1st Month

• begins to feel positive emotions toward people.
• forge bonds of love with the person who is her primary caregiver.
• picking her up and cuddling her makes an unhappy baby happy.
• Learns to adjust body posture to the person who is holding her.
• grasps a part of the holder's body to return a hug.
• gives her first smile in the end of the month.

• bursts into a smile at the approach of an adult.
• recognize members of the family and becomes more discriminating in his responses.
• when someone approaches he may widen his eyes, pant, break out in broad grin and wriggle his whole body in excited anticipation.
• when he is unhappy, he can be soothed by your holding him, talking to him or just by the sight of your face and this confidence is a sign of increasing trust.
• became attached to a security object.
• responsive to play as much as an hour.
• When he is ready for a game, he will let you know by vocalizing.

• willing to relate to other people.
• show anxiety around strangers.
• smiles or coos when wants to talk, play or snuggle.
• is a full participant in the interaction between the two of you.
• emotions are maturing.
• displays disgust, fear, and anger.
• conveys feelings both with facial expression and sounds.
• go through rapid mood changes.
• differences in baby personalities became more evident.

• show great interest to people.
• discriminates much more sharply between family and strangers.
• may remain come when you are with him, and cry when you leave.
• may be clingy and dependent even when your alone with him.
• learning that he is separate from you.
• develops a strong sense of himself as an individual with particular likes and dislikes.
• enjoys playing by himself as well as interacting with others.

• start to be afraid.
• becomes more conscious of themselves as separate entities ans are developing concerns for their own well- being.
• interest in people grow.
• loves to play games with you- Pat a cake.
• shows off.
• other peoples moves have great effect on the baby.
• becomes wary to strangers.
• attachment to security objects indicates his capacity to extend affection beyond you, a healthy development.

• confusing time emotionally for your baby.
• may cling to you even more.
• realizes that she can separate herself from you now.
• learns to express her emotions.Learns what is an acceptable behavior.
• Humor and demonstrations are charming, while her angry episodes in response to frustration are not.
• a firm "no" will let her know when you disapprove.
• becomes more sociable.
• Shows greater interest in other family members and begins to play contentedly alongside but not yet with other children.
• Parallel play is a natural preliminary to play in which your child will interact with other children.

First Month

• interested in activities and objects brought to her visual focal range- between 18 inches
• eyes are coordinated most of the time
• follows objects with eyes
• show particular pleasure on a mobile that hangs to the side of her crib
• likes the contrast of light and dark patterns more than vividness of color
• interested in human face- likes watching changing expressions

• early- had difficulty fixing both eyes on an image
• end of this phase- can lock gaze into moving objects several feet away
• can see in full color- prefers blue and red
• discovers hands
• Note: Let baby put his hands into his mouth. This helps him understand that the fingers are part of him and the rattle is not.

• eyesight is sharp as an adult
• watch face closely imitate face expressions
• eye- hand coordination improves
• can find toes and grab them

• show great interest in small objects
• compares visually large and small objects
• sees details well and is curious an the designs and patterns
• test the effects of his actions on objects by deliberately dropping toys
• has an accurate mental picture of room
• enjoys a box full of toys to dump out- helps baby learn in and out & full and empty
• does not yet understand the difference between 2- 3 dimensions

• learns a bit of the visual world
• understands the concepts of up and down
• more proficient at roughly determining the size of something
• can bang two blocks together
• can drop items in a container
• understand that an object exist when hidden
• comprehension not complete
• sharpen his senses on what things look like
• squint eyes to get another view

• see environment in many dimensions
• has sharper perception of space and distance
• sees objects as existing separately from her and in many contexts
• discovers that things can be manipulated
• more highly developed eye - hand coordination
• memory improves- knows where toys and objects are normally found
• increase attention span
• May be able to group objects by shape and color
• study pictures in books intently
• make own scribblings
• still confuse on glasses and mirrors
• Note: your baby's ability to make such distinctions and to manipulate objects is part of a very important process- she is learning how to think and how to solve problems

1st Month:

• The jerkiness of her movements in the early weeks gives way to vigorous flexing of the arms and legs in a smoother fashion.
• Learns how to push an object away from her face if she feels threatened.
• Neck muscles develop strength to enable to raise head.
• Clenched hands and flexed legs and feet are beginning to relax.

