Your Baby Week 2
Hello new moms and dads! Your baby’s second week at home should be similar to his or her first week. You guessed it, lots of sleep. You may have even noticed that while loud noises, like the phone ringing or a dog barking, may startle them, they do not wake up.
How is breastfeeding going? If you have decided to breastfeed your child, you may have found that it is more difficult than you anticipated. If you have any questions or concerns about breastfeeding your child, there are many resources available to you. It may be best to start with an organization called La Leche League. They are located at www.llli.org and may have a local chapter in your area. They are dedicated to helping new moms with questions about breastfeeding. You can also try contacting your local hospital to see if they have any lactation specialists on staff or any nurses that can answer questions you may have.
Remember, the most important thing for new moms and dads is to reach out to others with any questions or concerns you may have; this will minimize any undue stress and help you identify any real problems, should they occur.
How is tummy time going? Have you heard of tummy time? Since your newborn is no doubt spending most of his or her time on their back, it’s important to start incorporating some tummy time into their day, when they are awake. Tummy time is important because it will help strengthen their back and neck. In fact, some experts have found that babies who don’t spend time face down have delays in the development of motor skills.
If your baby doesn’t like spending time on his stomach, don’t worry. It’s common for babies to fuss a bit during tummy time. It’s a new position, they may not be strong enough to hold their heads up, and they may feel abandoned if they can’t see anyone. Try these tips to make their tummy time more enjoyable.
- Keep them company. Get down there with them and make sure they can see, hear or feel you.
- Provide some entertainment – prop up a picture book or a toy within their field of vision.
- Have siblings nearby. This is a great reinforcement for older siblings too. They can be the official tummy time monitor. Not only does this give them what may be their first official task as a new sibling, it may make your new little one more comfortable.
For babies at this age, a few minutes a day is a great starting place. This will familiarize them with tummy time and may make it easier for you as they get older. If they aren’t holding their heads up yet, don’t worry, most newborns can by 4 weeks.
Did you know that since doctors began recommending that newborns sleep on their backs, the incidence of SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, has decreased by more than 50%?
