula is already mixed with water. It’s the easiest to use. But it costs the most.

You should ask your doctor about what kind of formula to buy for your baby. Some formulas are sold for babies with special problems. Your doctor can tell you which formula is best for your baby.

There is a date on the formula. Do not use the formula after this date. The formula will not be safe to give to your baby after this date.

Prepare formula by carefully following instructions on the can. Opened cans of formula or prepared bottles can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Any formula left in the bottle after a feeding should be thrown away.

Generally, the baby is fed four to six ounces of warmed formula every three to four hours. To be sure that he gets enough formula, ask your doctor about how much is good for your baby.

Make sure your baby’s caregiver has enough formula to give to your baby. And be sure to tell the caregiver how much formula your baby takes.

You and your baby’s caregiver should not make up your own infant formula. Do not add honey, corn syrup or anything to the baby’s formula. This can make your baby sick.

Do not feed your baby:
• Cow’s milk
• Goat’s milk
• Evaporated milk
• Condensed milk

Giving Your Baby Breast Milk, Even If You’re Working

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Breast milk is still the best food for your three-month-old baby. You don’t need to give your baby water, juice, cow’s milk or solid food right now. Usually, babies need only breast milk for the first six months.

By now, you and your baby have a schedule for feedings. You may wonder how you can nurse your baby after you return to work.

One way is to pump your breast milk into a bottle. There are special breast pumps that you can buy to help you pump out your breast milk efficiently. Other caregivers can then feed it to your baby while you are away.

Breast milk can be stored in a bottle in a refrigerator for up to 48 hours. It will keep for two to three months in the freezer. Always label and date bottles of breast milk.

Not all moms may be able to provide breast milk for their babies in day care. Some moms may choose not to pump breast milk. In this case, the baby can be given formula at day care. Moms who don’t pump can still breastfeed their babies before and after work.

Going back to work takes preparation. Start pumping your breast milk a few weeks before you return to work. Have someone else give your baby your breast milk in a bottle. Do this for one feeding each day. When you return to your job, nurse your baby before going to work. Continue to nurse him when you are at home. Take the bottles of breast milk when you drop off your baby for child care. Carry the bottles in a cooler. Put the date and your baby’s name on the bottles. Your baby’s caregiver will give these bottles to your baby during the day.

If you have any questions or problems with breastfeeding, talk to your doctor, nurse or WIC breastfeeding counselor. To learn more about breastfeeding, you may call La Leche League at
1-800-LALECHE or visit their Web site at www.lalecheleague.org/.

A Book for Memories

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You need to keep a record of your baby’s shots. This way, if you move or change doctors, you can make sure that the new doctor or clinic has correct information about your baby. You will need proof that your baby has had all his shots when he goes to school or day care.

One way you can keep information about your baby is with a baby book or memory book. You can use any kind of notebook or scrapbook. In the book, you can keep health records and other information about your baby’s health, growth and development.

You can write down all his great “firsts” in it: when he first sits up, crawls, walks or talks. You can write dates and symptoms when he gets sick. You can write monthly weights and heights and when he gets each tooth. This health information is important to have.

You can use your book to keep other interesting pieces of information about your child. You can put in fun things you want to remember. Put in photos of your baby. You can write down cute things he does and says. Later on, you can save drawings by your child.

When he is older, you and your child can have fun looking at the memory book together.

Prepare for Your Baby’s Four-Month Checkup

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Call your doctor now to set up your baby’s four-month checkup for next month. This visit is very important for your child’s health.

During the four-month visit, your baby will have another complete checkup. This includes his weight, length and head size. His heart and lungs will also be checked. The doctor will check on how your baby holds his head up and uses his hands. Your baby’s hearing and vision will also be checked. Make sure your doctor undresses your baby for a complete physical exam.

Your baby will get his second set of shots. These may include three shots: one for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis; one for polio; and one for hemophilus influenzae B (flu).

You can ask questions about the baby’s growth, health and development. Write questions down when you think of them. Then you can bring a list with you to the checkup. The list will help you remember what you want to ask. Your baby needs checkups again at six months, nine months and one year of age.

If your baby is eligible for Medicaid, he can get free checkups. You can call your local social welfare, health or family services office to see if you qualify for Medicaid services.

If you don’t have health insurance for your baby, you can learn about resources in your state by contacting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Insure Kids Now Program at
1-877-KIDSNOW. You can also visit their Web site at www.insurekidsnow.gov for more information about free or low-cost health insurance for children. Many public libraries offer free access to the Internet and provide help for first-time users.

