Gross Motor Skills
In her first month your baby will be able to use very simple motor skills. She may hold her head up to be in a vertical line with her back when she is in a sitting position, but her head will need to be supported. She has the strength to lift her head only briefly when lying on her back.
Reflex Actions
Your baby will make automatic and involuntary movements with her arms, legs and head. These are a natural part of her overall development. These reflex actions will continue until your child's eyesight improves, she learns to control her movements and gains muscle strength. Some common reflex actions that you will observe in your child are:
- Grasp Reflex: She will automatically tighten her fist around any object that is placed in her hand and will hold firmly.
- Rooting Reflex: When you brush your baby's cheek with your nipple or a teat she will automatically turn her head towards it. This reflex action enables her to be ready to feed.
- Sucking Reflex: Related to the rooting reflex, she will automatically begin to suck on any soft object placed in her mouth.
- Walking Reflex: When your baby is held upright near the ground she will automatically move her legs as if to walk.
- Babinski's Reflex: This is also a walking reflex and is triggered when you stroke your child's foot, starting from the heel and moving towards the toes. Your child will prepare her foot for walking by bending her big toe backwards and spreading out her other toes.
- Moro or Startled Reflex: When startled she will try to protect herself by opening her eyes, arching her back and stretching out her arms and legs.
Fine Motor Skills
Your baby will not reach for objects: instead she will stare at them and grasp them only if they are within close proximity. Using her grasp reflex your child will keep her hands in little fists or slightly open and will grasp things when placed in her hands. Because she does not yet have the strength to maintain her grip, she will quickly drop them.
Language : Month 0
Your baby will look at you when you speak and will recognize your voice. She will respond well to high-pitched melodic sounds like singing and when you read nursery rhymes aloud. Speak to her slowly and clearly so she can become familiar with your language. This will help her form words later when she begins to talk. If you want your child to be multi-lingual, speak to her in several languages and she will learn to understand them all.
Crying
In the first month your baby will be able to cry and make gurgling noises but she will not form any recognizable words until much later: she will be able to verbally communicate with you only by crying. Sometimes it's hard as a parent to distinguish what each cry means. Surprisingly enough however, you will become familiar with her different cries and begin to understand what she needs by observing and touching her.
Here are some reasons why she may cry:
- Hunger
- Thirst
- Temperature - being too hot or too cold
- Loneliness
- Illness
- Tiredness
- Wind
- Anger
- Over stimulation - too many people holding or playing with her
- Under stimulation - boredom
- Cuddles - wanting closeness and your attention
- Colic
Emotion : Month 0
Your baby will show little emotional maturity in the first month. She will respond appropriately to comfort and pain, make eye-to-eye contact within a 20-25 cm (8-10 inch) range and will move her arms and legs when she becomes stimulated or excited. She will recognize your smell and your voice, however her smiles may still be reflexive and not the result of recognition or a display of happiness. She will not yet be able to establish consistent patterns of behavior and will want to sleep and eat at irregular intervals.
What Your Baby Enjoy : Month 0
Massage
Your baby loves being touched and caressed and massage is a great way for you to bond with your baby. Don’t worry if you have never massaged anyone before, simply touching your baby gently will show her your warmth and love.
Closeness/Touch
Your baby loves being close to you. Cuddling her using skin to skin contact, talking to her while looking directly at her, picking her up and rocking her gently on your shoulder, reading her stories and taking her for walks while talking to her, are all activities that will make her feel loved and help you to form a close bond with your child.
How Can You Help : Month 0
- Hold your face 8-10 inches (20-25cm) away from her when you are talking.
- Use a “happy voice”: sing, laugh, smile, and use rhythm in your voice.
- Talk to her constantly – just because she can’t understand you does not mean that she isn’t learning. Repetition is critical in helping her learn language skills so repeat the same words often.
- Show your emotions through the tone of your voice and your facial expressions.
- Babies recognize faces first so draw cartoons of faces and place them in her cot so she can see them when she is lying down.
- Place a hanging mobile or toy over her cot and hang it close to her face so she can see it.
- Move her fingers, arms and legs so that she becomes aware of her body.
- Introduce her to new people and new surroundings.
- Take her for walks in a sling or pram – it will be good for both of you!
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