GB - One Month Old

How I Grow.

I wobble my head if you don't hold it.
I turn my head sideways when I'm on my stomach.
I roll part-way from my back to my side.

How I Talk.

I'm beginning to make throaty sounds.
I cry when I'm hungry, wet, tired or when I want to be held.

How I Respond.

I make eye contact with you.
I don't show much expression on my face, but I will soon!
I may smile when I see or hear you.
I calm down when I am rocked.
I like to ride in the stroller.

How I Feel.

I feel comforted when you hold me close, smile and talk gently to me. Don't be afraid of spoiling me.
Introduce me to new experiences in a gentle and slowly changing way. As I get older, I'll be more interested in surprises.
My feet and hands may feel cold. To tell if I am warm enough, feel my tummy.

Sleeping Patterns Change

Is your baby staying awake longer in the day?

Baby is learning that the day is for play and the night is for sleeping. A 1 month old usually has two major naps during the day.

If your baby sleeps during the day and stays awake at night, try waking him up for feedings during the day.

After the feeding, play with him. Soon he will get the idea of when it is time to sleep.

By the end of the first month, most babies will have a pattern of sleeping at night.

He might sleep as little as 4 hours to as much as 10 hours at one time. He may still get up once or twice at night for a feeding.

A bedtime routine can help.

Prepare your baby to go to sleep by doing a series of activities each night. This could be having a bath, changing the diaper, changing into sleepwear, having a story, being rocked, and being placed in the crib. Whatever quiet activities you do, the baby will come to know that these activities mean that it is time to go to bed.

Usually the bedtime does not happen at a specific time. It is more related to the infant's own "body clock" and family convenience.

Feeding Your Baby

It is easier for Baby to eat now.

She can now suck, swallow, and breathe better than before. You also know her "hungry" cry, so that makes it easier for you to know that she wants food.

Let Baby be the one to decide when she is full.

This will help build a lifetime of sensible eating habits. It's not important to finish the milk in the bottle. It is important for Baby to learn when enough is enough!

Why Babies Spit Up

Babies swallow air when crying and eating.

This is why they burp. Sometimes, a baby will only swallow small amounts of air, not enough to make them burp. After a while, the little bubbles combine and are large enough to burp up. Any milk that is sitting on top of a big air bubble comes up too, causing the baby to spit up.

Some babies spit up frequently.

We have a muscle that keeps food from coming back up out of the stomach. In some infants, this muscle hasn't yet fully developed and these babies may spit up frequently.

When these babies begin to walk, gravity will help keep food in the stomach. Since these babies generally have good appetites, the amount they spit up is annoying to parents. This may not be a problem to the infant.

To help your baby, try some of the suggestions for helping a colicky baby.

If you are worried or if the spitting is very frequent, discuss it with your baby's doctor.

Colic

Colic maybe caused by trapped gas in the intestines.

Babies feel this as a cramp. Many babies have colic beginning sometime between their second and fourth week. Babies can have colic until they are 3 to 4 months old. Colic can occur any time of the day; however, it occurs most frequently in the evening when both you and the baby are tired. Colic can last from a few minutes to several hours.

Cries and Noises Have Meaning

Babies cry.

You have probably discovered that your baby has several different cries. The sound of the cry may help you decide what your baby needs. You can usually tell the difference between the "hungry" cry, the "angry" cry, the "tired" cry, and the cry of "pain." Some parents find that the baby adds another cry that means, "I want your attention."

You will begin to expect what your baby will need. You will change the diaper soon after the baby has wet it. As you anticipate your baby's needs, you may notice that the baby cries less than he did last month.

Babies smile.

Babies begin to smile about this time. They may smile when they are asleep or drowsy.

Babies talk.

Babies begin to make some throaty sounds as they practice using the muscles that are used for talking.

Your infant now knows when you talk. He treats this sound differently than other sounds. Don't forget to tell your baby how special he is to you.

Share Parenting Activities

Try to be flexible with who does what in taking care of the baby and household chores.

Who does which household chores may change from day-to-day. Talk about what needs to be done. Share the tasks of caring for the baby and getting the housework done.

Being flexible and willing to talk may reduce resentments and misunderstandings later. 1m_1.GIF - 30.37 K

It will reap dividends for your whole family.