Sleeping Patterns

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Two-month-old babies usually sleep better at night. By now, your baby most likely has a routine for sleeping and eating. Probably she goes at least three hours without a feeding. A baby this age usually sleeps longer than a newborn at night, but each baby is different.

After you feed your baby, hold her and rock her for a while. You can put her to bed at night when she is quiet, even if she is not asleep. You can sit down beside her and pat her gently or sing softly. Doing this will help an active baby learn to calm herself down. She may want to suck a pacifier or her thumb or finger as she gets sleepy.

Every baby will have her own pattern. Every baby will have different things she likes to help her to go to sleep.

The Baby Blues (Take Time for Yourself)

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Some new mothers go through what is known as the “baby blues,” or postpartum blues.

This happens because your body goes through many changes during pregnancy. These “blue” feelings may happen to you before your baby is born or afterward.

You may feel discouraged or tense, or feel like crying over little things that would not usually bother you. Don't worry. These feelings are common. They won’t last forever.

You may also have trouble sleeping. If you do, at least take time to rest. You are under a lot of stress. Getting some rest may help you handle your feelings.

It may help to talk about your feelings with others. Talk with family and friends. You can find out if there are any parent groups in your community. Or contact the National Mental Health Association for a list of local affiliates at 1-800-969-NMHA or visit their Web site at www.nmha.org/. Churches and religious organizations in your community may be able to help you find someone to talk to. You may also want to talk to your doctor.

If you have friends or family who will help you with meals, housework or shopping now is the time to ask them. It is also a good time to let your baby's father help out.

When To Call the Doctor

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At your child’s first checkup, ask your doctor what he or she considers a fever in a baby who is your baby’s age and at what temperature you should call him or her. Also, go over with your doctor what problems you should call about immediately.

When your baby is sick, use a thermometer to check for fever. Place the thermometer under her armpit for four minutes and gently cuddle her while you hold her arm to her side. Always call the doctor when a baby who is three months old or younger has a fever. Your doctor will tell you what to do to help your baby.

When your baby is sick, be sure to pick her up and comfort her. Call your doctor right away if your baby has any of these symptoms:

• A stiff neck, or if she can’t move her head to any position
• A wheezing or crackling noise when she breathes
• Pulling on her ears as if they are painful
• A severe cough or red throat
• A fever of any kind

A Healthy Baby

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Your baby needs to see the doctor on a regular basis. These visits are important for her health and development. They are also opportunities to learn more about your baby.

Your doctor can discuss with you whether your baby:

• Is eating well
• Is growing normally
• Is developing social, learning and physical skills properly

While you are at the doctor’s office, you can ask questions about taking care of your baby. You can also talk about any problems you may have being a parent.

During the visit, your doctor will:

• Do a physical exam
• Check her growth and development
• Check her ability to move
• Give her shots to help protect her against a number of diseases
• Do a hearing and eye exam
• Check her height, weight and head size
• Check what she is eating
• Treat any medical problems

At your baby’s two-month checkup, she will be given shots to protect her against illnesses. Ask the doctor or nurse to tell you what kinds of reactions your baby may have to the shots. Also, find out what to do about those reactions. It is a good idea to keep a record of all your baby’s shots.

Find a doctor you like and feel comfortable with. Going to the same doctor each time is a good idea, if you can. Using the same doctor makes it easier to keep track of your baby’s health and growth.

If your baby is eligible for Medicaid, she can get free checkups. You can call your local social welfare, health or family services office to see if you qualify for Medicaid services.

If you don’t have health insurance for your baby, you can learn about resources in your state by contacting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Insure Kids Now Program at 1-877-KIDSNOW. You can also visit their Web site at www.insurekidsnow.gov for more information about free or low-cost health insurance for children. Many public libraries offer free access to the Internet and provide help for first-time users.

Finding Child Care for Your Baby

2007-12-12T18:58:00.001-08:00

Sometimes you must find child care even for young babies. This happens most often when the parents work outside the home. You may have many choices when it comes to choosing child care for your baby. You may have a neighbor or relative who can take care of him. Or, you may decide to use a day-care center or family home.

It’s a good idea to visit several centers or homes before choosing one. Watch how the staff teaches the children. Watch how the children are cared for. If a neighbor or relative cares for your baby, make sure he or she likes your baby. Make sure he or she knows how important it is to keep your baby safe.