• Straighten body little by little.
• Arches back.
• Throws arms and legs.
• Stretches fingers and toes.
• Twists from side to side.
• Lift head with an angle of about 45 degress

• Lie on tummy with pelvis flat and legs extended.
• Circles arms above head and bicycles legs in smooth, rhythmic motion.
• While on tummy, may rock like an airplane, arms and legs out, back arched.
• Studies hands and gradually learns he can open and close them, bring them together, move them around at will and stretch and wiggle his fingers.
• Hold toy after a few moments, then let it go.
• Reach out for toy when held in front of him.
• Swipe at toy.
• Pushing self up with his arms.
• Note: Watch closely when he is on a table or bed to make sure he does not fall off.
  

• Grasp toy with either hand and bring to mouth.
• Shifts head.
• Propped up for sitting.
• Hold head erect for only a few seconds.
• Trunk has greatly strengthen.
• Seat with support
• Can press chin to his chest when lying on his back
• Note: Watch closely when he is on a table or bed to make sure he does not fall off.
  

• Props up for much longer periods than before.
• Only head moves from side to side.
• Twist whole torso to one side and looks back over shoulder.
• Lie on tummy waving arms and legs
• Rolls over.
• Bend their knees and push themselves up into a crawling position.
• Sit up briefly without any support but topple to one side after a few moments.
• If lifted to standing position, may support her on weight with support, even bouncing up and down by flexing legs.
• If pulled from lying position to sitting position, helps by drawing in her legs and bending at the waist.
• Pick up toy.
• Explores through mouth
• Transfer object from one hand to another.

• Spend less time lying on stomach and back.
• Sit unsupported.
• May put self in sitting position on his own.
• May remain sitting up while pivoting to get toy, bouncing up and down on hos bottom, or scooting across a room.
• when lying on back , may kick vigorously.
• Propel self by creeping on his stomach, using arms to pull the rest of his body forward.
• Crawl on all fours.
• Bear his own weight once on his feet.
• Pull himself to a stand while holding onto a piece of furniture.
• May not know to get back down from a standing position.
• Uses thumb separately from his fingers thus can grasp things between thumb and finger.
• Hold toy for a long period.
• Shake toy up and down, then bang it on floor.
• Hold own bottles.

• Crawls and turns around to reverse direction.
• Crawl while holding a toy.
• May be able to stand unsupported for a few moments.
• Confident enough to let go of one hand, when holding a furniture in order to turn to the side or even to crouch down to pick up a toy.
• Sits down from a standing position.
• Cruises- taking small sideway steps while holding onto furniture for balance.
• May take a few steps forward when held securely under the arms.
• May bang one object while running the fingers of his other hand over another.
• Can keep his grip on one toy while reaching for another.
• Can pick up objects between his thumb and index finger.
• May throw or drop objects when he loses interest.
• Pikes index finger into every nook and cranny, including your ears and nostrils.
• Note:Stay close when your child is near a stairway

• Progresses towards walking.
• May demonstrate mastery of other physical feats- climbing, squatting, pivoting and sitting down easily.
• Gain more skill in purposely releasing objects held in their hands
• Links actions to specific goals.
• Note: Most children do not master their walking skills until they are 18 months.
• Note:Challenge her with games and exercises and letting her do as much as herself.
  

1st month:
make small cooing (dovelike) sounds

2nd months:
Differentiates a cry
Ability to make throaty, gurgling, or cooing sounds increases

3rd month:
squeal with pleasure

4th month:
Are very talkative- cooing, babbling and gurgling when spoken to
Laugh out loud

5th month:
Says some simple vowel sounds (goo-goo, gah-gah)

6th month:
Learns the art of imitation

7th- 8th month:
Can imitate vowels (oh-oh, ah-ah, oo-oo)

9th month:
Usually speaks a first word ba-ba, da-da or ma-ma

10th- 11th months:
masters another word such as bye-bye or no

12th month:
Can generally say two words besides ma-ma and da-da, they use those words with meaning

Since I've been leaving the house, I decided to store some of the breastmilk I pumped for my baby since I can't bring him out yet. I asked some of the nurses on how to store breastmilk and here's what they say:

• Room Temperature: 4- 6 hours
• Refrigerator: 1 day
• Freezer: 1 month, but once taken out, its not allowed to be returned back to the freezer, instead, discard it.

