At what months does a child begin to control his hands? Newborn (from birth to one month) - Library - Doctor Komarovsky. Among the laggards - when to see a doctor

The child's movements are uncoordinated; he almost constantly moves his arms and legs chaotically and stretches. The fingers are clenched into fists, the arms and legs are not fully straightened. However, by the end of the first, he can briefly hold his head, fix his gaze on the face of an adult or on a bright toy, listen to the conversation and make isolated quiet vowel sounds.

Second month

The child already holds his head well in an upright position and holds it a little in a position on his stomach, resting on his forearms. The fists are still clenched, but the arms and legs can almost freely be moved apart. The child watches the adult’s face, the toy as it moves in both directions, turns his head slightly towards the source of the sound and tries to smile.

Third month

Holds his head well, leans on his forearms when lying down, can lift his body and begins to turn on his side.
Follows the toy well when moving it in both directions, as well as up and down. Increasing the inspection area arouses the child’s interest: “What’s there?” – and he often lies with his head thrown back uncomfortably.
He holds the toy for a long time, takes the pacifier out of his mouth and tries to insert it into his mouth. Tries to laugh, albeit silently.
He hums using not only vowels, but also consonants.

Fourth month

The child holds his head confidently. In a position on his stomach, he tries to lean on his hands and straighten his arms, reaches out to objects and takes them, lifting one arm from the surface. When lying on his back, he raises his head, and when pulled up by the handles, he sits down and tries to straighten his back. Tries to roll over from back to stomach. He examines his hands, putting them together before his eyes. He brings the toy not only to his mouth, but also to his eyes, examining it from all sides. Laughs, hums well, using many syllables.

Fifth month

The child turns over well from back to stomach, a little on his stomach. In a position on his back, when pulled up by his arms, he immediately jumps up on his legs and leans on them quite well. Sits with support more confidently, with a straighter back. For the first time he sees and begins to be interested in his legs: he lifts them high, grabs his feet, pulls them into his mouth. Shakes a toy and listens to how it rattles, hums when played with, and attentively reacts to various intonations.

Sixth month

The baby can sit independently without support and lift his hands off the surface and take toys (although he is not yet sitting down himself). Transfers the toy from hand to hand. In a prone position, he pulls up his legs, trying to get on all fours. Pronounces clearly distinguishable syllables (“ma-ma-ma”, “ba-ba-ba”, etc.).

Seventh month

He sits confidently and tries to crawl, but it works more backwards than forwards. Stands well with support, tries to step over, better sideways than forward. He hits one toy with another, throws everything out of his crib and watches the toy hit the floor. He enjoys rustling paper.

Eighth month

In a crib or playpen, he sits down and stands up with support, and tries to walk. Begins to understand the game (“peek-a-boo”, “okay”), tries to imitate adults, facial expressions become more lively. Interest in a new toy appears. Reacts differently to new surroundings or new people, distinguishes familiar faces from unfamiliar ones. Looks for the desired object with his eyes at the request of an adult. He tries to remove the ring from the pyramid, takes one object out of another.

Ninth month

The child gets up from the floor near a chair or wall, tries to walk holding two hands, crawls well on all fours, and sits down from any position. He sorts through small toys, looks at the wheels, presses buttons. Fulfills simple requests: wave your hand, play hands-on, etc.

Tenth month

He takes objects correctly, with two fingers, flips through a book, tries to look at it, imitates the movements of adults or animals, and willingly demonstrates his skills.

Eleventh month

Orients well in space - stands up, sits down, crawls, walks with support. Finds favorite objects, fulfills simple requests, knows the names of many objects. Can show some part of the body, pronounces the first words of address and babbles with intonation, melodiously during the game.

Twelfth month

Tries to stand without support. Some children begin to walk independently. Squats and straightens without support. Easily bends down to pick up a toy and gives the toy if asked. Easily disassembles the pyramid, can open and close the door, and finds a hidden object. Tries to participate in dressing, washing, feeding - holding a spoon. Starts to play - feeds the toys, puts them to bed. He imitates sounds on the streets, denotes objects with certain consonances, loves to be with adults and include them in his play.

