When a newborn baby is getting used to the outside world, the changes and milestones that occur can sometimes be daunting for many parents, which is understandable especially if parents have a limited experience with babies. In the May issue of the magazine, Retail Pharmacy Assistants looks at the ins and outs of the first six months of life: what to expect and how to help your baby thrive.
Babies need predictability and repetition
Speaking to parents of newborns, the conversation often turns to sleep routines.
Questions such as ‘did they sleep through the night?’ and ‘how many times do they wake through the night to feed?’ crop up.
Michelle Jackson, Registered Midwife and Nurse, Childbirth Educator and Infant Sleep Specialist from Parents2B, says that when establishing a sleep routine, it’s all about consistency.
“Consistency is the vital key when it comes to sleep and settling,” she says, adding that a “good routine to follow is eat, play, sleep”.
According to Ms Jackson, in the first six weeks, newborns “can only manage to stay awake for 45 minutes to maximum one hour and should sleep 1.5 to three hours”.
In those first few weeks, she adds, your baby really will “just feed and sleep”.
“If you keep your baby up too long, they’ll become overtired and very difficult to settle,” she says, pointing to “yawning, jerky movements, crying, changes from happy to grizzling and crying, the million-mile stare, clenched fists and turning away from stimulation” as some tiredness signals.
A cry for concern
“When you have limited experience with babies, everything about your baby [will potentially] seem unfamiliar,” says Ms Jackson.
“It’s hard to know what’s normal and what’s not.”
Ms Jackson says being prepared for a baby’s crying in the first few weeks post birth is important, because this may cause concern among many parents.
“Besides this, healthy babies can cry for a couple of hours each day,” she says.
“In fact, newborns can cry for no apparent reason for up to three hours a day, and the crying increases until your baby reaches up to six weeks of age.”
She points out that “crying doesn’t tell you as much in the first weeks as it will when your baby is older”.
While a baby crying is a normal part of parenting life, sometimes it may indicate illness.
For parents who may be particularly concerned, Ms Jackson advises that they contact their paediatrician or GP; or after hours, call 13HEALTH or present to their nearest emergency department.
“To prevent your baby becoming very ill, you and your family need to recognise the newborn danger signs and respond appropriately,” says Ms Jackson. “If in doubt, always seek help!”
Stop! It’s tummy time
“Tummy time is so important for your baby,” says Ms Jackson.
“It helps to strengthen baby’s head, neck and shoulder muscles and builds their upper body strength so that they’re able to sit up, crawl and walk.
“Tummy time should be initiated as part of your baby’s play routine from hospital discharge. It’s initially foreign to your baby [but] the more they do it, the better and stronger they’ll become.
“Don’t stop doing it just because baby [might not] like it. Start off slowly. [We] recommend one minute, three times a day, for how many weeks of age they are.”
Keeping tummy time “interesting and fun” is also a good idea, she adds, and this “should always be on a flat surface – on a parent’s chest isn’t tummy time”.
“Lie down in front of your baby and sing and talk to them,” recommends Ms Jackson.
“They love to see and interact with their parents. Place toys in front of them, a book or a non-breakable mirror. They love seeing the ‘other’ baby. And change it up – inside, outside and on different [flat] surfaces.”
To read the full feature as it appears in the May issue of Retail Pharmacy Assistants magazine, visit: rpassistants.com.au/magazines/retail-pharmacy-assistants-may-2021/
