Baby Notes (from BabyWeekly, WhatToExpect & BabyZone)
Katelyn is now 19 weeks old!
Although Katelyn is sleeping longer at night, it may be a while before she stops waking at 6 in the morning; but don't bother trying to keep her up later at night in the hopes she will sleep later in the morning - that generally doesn't work at this stage of development and you'll just wind up with a tired, cranky baby. She might be able to entertain herself for a few minutes in her crib after waking, but for the most part, she will be anxious to get everyone in the household up and started on a busy day of playing. Sometimes the best way to allow other family members to sleep longer in the morning is to move Katelyn farther away from the other sleeping members of the family.
Are Katelyn's naps getting shorter and less frequent? At this age many babies begin to sleep less and play more during the day and are happy to take three or four naps of about an hour a piece. However, some babies will take several shorter naps, while others will take two longer naps. The number and length of naps your baby takes isn't as important at this stage as the total amount of sleep your baby is getting in a 24 hour period. Katelyn should be getting approximately 14 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. If you don't think your baby is getting enough rest, check with your doctor.
Katelyn is figuring out who's who in the world and likes Mom a lot more than most others, and may start to feel insecure in the company of strangers. As a result, you may notice Katelyn is becoming more selective with her smiles - strangers are not welcomed as readily as they once were. Katelyn is also starting to develop preferences. Your little one may reach out for her favorite toys and turn from those she doesn't like. She may also become attached to one toy more than others and rely on it for security.
Your Journal
Jeannette, has Katelyn been sick yet? Most children go through at least one cold, ear infection, or other illness in the first year. Having a child who is ill is enough to rattle any parent. It's hard to see your little baby uncomfortable and weak when there's little you can do to make her feel better. Today in your journal, write how you felt when your baby wasn't feeling well and those times you wished there were more you could do for her.
A Quote Worth Repeating
Be kind - everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. ~ John Watson
This Week's E-poll: What's your family vehicle?
A Tip from the Trenches: If the odor from the diaper pail drives you from your child's room, try placing a few dryer sheets in it. They're inexpensive and will keep the pail smelling fresh and clean.
5 Ways to Boost Tummy Time
Some babies hate it and squall indignantly when placed belly-down on the floor. Others seem to enjoy the view. Still others are indifferent, cooing happily no matter which end is up. Whatever your baby's reaction, he needs to work his way up to spend 15 to 20 minutes on his tummy every day (always under your watchful eye) to practice his push-ups and develop the muscles in his arms, shoulders, upper back, and neck. Tummy time also sets the stage for motor skills like reaching, rolling over, and crawling (and it helps prevent flat spots from forming on the back of his head). By three months, most babies can lift their heads 45 degrees (leaning on their forearms); a month later, they can go to 90 degrees (pushing up on their hands).
Did You Know?
Babies are born with 300 bones in their tiny bodies, but by adulthood, that number shrinks to 206? How does that happen? Many bones fuse together throughout their
childhood. Talk about boning up!
Entertaining Mittens
If your baby doesn't like wearing mittens and it's cold out, try sewing rattles or little bells onto infant socks and using those as mittens. Your baby can shake her hands and make them jingle, keeping her happy; and her hands will stay warm, keeping you happy.
LOL! Inspiring Those First Baby Giggles
Those first smiles melted your heart - so prepare for more puddling now, as your little one learns to laugh out loud. Sometime between three and four months, she'll likely add her first chuckles and giggles to her repertoire of vowel-sound coos. What will inspire that first outburst? It could be anything from the sight of your face, or an older sibling's goofy grin, to a favorite toy or a silly sound. While these early laughs and coos are delightful to watch, they're rewarding for baby too - she loves hearing her own voice, and seeing others' reactions. Plus, with each coo and goo she's learning and practicing how to move her mouth and tongue to produce different sound effects.
Did You Know? It's normal for babies to skip a bowel movement for several days or even a week? As long as your little one is eating well, a dearth of dirty diapers doesn't automatically mean there's a poop problem. In fact, true constipation - marked by discomfort and pebbly stools - is rare in infants, especially breastfed ones. So don't sweat if the diaper's just wet!
