Making each day count on your first year together.
By Maan Pamaran
Bonding opportunity
As baby adjusts to the outside world, give him consistent physical contact such as hugging and infant massage to establish his sense of security and well-being. As hearing is well-developed at this stage, introduce him to happy sounds: sing to him while he is bathing, or getting ready to go out.
Pediatrician Genia Garcia, M.D., says, “While bonding is all-important, it is also very simple. Bathing is already considered a time for bonding. Giving your baby the basic care that he needs is already quality time for the two of you. That includes playing and simply talking to him.”
2nd Quarter Milestone Markers
Month 4: Sounding off
- Bears weight on his legs, and when held erect, pushes himself up on his feet
- Lifts head and chest up
- Reaches and grasps objects and brings them to his mouth
- Sits with support
- May start teething
- Loves to make new sounds
- Cries when playtime is over; laughs out loud
- Notices how you talk and the individual sounds and syllables you make
- Begins to notice cause and effect (e.g. that keys or toys will make sounds when shaken)
- Stares at the place from which an object has been dropped
Month 5: Moving around
- Rolls over and does mini push-ups
- Recognizes his name when someone calls it out
- Begins to cry when parent leaves the room, or when introduced to a stranger
- Picks up objects with a rake-like grasp
- Enjoys looking around
- Likes to play during mealtime
- May be able to hold bottle with one or both hands
- Reacts sharply when his toy is taken away from him
- Month 6: Growing independent
Starts on solid foods, can already chew
• Sits without support
• Rolls in both directions
• Babbles in monosyllables
• Indicates likes and dislikes; uses voice to indicate pleasure and displeasure
• Primary moods are pleasure, discontent, and anger
Bonding opportunity
Since baby is more mobile now, provide him with a safe and stimulating environment that he can freely explore. Lay out a blanket on the floor and scatter his toys around. Expose him to music and movement by dancing and singing nursery rhymes, as he is also more sensitive to rhythm and speech patterns at this stage. Soon he will start mimicking these sounds for you.
Establish “reading time” in your routine, too, because he can focus his eyes and attention better now. He is also more sociable at this stage, so start bringing him to a playgroup, where you can also meet other new moms.
3rd Quarter Milestone Markers
Month 7: Little mime - Bounces and crawls
- Bears more of his weight on his legs
- Transfers objects from hand to hand
- Forms polysyllabic vowel sounds
- Prefers his parents to anyone else
- Watches adults closely and may imitate some actions
- Begins to grasp the meaning of ”no” from his caregiver’s tone of voice
- Enjoys playing with mirrors
- Follows one-step gesticulated commands (e.g. when you say “Give to Mama” with your hand held out)
- Month 8: Making new discoveries
- Leans forward with back rounded
- Reaches for spoon when being fed
- Pushes away from undesirable objects
- Can hold and manipulate one object while looking at another object
- Has perfected crawling and is adept at moving around using this mobility to explore his world
- Turns away when finished eating
- Says “dada” and “mama,” indiscriminately addressing his parents
- Discovers object permanence – knows that his teddy bear is hidden under a blanket
Month 9: Little superstar
- Pivots when sitting
- Performs for an audience; repeats actions when applauded
- Is shy with strangers
- Can deliberately choose a toy for playing with
- Can clap his hands
- Can stand, but holds on to something for support
- Starts to perfect “pincer” grasp –the ability to pick up an object using thumb and forefinger
The beginnings of discipline
It is a time for baby to discover his surroundings, as well as discover his limits, and a time to gently start teaching him discipline and establish your authority. If he starts to do something that is not allowed, calmly say “no” and divert his attention elsewhere. At this stage, he does not mean to misbehave, and will still not understand if you raise your voice or punish him, so remain firm but calm and loving. It is also time to practice positive reinforcement by acknowledging and responding to good behavior.
4th Quarter Milestone Markers
Month 10: Curious George
- Has a developing sense of self-awareness
- Begins to seek social approval
- Looks for companionship and attention
- Starts to imitate Mom’s actions, such as brushing teeth or combing hair
- Rocks, hums, and sways to music
- Curiosity is rapidly developing (e.g. will open drawers to see what is inside)
- Month 11: Cruising along
- Can pick up small objects; his grasp is steady enough to pop a banana slice in his mouth
- Loves playing hide-and-seek games
- Loves rolling a ball on the floor
- Often stands on toes
- Can squat and stoop
- Can cruise along the room by using furniture to steady himself
- Recognizes words as symbols for objects (e.g. can point to a car, or his bottle)
Month 12: Walking whiz
- Reacts strongly to separation from favored parent
- May start having temper tantrums
- May now refuse to be fed
- Can throw objects
- Comes when he is called
- Sense of humor is emerging
- Walks with one hand held
- Can climb stairs, one step at a time
- Remembers events for longer periods
Playtime beyond the playpen
Since baby is starting to cruise around, it is time to baby-proof the house. Provide him with toys that are safe and age-appropriate, such as blocks, to help him develop his hand-eye coordination and fine-motor skills. Teach him rhyming and action games like “Patty Cake” to enhance his memory.