Tips on choosing day care

• Always ask to see the center’s or home’s license. To get a license, a center must follow certain rules. Homes also must follow rules to be licensed. The rules cover cleanliness and safety. The rules tell centers and homes to have enough staff to care for the children.
• The center or home should welcome visits by parents at any time. The center or home should be clean and should look nice. The staff should spend time talking and playing with the children. The staff should be gentle but have control over the children.
• After you choose a center or home, be sure to follow the rules set by the center or home. Make sure you pick up your baby on time. Give the center or home your baby’s shot record. Tell the staff about any special needs, such as allergies, that your baby has. If you are breastfeeding, let the staff know that you will come in for feedings or you will provide your breast milk in bottles. The staff should call you right away if your baby seems sick or has a minor accident.
Your baby may be upset at first about staying in a strange place. This is normal. You and the staff can work together to help your baby get used to being in child care. After your baby has settled into a routine, he should become relaxed about going to child care.

Day-care providers to avoid:
• Avoid centers or homes that don’t want parents dropping by without notice.
• Avoid centers or homes where you see children left alone.
• Avoid centers or homes where children seem bored or unhappy.
• Avoid centers or homes where staff yells at the children a lot.
• Avoid centers or homes that are dirty or unsafe.

If your friends or relatives care for your baby, go over carefully with them how to make things safe for your baby, especially as he gets older. As a mother, you know to never leave your baby alone, to put him in a safe crib to sleep, to secure him in a stroller and to never shake him. However, sometimes even people who love you and your baby may not know these things. Be sure that they understand how to keep your baby safe and comfortable.

To learn more about child-care options, you can contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Child Care Aware by phone at 1-800-424-2246 or visit their Web site at www.childcareaware.org/.

Talking to Your Baby

2007-12-12T18:56:00.000-08:00

Talking and cooing with your baby is one of the best parts of being a new parent. Talking and playing are fun for you and your baby. But it is more than fun. It also helps your baby to learn.

In playing with your baby, it is important that you gently interact with him in a back and forth manner.

Smile at your baby and wait for him to focus on your face and smile back. When he smiles, you should smile even wider yourself and nod your head. Let him know you are happy that he smiled back at your smile.

Do this with cooing and babbling too. If your child babbles or coos at you, smile and gently coo back. If he answers you with another coo or babble, answer him back. Do this repeatedly. This is how babies learn to get along with other people and how they learn to have confidence that you are interested in them. When you talk and your baby coos back to you, important things happen. Your baby learns how to talk by hearing your words and trying to make the same sounds.

Your baby learns fast. As you talk softly to your baby and he “talks” back, you begin to know his sounds. When you mimic his sounds, you encourage your baby to try to make more sounds.

Talk with your baby as much as you can. He will learn to know his parents’ voices. This makes the bond between you and your baby stronger.
From the day he is born, your baby is learning. When you talk with your baby, you are helping his brain develop.

• Reading to your baby helps him learn. Reading to him starting in infancy will help him do better in school as he grows older.
• Read aloud to your baby for a few minutes at a time. He will be able to pay attention for only a few minutes at first. Babies like to have things repeated over and over.
• Read, say or sing nursery rhymes to your baby. This will help him learn, too.

Spitting Up

2007-12-12T18:55:00.001-08:00

For infants, spitting up is a normal part of life. Many babies spit up a lot. Most likely this happens because of the way a baby develops.

The muscle that closes the feeding tube from the baby’s mouth to his stomach is still developing in infants. It may be weak. As a result, even a tiny burp can cause small amounts of stomach contents to come back up.

If your baby is usually happy and gaining weight, you should not be concerned about his spitting up.

You should see your doctor if your baby:

• Is vomiting
• Has diarrhea
• Has trouble breathing
• Has lost weight
• Has a loss of appetite

Nearly half of all healthy infants under one year of age spit up two or more times a day.

Feeding Your Baby

2007-12-12T18:54:00.000-08:00

Your breast milk is the perfect food for your baby. Breastfeeding is natural. It can be easier than formula feeding. Breast milk helps protect your baby from sickness. Breastfeeding helps your body get back to normal after pregnancy. It may help you lose weight.

Your baby will let you know when he is ready to nurse.

He will put his hands toward his mouth. He will make sucking sounds, whimper and bend and unbend his arms and hands. He will move his fist to his mouth. He will nuzzle against your breast. If he doesn’t start feeding soon after doing these things, he will start crying. Use these signs instead of a clock to set his feeding times. Feed him before he starts crying. Feed him every two to three hours. It’s a good idea to switch breasts in the middle of a feeding.
Your baby will let you know when it is time to stop feeding. He will relax. He will stop sucking the breast. He will refuse to take the breast if you offer it again. Your baby should make soft swallowing sounds while feeding.

