Newborns develop at different rates, but pediatricians look for milestones to be reached in the first month of life. Your child's motor skills, ability to communicate and growth are monitored against a national average to determine normal development. Developmental delays sometimes signal illness or mental disorder as early as the first month, but are usually no cause for alarm.
Motor Skills
An early measure of your baby's motor skills is how well he is able to hold his head up. The Mayo Clinic notes that your baby's head will be wobbly at first. By two weeks old, your baby will become stronger; his movements might become more graceful. The Mayo Clinic also claims that newborns are unlikely to roll over, but may move around in their cribs, testing the limits of their movements. Holding your baby and changing his position often might help him develop motor skills.
Communication Abilities
Speak to your baby as much as possible, using simple words that she will use everyday when she is able to begin speaking. Even as a newborn, the Mayo Clinic notes that speaking to your child provides the groundwork for future speech abilities. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders states that newborns respond to the sound of a caretaker's voice during the first month of life, first by calming when spoken to, and then by associating crying with food or comfort. The American Pregnancy Association also notes that, in the first month of life, a normal baby makes sounds in her throat and cries to express displeasure.
Eating and Growth
It is normal for your newborn to lose up to ten percent of his birth weight during the first few days of life. Once he starts eating substantially, he should begin to gain about two-thirds of an ounce per day. A breast-fed baby can eat anywhere from eight to 12 times per day, while a bottle fed baby might take three to four ounces every three to four hours. Most babies experience a growth spurt at two weeks old.
Sleeping
When you first bring your baby home, her sleep patterns are likely erratic. Begin a bedtime routine from the first night, making sure your child is in a dark, quiet and warm room, as recommended by nurse Athleen B. Godfrey and Anne Kilgore, M.Ed. Place your baby on her side or back in her own crib in her own room. By three or four weeks old, your baby begins to sleep for longer periods of time and stays awake longer between periods of sleep. By four weeks old, quiet routines around bedtime become even more important to quieting your baby, as by this age she often feels overstimulated.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Infant and Toddler Health; Infant development: Birth to 3 Months; January 2010
- Whattoexpect.com: 2-Week-Old-Baby
- The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders; Speech and Language Developmental Milestones; September 2010
- KidsHealth; Growth and Your 1- to 3-Month-Old; August 2008
- Pediatric Services; Guidelines for Parents: Helping Very Young Infants Sleep Through the Night; Athleen B. Godfrey, RN, MS, FAAN and Anne Kilgore, M.Ed
- American Pregnancy Association; First Year Development: Infant Development; 2007