Caring for the baby can be shared.

Other adults in the family can help in many ways:

· change diapers.

· read stories.

· cuddle and hold.

· feed a bottle.

· give a bath.

· talk to Baby.

· hold a colicky baby.

Babies need to learn that they are part of a family.

Each family member has their own way of playing and giving the baby attention. Let others have time with the baby. They can share giggles, enjoy being close, and give undivided attention to your little one.

Developmental Patterns

All babies develop and learn in about the same way.

These patterns are the same for children of all races and cultures and for most children with disabilities. They are important because they help you decide how and what to play with your baby.

Children will learn how to use their muscles. They will develop their skills of using their muscles at different rates. Some children will be quicker than others.
Children learn to control their muscles in the same order no matter how quickly they learn. Muscles develop from the head down to the feet and from the middle out to the fingers and toes.
First, infants gain control of their head muscles and then control their arms. The last muscles they learn to use are the leg muscles. Likewise, children learn how to control their neck and shoulders, then their arms before their hands and fingers. Keep your baby's hands free, rather than covered with mittens.
Babies learn to use large muscles, like arms and legs, before they learn to use small muscles, like fingers and toes.
When infants are comfortable with one skill, they will start to work on another skill. They will get better at these skills with time.
Babies learn easy skills before they learn more complex skills. A child must be able to control her head before she can sit up.

Let's Play . . . Help Me Learn

Watch me as I look around.

Try to see where my eyes focus and begin to name what I am looking at. "That is your sister Debbie. She's smiling at you. Can you smile at her?"

Let me listen to your voice.

Talk to me and see if I "listen." Vary the speed and pitch of your voice and see if my motions keep pace with your voice.

Tell me what is going to happen next.

First catch my eye, then say "I am going to pick you up and take you for a ride in the car." Watch my pleasure as you touch me and tell me what a great baby I am. Feel how I mold and relax my body when you hold and cuddle me.

Give me something interesting to look at.

Tape a simple picture or drawing to the side of the crib or bassinet so I have something to look at. The easiest thing to do is get a piece of white poster board and cut it into pieces about 6" by 6".

Use a black marker and draw several pictures. You can draw a bull's eye, checkerboard, stripes, diagonals, faces, animals and so on. Attach these securely to the side of the crib. Change these about twice a week.

I like to feel different textures.

Let me feel different materials. Let me feel soft cloth, bumpy objects, and fuzzy stuffed toys. Give me a "massage" by gently rubbing my arms, legs, and feet with materials that feel different. Try a towel, satiny shirt, or cotton sheet.

Help me learn to use my magnificent ears.

Sing softly to me, play a music box or radio, or have a ticking clock nearby.

Immunizations Prevent Disease

Immunizations prevent a child from catching the disease.

If a child does catch the disease, he will have a less severe case. If not immunized, a child could have some serious health problems from the disease.

Immunizations prevent others from being exposed to the risks of the disease.

For example, the MMR prevents rubella and also the risk that a child with rubella could give rubella to a pregnant woman. If a woman has rubella during the first three months of pregnancy, the baby may be born with a hearing and/or a visual impairment or a heart defect.

Ask your health care provider to explain each immunization.

Ask what immunization is being given and what reactions to watch for after the baby has the immunization.

Write the date Baby has an immunization in a Health Journal, baby book, or health notebook. Take the book with you so that all the information can be recorded.

Immunizations are available through your physician, health care provider, or Delaware's Public Health Centers.

Delaware's Immunization Schedule recommends that by one month, a baby has had two doses of the Hepatitis B immunization. At two months, the Immunization Schedule recommends that a baby have the DTP, polio, and Hib immunizations.

A child is required to be immunized before going into child care or going to school.

Immunize your child. It is healthy for everyone!

Choosing Child Care

Call some of the child care providers.

From the referrals that you have gathered, call several providers. Ask them to tell you a little about their program, what their hours of operation are, costs, and if they have infant care available.
Visit some child care programs.

Call and set up an appointment to visit several child care programs. Take your baby with you.
Get a feel for the program and the person who will be taking care of your child.
Ask questions. Some questions that child care providers expect to be asked are listed in this newsletter. Later, you can compare the answers from the different programs.