Although Katelyn is sleeping longer at night, it may be a while before she stops waking at 6 in the morning; but don't bother trying to keep her up later at night in the hopes she will sleep later in the morning - that generally doesn't work at this stage of development and you'll just wind up with a tired, cranky baby. She might be able to entertain herself for a few minutes in her crib after waking, but for the most part, she will be anxious to get everyone in the household up and started on a busy day of playing. Sometimes the best way to allow other family members to sleep longer in the morning is to move Katelyn farther away from the other sleeping members of the family.
Are Katelyn's naps getting shorter and less frequent? At this age many babies begin to sleep less and play more during the day and are happy to take three or four naps of about an hour a piece. However, some babies will take several shorter naps, while others will take two longer naps. The number and length of naps your baby takes isn't as important at this stage as the total amount of sleep your baby is getting in a 24 hour period. Katelyn should be getting approximately 14 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. If you don't think your baby is getting enough rest, check with your doctor.
Katelyn is figuring out who's who in the world and likes Mom a lot more than most others, and may start to feel insecure in the company of strangers. As a result, you may notice Katelyn is becoming more selective with her smiles - strangers are not welcomed as readily as they once were. Katelyn is also starting to develop preferences. Your little one may reach out for her favorite toys and turn from those she doesn't like. She may also become attached to one toy more than others and rely on it for security.
Your Journal
Jeannette, has Katelyn been sick yet? Most children go through at least one cold, ear infection, or other illness in the first year. Having a child who is ill is enough to rattle any parent. It's hard to see your little baby uncomfortable and weak when there's little you can do to make her feel better. Today in your journal, write how you felt when your baby wasn't feeling well and those times you wished there were more you could do for her.
A Quote Worth Repeating
Be kind - everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. ~ John Watson
This Week's E-poll: What's your family vehicle?
A Tip from the Trenches: If the odor from the diaper pail drives you from your child's room, try placing a few dryer sheets in it. They're inexpensive and will keep the pail smelling fresh and clean.
5 Ways to Boost Tummy Time
Some babies hate it and squall indignantly when placed belly-down on the floor. Others seem to enjoy the view. Still others are indifferent, cooing happily no matter which end is up. Whatever your baby's reaction, he needs to work his way up to spend 15 to 20 minutes on his tummy every day (always under your watchful eye) to practice his push-ups and develop the muscles in his arms, shoulders, upper back, and neck. Tummy time also sets the stage for motor skills like reaching, rolling over, and crawling (and it helps prevent flat spots from forming on the back of his head). By three months, most babies can lift their heads 45 degrees (leaning on their forearms); a month later, they can go to 90 degrees (pushing up on their hands).
Did You Know?
Babies are born with 300 bones in their tiny bodies, but by adulthood, that number shrinks to 206? How does that happen? Many bones fuse together throughout their
childhood. Talk about boning up!
Entertaining Mittens
If your baby doesn't like wearing mittens and it's cold out, try sewing rattles or little bells onto infant socks and using those as mittens. Your baby can shake her hands and make them jingle, keeping her happy; and her hands will stay warm, keeping you happy.
LOL! Inspiring Those First Baby Giggles
Those first smiles melted your heart - so prepare for more puddling now, as your little one learns to laugh out loud. Sometime between three and four months, she'll likely add her first chuckles and giggles to her repertoire of vowel-sound coos. What will inspire that first outburst? It could be anything from the sight of your face, or an older sibling's goofy grin, to a favorite toy or a silly sound. While these early laughs and coos are delightful to watch, they're rewarding for baby too - she loves hearing her own voice, and seeing others' reactions. Plus, with each coo and goo she's learning and practicing how to move her mouth and tongue to produce different sound effects.
Did You Know? It's normal for babies to skip a bowel movement for several days or even a week? As long as your little one is eating well, a dearth of dirty diapers doesn't automatically mean there's a poop problem. In fact, true constipation - marked by discomfort and pebbly stools - is rare in infants, especially breastfed ones. So don't sweat if the diaper's just wet!