A one-year-old child is already a fully developed person who knows how to explain to an attentive adult what he wants, and communicates with adults with pleasure, rejoices when they praise him, and is ready to learn everything, as long as these main people in his life are happy with him.

The most important period for parents is the first year of the baby’s life. It is at this time that the baby makes a colossal leap in development and knowledge of the world around him.

When do children begin to sit and walk?

In the first 12 months of a baby’s life, parents should pay special attention to his physical development. The child learns to observe everything that is happening, hold his head, sit and take his first steps.

How many months does a baby hold his head?

Immediately after birth and in the first months of life, the baby has an insufficiently proportional body, weak vertebrae and muscles. In a lying position at 3 weeks, the baby is already trying to move his head, but all attempts remain in vain. A small child begins to hold it only when the neck muscles become strong enough. This usually occurs no earlier than 2 months, and a stable position of the head can be seen after another 30 days.

Parents must help support the baby's head so that it does not lean back when rocked in their arms.

Any sudden movement can lead to dangerous consequences in the form of damage to muscle tissue or cervical vertebrae. Don’t worry if the baby can’t hold his head up by the due date. All children develop individually; by 5 months the baby confidently copes with this task.

Six-month-old children can easily turn their heads in different directions, look at toys located at a distance, and observe the movements of their parents.

When do babies start to roll over and sit up?

The exact date when a child begins to roll over onto his stomach and back onto his back is almost impossible to determine. However, there are approximate intervals - from 4 months to six months. Parents should be concerned if after this period the baby makes no attempts to roll over. The cause may be excessive weight or developmental abnormalities, in which case it is worth consulting with a pediatrician. Perhaps the baby is simply lazy, choosing to spend time and relax in the arms of his parents.

There are several time periods when children try to change position and begin to sit:

• Six months. The baby makes attempts to rise in order to better examine his surroundings. Some babies get it right away.
• 7th month. Raises himself from a lying position with the help of his hands, applying quite a lot of effort. It can sit steadily for quite a while.
• 8th month. Easily sits down from any position. Can play while sitting.
• 9th month. While sitting, tries to reach distant objects.

At the age of six months, you should not try to sit the baby down or place soft pillows and blankets under his back. Everything should go naturally, until 9 months there is no reason to worry.

At what age does a child crawl and walk?

A child begins to crawl much earlier than taking his first steps. This is an important period of cognitive activity that some children miss. The baby can learn to stand and also step from one object to another. There is no need to worry about this, but it is better to consult with a specialist. You cannot force a child; the incentive should be unobtrusive and soft.

Children make their first attempts at new movements after six months, and after 2 months they are already moving freely. Most often, the baby crawls on its stomach, forward on its belly or on all fours.

It is believed that girls begin to move independently earlier than boys. This depends on the individual characteristics of the baby, the development of his musculoskeletal system and physique.

The norm for taking the first steps is considered to be between 9 and 18 months of age. According to statistics, most babies are able to walk on their legs within one year.

The baby either leans on objects, trying to take a step, or walks almost immediately. Moreover, both options are acceptable from a medical point of view. Early steps, up to the age of nine months, should not cause great joy in parents, because such a load is dangerous: fragile muscles may not withstand the weight of the baby’s body.

The child began to smile and coo

Physical formation is the main component of the normal growth of a newborn, but intellectual and psycho-emotional development are no less important. At different stages of life, the baby learns to explore the world through the senses, as well as communicate using facial expressions and words.

When a child can see and smile

At birth, the baby’s vision is poorly developed; the only thing he sees are three-dimensional objects located no further than 30 cm. The baby views the surrounding environment more clearly at 1 month. This is the period when the child distinguishes the facial features of the parents and their facial expressions.

At the age of one month, the child begins to copy positive emotions and smiles. However, they are considered unconscious, at the level of reflexes.

A baby can show pleasure when he is not hungry and is warm and comfortable. During the period when the baby begins to really smile, this becomes immediately noticeable. It reacts to a specific person or action. This phenomenon can occur at different times - from 4 weeks to 3 months.