Your breast should feel softer after the feeding. Milk may leak from the other breast while feeding.

Women who breastfeed should eat nutritious foods and they should drink lots of water. They should relax during breastfeeding.

You will know your baby is getting plenty to eat if he has at least seven to 10 very wet diapers a day (using regular absorbency diapers). You can expect your baby to have two to three bowel movements every day.

You can breastfeed your baby after you return to work or school. You can breastfeed your baby even if he is in a day-care center. You can breastfeed right before leaving your baby at day care. You can breastfeed right after picking up your baby. If your day care is nearby, you can breastfeed your baby during your lunch break.

You can learn how to pump your milk and store it in a bottle. Your milk is good for about 48 hours in the refrigerator. It lasts two to three months in the freezer. You can leave the bottles with the day-care center to feed your baby when you can’t be there.

To learn more about breastfeeding, you may want to contact your local health department, WIC clinic, hospital, La Leche League or doctor. You can call La Leche League at 1-800-LALECHE or visit their Web site at www.lalecheleague.org/.

If you use infant formula to feed your baby, be sure to follow directions for mixing. He will take two to three ounces of formula every couple of hours. As he grows, he will take more at each feeding. He will also go longer between feedings.

The Wonders of the Brain

2007-12-12T18:53:00.000-08:00

Your baby is flexible in how he grows and learns. His brain is growing and changing, also. The things your baby sees, hears and does help him to learn and to get interested in the people and things around him.

Your baby’s brain has come into the world ready to absorb all sorts of good things. Your baby is learning to be a person. You are learning to be his parent. Learning to pay attention and to respond to each other will help you both.

Since birth, your baby has been taking in information. He learns from what he sees, hears, smells and touches. After babies see or hear something many times, they can remember whether they have seen or heard it before. This is the way they learn.

Your baby’s brain grows and changes in important ways every day. The experiences your baby has are important for these changes. Some parts of the brain are most important for learning. Some parts are important for remembering new things. These parts will continue to grow and change as your baby learns new things.

We know that responding to your baby in a loving and attentive way helps him learn. Talk to your baby. Provide him with a variety of experiences that help him explore his world safely.

One-Month Checkup: Where To Go

2007-12-12T18:52:00.000-08:00

Try to find a doctor you like and trust. It helps if your baby sees the same doctor or nurse every time. That makes it easier to keep track of your baby’s needs.

If you don’t know where to take your baby for care, call your local health department. The phone number is in the “government” listings of the phone book. You can also ask a local hospital.

Ask a close friend or relative who has children whom she takes her children to for health care. Ask if she really likes her children’s doctor and if the doctor is good at taking time to explain things and answer questions.

If you are eligible for Medicaid, your baby can get free checkups. You can call your local social welfare, health or family services office to see if you qualify for Medicaid services.

If you don’t have health insurance for your baby, you can learn about resources in your state by calling the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Insure Kids Now program at 1-877-KIDSNOW. You can also visit their Web site at www.insurekidsnow.gov for more information about free or low-cost health insurance for children. Many public libraries offer free access to the Internet and provide help for first-time users.

One way to notice changes in your baby’s health is to keep a record. You can keep a health notebook. Write down your baby’s length and weight as he grows. Write down things like your baby’s schedule for shots and checkups. Write down dates of illnesses, and describe the symptoms. Ask for a copy of your child’s shot record. You will need to have this shot record when your child starts day care, Head Start or school.

One-Month Checkup

2007-12-12T18:50:00.000-08:00

Soon after you come home from the hospital, you should call to set up a checkup for your baby. This checkup may take place any time from two to four weeks after your baby is born. If your baby doesn’t seem to be doing well before your first appointment, don’t wait. Call the doctor or the clinic.

The checkup is a good time for you to ask questions. Before the visit, it is a good idea to write down questions and bring them with you.

You can ask the doctor what to have in the house in case of small accidents or mild illness. Ask what to do if something serious happens. Ask your doctor about what to do if your baby chokes or stops breathing. Knowing this can help you save your baby if he gets into difficulty.

Always keep your doctor’s phone number where you can find it. This number should be on a list of emergency phone numbers that you can find quickly.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers’ (AAPCC) poison control hotline, 1-800-222-1222, should also be on your list. If your baby has eaten a harmful substance, call and get help. Be prepared to tell about your baby’s symptoms and what has been eaten. To learn more, you can visit the AAPCC Web site at www.aapcc.org/.