The goal is to feel as comfortable as you can about the child care that you select.

Select a caregiver that you have a good feeling about. The process of finding someone can take a very long time, so start looking now.

Remember that your child will change and grow. Choose a setting that is good for infants and their needs. You may find that as your infant grows into a toddler you may want to make a change. You may have to go through the selection process again.

Quality infant care is loving care in a friendly and warm environment.

It goes beyond just caring for the infant's needs for sleep, food and physical comfort. It provides the necessary ingredients for an infant's healthy growth and development -- intellectual, physical, social and emotional.

A Parent's Guide to Choosing Child Care for Infants and Toddlers

Good day care is based on the mutual respect of parents and care providers, open communication, and a shared commitment to the well-being of the children.

Here is a list of what to look for, questions to ask, and points to discuss at the visit.

Do the caregivers...

appear to be warm, friendly, and flexible?
treat each child as a special person?
cheerfully care for the babies' physical needs, such as feeding and diapering?
seem to be people your baby will enjoy?
accept and respect your personal and cultural values?
have childrearing values similar to yours?
spend time holding, playing with, and talking to the babies?
provide stimulation by pointing out things to look at, touch and listen to?
appreciate and praise each baby?
seem to have a sense of humor?
have previous training and experience working with infants?
express pride in the job of caring for infants?

Are there opportunities for infants to...

receive individual attention?
crawl and explore safely?
play with objects and toys that help infants to develop their senses of touch, sight, and hearing (for example, cradle gyms, crib toys, rattles, things to squeeze and roll, pots and pans, nesting cups, different sized boxes)?

Does the child care home or center have...

an up-to-date license?
a clean and comfortable look?
gates at the top and bottom of stairs?
a clean and safe place to change diapers?
cribs with firm mattresses covered in heavy plastic?
separate crib sheets for each baby in care?
a safe outdoor play area nearby that is fenced and free of litter?
enough adult caregivers for the number of children? One adult for every 4 infants and less than 12 infants in one room.
adequate heat, light, ventilation, and bathroom facilities?
locked cabinets for storage of medicine, household cleaners, and dangerous materials?
a health program and careful medical records for each child?
provisions for a sick child?
evidence of meeting all applicable building, health, fire and licensing regulations?

Be sure to discuss...

fees to be paid and when they are to be paid.
addresses and phone numbers where you can be reached at home or at work.
what time your child will arrive and leave.
arrangements for transportation.
your baby's feeding schedule. Will the provider work with you if you are nursing the baby? How will the provider work with you when it is time
to start on baby food? As your child becomes a toddler, are the meals and snacks nutritious and made with the kinds of food you want your child
to eat?
any special arrangements for holidays and vacations. What will happen when the provider has an illness or emergency?
your own attitudes and methods for guiding behavior. What methods are used in the center or home?
any special characteristics of your child, such as food preferences, habits, allergies, special medical needs, or a disability.

Take Care of Yourself

Be sure to keep your postnatal checkup

Let your doctor know how you are feeling and ask any questions you have. Discuss with your doctor your future plans for having children and decide on the options that will best meet your needs.

Having children too close together can be very stressful for you and your children. Find the balance that is best for everyone.

Prevent Accidents When you have the baby on the changing table, get in the habit of keeping one hand on her while you use the other to pick up what you need.

Never leave your baby alone in a place where she could fall.

She can move, so be sure she is in a safe place when you are not close by. Some safe choices are the crib or a play pen.

Great Beginnings is sent to you by:

Patricia T. Nelson, Ed.D.
Family and Child Development Specialist

This newsletter has been edited by Deborah J. Amsden, CHE; and prepared with the assistance of Dr. Penny Deiner, Department of Individual and Family Studies, University of Delaware and Dr. Julie Boozer, chairperson, Wesley College Department of Nursing. This newsletter has been adapted from materials prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the national Cooperative Extension System, including those prepared by Dr. Vivian Halverson, University of Hawaii, Dr. Dorothea Cudaback, University of California, Dr. Shirley Bryant, University of Arizona, and Polly Spedding, Cornell University.

Rev. 1/94
GB-1M
4/23/97