Hearing is formed in a baby long before birth: from the 4th month of pregnancy. Scientists have long known that children react to sounds while in the womb.

As the baby grows, he becomes more animated: he makes sounds, waves his arms, breaks into a smile, etc. This indicates normal growth of the baby, the absence of deviations from the nervous system and sensory organs. From the age of 20 weeks, children are able to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people, frown or rejoice at the sight of them.

What time do children say their first words?

The development of the baby’s speech apparatus is the primary task of parents. When communicating with a baby from his very birth, you need to change your intonation when telling stories, read more fairy tales. The main thing is to speak in the correct phrases, without distorting or shortening words, because the child initially repeats after adults, and only then forms his own vocabulary.

Stages when a child begins to make certain sounds and speak:

• 16th week or more. There is a noticeable revival when communicating with adults. The main sounds are “n” and “g”.
• Week 24. The baby is able to distinguish which adult is communicating with him and repeats “ma” and “ba.”
• 32nd week. New sounds appear in the lexicon, simple syllables are pronounced well, for example, “pa-pa-pa,” “ba-ba,” etc.
• 40th week. The baby begins to easily repeat syllables (“la-la-la”, “ma-”, “pa-”).
• 48th week. Understands when parents prohibit something and is able to pronounce about 5 different syllables.
• Closer to the second year of life, children are able to call their parents, grandparents. As we learn more about the world, our vocabulary expands rapidly.

The fact that the speech muscles begin to work actively, and the ligaments become tense, can be recognized by certain signs. These are mainly movements of the lips and tongue, concentration and slight tension when listening to adult speech.

When do children start teething?

The timing of teething may be different for each baby. This phenomenon is influenced by external factors, heredity, type and quality of nutrition. Teeth begin to appear at six months of age. A delay of 6 months is acceptable, this is nothing unusual.

Temporary teeth appear later in boys than in girls. Ideally, a one-year-old child should have formed lower and upper incisors (4 pieces each).

Closer to 2 years, canines and several molars grow. Later, other teeth appear (after 6 months). The process is completely completed when the baby turns 3 years old (a row of 20 temporary teeth is formed). They fall out in the order of germination. If the scheme is broken for some reason, do not worry unless serious deviations are noticed.

The birth of a baby in a family is not only a joyful, but a responsible event. During the first year he has a lot to learn; parents should be faithful helpers during this period. The development of the child and his successful formation as an individual depend on each stage.

WORLD OF A CHILD

A newborn baby perceives the world around him as a stream of rapidly changing sensations. All feelings, sounds, images are unfamiliar to him and are not interconnected. The baby has no sense of time, sensation and cannot separate himself from the world around him. His system of thinking lacks cause and effect. Events happen as if on their own, independently of each other. The child is hungry and hears his own crying. Is this cry born within his being or comes from somewhere outside? Maybe both the crying and the feeling of hunger disappear because mom came? The child does not know the answer and cannot ask a question...
Because distress causes crying, and crying is followed by comfort, a connection between these events is gradually built in the child's mind. He sees you at his crib and already feels that a feeling of comfort and peace will come. After some time, the baby will begin to intuitively feel safe, knowing that his desires will be satisfied. As your child's trust in you increases, your confidence in your abilities increases. You are already able to correctly assess his inclinations, you know his strengths, you can adapt to the pace of the baby’s development and satisfy his needs. You now become the most important person in his life who understands his needs and character.
During the first days and weeks, the bond of love between you and your baby grows stronger. This warm and tender relationship will be his first lesson in love. Throughout his life, he will draw energy from them and build relationships with the outside world on their basis.