• loud, hard crying with few or no interruptions
• sudden onset of crying in the late afternoon or evening
• rejection of bottle or breast after eager acceptance
• tense position legs drawn up, hands clenched and feet cold
• tight, distended abdomen
• bowel movement or passage of gas near the end of attack

1. Burp your baby
2. Avoid frequent feedings
3. If you are nursing your baby, abstain from drinking cow's milk for a brief period to see if the colic stops.
4. Try cuddling, soothing talk, soft music, rocking and walking.
5. Swaddle your baby snugly.
6. Lay your baby's stomach down on your lap or on a hot-water bottle wrapped in a towel, and rub the baby's back gently.
7. Give the baby a pacifier.
8. Check bottle nipples and the position of the bottle during feeding to make sure the baby does not suck in air.

• The youngster continues to cry for longer than four hours.
• The child exhibits other symptoms of illness, such as fever, runny nose, coughing or vomiting.
• Such long bouts of crying still occur after four months of age.

Here is a guide on how to detect if your baby has diarrhea at home including some management and preventions.

What is diarrhea?
Diarrhea caused by a virus is a major cause of infant gastroenteritis. The most common viral pathogens that invade the GI tract include rotavirus and adenovirus. Diarrhea in infants is always serious because infants have such a small Extracellular Fluid reserve that sudden losses of water exhaust the supply quickly. The loss of extracellular sodium leads to decrease in plasma volume. and possible circulatory collapse. Renal failure may also result.

Breastfeeding may actively prevent diarrhea by providing more antibodies and possibly an intestinal environment less friendly ti invading organisms and so should be advocated.

Diarrhea rarely afflicts breast- fed infants, although their normal bowel habits often are mistaken for the condition. Breast- fed babies have softer, more frequent stools than bottle- fed babies- more than a dozen a day are not unusual. Bottle- fed babies generally pass fewer stools a day.

NOTE: Lactose intolerance may be developed after diarrhea. This means you baby or child cannot take formula or breast milk. Such an infant will need to be introduced to lactose- free formula initially before being returned to the usual formula or to breastmilk.


Prevention

• Have a baby proof clean environment
• Wash hands before preparing baby's food
• Sterile bottles
• Have your baby immunized
• Make sure anything baby puts in his mouth is clean
• Breastfeed if possible

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INFANT NORMAL STOOL AND DIARRHEAL STOOL

NOTE: Iron supplement can change stool color darker.

Frequency
Infant normal stool: 1-3 daily
Diarrheal stool: Unlimited number

Color
Infant normal stool: yellow
Diarrheal stool: green

Effort of expulsion
Infant normal stool: some pushing effort
Diarrheal stool: Effortless; may be explosive

pH
Infant normal stool: more than 7.0 (alkaline)
Diarrheal stool: less than 7.0 (acidic)

Odor
Infant normal stool: odorless
Diarrheal stool: sweet or foul smelling

Occult blood
Infant normal stool: negative
Diarrheal stool: positive; blood may be overt

Reducing substances
Infant normal stool: negative
Diarrheal stool: positive

Sings and Symptoms

Mild diarrhea

• Fever 101F to 102F (38.4C- 39.0C)
• Anoretic or irritable
• Appear unwell
• 2-10 loose stools
• water bowel movement per day
  
• dry mucous in mouth
• rapid pulse
• warm skin

• Fever 103F to 104F (39.5C - 40.0C)
• Rapid and weak pulse and respiration
• Pale and coll skin
• Listless and lethargic
• Dehydrated- depressed fontanelle, sunken eyes & poor skin turgor
• Bowel movement every few minutes

• Use summer pajamas or
• remove all clothing but the diaper.

• Consult doctor or pedia first.
• Dosage- oral: 10-15 mg/kg every 4-6 hours as needed; may repeat 4-5 times a day; donot exceed 5 doses in 24hours.

• Stop feeding to rest GI tract, but it is necessary for only a short time. During this time give them a pacifier to suck if this seems to comfort them.
• At the end of approximately 1 hour, begin oral hydration solution such as Pedialyte in small amounts- 1 tbsp every 15 minutes for 2 hours, then 1 oz every 2 hours for the next 12 to 18 hours. For breast- fed infants, breastfeeding should continue
• Wet infant's lips with a moisturizing jelly (Vaseline) if they appear to be dry.

• To prevent sores spread petroleum jelly over the buttocks or diaper area to prevent irritation.
• If sores are already present do not use petroleum jelly or other ointments, and keep the child/ infant as clean and dry as possible.

What does he see?

Newborn have blurred vision and can see little beyond distance of about 18 inches.the baby can see everything he needs for now, most notably who holds him and the breast or bottle that provides his nourishment. the baby's eyes are sensitive to bright colors, such as red and yellow, and can already detect contrast between light and dark. He is selective on what to look at, showing more interest in human faces, patterns, sharp outlines and moving objects.

