After months of waiting, your newborn baby is finally here. You’re excited to meet them, and might feel worried or nervous about the weeks and months ahead, as you and your newborn bond.
Caring for a newborn baby can be a big adjustment, and this time can be stressful as well as joyful. For the compassionate and knowledgeable expertise in newborn care you need, turn to Dr. Gyula Soos and his care team at Dr. Soos Pediatrics. Dr. Soos supports new, and new-again, parents from around the Dublin, Georgia area.
As soon as your baby is born, development starts. Some major developmental milestones occur in the first three months postpartum. Your newborn will start to develop motor skills, and will be able to pull up his or her head and chest when lying on the stomach, as well as to kick and stretch out little legs.
Babies’ eyes develop a lot in the first few months, going from focusing on faces during feedings to examining contrasting patterns at age 1 month to tracking objects at around 2 months of age.
Your baby can grasp toys and fingers in the first few months, and will start to turn toward and respond to sounds with smiles and gurgles. By age 2 months, your baby could be starting to communicate, repeating sounds when you interact and play.
To support your baby’s development in the first few months, help him or her feel safe, loved, and connected. Hold your baby, touch faces and fingers, speak frequently, and respond when your baby cries.
Crying is most frequent for most babies at around 6 weeks postpartum, and should start to gradually decline in frequency as your baby develops more sophisticated communication. Crying in newborns indicates needs like diaper changes, feedings, comfort, and the need for repositioning.
Newborns can get fussy after too long lying on their stomachs. Changing your newborn’s position can often resolve fussing. Your baby may enjoy being held facing outward. When your baby gets sleepy, place him or her on his or her back to rest.
Make sure to take care of yourself in the first few months as well! Crying and the constant needs of a newborn can be challenging. Reach out for help and take breaks when you need to, keeping parents and child supported and secure.
Newborn care visits with the team at Dr. Soos are a chance for you to ask questions, learn important information, and check in with experts on your child’s health, wellness, and care needs. They also let us keep your baby up to date on important infant and child immunizations, delivered on a safe and effective schedule according to CDC recommendations.
At each care visit, we collect information at each visit about your baby’s development, tracking length, weight, heart rate, and other essential metrics, comparing your baby’s pace on milestones with national statistics. All babies develop differently, but if your baby is lagging behind in ways that could be a cause for concern, Dr. Soos can investigate further.
Depending on your family’s unique needs, Dr. Soos can help you put together the team you need to thrive in the first few months of your newborn’s life. You might benefit from working with a lactation consultant, or with an expert in children with special needs.
To learn more about the first few months of newborn development and how newborn care can help, get in touch with the team at Dr. Soos Pediatrics today. You can schedule your appointment over the phone, or book online now.