The one-month checkup helps the doctor see changes in your baby. The doctor can find problems your baby is having. Finding problems now can help prevent more serious problems as your baby grows.

In the first year, your baby will have a number of checkups. At most of them, he will receive shots. Be sure to ask the doctor what reaction your baby might have from the shots.

Your baby may need more testing or he may need to be treated if your doctor finds signs of a possible problem. Your doctor may refer you to another doctor. If so, get a copy of your baby’s medical records to take with you. Or ask your doctor to make sure the other doctor will get a copy of them. Be sure you understand why your doctor is recommending more tests or sending your child to another doctor. Write down the doctor’s description of the possible problem in words you understand and also have him write out the exact words in “doctor’s language” so you can communicate with the next doctor you see.

Your doctor will talk to you about what to expect with your child. The doctor will tell you when your baby needs to come in again.

What happens at the checkup?

• Your doctor will ask you questions. The questions will be about how things are with you and the baby.
• The doctor will ask about your baby’s eating habits. He will also ask how often your baby has a wet or dirty diaper.
• The doctor will ask about your baby’s sleeping habits.
• The doctor will ask about your baby’s behavior and development.
• Your doctor will give your baby a physical exam.
• Your baby’s clothes will be taken off.
• He will be weighed. Your baby’s length and head size will be measured.
• Your baby’s vision and hearing will be tested.
• Your baby’s blood will also be tested.

A Special Word to Fathers

2007-12-12T18:45:00.000-08:00

As a father, you have an important role to play in taking care of your baby. Your baby needs you. And mom needs you to share many of the responsibilities of taking care of your new baby. When you do things with your baby, you and your baby get closer. You and your baby form a bond that helps her feel safe and happy.

You may feel nervous around a newborn. Or you may be afraid to touch your baby because you have never done it before. The best way for you to get over the uneasiness is to hold your baby.

Here are some things you can do to be a part of your baby’s life. You will find that the more you do with her, the more comfortable you will be.

• Hold and cuddle your baby.
• Smile and laugh with your baby.
• Talk to your baby. Your baby will quickly learn your voice and know that you are her daddy.
• Change your baby’s diapers.
• Cuddle with mom and your baby during breastfeeding.
• When mom’s breast milk or formula has been put in a bottle, you can give your baby the bottle. Cuddle with and talk and sing to your baby during bottle time.
• Take your baby for a walk. Babies love the sights and sounds of the outdoors.
• Play with your baby.

Your Baby Depends on You for Checkups

2007-12-12T18:44:00.000-08:00

Your baby needs medical checkups during her first days, weeks and months so the doctor can see if she is growing right. The way your baby grows in her first year can affect her health for life.

Checkups are a normal and important thing for babies. Even though your baby seems healthy, she should get checkups at one to two weeks of age, and at two, four, six, nine, and 12 months of age.

Your baby's first visit to the doctor will be a week or two after birth. Ask your doctor for the results of the hearing screening if it was done in the hospital. If a hearing test was not done, ask your doctor for a referral for the test. You need to know as soon as possible if your baby has hearing problems. If she does, she may need special help now so she can communicate with people. This will help her when she learns to talk and read.

At each checkup, the doctor or nurse will:
• Examine your baby's head, eyes, ears, heart, lungs and other body parts
• Measure your baby's length, weight and head size
• Ask about your baby’s hearing and vision
• Ask you questions about how she eats, sleeps and acts
• Give you information about how a baby develops and grows

Newborn Reflexes

2007-12-12T18:43:00.001-08:00

Babies have special reflexes that last only a few months. It helps to know what the reflexes are so you are not alarmed when they occur.

The following reflexes are normal for newborns:

• Moro or “startle” reflex: This occurs when your baby's head shifts position quickly. Or when her head falls backward. Or when your baby is startled by something loud. She will react by throwing out her arms and legs and extending her neck. Your baby will then quickly bring her arms together. She may cry when doing this. This reflex should go away after two months.
• Rooting reflex: This is how your baby hunts for her mother's breast. If you gently stroke the side of her cheek with your finger, she will turn her head toward your finger. This lasts for three to four months.
• Grasp reflex: Your baby will clench her fist around anything pressed into the palm of her hand. You can show this to a big brother or sister. Say, “The baby wants to hold on to your finger.” This reflex goes away at five to six months.
• Stepping reflex: If you hold a newborn baby upright under her arms with her feet on a hard surface, her feet will make a stepping action. This happens even though it is a long time before she is ready to stand or walk. This usually lasts a couple of months.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about your baby's reflexes.

