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The first few weeks of your little one’s life helps set the tone for your relationship. During these few weeks, it may seem that your newborn isn’t doing much except sleeping and eating. But don’t be misled; a lot is going on!
1. Bonding for beginners
For one thing, your baby is learning to rely on you for comfort when it’s needed. Creating this feeling of security and trust now is the most wonderful gift parents can bestow on their new baby. A true parent-child bond is a result of everyday care giving. Over-time you’ll know your newborn better and enjoy your time with her. There will be a lot of first-time events, such as first smile and first crawl, that’ll fill you with love and joy.
2. Sleep, bond, sleep, bond
All new babies are sleeping beauties! They do a lot of sleeping, as much as twelve to sixteen hours a day, and they usually sleep in two to five hour stretches. Even when new babies are awake their eyes may be closed, and they can only be fully alert for six to ten minutes at a time. Take advantage of these interludes of alertness to strengthen the bond between you and your baby by cuddling, singing or holding a one-sided conversation.
3. Be on the look out
What do newborns see? Not too much because they’re near-sighted and see best about eight to ten inches in front of them. just about the distance of a mother’s face as she cradles her baby in her arms. Peripheral vision isn’t yet developed, and a baby’s field of view is about one-third that of an adult. Even so, babies do like to look at patterns and bright colours. Bright red seems to intrigue infants most, and shiny red is best of all. Pastels, on the other hand, appear muddy to a baby, a good reason for making the nursery one of the most colourful rooms in your house.
In the crib, your newborn at first will face only to one side or the other. So, hang a colourful mobile on the side of the crib where it’s in the baby’s line of vision.
While a professional may know a lot about babies in general, as you watch, hold, feed, and love your baby day after day, you’ll become the best expert on your baby in particular. Only by close observation and a little experimentation can you learn just how much sleep, stimulation and activity your own newborn needs and prefers.
4. Gearing up for more
Newborns are also sensitive to inner stimulation. You may see your baby whimper, grimace and appear to be smiling. What’s happening is that your baby’s internal systems are busily at work. This would be the best time to pull out that camera of yours and capture those cute and adorable expressions. Of course, whenever you’re in doubt about the proper care for your baby, be sure to consult your doctor. For more information see Newborn development or Baby Care.
