The initial few weeks in the life of new parents are very exciting especially if this is the first child. Parent needs to know certain behaviors of the newborn so that they don't panic as they are very normal behaviors though they might look/sound very strange. Every passing week brings new changes in the newborn's behavior, shape, size, and weight. We will walk you through this journey and help you undertsand.
WEEK-1
We congratulate you on becoming parents! Now that your little one is out in the real world you are the one who needs to take care of his/her needs. Newborn need feed every two to three hours although formula-fed babies may last a bit longer between feedings.
Newborn have what's known as the rooting reflex which encourages them to open up and suck when faced with a breast or bottle and your baby will be eager to do so since newborns have highly developed senses of taste and even at such a young age can differentiate.
Although your newborn is taking feed often but will still lose up to 10% of his/her weight during this first week as they shed the extra water weight he was born with, besides, your baby digest food very quickly so you should expect as many as 8 to 10 bowel movements a day and 5 to 6 wet diapers. Initial stools passed by the newborn are dark black which is absolutely normal.
When your baby is not busy eating or pooping he or she is probably sleeping, most newborn will sleep 14 to 18 hours in a day, although that's usually broken into several hour intervals.
During the first week, your baby may also look a bit strange to you and that's okay they may look different every single day. After being curled in mom's tummy most newborns in the first week itself can extend their arms and legs which is known as the moro-reflex and this is very natural.
In general, a healthy new-born in the first week sleeps 14 to 18 hrs in a day, needs to feed every 3-4 hrs, may lose 10% of weight, and will poop 8 to 10 times in a day.
In the first week, you should only clean your new-born with cotton/sponge, a complete bath of the baby is not done so early.
WEEK-2
In the 2nd week the baby already has certain preferences the biggest one looking at you, baby can see you in detail when you're 8 to 10 inches away and studies show that newborns prefer human faces to all other patterns or objects. You can help develop those eye muscles by slowly moving your head back and forth or bring an object's close to him then moving them away again.
At this point, your baby can even recognize your gestures and faces so play by raising your eyebrows and smiling. Not all 1 week old would respond to these kinds of gestures. There is nothing to worry if your little one looks at you with crossed eyes it's often a part of normal development.
Although your baby is busy learning in the second week of life will still be centered on sleeping and eating if your infant is indeed eating enough, he'll pass frequent mustard yellow or dark stools and will wet up to 5 to 7 diapers daily.
All that eating will also ensure that your baby gets back up to her birth weight or beyond. This week and while the new-born sleeps you'll want to keep your baby on his or her back to help reduce the likely hood of sudden infant death syndrome SIDS when your baby is awake encourage him/her to spend time on his tummy(also known as tummy time) which will help him learn to hold his head up through this is touch for the new-born and he/she will be tired soon but do not worry this is very normal and helps them a great deal. It's important to keep in mind that tummy time should always be supervised.
WEEK-3
Week 3 majority of your babies’ behaviors remain the same but this week the focus is your baby's belly button, the umbilical cord stump usually falls off at some point 10 days after and in the majority of the cases in the third week after your baby is born. Once umbilical cord stump falls off, you'll be able to see if your baby has an inner or an outer belly button.
You'll also be able to start tub baths other than the belly buttons debut your baby's 3rd week will still focus mainly around eating and sleeping and while your baby is becoming old. You will notice an additional skill and that's crying because your baby doesn't have another way to communicate yet this is how your new-born tells you that he or she is hungry sleepy sick dirty uncomfortable or just in need of some cuddling most parents learned pretty quickly how to respond to their infant's cries.
A good percentage of newborns also experience colic(Acute abdominal pain), if this is the case with your baby do not worry this is normal. The doctors don't know exactly what causes colic and there is no proven medical treatment available but there are several things which have been found to help colicky babies. The best one is to keep them on their tummy(tummy time). There are other remedies also we suggest asking seniors in the family to help you. The important thing to remember is what works for one baby won't necessarily work for another so experiment and find out.
If your infant is otherwise healthy and attended to, this is generally not a cause for concern and tends to ease by your baby's third month whether your baby is colicky or not make lots of time just rock and caress your infant your 3 week old by now and there's nothing more comforting to your baby then the sound and feel of you.
WEEK-4
This week might make you feel if you'll ever be able to sleep again or if you still own a shirt that's not stained. Luckily this week brings a reward for your hard work your baby's first smile it's true by the end of the first month most babies will start to aim smiles directly at you and this point in developing your baby may even use those new neck and shoulder muscles to lift his or her head briefly encourage your baby to do so by letting your new-born rest on his or her tummy.
This week your new-born will be playing a lot with you and when the newborn's not playing with you, they will be sleeping.
Your baby will probably be eating voraciously this week that's normal since this is one of your baby's first growth spurts. By first months end you may notice that even when your baby isn't nursing your infant is making sucking motions with his mouth if you try to feed and there's no interest your baby may just be looking for soothing offer a pacifier to help and don't be surprised if your baby uses her summer fingers to self soothe remember that you should make an appointment for your baby's check-up with your pediatrician by the end of this month this will allow your doctor to a firm would you already know that your baby is doing a great job of growing.