Motor skills

A newborn baby is not able to eat or move independently, but he is far from helpless. He enters the world with a fairly large set of behavior patterns based on unconditioned reflexes. Most of them are vital for the baby. For example, if a newborn baby is stroked on the cheek, he turns his head and looks for the pacifier with his lips. If you put the pacifier in your mouth, your baby will automatically start sucking on it. Another set of reflexes protects the baby from physical harm. If your baby covers his nose and mouth, he will turn his head from side to side. When any object comes close to his face, he automatically blinks his eyes.
Some reflexes of a newborn are not of vital importance, but it is by them that the level of development of the child can be determined. While examining a newly born baby, the pediatrician holds him in different positions, suddenly makes loud sounds, and runs his finger over the baby’s foot. By how the child reacts to these and other actions, the doctor is convinced that the newborn’s reflexes are normal and the nervous system is in order.
While most of the reflexes inherent in a newborn disappear during the first year of life, some of them become the basis for acquired forms of behavior. At first, the baby sucks instinctively, but as he gains experience, he adapts and changes his actions depending on specific conditions. The same can be said about the grasping reflex. A newborn baby clenches his fingers the same way every time, no matter what object is placed in his palm. However, when the baby is four months old, he will already learn to control his movements. He will first focus on the object, then reach out and grab it.
We tend to believe that all newborns begin their development from the same starting point, but they differ markedly from each other in the level of motor activity. Some children are surprisingly lethargic and passive. Lying on their stomach or back, they remain almost motionless until they are lifted and shifted. Others, on the contrary, show noticeable activity. If such a child is placed face down in a crib, he will slowly but persistently move towards the head of the crib until he hits the very corner. Very active children may reflexively roll over from their stomach to their back.
Another important difference in newborns is the level of muscle tone. Some children look very tense: their knees are constantly bent, their arms are tightly pressed to their body, their fingers are tightly clenched into fists. Others are more relaxed, the muscle tone of their limbs is not so strong.
The third difference between newborns is the degree of development of their sensory-motor system. Some children, especially young ones or those born prematurely, are very easily disturbed. At any, even the most insignificant noise, they shudder with their entire being, and their arms and legs begin to move erratically. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, a shiver runs through their body. Other babies look well developed from birth. They seem to know how to put their hand in or near their mouth and often do this to calm themselves down. When they move their legs, their movements are orderly and rhythmic.
The different levels of development of motor skills, muscle tone and sensory-motor system that are observed in newborns reflect features in the organization of the nervous system. Children who are active, well developed and have normal muscle tone are considered easy children by their parents. Passive, underdeveloped children with sluggish or, conversely, too tense muscle tone, which is observed in the first months of life, are much more difficult to care for. Fortunately, thanks to the caring care and patience of their parents, most children overcome these difficulties and quickly catch up with their peers in their development.

Ability to see, hear, feel

A child is born with an innate repertoire of reactions that help him adapt to the world around him. He squints his eyes when a bright light comes on or an object comes close to his face. Over a short distance, he can follow with his gaze a moving object or a human face.
A newborn child also has the innate ability to receive new information through his senses. It is curious that he even shows certain preferences among what he sees. In general, babies prefer dotted configurations and are particularly attracted to moving objects and black and white combinations. Think about the amazing properties the human eye has. It is difficult to resist the conclusion that a child initially has a unique ability to establish eye contact with his parents.
Along with innate visual abilities, the newborn also has remarkable hearing. We are not only confident that the baby hears from the moment of birth, but there is every reason to assume that he hears while still in the womb. The newborn turns his head in the direction from which the sound is coming, especially if it is an unfamiliar sound, and, conversely, turns away from repeated, loud or continuous sounds. Even more amazing is the fact that a child is able to distinguish a human voice from any other sound. In other words, in addition to the innate ability to look into your eyes, the child also has the ability to hear your voice. However, despite the fact that a newborn is able to perceive sound and turn in the direction from which it is coming, its visual and auditory systems are not sufficiently coordinated. If a child hears a noise whose source is directly in front of him, he will not instinctively look for it. Such coordination takes time to develop. By giving the child the opportunity to get acquainted with objects that attract his attention both by their appearance and their sound, parents lay the foundation in the baby’s mind for the ability to connect what he sees with what he hears.
So far we have been talking about the child’s ability to see and hear. Now it’s time to talk about other sensations: taste, smell and touch. Children love sweets and refuse salty, sour and bitter foods. In addition, they turn away from strong and pungent odors.
It is also known that newborns react to various types of touch. While vigorous rubbing with a terry towel excites the baby, a gentle massage can put him to sleep. By running your fingertips or a piece of soft silk fabric over your body, you can bring it into a state of calm wakefulness. It is especially pleasant for the baby to feel the touch of human skin. Many mothers who breastfeed their children say that the baby begins to suck more actively if his hand lies on the mother's chest.
We have described several typical ways in which children respond to different types of stimuli, with the child's reactions to them manifesting differently depending on specific conditions. Dr. Prechtl and Dr. Brazelton, as well as other researchers who study newborns, note that children have different levels of excitability. This level of excitability determines the behavioral characteristics of children. When the child wakes up, he may be calmly awake or actively awake, or he may scream or cry.
How a newborn reacts to what is happening in the world around him depends most of all on the degree of his arousal. A child who is in a state of calm wakefulness, hearing the bell, will immediately stop his actions and try to turn towards the sound. The same baby in an excited or irritated state may simply not notice the bell.

