Developmental milestones: from birth to 6 weeks
The exciting moment has arrived, and your child has come into the world! The family has expanded, and your life is about to change in so many ways. This is only the beginning of a shared journey during which you need to get used to the new situation, to get to know each other and to learn about the world, one step at a time.
Babies are fortunately born with natural, unique and dynamic skills for learning and development. They need a nurturing environment as well as a supportive and loving family that is suited to innate needs and to grow and develop in the best possible way. The relationship with the parents and the environment greatly influences the way you can maximize the baby's inherent developmental potential.
It is important to remember that although babies differ and develop at their own pace, there are predictable milestones in their development that can be monitored to determine whether your infant is progressing. Once you are familiar with these milestones, you can offer the infants age-appropriate activities, games and experiences that will help them develop and advance.
Ways to promote development
Even now, activities can be incorporated into your newborn’s daily routine to prepare for the next stage:
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1Smiles, toys and eye contact
Babies prefer human faces. As such, when they are alert and relaxed, you can bring your face closer to heirs, establish eye contact and smile. You can then slightly move left and right to help them follow your face with their gaze. Gradually, you can also encourage a wider turn of their heads left and right, and later up and down. You can practice tracking with colored objects, such as a booklet with photos. Do this while playing and encouraging attention. Since vision at this age is limited to a short distance, stay close to the baby's face, a distance of about 30 cm, to allow them to get to know you.
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2Daily routine is an excellent time to enhance development and communication
Feeding, diapering, dressing and bathing – are all excellent opportunities to speak with our child and to display enthusiasm and involvement. You should do this while they are alert. Speak to them in a pleasant and quiet voice, encourage eye contact and offer opportunities to mimic (for instance, say something, smile, stop while maintaining eye contact and give them the opportunity to react).
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3Tummy time – difficult but worthwhile
You should place the infant on the stomach when he or she is alert and under your supervision. Tummy time is important and beneficial, helping infants gain control of the head and neck, which is the basis for their motor development. Infants may not initially like tummy time and can begin for short periods of time, even one or two minutes at a time. The more they practice, the easier they will find it. Infants can be encouraged with interesting stimuli: toy, mirror or your face. With age, head control will improve and increase in duration. Infants will then be able to lift their neck and chest, using their hands for support.
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4Maybe it’s too much?
It is important to notice the infant’s mood and preferences and to adapt the activities and stimuli accordingly so that he or she will find it pleasant. Occasionally, too much stimulation can overwhelm and tire infants. If they divert their glance or show signs of irritability and tiredness, you should ‘clean’ the environment and remove stimuli. The infant may have had enough play and would like to sleep.
Safety
Safety
During all activities with infants, it is important that you keep them safe. Newborns are vulnerable: their head is relatively large in comparison with their body. The neck muscles are still weak and they lack head control. You must never shake infants. Shaking infants, even in play, is extremely dangerous and may cause irreversible harm.
No less important: Take care of yourself
Parenthood can be an incredible as well as an extremely challenging experience. To be a parent requires patience, attention and persistence. It is therefore important to take care and do something for yourself that will revitalize you. Taking care of yourself is not a luxury but an inseparable part of being a parent. Try to incorporate time, even if it is brief, for yourself so that you can plan (and do) something that will be good for you. This will allow you to return to your child with renewed energy, more patience and attention.