Newborn development: in a nutshell

Although boys usually weigh more than girls and are slightly longer, there is no ‘right’ size for a newborn. If your baby is active and feeding well, there’s no need to worry if she doesn’t fit neatly into the weight-length chart you see on the baby health centre wall.

In the first nine months, your baby will roughly triple her weight. If she’s not gaining weight at a healthy pace, it could be a feeding problem. Your child health nurse will be able to help you sort that out.

You might not even need to use a growth chart – as your baby grows, you might notice him outgrowing his clothes, bassinet, baby bath, or other items that seemed enormous when he was a newborn.

What your newborn might be doing

All babies pick up new skills in their first year. These are called milestones. Here’s a guide to some of the major milestones:

• At birth: unable to support her head unaided, closes hands involuntarily in the grasp reflex, startles at sudden loud noises.
• At four weeks: focuses on a face, might respond to a bell in some way (startling, crying, going quiet), follows an object moved in an arc about 15 cm above her face until it’s straight ahead.
• At six weeks:might start to smile at familiar faces, start to coo.
• At 12 weeks: can lie on her tummy with head held up looking around, can wave a rattle, starts to play with own fingers and toes.

Development problem signs

It’s a good idea to have your baby checked by your doctor if he shows any of the following signs:

• consistently doesn’t respond to sounds
• doesn’t seem to see things, has white or cloudy eyes, or there’s anything about his eyes that bothers you
• doesn’t look at you
• isn’t interested in what’s going on around him
• can’t hold his head up by 3-4 months
• continually cries for more than three hours every day, especially after 3-4 months. (Babies usually cry for about two hours a day, peaking between 6-8 weeks.) For more on constant crying, see Newborn behaviour
• has an unusual cry (for example, a high-pitched squeal)
• doesn’t move or use both arms and/or both legs
• isn’t grasping your fingers or objects.

Babies grow and develop at tremendously different rates – and often with blissful disregard for what parenting books say they’ll be doing! Enjoy the variations – they’re what make development so exciting and memorable.

Video: Development pressures

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In this short video, parents share stories about dealing with development pressures on babies. Parents talk about having appropriate expectations about  development milestones and time frames. Although it's tempting to compare your child with others, no two children develop in the same way. Don't let your expectations become a burden on you or your child. 

 

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  Newsletter snippet: Newborn development: in a nutshell
  

  By Raising Children Network

  There is no ‘right size’ for a newborn, although boys are generally heavier and longer than girls.
  
  Milestones for newborns

  • Birth: newborns can close their hands in the grasp reflex and startle at sudden loud noises.
  • 4 weeks: they can focus on a face, follow an object moved above them and respond to a bell.
  • 6 weeks: they may smile at familiar faces or make cooing noises.
  • 12 weeks: they can lie on their tummy with their head held up, wave a rattle and play with their fingers and toes.

  Problem signs

  Newborns should be checked by a doctor if they:

  • don’t respond to sounds
  • don’t seem to see things
  • are unable to hold their head up by 3-4 months
  • cry continually for more than three hours a day after 3-4 months
  • don’t move or use both arms or legs
  • can’t grasp a finger or object.

  This article is an extract only. For more information visit raisingchildren.net.au/development/newborns_development.html

  Sourced from the Raising Children Network's comprehensive and quality-assured Australian parenting website, www.raisingchildren.net.au.