What a Healthy Newborn Looks Like

2007-12-12T18:40:00.000-08:00

Newborn babies don't usually look like the cute babies in diaper ads. Newborns' heads are often more pointed than round. Their skin may be wrinkly and reddish in color. This is normal.

In the center of your baby's head is a “soft spot” where the skull bones have not yet joined. This allows your baby's head to be flexible during the birthing process.
The skull bones will grow together to cover this spot as your baby grows. Meantime, the soft spot allows your baby's brain to grow.

Sometimes there are dark red patches on the baby's eyelids. They can also be on the bridge of the nose or back of the neck. No one knows what causes these. They usually go away during the first year.

Some babies are born bald, some have thin hair, and others are born with thick, dark hair. For many babies, this first hair rubs off. For others, the color may change.

Eye color can also change after birth. Eye color is usually set by the end of the first year.

The umbilical cord that is left on the navel at birth will drop off in five to 10 days. The place where it falls off will become your baby’s belly button.

Sometimes baby girls bleed from the vagina. Sometimes boys or girls will have swollen breasts. They may even produce a few drops of milk at birth. Hormones from the mother cause this. The discharge is harmless and will soon disappear.

Let’s Celebrate!

2007-12-09T06:25:00.000-08:00

Alice has invited a half dozen family members to celebrate Lisette’s first birthday. They include Uncle Matt, Aunt Melinda and their 14-month-old son, Jake. Placed together on the floor, Jake and Lisette watch each other at first. Lisette picks up a wooden block and turns it over in her hands. Jake does the same. For the next few minutes, they play with the blocks, watching and copying each other.

“Time to sing,” Alice announces. She places Lisette in her high chair, and everyone gathers around. “Happy birthday to you … .” Lisette looks around. Then, clapping her hands, she begins singing, too. “Ay, ay, ay … .” When the song ends, Alice places a cupcake on the tray. Instantly Lisette pokes her finger into the icing and scoops it into her mouth. Flash! Grandma catches the action in a photograph.

Your baby is now a year old! Whether or not you have a party, it’s time to rejoice. Your baby has grown and learned a lot in the past 12 months. What happens now? Read this issue to learn more.

Growing Up Big and Strong

2007-12-09T06:24:00.000-08:00

Fred and Ramona are getting ready for Jacob’s entry into toddlerhood. Their baby seems to be mastering new skills every day. Yesterday he was trying to pull himself up at the kitchen table. Today he’s pushing a chair around the living room—and walking! He’s not steady on his feet, but Ramona and Fred know that he’ll soon be harder to keep up with.

Jacob is 30 inches tall and weighs 25 pounds. His parents are a little sad that their son is growing up so quickly. He doesn’t look much like a baby anymore. But they are proud of the many things he can do. Jacob points to his body parts. He takes off his shoes and socks. He waves good-bye. He likes to make his parents laugh. He is also learning to test limits and loves to shake his head “no.”

And what about your 11-month-old? Read this issue to learn more about how to help your baby learn, grow and stay healthy.

10 Months and Terrific

2007-12-09T06:22:00.000-08:00

Ruby and Albert are excited by 10-month-old Jessica’s new skills. This month there are so many! Jessica calls to her parents saying “Mama” or “Dada.” She wants to feed herself at every meal. She sometimes drinks from a cup without spilling. She tries to pull herself up to stand. She likes to practice stepping sideways along the sofa. But she knows that she has to hold on to stay steady. Crawling still helps her get around the house in a hurry.

Jessica explores everything. She pulls pots and lids out of the kitchen cabinet. She drags clothes from the laundry basket. She scatters magazines everywhere. Everything is a toy that she learns from. When she was six months old, Jessica made friends with Rollo, the neighbor’s dog. This month Rollo’s loud bark scares Jessica. Now she cries and clings whenever Rollo is around.

Ruby and Albert know they have to move fast to stay ahead of Jessica. In this month’s issue, you’ll learn more about your baby. You’ll learn more ways to help your baby grow, learn and stay safe and healthy.

Nine-Month-Old

2007-12-09T06:09:00.000-08:00

Mickey is nine months old. His parents, Lisa and José, have plans for their family. Lisa has gone back to school and looks forward to graduation. José has found a better job in the neighborhood superstore.

And Mickey! He has two teeth, sits up without wobbling and almost sleeps through the night. He’s pulling himself across the rug with his arms—crawling can’t be far behind. He babbles and laughs when he sees his grandparents.

Mickey nurses several times a day, but he is always eager for his “big boy” dinner. Tonight he will have mashed sweet potatoes, chopped spinach and cheese. Next week he will go to the clinic for his nine-month checkup.

