"The Big Smile"

• The next few months are perhaps the easiest age during a baby's life. Your baby still has relative immunity to most infections. He or she is happy to see people, yet does not demand a lot of attention nor can they get up and crawl around to get into things. Your child will become responsive when you talk to him or her and is beginning to blossom into a "real" person.
  
• Continue to hold, cuddle, talk to, sing to and rock your baby as much as you can. Every interaction with your child stimulates brain development.
  Encourage your baby to "speak" by talking to him or her during dressing, bathing, feeding, playing, walking and driving. Stimulate your child with age- appropriate toys. Hang a rattle, mobile or some other bright object across the crib so that your infant can begin watching and reaching for it. Parents should continue to make sure they get adequate rest. A lot of moms still need a nap, so take one when baby naps. Go for a daily walk with the baby for fresh air. Mothers should have had their postpartum checkup by now.

Stages of Parental
Development

In a child's voice

Have Baby, Will Travel

Raising a Healthy
Baby

Learning
games

To Soothe The Cries
of a Colicky Baby

Some Thoughts on
Colic

• Have you noticed that your baby's smile has improved, especially when he or she sees you? Infants at this age begin to show pleasure in their interactions with their parents.
  
• Before long, the neck muscles will begin to develop, allowing your baby to gain more head control. He or she will be able to hold his or her head steady and it will not bob around when you pick up your child. Until this happens, however, be prepared to give your baby extra head support.
  
• Your baby will begin to grasp a rattle or tightly hold on to your finger
  
• Between now and the 4-month checkup, most babies will start to lift their head, neck and upper chest on their forearms, craning their necks like a turtle to see what is going on. They will also straighten out their legs when you let them sit on your lap and try to stand with support. And no, this will not cause them to become bow-legged.

Milestones in Motor
Development

Unavoidable Injuries
at Birth

• Ensure that your infant is gaining enough weight.
  
• Discuss with your baby's doctor any problems you are having with breast or bottle feeding. Remember, "spitting up" is common and as long as your baby is thriving, the spitting is a "nuisance" rather than a "problem."
  
• Infant feeding demands will continue to vary from day to day. By 10 weeks of age, some babies are feeding only four to five times a day (breast or bottle) while others require more feeding times. This is normal. Hopefully, the interval between feedings is not at least every three to four hours during the day with lengthened intervals at night. Do not put cereal in a bottle unless instructed to do so by your baby's doctor. The introduction of solid foods depends on the preference of your child's pediatrician.
  
• Remember to give vitamins and/or fluoride if prescribed by your child's doctor.

Abnormal stomach
value causes vomiting

ABC's of Infant
Formulas

Collection and Storage
of Breast Milk

Eating right - A Guide
for Breastfeeding Moms

Feeding Suggestions
for the 1st Year

• Always put your baby to sleep on his or her back. Alternate the end of the crib where you place his or her head so he or she does not always sleep with his or her head on one side.
  
• Begin to establish a bedtime routine and other habits to discourage night awakening.
  
• Infants sleep most of the day but a child's sleep patterns vary from baby to baby. Many babies still have that "fussy" period during the late afternoon or early evening. It is OK for moms and dads to give themselves a break from that time by getting assistance from relatives and friends.
  
• Most babies will sleep through the night by 3 months old. "Lucky" parents get a good nights sleep sooner. To achieve this, many babies need encouragement. Put the infant to bed when they are drowsy but awake. Avoid rocking your baby to sleep or holding him or her until he or she falls asleep. You baby needs to learn to fall asleep on his or her own. Try to ignore the baby is he or she is just squirming or whimpering. Your infant may go back to sleep on his or her own!

Prevention of Infant
Sleep Problems

Night Criers and
Feeders

Night Awakenings from
Holding Until Asleep

Can We Prevent Infants
from Waking up at Night

Is it okay for an infant to
sleep in his car seat?

Is it okay to let a baby "cry it out" when they  wake up at night?

• An important part of each well-child visit is the evaluation of the baby's growth. In the vast majority of children, growth falls within normal ranges on the standard growth curves for weight, height or head size. The smooth curves of a growth chart might create the impression that a baby grows in a continuous, smooth manner. Instead, growth usually occurs in spurts. Therefore, single growth (height , weight, head size) measurement at any particular month in a child's life is of limited value - more important is the child's rate of growth over time.

• The 2-month old will also be checked thoroughly both physically and developmentally.

Tables of
Normal Growth

►Kidsgrowth Vaccine Guide

Keep a record of your child's immunizations. (Click to download an immunization record)

• Continue to use an infant car seat that is properly secured at all times.
• Continue to put the baby to sleep on his or her back or side.
• Continue to test the water temperature with your wrist to make sure it is not hot before bathing the baby. Never leave the baby alone or with a young sibling or pet.
• Do not leave your baby alone in a tub of water or on high places such as changing tables, beds, sofas or chairs.
• Always keep one hand on the baby.
• Continue to insist that the baby's environment is free of smoke.
• Never shake or jiggle the baby's head vigorously.
• Never leave the infant alone in the house or car, even for a minute.
• Do not place strings or necklaces about a baby's neck or use a sting to attach a pacifier.
• Never hold your baby while drinking a hot liquid.
• If your home uses gas appliances, install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors.