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New Baby: Growth, Development, and Adjustments for Parents

Learn about the first few days of parenthood and how parents can adjust to the needs of their newborn. Discover what to expect in terms of the baby's appearance, abilities, and senses, as well as important information on feeding and bathing.

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New Baby: Growth, Development, and Adjustments for Parents

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  1. Chapter 10: New Baby Human Growth and Development Mrs. Kilgore

  2. First Days of Parenthood Mom and dad have to adjust to night feedings, diaper changes and other needs. Their home may be flooded with visits, gives, and calls from friends and loved ones. Mom’s body is recovering. New parents may feel overwhelmed.

  3. New Baby Almost all new babies sound like they have a cold. They sniffle and sneeze a lot. Babies may look constipated. They strain when they have a bm. This is normal. Be aware of the baby’s soft spot or fontanels.

  4. How the Newborn Looks • Baby’s skin is blotchy and wrinkled • Head may be misshaped. • Ears are pressed to the head. • Eyebrows and eyelashes can barely be seen. • Chubby cheeks. • Note is flattened. • Head may seam oversized. • Legs are usually bowed.

  5. What the Newborn Can Do Can the baby see? A newborn’s eyes are almost always light in color. Very sensitive to light. Eyes focus best at a distance of 8-12 inches. Newborns prefer patterns to plain colors. Babies prefer moving objects to stationary ones.

  6. What the Newborn Can Do Can the baby hear? Hearing develops even before birth. A fetus responds to loud noises while still in the womb. Babies can distinguish sounds but do not understand what they mean. Babies respond readily to the cries of other babies. Loud noises may startle baby and cause them to cry. Newborns like soft, rhythmic sounds, like the sound of a heartbeat.

  7. What the Newborn Can Do Can the baby smell or taste? Smell and taste are well developed at birth. A baby will soon recognize its mothers smell. By 2-3 days after birth a baby will turn their head away from strong, unpleasant odors. Babies can tell the difference between flavors by 2-3 days. They will reject bitter taste and start sucking in response to a sweet flavor. Babies may make faces when sour flavors are placed on their tongues.

  8. What the Newborn Can Do Can the baby feel? Newborns can sense changes in temperature at birth. Babies dislike being cold. This is why many babies cry when being dressed/undressed. Newborns can also uses their sense of tough to distinguish textures. Infants can feel pain. Sensitive to touch, respond quickly to holding and cuddling.

  9. *Reflexes are automatic reactions to stimuli. Rooting reflex= when a baby’s cheek or mouth is touched, the baby turns toward the touch and begins rooting to find food. Grasping reflex= newborn will grasp an object and will increase strength of grasp if object is pulled away (ex=finger). The Newborn’s Reflexes

  10. The Newborn’s Reflexes Babinski reflex= opposite of grasping reflex. When sole of foot is stroked, the newborns toes will extend upward and outward. Moro or Startle reflex= when baby’s position changes quickly or a loud noise occurs. Baby will throw arms apart, spread fingers, extend legs, arch back, and throw head back. Stepping reflex= when baby is held upright and the sole of the foot touches a surface, it will raise its foot.

  11. Holding a Newborn • Newborns like to be held! • It makes them feel loved, safe and secure. • Firmly support the infant’s back and head. • Neck muscles are week so a newborn’s head tends to roll about if not supported • The neck spinal cord and brain are extremely vulnerable to uncontrolled movements.

  12. Sleeping Habits • Newborns spend most of their time sleeping. • As much as 18-20 hours a day. • Longest sleeping period is about five hours. • Babies wake every few hours to be fed. • By 5 months, most babies sleep through the night. • As they sleep, newborns may smile or make faces.

  13. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) • Condition in which an infant dies suddenly in his/her sleep without any warning. • Losing a baby to SIDS can devastate parents. • SIDS is a major cause of death among infants 2 weeks-12 months. • Babies of parents who smoke are at greater risk. • Infants who sleep on their stomachs have a greater risk.

  14. Feeding the Newborn A breast feeding mother should remember: • Every substance that enters her body will affect breast milk. • Nursing mothers need 500 more calories per day. • A newborn generally nurses from 8-10 times daily, 20-30 minutes each feeding.

  15. Feeding the Newborn A mother using formula should remember: • Read the label carefully. • Check the expiration date! • Bottles should not be microwaved. This can cause hot spots and burn baby. • Hold the baby in a semi upright position. • Never prop the bottle or leave the baby alone. • Discard any formula left from a feeding.

  16. Feeding the Newborn • Self demand feeding= parents feed baby only when hungry. • Scheduled feeding= parents only feed baby on a set schedule, no matter if baby is hungry. • Babies should be burped once during each feeding and again after. • Burping brings up any air baby may have swallowed while eating.

  17. Bathing the Newborn • May not come easily for new parents. • Hospital staff usually train parents before they go home. • Sponge baths until umbilical cord has healed. • Have all supplies ready. Warm water, not hot! • Cradle cap= scaly, crust on scalp. Thoroughly wash and rinse scalp daily. • Never leave a baby alone in a tub, even for a minute!!!

  18. Diaper Duty! • A newborn’s most important need is diapers! • Newborns can use 12-15 diapers daily. • Cloth vs. disposable…what do you think? • Diaper rash= skin rash caused by bacteria that builds up on warm, moist skin. • Cleanliness is the key to preventing diaper rash!

  19. When Baby Cries • Crying is the only way babies can communicate. • Infants cry when they need something: food, comfort, a clean diaper. • A hunger cry starts slowly and builds to a loud demand. • A cry for attention is a fussy, whimpering cry. Becomes louder if ignored! • A cry of pain begins as a sudden, shrill scream followed by a brief silence and then several short gasps. • Colic= sever and intermittent abdominal pain that causes babies to cry continuously. They may seem inconsolable.

  20. Husband & Wife as Parents • New parents soon realize their lives will never be the same! “The honeymoon is over.” • Reassign household tasks and chores. • Schedules and routines will have to be adjusted. • Parents may have difficulty finding time for themselves…less “me” time for hobbies. • Find a balance between work & family. • Stick to a budget! Financial strain can cause marital stress. • Make time to nurture your relationship with your spouse…date night! • Spend time with older children to reassure them that they are loved!

  21. Managing Stress • Some parents may have physical symptoms of stress: too much sleep, not enough sleep, irritable, angry, others are withdrawn and sad. • Expect to learn new skills as you go. No one knows everything as a first time parent! • Ask experienced parents for advice. • Most babies fuss…you aren't doing anything wrong if your baby cries. • Focus on the joys of having a baby! They grow up so fast .

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