We understand our child

The period of infancy is the time when both the child and parents adapt to each other. Caring for a baby forces adults to organize their daily routine in a new way. The newborn adapts both physically and psychologically to life outside the mother's body. An integral part of this process is the child’s self-regulation. He learns to independently regulate the degree of his activity, so as to smoothly transition from sleep to wakefulness and vice versa. In the first weeks after the birth of your baby, you will spend a lot of energy trying to help your baby master these transitional states.
A wide-awake child reacts to sounds by looking intently at the faces of those around him, and seems to have an attentive and intelligent gaze. At such moments, the baby’s energy is aimed at perceiving information, and then the parents have the opportunity to engage and communicate with him. However, too intense exercise can tire your child out. The newborn cannot get out of the state of excitement on his own. Therefore, it is especially important that parents feel in time that the baby needs rest. If his mouth wrinkles, his fists clench and he nervously moves his legs, then it’s time to rest.
Periods of activity and rest in a child’s life should alternate. By creating the right daily routine, you will help your baby move from one state to another in a natural way. After feeding, for example, you can hold him in an upright position, leaning him against your shoulder, or pick him up and gently rock him.
Sometimes a child can come to a state of rest even after a strong cry. If the awakened baby begins to be capricious and it is clear that he is about to cry, parents, as a rule, try in every possible way to prevent this. However, in some cases it will be more appropriate to give the opportunity to shout properly. Apparently, crying relieves stress in a child and helps him move from one state to another. Even if he cries immediately after a nap, missing the state of calm wakefulness, after crying he can find it.
However, as a rule, it can be very difficult for a newborn to come out of the screaming state without outside help. All children need help to calm down. However, each of them requires an individual approach.
Some children become quiet if their parents carefully take them in their arms or wrap them in a warm, soft blanket. Others, on the contrary, become irritated by any restriction of freedom and calm down much more quickly when they are placed on a flat surface, without covering or impeding their movements. Most babies enjoy being carried or rocked. However, each child must have his own approach. Consider which of the following methods is best for your child.
. Walk around the room holding the baby to your shoulder.
. Hold the baby in weight, rocking from side to side.
. Hold it at your shoulder and rhythmically pat it on the back.
. Place the baby on your lap and rhythmically move them up and down or from side to side, or gently pat the baby's buttocks.
. Sitting in a rocking chair, place the child face down on your lap or, pressing it to your shoulder, hold it in an upright position, slowly rocking.
. Rock quickly and rhythmically in a rocking chair.
. Place the baby in the stroller and push it back and forth.
. Take a walk with your child in a stroller or a special backpack.
. Place the child in a hanging hammock at home and rock it gently.
. Take your child for a ride in the car.

