Your Baby and You: Week Twenty
YOUR BABY
Physical Development: Holding their head up?
Around this time you may start to see that your baby's head no longer flops back when unsupported. In fact he can now hold his head upright and will hold his head level with his body when you pull him up into a sitting position.
Behavioural Development: Change her point of view
Some babies may still be very happy to sit in their bouncer to watch the world go by. But by 20 weeks, you may find your baby is starting to get a bit bored. So instead of putting your baby down in her bouncer, consider whether you can you make her view a bit more entertaining. There are many other options now available to you, so only use your baby's bouncer when you really need it. As well as simply laying her down on her playmat, you could bring her up to a sitting position to give her a new perspective on her surroundings (but make sure you always provide support by holding her, or by putting cushions around her). You could also lay her on her belly for some tummy time.
As soon as they can hold their heads up confidently, many babies love spending time bouncing, either in doorway bouncer or a specially designed baby activity station. Your baby will enjoy sitting in an activity station: these have a padded seat that rotates 360 degrees in the middle of a circular play table with a variety of objects, textures, sounds and lights to explore. Many of them enable the baby to bounce as well as to sit and play.
Feeding: Oh but there's so much to look at!
At the age of 20 weeks, you may find you have a distracted feeder on your hands. By now, babies' attention spans have lengthened and they start to take a lot of interest in their surroundings. Basically they are becoming nosey and really want to see what is going on! If your baby hears a sound, he now looks around to find out where it is coming from. This is especially the case when your child has an older sibling to distract them, or when you are out and about.
If your baby is a distracted feeder at the breast it can be difficult. Your baby may be latched on and suddenly jerks his head, taking your nipple with him, ouch! Try to maintain as much eye contact as possible while feeding your baby and keep talking to him (you could tell him what is going on around him). Otherwise, just try to be aware of your surroundings and possible loud noises or sudden movements in your baby's line of sight so that you are better prepared for when he moves his head to look. Draping a breastfeeding cover over your shoulder and the baby's head can help to focus their attention, or at least spare your blushes when they keep turning away and leaving your breast exposed! If you don't have a cover then a muslin or a blanket can work just as well.
Care Advice: Time to move into their room?
Your baby is probably sleeping in her cot these days. You may have made the move to her cot when she became too long and/or reached the weight limit for her first moses basket. Or she may have started kicking around or trying to roll over. If she is still sharing your room then you should start getting her used to the idea of sleeping in her own room. You may decide to do this gradually, starting off with daytime naps before moving her into her room at night, or you may decide to just go for it and move her out of your room altogether.
Moving your baby into her own room is a big thing - not only does it give her a sense of her own space, it can be an emotional move for you too. Make sure you are ready! There is no point moving her into her room for you to then spend sleepless nights worrying if she is still breathing, whether she's too hot or too cold or getting caught under her covers. There are ways to gain peace of mind however, for example by ensuring your baby's room temperature is just right and by using baby monitors and a baby sleeping bag. Read Creating a Safe and Effective Sleeping Environment for more information.
Don't forget: Set time limits
Whilst door bouncers and activity centres are great fun, it is best not to let your baby stay in them for too long (so as not to hinder physical development and to prevent your baby from becoming over-stimulated or over-tired). Recommendations are to limit the time to about 30 minutes but watch your baby for cues that they have had enough before this time is up.
THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR BABY THIS WEEK
Ways to Entertain Baby: Sit-ups
Now that your baby is becoming more confident at holding his head up, create a little game with him lying on his back whereby you take him by the hands and pull him up to sitting. Then lower him back down again. Do this a few times, you'll be surprised by the smiles and giggles this game can provoke.
Activities to do with your baby: Cheers!
This is a great time to introduce a cup to your baby. Ideally not a sippy cup yet (sippy cups are training cups with a lid and a spout that lets your child drink without spilling). A normal plastic beaker with no lid will work perfectly. While your baby is sat upright in a high chair or on your lap, offer them a cup with a small amount of water in. Hold onto the cup but let your baby hold onto it too. They will experiment with tilting the cup and bringing the water to their lips. They will very likely get water everywhere, but that is part of the fun and water is easy to clean up.
ALL ABOUT YOU THIS WEEK
Your Relationships: Date night
When was the last time you and your partner had some quality time alone? It's time to plan a date, even if it is just for lunch or for a coffee together. Can a family member or friend look after your baby for a few hours?
YOUR WEEKLY CHECKLIST
Head Injuries
Every baby wants to explore and play and bumps to the head are inevitable. If your baby bangs their head, apply a cold compress to the area affected (a red mark or lump will sometimes appear). You can buy compresses quite cheaply but a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel would work equally well pressed to your baby's head.
Most of the time, after cuddles and reassurance, babies recover quickly and go straight back to playing happily. However, you must call 999 immediately if your baby:
- becomes drowsy or unconscious
- is repeatedly sick
- has irregular breathing
- has convulsions (uncontrollable shaking of the body)
If at any point the day or so after the head injury your baby does not seem herself, or your gut instinct tells you something isn't right, it is always best to get her checked over by your GP or the local Accident and Emergency department.