What does he hear?
Your baby is born with acute hearing and can almost immediately pick up a full range of sounds. Within 10 min. of birth he may be able to associate sound with source and will turn his head in the appropriate direction.
Studies say that a newborn may already have an ear for his mother's voice- possibly because he had been living with a muffled version of it in months in the womb. Concidentally, perhaps, newborns also show a preference for higher- pitch voices.

Taste, smell and touch
The baby's senses of taste and smell are well developed at birth. He can discriminate between sweet and bitter immediately, with salt ans sour soon following. Among these only sweet - a taste associated with both mother's milk and commercial infant formulas- seems to hold any appeal ti him.

The newborn can identify his mother by smell, too, within 5 to 10 days after birth. The identification sometimes become so strong that he will refuse to drink from a supplemental bottle of formula from his mother.

The sense of touch is so acute that it becomes a key form of communication between the newborn and his parents. From the beginning, your baby responds to skin- to -skin contact, becoming calmer or more stimulated depending on the kind of touching he receives. He responses favorably to close cuddling- possibly because the sense of confinement reminds him of the coziness of the womb

There are several temporary conditions that frequently develop during the first month, and it is only natural for parents to fret about anything that looks unusual. Theses conditions usually disappear on their own.

You'll never know when you're baby would pee and you'll just realize your bed is soaked wet.Diapers really help keep you free from all the daily washing and cleaning of your linens and floor. But are you sure about the quality of your baby's diaper?To make sure you are, here are the top 3 best quality diapers I've tested so far that I would recommend you to try. Rest assured you money would be worth the cost.

I assure you, your baby would be 100% diaper rash- free!

1. PAMPERS

Right now I've been using pampers comfort for almost four months so I'm really sure its good for your baby. I love it because of its cute prints, extra softness, stretchable waistband, and minty smell .Aside from this pampers comfort also has a lot more features.

Pampers comfort provides a snug bear hug to help prevent leaks overnight.

Features:

• 4- wall leak guards- traps wetness to help prevent leaks.
• Extra spread layer- helps spread pee to 100% of gel.
• Re-adjustable bear hug tapes- can be adjusted as often as you want. It works even while in contact with powder or lotion.

• Leak lock system-Absorbs and locks away fluid to help prevent leaks, even overnight. Aborbs up to 6 wettings.
• Non-sticky magic tapes- Fasten and refasten easily for a secure, customized fit.
  
• Soft stretched waistband- Provides a snug, comfortable fit.
• Cottony soft outer cover- Provides extra softness and comfort.
• Double leak barriers- Provide extra protection against leaks at the legs.
• Drytouch liner- Quickly pulls moisture away from baby’s skin

• Cottony air flow cover- constantly dispels hot air to reduce stuffiness; keeping baby's bottom comfortable
• Fast absorb core with ADL- Heavy-duty absorbent material with enhanced ADL to draw urine away from skin quickly and distribute it evenly; thus preventing leakage.
• Extra comfort waistband- wider and more stretchable waistband for better fitting and easier movements; plus a stronger protection against front and back leakage.
• Wetness indicator- tells you the right time to change and maximize usage of the diaper.
• Soft cottony magic tape- re-freshable without tearing the diaper, even when contacted with powder or baby oil.
• Standing inner leak guard- a built-in-design that effectively stops leakage on the side.

Since I'm a mom too, I would like to share the importance of breastfeeding to the present and future moms.

Here is an acronym on the benefits of breast feeding.

B- est for baby, also best for mommy
R-educes the incidence of allergies
E-economical, no waste
A-nti-bodies to protect baby against infection
S-terile and pure
T-emperature is always ideal
F-resh milk never goes off
E-asy to prepare and to digest
E-radicates feeding difficulties
D-evelops mother and child bonding
I-mmediately available
N-utritionally optimal
G-astroenteritis greatly reduced


Tips of Breastfeeding:
1. With a clean washcloth or cotton swabs, wipe your breasts clean before your baby feeds.
2.Sit comfortably in an upright position.
3.Support your baby's head
4.Guide your nipple towards his mouth. Baby's chin should be against the breast and his tongue underneath your nipple. Make sure that he's sucking the whole areola( darkened area of the nipple).
5.When he's sucking subsides, switch him to other breast until stops feeding
6.Next time he feeds, start from the breast he nursed from last.
7.If your nipples get sore,never wash your nipples with soap, give a minute for them to be exposed for air dry
8.ALWAYS burp your baby after feeding.