Sounds, as well as movements, have a calming effect on children, but here, too, kids have their own preferences. Some people calm down faster when they hear the continuous sounds of a clock ticking, a washing machine, sounds that mimic a heartbeat, etc. Others respond better to soft talking, monotonous singing, or a quiet whisper. There are also children who like music - lullabies, recordings of classical works, melodies from music boxes.
So far we have talked about how caring and loving parents help newborns adapt to life outside the womb. In turn, the child also influences the lives of adults. He helps them adjust to their new role as parents. With the birth of a child, they acquire a new social status, and a very close relationship is built between them and the baby.
A child can communicate about his internal state in only two ways - smiling and crying. The development process of these methods is almost the same. In the first weeks of a baby’s life, they appear as if by themselves, which reflects his reaction to the physiological processes that occur in his body. A cry is a sign of discomfort or pain, a smile is evidence that the child is at rest and enjoying himself. Gradually the balance begins to shift. Crying and smiling are increasingly regulated by external factors, and as a result, the child begins, of course, without words, to directly communicate with his parents.
It is especially interesting to observe how the smile changes in the first one to two months of a child’s life. Initially, a wandering smile appears on the baby’s face during sleep. Then, at two weeks of age, he begins to smile when his eyes are open, which usually occurs after feeding. In this case, a smile, as a rule, is accompanied by a glassy, ​​absent look. By the third or fourth week, qualitative changes occur in the smile. The child responds to the loud voice of the parents, with whom he establishes visual contact, and in the end the baby rewards the adults with a very conscious smile.
A child who is happy, calm and in touch with his environment most of the time instills confidence and optimism in parents. A nervous and capricious baby, who is not easy to calm down, despite the caring attitude of adults, causes them much more problems. Those parents who have their first child often associate the child’s irritability with the fact that they are inexperienced and do not know how to handle him correctly. As soon as they understand that the baby’s increased excitability depends on the internal physiological processes occurring in his body, they will regain self-confidence. This will help them get through the challenges that await them in the first weeks of a child's life. Through trial and error, parents gain experience and find their own way to calm their baby - swaddling, vigorously rocking, or simply allowing him to scream for a while until he falls asleep. It is very important that parents understand from the very beginning that the difficulties experienced by the child in the first year of life are in no way related to the characteristics of his behavior and character in the future.
During the first month of a baby's life, most parents sometimes experience negative emotions. A young mother suffering from constant crying, childbirth and sleepless nights may become depressed or irritable towards other family members. The father, despite his proud smile, may sometimes feel that the baby not only limits his freedom, but also deprives his wife of attention and care. As children get older, they sleep longer and parents adapt to different daily routines. After the first difficult period, when the relationship between parents and baby is just developing, family members will be able to fully reward each other with the joy of communication.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR NEWBORN

The most difficult task facing a newborn child during the first month of his life is to adapt to conditions outside the mother's body. Most of the time the baby sleeps. Having woken up, he begins to behave in accordance with his internal physiological state. Periods of active wakefulness, when the child is ready to perceive new information, are rare and short-lived. Therefore, you should not plan activities with your newborn in advance, just try to use the opportunity. This opportunity appears when the child is full and in a good mood. Remember that children have different thresholds for excitability, and if you overtire your baby, he may begin to worry, scream and cry.

Practical advice

Engage your child no more than necessary
He needs human warmth, and therefore he loves to be held. Try to find out how your baby feels about this. Some babies become nervous and irritable when held for too long. It happens that a fussy baby calms down if he is placed in a comfortable children's backpack. However, if the baby is very rarely held, he may become lethargic and apathetic.
Change baby's position
When your child is awake, try to vary his positions. Let him lie on his stomach for a while, then on his back or side. Being in different positions, the baby will learn to move his arms and legs.
Children's calendar
Hang a calendar and pencil near the changing table or dressing table. You can record each new achievement of your child in a separate column.
Enjoy the time you spend with your baby
Laugh and have fun with your child. Sometimes he seems to be able to express his joy.
Don't be afraid to spoil your child
Try to quickly fulfill his wishes. If you give your baby enough attention when he needs it, he won't bother you again.
Handle your baby with care
When returning home from the hospital, bring your newborn in a comfortable, reliable car.

