Your Baby – July 2019

JULY & AUGUST 2019 | 51

Image: Gallo Images/Getty Images

MAYBE YOU GET a fright on the

first day you lay eyes on your new

baby, who looks so strange and

different from the babies in the

shampoo adverts. But don’t make

the mistake of thinking there’s not

a lot happening in that little head,

and we’re not even talking about the

body yet. We have a look at some of

the best-known milestones on the

physical, intellectual and emotional

front and also share some tips.

WEEK NINE

If you’ve regularly been doing tummy

time, your baby will now be able to

lift her head to about 45 degrees for

10 seconds.

When she’s upright, she can hold her

head up and even turn it in the direction

of a sound that interests her.

She also becomes aware of her own

hands and finds them fascinating.

The fontanels on her head – those soft

spots in her skull – start closing up.

WEEK 10

Your baby actively reacts to others

(even to the dog!) and starts showing

personality. She’ll be able to express her

preferences and moods with her facem

body and voice.

Your baby is aware of objects and will

try hard to reach for them or kick them.

WEEK 11

Your baby makes talking sounds, or

gurgles, shouts and babbles. She’ll

also start listening more carefully.

Better control over her hands means

everything goes to the mouth to be

explored further.

WEEK 12

Head control in a lying position is much

better already. Your baby will also be

able to hold a rattle now if you place it

in her hands. Your baby can be awake

and happy for longer periods without

becoming overstimulated. YB

WEEK FIVE

Your baby is very interested in facial

expressions. Remember that she can’t see

that well yet – so hold her about 30cm

from your face when you “chat”. She’ll

stick out her tongue and move her lips as

if she wants to talk back.

WEEK SIX

She’s now properly found her voice, and

literally cries like a baby. If you’re well

attuned, you’ll be able to figure that

she uses a variety of sounds for hunger,

fatigue, pain... Crying is how she

communicates with you.

WEEK SEVEN

Your baby works hard to gain control

over her muscles. Especially her neck

and back muscles are becoming stronger

and stronger, and she’ll be able to keep

her head up for short bursts. Your baby’s

sight is also busy improving, and she

can start following movement with her

eyes. Most of her reflexes disappear as

she takes control over her own body.

WEEK EIGHT

Where’s the camera? You’re getting

a real smile from your little nunu. Plus,

she starts making the cutest sounds in

her throat and reacts to your sounds.

WEEK ONE

At the end of baby’s first day in the

world, she’ll recognise your smell.

She’s born with senses that already

work well (save for sight, which is

quite weak at the beginning), and her

brain will immediately start with the

learning process to take in everything

that feeds her senses. A few days later,

she recognises her favourite people by

their voices, and although her sight is

still limited, by the end of the first week

she recognises the faces of her favourite

people too.

WEEK TWO

Your baby can feel your mood, even

if she doesn’t understand words. Just

like she’s busy getting to know you,

you have to get to know her too. You’ll

know that she has positive and negative

reactions, and her needs are actually still

quite simple. Remember that she’s totally

dependent on you, so immediately

respond when she’s crying and nurture

her lovingly. Nurse on demand – it’s also

your bonding time.

WEEK THREE

The way your baby moves is different

than that of an older baby. The strange

movements you would have spotted

by now happen involuntarily – they’re

reflexes. They gradually become weaker.

There are quite a few of these reflexes,

but the most well-known are:

✓ The Moro reflex, where she spreads

her arms and legs as if she got a fright

✓ The sucking reflex

✓ The grasp reflex – everyone’s

favourite, because that’s when she holds

your finger so tightly

WEEK FOUR

If you place baby on her tummy, she

might be able to lift her little head for

a bit. This is an important milestone!

A strong neck and shoulders are the

foundation for many of her future

milestones.

TIPS FOR THE THIRD MONTH

✓ Play with your baby’s body

when she’s awake. Bend her

knees, tug her arms, and tickle

her feet.

✓ Pull dramatic faces and speak

dramatically, and watch how

she reacts.

✓ Play rhythmic music and dance

with her in your arms.

✓ Rub her whole body with

different textures.

✓ Give her bright objects to

follow with her eyes, and also

place them in her hands.

✓ Put her down on her back

under a baby gym, and on her

tummy on a textured blanket.

✓ Give running commentary

on everything you do with your

baby, for instance during nappy

changes and bathtime.

TIPS FOR THE

SECOND MONTH

✓ Repeat her name when you

look her in the eye.

✓ Blow a raspberry and watch if

she imitates you.

✓ Go for a baby-massage course.

✓ Daily tummy time is a must.

✓ Suspend a mobile above her

changing station, so that she can

exercise her eyes.

✓ Rub different textures over her

little hands and watch how she

reacts to each of them.

TIPS FOR THE FIRST MONTH

✓ Keep your newborn’s immediate

environment calm at first, and

guard against overstimulation.

✓ Swaddle her snugly in a blanket

with her hands close to her face.

✓ Immediately respond when she

cries and comfort her.

✓ Talk to her, sing to her and make

eye contact.

✓ Hold her tightly when you nurse,

and also if you might bottle feed.