Now Lisa and José are eager to know what comes next.

• Mickey doesn’t drink from a cup—is that OK?
• And what about crawling? Will that make home life different?
• How can Lisa and José help Mickey continue to grow, learn and laugh?

And what about you and your baby? In this issue, you will learn how your nine-month-old baby grows and learns.

Eight-Month-Old

2007-12-09T06:08:00.001-08:00

At eight months, your baby is curious about everything. This is a fun time for both of you. Your baby may surprise you with how well she can get around the house. Let her explore, but keep her safe.

Now that she can pull herself around on her belly or crawl, she wants to get into everything. When she holds things in her hand, she wants to throw them or put them in her mouth. Or she wants to bang them on the table. These activities are important ways she learns. It seems like the more noise she can make, the more she likes it.

She practices new skills every day. She may try to pull herself up to a standing position. She likes finger foods.

Your baby may try to make new sounds, like “dada.” The world is exciting to her, but some things may scare her. When she is around strangers, she may cry and hide her face. She may cling to you. All these things are normal. They are part of learning and growing.

She may try to stand or crawl. She may fall down a lot. It may be hard for you to watch her fall. Try to let her explore and move around on her own unless she is in danger or may hurt herself. Make your home as safe as possible for your baby. Join in the games that help her learn about her world.

Seven-Month-Old

2007-12-09T06:05:00.000-08:00

At seven months, your baby is doing all kinds of things he could not do even a few weeks ago. He may sit up straight for a moment without falling over. Usually, he sits leaning forward on both hands. He can support his weight on his feet when standing. If you hold him in a standing position, he may bounce up and down. He may be moving around the floor on his belly. He may try to feed himself. He likes to clap, pull, bang, poke and grab with his hands. He makes sounds on purpose.

Being able to do these things makes him happy. When he can do something he wants to do, he may smile, laugh, clap or look for your smile of praise. Smile at him or give him extra hugs when he tries new things.

Trying things over and over can be fun for him. But it can also upset him when he can’t do something. He may cry when things don’t work out the way he wants. As he does things, he wants you to be there to help him and hug him.

Your baby needs you to show him how to do things. But he may get upset if you try to do things that he thinks he knows how to do.

He may be afraid of strangers. If you leave the room, he may cry because he is afraid. Be sure to give him lots of hugs and smiles. Clap when he does something he wants to do. Give him extra love and care as he goes through this exciting time. He will love you back!

Six-Month

2007-12-09T06:03:00.000-08:00

Your baby is halfway through her first year. She is really active now. She may be grabbing at things and shaking her rattle. She may be sitting up with support. She babbles and makes a variety of sounds.

She is interested in everything around her. She wants to touch things. She wants to put things in her mouth. She wants to pull on them. Keeping up with her curiosity can be a challenge. Have fun with her. Be patient.

Your baby has learned a lot in her first six months. So have you! You have learned a lot about being a parent. You have learned how to take care of your baby even though she can’t tell you what she needs. You have learned what her crying means. You can tell that she is hungry by the way she cries. You can also tell by her crying if she is tired or needs her diaper changed.

You can help your baby be healthy and safe. You can help her learn many important things like how to talk, how to walk and how to feed herself. You can help her learn how to drink from a cup.

five-month-old

2007-12-09T06:01:00.000-08:00

Your five-month-old is full of energy. He wakes himself up in the morning and is ready to dive into his day.

He doesn’t just look at things. He wants to explore everything. He puts things in his mouth. He rocks on his stomach. He kicks his legs. He reaches for toys. He “talks” to you. These are ways he learns and grows.

Your baby is excited because he has more control over his body. He is able to reach for things he wants. He is learning to roll over. He can “read” your feelings by the tone of your voice. He likes it when you repeat his sounds.

You can have a lot of fun with your baby as you help him learn. All this exploring, growing and learning can even wear him out. Don’t be surprised if he gets frustrated and fussy sometimes. He learns by trying the same movements and sounds over and over.

Your Baby Is Four Months Old

2007-12-09T05:59:00.000-08:00

When your baby reaches the age of four months, things will really start to happen fast. She is growing and learning about her world. She is interested in everything she sees or hears. She is reaching for things and putting them in her mouth. This is how she learns about them.

When she is feeding, she stops and plays with your clothes, or she looks at other people in the room.

She may try to roll over. The more she tries, the better she can do it.

She smiles when she sees her parents and other people who care for her. She may frown when she sees strangers. She babbles. She tries to imitate your words as she makes sounds.