Playtime should be packed with peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek games. He’ll also have a blast looking at himself in the mirror, so allow some time for him to stare at his good looks in front of a full-length mirror. Just before his first birthday, his motor abilities and control will be noticeably developed—he’ll be ready to beat a toy drum, shake a tambourine, or tinker with a toy piano. On lazy afternoons, turn up the volume of your fave song and have a dance party with your little partner, because he’ll love to move and groove.
Read more about new moms' apprehensions and getting back to work.
Your tyke is also ready to try feeding himself, so give him food he can nibble and dip his fingers into. Keep offering different items, letting him spit out whenever he finds them distasteful. He’ll eventually decide what food he likes.
Mommy woes
OB-Gynecologist Susan Pilapil-Lazaga, M.D., explains, “With a firstborn, [mothers] tend to be more anxious about their new role. They don’t know how to breastfeed, much less hold the baby. ’Pag umiyak, anxious na si Mommy that she might be doing something wrong. At this stage, it would be good to have somebody there to help the mother.” And when it comes to the best baby care, she adds that nobody can really replace Mommy—even if she’s new at being a parent. “A baby can already distinguish between the touch of the yaya and the touch of his mother. He even knows his mother’s voice and smell. If you are a working mother, when you arrive home, you can just say, ‘Andito na si Mommy! Halika, tayong dalawa naman.’ And your baby will know for sure that it is you.”
Back to work
Dr. Pilapil-Lazaga explains, “One of the things the mother has to prepare for is how to breastfeed while she is working. There is also the anxiety of leaving the baby behind with the yaya. You have to find adequate childcare arrangements to put your mind at ease. The doctor will tell if you are fit enough to go back to work.” She adds, “At the start, it will be hard because, with the biorhythm of a newborn, you may only get four hours of sleep every night.” However, she says moms can be assured that the biorhythm will change again in a few months, and sleep will normalize.
Photo from sxc.hu
SOURCES:
• Genia C. Garcia, M.D., pediatrician
• Susan G. Pilapil-Lazaga, M.D., OB-Gynecologist, Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center
• You Baby’s First Year by Steven Shelov
• Nelson’s Textbook of Pediatrics
• thenewparentsguide.com
Your tyke is also ready to try feeding himself, so give him food he can nibble and dip his fingers into. Keep offering different items, letting him spit out whenever he finds them distasteful. He’ll eventually decide what food he likes.
Mommy woes
OB-Gynecologist Susan Pilapil-Lazaga, M.D., explains, “With a firstborn, [mothers] tend to be more anxious about their new role. They don’t know how to breastfeed, much less hold the baby. ’Pag umiyak, anxious na si Mommy that she might be doing something wrong. At this stage, it would be good to have somebody there to help the mother.” And when it comes to the best baby care, she adds that nobody can really replace Mommy—even if she’s new at being a parent. “A baby can already distinguish between the touch of the yaya and the touch of his mother. He even knows his mother’s voice and smell. If you are a working mother, when you arrive home, you can just say, ‘Andito na si Mommy! Halika, tayong dalawa naman.’ And your baby will know for sure that it is you.”
Back to work
Dr. Pilapil-Lazaga explains, “One of the things the mother has to prepare for is how to breastfeed while she is working. There is also the anxiety of leaving the baby behind with the yaya. You have to find adequate childcare arrangements to put your mind at ease. The doctor will tell if you are fit enough to go back to work.” She adds, “At the start, it will be hard because, with the biorhythm of a newborn, you may only get four hours of sleep every night.” However, she says moms can be assured that the biorhythm will change again in a few months, and sleep will normalize.
Photo from sxc.hu
SOURCES:
• Genia C. Garcia, M.D., pediatrician
• Susan G. Pilapil-Lazaga, M.D., OB-Gynecologist, Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center
• You Baby’s First Year by Steven Shelov
• Nelson’s Textbook of Pediatrics
• thenewparentsguide.com
http://www.smartparenting.com.ph/baby/development-child-care/your-newborn-and-you-month-by-month-milestones-playtime-safety-tips/page/6
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