The 4th week of a baby's life: everything you need to know
- · Mother's health
- · The development of the child
- · Our tips
- · Not to be forgotten
Mother's health
4 Post partum week
See also
To get back to doing some movement and get your child used to the outside world, take long walks every day!
Your perineum has been severely tested by pregnancy - don't overdo the weights. In addition to the baby and a bag, try to limit yourself with envelopes!
The birth of your baby has upset your rhythms and nocturnal feedings continue to tire you terribly. To limit fatigue, adapt your rhythms to those of the baby: rest and take a nap when he too sleeps.
The development of the child
The baby is crying
Does your baby cry often? It is normal, for him the screams are the main means of communicating with you. Five types of cry have been classified: hunger, pain, anger, frustration, to which the cry to attract attention is added around 3-4 weeks.
Often, when night falls, many babies cry more, probably because they fear this time of day. Or, they do it to release the tension built up throughout the day. To calm your baby down, you can play some quiet music or give him a bath.
His activities: sleep, try to raise his head, look around
- The baby sleeps about 20 hours a day, in a fetal position. Every now and then, he manages to raise his head briefly, especially when you get close to him. He keeps his little hands closed and his fists clenched. It clings to everything that comes into its hands and still does not know how to leave objects voluntarily: it is grasping.
- Your baby is able to fix his gaze for a few seconds on you or on an object. His attention is attracted by everything that moves, by bright colors, by people's faces ... He likes to observe the mobile hanging from his bed!
- Continue to cuddle your baby: caresses and contact with your skin encourage him and stimulate him to develop his senses.
Our advice
The evening
To prevent your baby from being restless in the evening, you need to reassure him. Every newborn baby needs something different to calm down, but you can usually do this by talking softly to him, singing him a lullaby, or rocking him in your arms.
If he still doesn't calm down, put him in the baby carrier or pram and take him for a walk around the house. It will end up calming down, lulled by the oscillations of the walk.
The bath
The evening is also the ideal time to give him a relaxing bath: it will help to calm the baby and prepare him for the night. You will soon realize the great benefits your baby will derive from this moment of relaxation!
So that your baby feels safe and you feel safe, plan everything: put some clothes on hand for after the bath and check the water temperature (it must be between 35 ° and 37 ° c.).
Before soaking him in the water, tell him. Put one hand under his arm and wash him with the other to hold him well. The ideal is to have a baby cleaner with a dispenser, so that you can use it with one hand.
During the first months, it is preferable to use a neutral product suitable for both the body and the hair, because your baby sweats a lot, especially on the head: it is good to wash him from head to toe every day.
The fact of rubbing the scalp also prevents the appearance of milky crusts, frequent after birth. His genitals need special attention. For boys, clean the penis and the tip of the foreskin without trying to unglue it. For girls, gently open the lips and wipe gently.
The bath does not need to last more than five minutes: the water cools down quickly. Finally, dry your baby well, paying particular attention to the small folds of his skin to avoid irritation.
Not to be forgotten
Weigh the child (at home, at the local counseling center and or at the pharmacy)
Birth certificate to be sent to the employer
Send birth cards
Apply to the INPS and the employer for an optional leave from work
To learn more read also: The first month of life of the newborn
See also: All the situations experienced by a new mother
