Your Baby and You: Week Nineteen
YOUR BABY
Physical Development: Sitting up and taking notice!
Your baby should be able to support their head well in a sitting position maybe in a baby seat or a snug-fitting high chair (it is too early for most babies to be sitting unsupported). You might also notice that your baby takes notice of smaller objects now - as small as a raisin perhaps - and that they follow it with their eyes as it is moved. This is a great indication that they are developing normally but also a reminder that they are interested in objects of an increasing choking risk all the time. Keep scanning the floor and their surrounding area for items that they might be able to reach and put in their mouths. Be particularly vigilant if there are other children around as they can often leave food and small toys on the floor.
Behavioural Development: When everything starts to go in their mouths
Babies are well known for putting everything and anything in their mouths, prompting other people to joke about them not getting enough food. In actual fact, babies tend to put things in their mouths because they have a lot of very sensitive nerve endings there that are great for exploring shapes and textures with. They are simply satisfying their curiosity for objects and it is actually a great sign of normal development.
Sometimes mouthing on objects - particularly if they are chewing - can be a sign that they are teething and that their gums are uncomfortable. If you think that this might be the case then try offering them a teething ring to try and soothe their gums.
Safety Tip
A good rule of thumb when it comes to assessing whether an object poses a choking risk or not is to see whether it fits inside the tube of a toilet roll. Items too big to fit in the tube are usually safe for a baby to play with - provided they are clean and there are no loose parts that could come off in their hands or mouths.
Feeding: Sudden rejection of the breast
Sometimes babies can seem to suddenly go off their regular breast feeds, prompting mothers to switch to formula out of fear that they have 'gone off' breast milk or because they think their baby is not getting enough sustenance from their milk. Before making this decision, consider these other reasons that babies reject feeds and whether or not they might apply to your baby:
- Congestion making breathing difficult whilst feeding
- Ear ache, which can be painful when swallowing
- Oral thrush in babies can cause sore patches in their mouths
- Teething often puts babies off their feeds
- A sudden change in your diet could affect the taste of your milk, although this isn't very common
- If you are tense or hurried during feeds it can make it hard for them to relax and concentrate
Care Advice: Helping your baby to sit
You can help your baby to sit in an upright position by supporting her body with cushions and pillows. Pillows shaped specifically for support at night during pregnancy, or for breastfeeding, are often really useful for this - or you can buy other pillows specifically designed for propping up babies as they learn to sit. Your baby will enjoy the upright perspective on the room and their toys and in time they will use more of their own muscle strength to support themselves.
Always make sure that you prop your baby up safely, with cushions around them or a soft covering so that if they topple over they cannot hurt themselves. Be aware that babies who are propped up can suddenly find themselves in unexpected positions if they wriggle around or slide down the cushions, so don't leave them unattended.
Common illnesses and ailments: Flu
Flu is an infection of the lungs, nose and throat. Influenza viruses cause flu - there are many different viruses, and your baby is most likely to catch the flu during "flu season" (October to February).
Often adults say they have the flu when in fact they have a nasty cold. It is confusing because colds and flu are both caused by viruses and they have similar symptoms. Young children haven't yet built up their immunity to the viruses that cause colds, so they can easily catch 10 colds a year. Flu can be more serious and tends to come on more suddenly and severely than a cold. Flu will make your baby feel unwell for a week or more. Read more here about Flu, its signs and symptoms and what to do if your baby has it.
THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR BABY THIS WEEK
Entertainment: Reading
Reading to your baby has benefits for both of you. It is fun, relaxing and provides gentle stimulation for your baby. It is also a very cheap and easy activity that is simple to fit into your everyday routine. Babies love books with clear images and interesting textures, ones with stiff, durable pages are great at this age as flimsy pages are easily ruined by curious fingers and dribbly mouths.
If you are stuck for inspiration on books then visit your local library. Most libraries stock a really good range of baby books with textured pages and interesting pictures. If you read regularly to your child then in time you will clearly see which books, or which type of books, is their favourite.
Activities: Use the highchair
If your baby is able to sit comfortably in the highchair then use it to let them join you at meal times. Eating together as a family is really important for teaching children (of all ages) important social skills. It doesn't matter that your baby hasn't started weaning yet, they will enjoy being up at the table with you and watching how you handle the food on your plates. You might also get to enjoy your dinner a little more too if you aren't having to eat your food whilst rocking the bouncer with your foot or dangling toys down for them in one hand to keep them entertained!
ALL ABOUT YOU THIS WEEK
Your Body: Dropping Breastfeeds
Whenever you decide you want to cut down the number of breastfeeds you do each day, make sure you do it gradually. If your body is expecting to do a feed each night at 10pm and you decide to change it to a formula feed, your body will still make the milk for that feed for a short while. This can leave your breasts swollen or uncomfortable but your body will quickly adjust to the new routine. Remember though, it is very hard to increase your milk supply so be sure you definitely want to drop this feed for good before skipping it for a few days.
Most healthcare professionals encourage exclusive breastfeeding for as long as possible, at least up to the age of six months. However, this isn't something that all women feel capable or comfortable doing, whether for personal, physical or work related reasons. If you intend on dropping breastfeeding altogether, it is advisable to plan to drop your feeds one at a time across a period of days, or even weeks if dropping feeds is leaving you uncomfortable. Every woman's body is different and some find that giving up feeds is easier than it is for others. If you find that dropping feeds leaves you very uncomfortable then read more here about coping with breast engorgement.
Your Emotions: Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding can take you on a confusing rollercoaster of emotions. In the early days it can be easy to put yourself under pressure to do it, or to feel as though you are under pressure from others to do it. It might have been painful getting going, and you may have found it difficult feeding your baby in front of friends and family or when you were out in public. Regardless of what kind of start you got off to, the chances are it got easier and might have been something that you came to really enjoy.
Women choose to give up breastfeeding for all manner of reasons, but even if it is because they just haven't really got on with it, the process of giving up can be emotional. If you are worried about whether or not giving up is the right thing for you to do, or about how you will cope then read our article on giving up breastfeeding. Also talk to your friends who have had children. You will be surprised at how many other women found it hard to do their final feeds with their babies, but they might have some tips to help you get through it. Here are some of ours:
- Firstly, examine your reasons for giving up, make sure that you are really happy with them so that you can remind yourself of your reasoning after you have dropped your last feed.
- Don't dwell on the last feed or even book it in - you might end up doing one every few days and it is easier to let the end 'just happen'
- Distract yourself with other things that you can do with your baby that still involve being close to one another, such as having a bath together or giving them a massage each day
YOUR WEEKLY CHECKLIST
(Helping to keep you organised!)
Childcare: Nanny, Au Pair, Mother's Help?
If you are considering having childcare in your own home, the options can be confusing. Nannies tend to be the most expensive option as they are usually qualified in childcare and have plenty of experience. Nannies can live with you but don't always need to, Au Pairs on the other had do live with you. Au Pairs cost significantly less than Nannies but they usually take on fewer responsibilities and are not usually appropriate for very young children.
Another option is a Mother's Help (sometimes known as a Parents' Help), whilst not as highly qualified as a Nanny, they are usually expected to 'muck in' with day to day activities more and they are able to take on greater responsibilities (such as younger or more children) than an Au Pair.
For more on choosing the right childcare for you, read here.
