Part 2 in a series of articles for new parents.
Congratulations, you have made it through the newborn stage! Take a breath and let the fun begin. If you’ve been following along in the ride since part one of this series, your baby should now be interacting with you, cooing, smiling, and maybe even laughing when you talk and interact. This is a time to cherish. Soak up this precious and short-lived time between the delicate newborn stage and baby’s upcoming mobile period. This 3-6 month stage is a favorite of many parents.
COMMUNICATION: You have maybe seen or heard the newest campaign by First 5 “Talk Read Sing” If you haven’t been doing these things yet, it’s time to start. The research shows that human brains develop more in the first year than any other time of life. The more you communicate with your baby the faster their brain expands and the faster their own language skills can emerge. It’s true that your baby will likely not speak many words, much less sentences, for at least another 6 months, but role modeling language to them now is essential to them developing speech.
PRO TIP: Not sure what to talk about? Just narrate: “Oh you need a diaper change. Let’s take off your purple pants and get some wipes…1, 2, 3 wipes.” Not only is the baby learning vocabulary but also a little introduction to colors and numbers.
Reading a book to your baby is also a wonderful way to supplement their development. The same books over and over are great also. Get into the book, read in different voices, when the old lady in “Goodnight Moon” whispers “hush” put a finger over your mouth and whisper “hush”
Sing songs, any songs. It doesn’t have to just be “Twinkle Twinkle” or “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Babies like your favorite Bob Marley song or even a made up song. You are not the only parent who does not know all the words to “Hush Little Baby,” and you can make up entirely new words. A lot of babies will actually sing and dance even before they talk and walk. Music is a powerful form of connection.
FEEDING: There is so much conflicting information out there about infant feeding at this period of development. Maybe you have heard from other parents or even the pediatrician to start offering solid foods as early as 3 months. Know that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that your baby has only breast milk or formula for the first 6 months. If you are unsure of how much your baby should be eating, check in with a lactation consultant or their pediatrician.
PRO TIP: If you are really questioning whether to start solids look for these developmental signs that your baby is ready: sits up on her own without being propped’ has teeth or at least started teething, is able to pick up something small in a pincher grasp of her thumb and pointer finger, shows an interest in eating food (reaches for your food, etc). Sometimes this all happens in the time following six months, and that’s ok too.
If your baby is drinking from a bottle and you are not sure how much they should be taking in their bottle, a good rule of thumb is to take their weight and multiply by 2.5. That number should be around the number of ounces your baby should have in a day. For example, if your baby weighs 15 pounds, your baby should have around 37.5 ounces of breast milk or formula that day. If your baby has 8 feedings in 24 hours that would be a little less than 5 ounces in each bottle.
ROUTINE: Babies at this age thrive on routine. Incorporating playing, reading and singing in between feedings and rest are a wonderful way to create a pattern of predictability for your baby. Your baby will start to recognize that it’s time for bed if you give them the same little massage, talk about pj’s, and read a book in the rocking chair every evening.
PRO TIP: Routine does not have to be complicated. Think of a simple pattern like: eat, wake/play time, sleep. Then a couple of simple rituals for bedtime like a tummy massage and reading “Goodnight Moon” to signal bedtime. Don’t be surprised if your baby goes through some regressions during this time. It is a common developmental milestone. Keep your routines, but remain flexible and follow your baby’s occasional cues for more milk or cuddles, and both you and your baby will benefit.
