The key to raising a happy and healthy baby is to understand the development of newborn infants. Parents that know how a newborn should be developing and acquiring abilities will be able to know if their child is growing normally and recognize when something goes wrong.

Always remember that all babies develop differently; some develop faster than others. That means the information below should be treated as general guidelines rather than concrete rules. Don’t panic if your baby is not developing exactly as described, but remember that deviations from the norm can be signs that something is wrong.

How Is Your Newborn Developing in the First Month?

The first month of life is both critical and confusing, especially for first-time parents. Watch the baby closely at this time because it is when problems first develop. Here are the critical areas of newborn development you should pay attention to.

1. Physical Development

The main things to watch here are the weight and size. A healthy baby should gain around four to eight ounces (113 to 227 grams) a week and around one inch (2.5 centimeters) a week. That means you should measure the baby about once a week; if he or she is not growing that fast, you should consult a doctor. Something to be aware of is that is normal for some babies to lose some weight right after birth. A healthy baby should regain that weight quickly.

2. Sensory and Motor Development

You may not realize it, but a newborn has all the same senses you do. A healthy newborn should quickly learn to recognize your face, your voice, and your smell. If he or she does not, something is wrong. A healthy baby should also respond to loud noises, particularly high pitched ones. A healthy infant should show reflexes such as clenching fists and turning his or her head towards you when you approach. The speed of the reflexes should increase over time.

3. Cognitive Development

This is the most important kind of newborn development because it refers to the brain and thought processes. Unfortunately, it can be hard to tell how quickly the brain is developing because babies cannot talk. If normal cognitive development is occurring, the baby should increase his or her reaction to you and interaction with you every time you interact. Don’t panic if the baby is a bit slow because some babies’ minds work differently or don’t develop as fast.

4. Social and Emotional Development

It is a little hard to believe, but babies have emotions and a need for social contact. A healthy baby should start trying to communicate with through crying, etc., and to start tracking you with his or her eyes. Healthy babies should also try to start mimicking you at some point. As with cognitive development, don’t panic if this occurs slowly, because babies develop differently.

5. Language Development

Even though a newborn cannot talk, he or she is already learning language. The newborn is learning by listening, and he or she is beginning to understand distinct sounds of language. So talk to the baby; a healthy baby should start responding to certain words at some point.

How to Take Care of a Newborn Baby

Taking care of a newborn baby is actually easier than you might think because a newborn basically does three things: eat, sleep, and poop. Although, it will take a while for both you and the baby to master the basic skills required. Here are a few tips about handling these three activities:

1. Feed Your Baby Properly

Breastfeeding should be simple and natural, but it isn’t always. The baby will let you know when he or she is hungry by crying or becoming agitated. Some babies will also start looking for the nipple. A healthy baby will feed six to twelve times a day. Breastfeeding will be a little awkward at first, but most mothers soon get used to it because they will get a lot of practice. If you use formula, you should follow the instructions on the container and ask your doctor for any advice. The main thing to remember about feeding is that your life will revolve around it for the baby’s first month.

2. Sleep Pattern and How to Cope with It

The most difficult part of being a new parent can be the sleep pattern and learning how to cope with it. For the first week, the baby will spend most of his or her time sleeping. This is normal, but the amount of sleep should increase as the baby grows older. Ask your doctor for safe sleeping guidelines and follow them. Something to be aware of is that newborn babies will often fall asleep during feeding, and that’s normal.

3. Pay Attention to Their Hygiene

Hygiene is very important. Cleanliness and hygiene are vital to a baby’s health. That means you need to bathe the baby every day, but this can be scary. It is okay to skip the occasional bath, but even when you do, you should give the baby a sponge bath.

4. Give Your Newborn a Bath

Bathing a baby can be very scary if you’ve never done it before. The best advice here is to ask somebody who’s had experience bathing babies to give you a hand the first time you try it. It can also be a good idea to watch how that person does it. If you don’t have somebody to show you, there are lots of videos of baby baths online you can consult. Here the three things you should know:

• Sponge baths. Always use a clean, damp washcloth. Wipe the baby’s entire body down when you give a sponge bath, but pay particular attention to the genital area. Always wash the cloth after each sponge bath.
• Tub baths. Once the area around the cord stump heals, you can start giving the baby tub bathes. When the newborn is small, you should bathe him or in the sink or a plastic tub.
• Bath safety. Follow the basics: Never leave a baby alone in the bath tub, never put a baby into a tub while the water is running, and make sure the water is not too hot (over 120 degrees Fahrenheit).

5. Changing the Diapers or Nappies

Now for the part that most new parents dread most: changing the diapers or nappies. If you use disposable diapers, simply follow the directions on the box. It is important to get the right size of diaper and to have plenty of them on hand. A healthy baby will go through around six diapers a day. Make sure you always wash the baby’s bottom with warm water and a clean cloth or hypoallergenic baby wipes. Diaper cream should not be necessary at a younger age.

6. Umbilical Cord Care

Even though the umbilical cord stump will dry and fall off naturally, you should pay a little attention to it. Keep the cord stump clean by wiping it off with a cotton ball after the bath. Take a close look at the stump and check for pus and other signs of infection.

7. Play with Your Newborn

Watch this video and learn the top 10 ways to play with a newborn: