Your Baby and You: Week Forty Four
YOUR BABY
Behavioural Development: My baby is deliberately banging his head
It can be a very alarming sight to catch your baby banging his head deliberately against the side of the cot or on a toy. Rest assured that this is actually a relatively common behavioural trait and is most often attributed to babies discovering (and enjoying) a sense of rhythm. It is also cited as a means of self-soothing, especially when they are in discomfort with teething. On the whole it is not considered to be cause for concern, unless it is accompanied by other developmental concerns, or if they are repeatedly doing it hard enough to bruise them. You can find out more about head banging habits and how to deal with it here.
Social & Emotional Development: Separation anxiety
Separation anxiety commonly begins somewhere between 8-18 months of age. It is a normal stage of development and not something that you should worry about. It is unlikely to be a sign that you are going to have a 'clingy' child in the long term. There are, however, steps that you can take to reduce the distress of your baby when you leave them. Here are a few, but you can find out more here.
- If your baby hasn't displayed signs of separation anxiety yet, then start getting them used to spending time with other people - initially just being held by others, then by being left with others whilst you pop to the bathroom, the corner shop, and eventually into town for a few hours
- Be consistent and firm, a clear and brief goodbye that teaches them that you are going is really important - don't be tempted to 'sneak' out when they aren't looking. This is usually more stressful for the baby once they realise later that you have gone.
- Be mindful of your behaviour, if you don't seem happy and confident about leaving, neither will they be.
Feeding: Variations in appetite
It happens all the time, just as you start to tell your friends about the healthy portion sizes your baby is putting away, they suddenly start eating like a mouse. Variations in appetite are common, and may be the result of a number of factors, like teething or a mild illness such as a cold. As a baby gets older, a drop in appetite can often be as a result of being distracted by other things. Especially as they become more mobile and aware of other people and sources of entertainment around them. Increased appetites are often associated with growth spurts, and tend to follow periods of decreased appetite. Provided your baby is growing at a normal rate, they display no signs of being unwell and they are still taking on plenty of fluids, a change in appetite either way is usually nothing to worry about.
Care Advice: What's your baby drinking?
It can be tempting to offer your baby fruit juices, squash or even fizzy drinks in order to get them to take on more fluid - of course, with these drinks having a high sugar content, babies are likely to take more than they would if they were just offered water. However, unless you have real reasons to be concerned about your baby's hydration levels, they are likely to be getting enough fluid via their milk feeds and from the water that you can give them with their meals and throughout the day. Sweet drinks are tempting for easy gratification from your baby and guaranteed fluid consumption, but they come with a price:
- Sugary drinks will strengthen your baby's preference for sweet foods
- The sugar damages their teeth
- It can lead to them drinking more than they need to, and hindering their appetite for food
- It may put them at higher risk of becoming overweight or obese as they get older
Common illnesses and ailments: Meningitis
Make sure you know the signs of meningitis. Babies and children are particularly susceptible to the infection and prompt action from their parents or care providers can mean the difference between life and death. Remember that symptoms can come on very quickly so it is important to check them frequently if you are concerned that they may have the infection. Here are some of the common symptoms in babies, but remember that a child with meningitis would not necessarily display all of these symptoms:
- High temperature
- Tense or bulging soft spot
- Seeming very sleepy or with a vacant expression, less responsive than usual
- Vomitting or refusing feeds
- Irritable
- A cry that sounds different to usual, possibly more high pitched
- Difficulty breathing or breathing very quickly
- Pale, blotchy skin. Possibly turning blue
- Shivering
- Jerky movements
- Cold hands and feet
- Septicaemia rash
A septicaemia rash usually starts with pinprick marks that can develop into a more blotchy rash, possibly purple in colour, or blood blisters. If the rash does not fade when a glass is pressed firmly against it this is a sign of septicaemia and requires immediate attention.
THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR BABY THIS WEEK
Entertainment: Is your baby losing interest in her toys?
Here are some tips to reignite their interest:
- Try a toy rotation system. Separate your baby's toys out into boxes and alternate which box they are given to play with each day
- Keep toys accessible and avoid having all toys crammed into one box or cupboard, visually this can be overwhelming for a baby and they will find toys more attractive when presented alongside fewer other toys
- Encourage your baby to play with toys in new ways, perhaps they need reminding of what certain toys can 'do'. Get down on the floor and play with them!
Activities: Is my baby too young to watch television?
This is a hotly debated subject, but if you read the arguments both to and for watching television, it does seem quite clear that there is no benefit for children under the age of 2. Of course, there is a very real benefit to parents, and that is that a child (of any age) occupied with a television allows parents the time to get other, often important, tasks done - such as cooking dinner. Whilst your baby is still so young, try to avoid getting into the habit of using the TV as a means of entertainment for them, and definitely steer clear of having it on permanently as a source of 'background entertainment'. Plan ahead for those times when you really need them to be occupied, for example, keep certain toys hidden away and only get them out once in a while so that they are more appealing to your baby. When it comes to preparing dinner, you could allow your baby to play with safe kitchen apparatus - silicone moulds, wooden spoons, pots and pans etc - but by reserving this activity only for just before dinner (rather than given to them all day) you will keep these objects more attractive to your baby. What's more, they'll learn to associate it with an imminent dinner!
ALL ABOUT YOU THIS WEEK
Your Body: Pelvic floor exercises
Yes you should still be doing them! If they are not, by now, an almost unconscious part of your daily routine then start making them just that. Find out more about pelvic floor exercises and why you need to stay on top of them here.
Things to do: Plan a girls' night out
This could be with some female family members, or some old friends. But even better, how about organising a night out with some of the mothers you have met through having a baby? You all deserve a night off and you will get to know far more about each other in a few hours without babies than you do when you've got all the little ones in tow!
YOUR WEEKLY CHECKLIST
(Helping to keep you organised!)
Your Health: Stress
If you have never been affected by stress before, it can be hard to recognise the symptoms. Stress and other emotional and psychological problems can affect many women, particularly after having children. Symptoms of stress include sweating, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating and loss of appetite. You can manage your stress levels by identifying what things are triggering it and by addressing them - whether that be with better time management, additional childcare, more support at home or the use of some effective relaxation techniques.
