A baby comes into the world. For the parents now begins a new phase of life, which brings a lot of joy and at the same time is associated with many efforts. Especially with the first child, many parents are very uncertain whether they are doing everything right and whether their child is developing normally. An important indicator for the healthy growth and thriving of the baby is the weight. On average, babies weigh between 2,800 and 4,200 grams after birth. Many parents are alarmed when their baby loses weight instead of gaining it during the first two to three weeks of life. However, this is no cause for alarm and is perfectly normal. Newborns lose 10 to 15 percent of their birth weight during this period because they excrete fluid through urine and stool, but still eat relatively little food. In the womb, the baby has built up sufficient energy reserves to cope with this “starvation phase.”
Babies grow and learn every day
After three weeks at the latest, the birth weight should be reached again. After that, the weight goes up rapidly: in the first three months of life, it doubles – the typical baby fat is put on. After birth, the body fat percentage is only 10 percent; after four months, it is already 40 percent. These fat reserves are important because babies draw on them, for example, when the first infectious diseases appear.
The first month: sleeping and reflexes
In the first month of life, the newborn is mainly busy getting used to life outside the womb. It can’t sleep very well yet, because it first has to get used to the sleep-wake rhythm. Nevertheless, on average babies sleep twenty hours a day in the first month. This long sleep time is self-protection for them, so that they are not overwhelmed by the many new influences.
During the waking phases, newborns are already amazingly active. From birth, they have a number of reflexes that help them acclimate to their new environment. Some of these reflexes, such as the search reflex or the clutch reflex, disappear after a few months because they become unimportant.
Many of the involuntary reflex movements are later consciously controlled by the infants themselves. Toys are not yet necessary at this stage of life – babies’ favorite “toy” is their parents’ face. The new sensory impressions, that is, colors, sounds, voices and smells are stimulation enough for the little citizens of the earth.
The second and third month: smiles and first toys.
In the second and third month of life, infants sleep only about 15 hours a day. The first beginnings of a day-night rhythm become apparent, but sleep-through periods usually do not last longer than five hours. Crying is the most important way for babies to communicate. Parents usually find out relatively quickly what different needs babies want to express with their crying. Sometime during these first months, the baby will consciously smile at its parents for the first time. For a few seconds, it can lift its head when lying on its stomach. In this position, it also leans on its drawn knees and makes crawling movements.
In the second month of life, the hands are usually closed into fists and the baby clutches everything you give him. It kicks, plays with its fingers and begins to discover its feet. Parents can now also easily read their offspring’s needs and moods in their face. In the third month of life, the baby’s posture becomes more relaxed. The hands are now open more often and arms and legs are stretched. Now the little ones also have fun with their first toys. Rattles, teething rings or soft, washable (terry) animals are suitable for this.
Conclusion
The first three months of an infant’s life are therefore a time when, on the one hand, parents become familiar with their offspring and, on the other, infants get used to life outside the womb.