She may start sleeping at night for longer and longer periods of time. She will love it when you sit on the floor and play with her. You can have a lot of fun with your baby at this age.

The more you help her explore, the more she will reward you with smiles, happy sounds and love. You can help her by playing with her, singing to her and talking to her. Enjoy your baby as she grows and develops!

Talk to Your Baby with Body Language

2007-12-09T05:56:00.000-08:00

You and your baby are “talking” to each other even though he doesn’t say words yet. You are doing what comes naturally. You are using body language as well as words.

Body language includes what you do with your face, the tone of the sounds and words you make, singing, eye contact and body movements. You can show love for your baby by hugging him and rocking him. You can show love by playing with him and smiling at him. He will "talk" back to you with coos, wiggles and smiles.

Even at three months, your baby knows the sound of your voice from other people’s voices. He will make eye contact with you to "say" that he knows you are his mom or dad. He will turn toward you and brighten when he sees and hears you.

You are learning to “speak” your baby’s language, too. You can tell the difference when he is crying because he is hungry or because he needs changing. You can tell when he’s crying because he wants you to hold him.

You have learned when he is tired of playing or has had enough to eat because he turns away or stiffens his body. He will make sounds other than crying to let you know how he feels or what he wants. You can tell when he wants some quiet time to just look around or to take a nap.

Talking with your baby lets him know he is loved and you care about him.

Watching Your Baby Grow

2007-12-09T05:53:00.000-08:00

At two months of age, your baby will begin to notice and reach out to the world around her. She can see better now. She can watch a person or object moving directly in front of her. She is more alert and can respond to you more. The world around her is more interesting to her.

Your baby is gaining more strength in her neck and shoulders. This allows her to hold her head up better and to see more.

Your baby also may begin to make some new sounds. She may start cooing and making sounds like "ah-ah-ah" and "ooh, ooh, ooh." And she may make squeaking and gurgling noises.

Your baby will try to bring her hands to her mouth. She will do this often. When her fingers reach her mouth, she will not be good at keeping them there. She will get better at this as she gets older. She can also tightly hold a toy, such as a rattle, when you put it in her hand. But she will have trouble letting it go.

Her movements are no longer jerky but grow smoother day by day. She may be awake more during the day. If she is an active baby, she may be moving all the time when she is awake.

You and Your Baby

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During the first month of your baby’s life, you and your baby spend a lot of time getting to know each other. Your baby will spend most of his time sleeping. You will spend most of your time learning the best way to meet your baby’s needs. Sometimes, you may feel tired and nervous. These feelings are a signal that you need to take care of yourself. Here are some ways to do it:

• Make sure you get enough sleep. Take a nap when your baby does. If you can’t, try to spend some time relaxing.
• Keep your home as quiet and calm as possible. Turn off your radio and TV. This will help calm your baby.
• Simplify housework. Just do the basics. Older children can help dust, pick up toys, sweep the floor and wash dishes. Dad or other family members can help, too.
• Be sure to eat nutritious food. If you are breastfeeding, avoid alcohol and limit caffeine. Avoid drinking more than two to three cups of coffee a day.
• Simplify your meals. Nutritious salads, soups and sandwiches are quick and easy to prepare.
• Make some time for yourself. Take a hot bath to relax or do some reading. You can look forward to taking a break when you are stressed.
• Enjoy spending time with your baby. You can put your baby in a sling, backpack or stroller and take a walk through a mall or a park. Be sure that your baby is safely secured in these devices. Never leave your baby unattended in a stroller.
• Do something you enjoy. If you breastfeed, you can read while nursing your baby.
• Call a relative or friend if you have questions or when you are feeling stressed. Talking to someone who has had similar experiences and feelings can help you.

Newborn Health Screening

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Your baby is tested for certain medical conditions when she is born. Many conditions can be treated if they are found early enough. Early treatment means your baby can grow up healthier.

Newborn tests are given in the hospital right after birth. The tests are given again at your baby's first checkup.

The second series of tests is important. It must be done one or two weeks after the first tests. Be sure to take your baby to the doctor or clinic for this second series of tests. At this visit, your doctor will also check other things to make sure your baby is doing fine.

A small amount of your baby’s blood will be taken. It will be tested and you will be told if there is any cause for concern.

Your doctor or nurse can answer questions about the tests.

If you don’t have health insurance for your baby, you can learn about resources in your state by contacting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Insure Kids Now Program.

To learn more, call 1-877-KIDSNOW or visit their Web site at www.insurekidsnow.gov/.