Game time

Vision
Attach a moving musical toy to the baby's crib
In those moments when the baby is awake and in a good mood, he will fix his gaze on the toy and follow its movements. This will spark your baby's interest in the world outside the crib. Moving musical toys especially attract the attention of children.
Move the flashlight back and forth
Cover the flashlight with red or yellow plastic. Slowly move it from side to side in front of the child lying on his back. At first, the baby will hold his gaze only for a moment, but then he will begin to follow the flashlight.
Show your tongue
Some two- to three-week-old babies can imitate adults when they stick out their tongues. Try this.
Hearing
Hang a bell
Hang the colored bell so your child can see it move and hear its sound. This will allow the baby to associate a beautiful sight with a pleasant sound. If you hang a bell over the crib, the baby will first look at it for a while and then fall asleep.
Dance to the music
Your baby will enjoy the familiar rocking and shaking he's already used to. Listen to music while holding your baby and dancing quietly.
Shake the rattle near your baby
Gently shake the rattle to the right and left of the baby. Do it quietly at first, then louder. After some time, the baby will understand that the sound he hears is coming from somewhere outside. He will begin to look for the source of the sound with his eyes. (Putting a few dry peas into a juice can makes a great rattle.)
Touch
Place your finger or rattle on your baby's hand
Place your finger or rattle on your baby's palm. The baby will wrap his fingers around them.
Exercises
Leg exercises
Place your baby on a firm mattress (a crib or playpen mattress will work fine). Let your baby move his legs and arms for a while. If he starts to cry, try to calm him down by gently rocking him.

Daily routine

Feeding time
Keep a good mood
Regardless of whether you breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby, try to do it in a way that makes both your baby and you feel calm and comfortable. Remember that your baby knows better than you when he's full, so don't try to force him to eat a little more. Avoid coercion so as not to lose the child's trust.
Reach out and touch
While your baby is eating, gently stroke his head, shoulders and fingers, then he will associate feeding with your gentle touches. Some children love to listen to singing while eating, while others, when they hear their mother’s voice, stop sucking. If your baby is easily distracted, hold off on singing until after meals or while your baby is burping.

Bathing
First baths
Bathe your baby in a baby bath. (Check with your doctor before giving your baby your first bath.) While bathing, hum softly while rubbing gently with a soft sponge or cloth. If your baby is slipping and needs soft bedding, place a towel in the bottom of the bathtub.
Communication through touch
After swimming, it is good to have a massage. Using baby cream or vegetable oil, gently massage your baby's shoulders, arms, legs, feet, back, stomach and buttocks. Keep doing this as long as your child is in a good mood.
Swaddling/dressing
Kisses on the tummy
When changing your baby's diapers, gently kiss his tummy, fingers and toes. These gentle touches help your baby become aware of his body parts. At the same time, he not only feels his body, but also feels your love.
Undress the child
Don't wrap your baby up. If the room is 20-25 degrees, he will feel good in a light shirt and diaper. Children overheat, sweat and feel discomfort if they are dressed too warmly.

Time relax
Turn on the radio for your child
When putting your baby in the crib, turn on the radio, tape recorder, or start a music box. Quiet music will calm him down.
Record the noise of the washing machine on tape.
Instead of buying an expensive toy that makes sounds, record the noise of your dishwasher or washing machine on tape. The monotonous hum that the child hears will help him calm down and fall asleep.
Give your baby a musical toy
If, from a very early age, a child associates sleep time with a soft musical toy, it will become an integral element of this process.
As they get older, some babies struggle when being put in their crib, and this toy will help them calm down and fall asleep.
Use a pacifier
Give your baby a pacifier before bed. Children who are accustomed to a pacifier from an early age are able to fall asleep on their own. If your baby refuses the pacifier, you can only put it in his mouth for a few minutes at first until he gets used to it. If your child continues to persist, find another way.
Walking in a stroller
If the weather permits, take your child for a walk, pushing him in a stroller. Constant movement will help him fall asleep.
A game of shadows
Children often wake up at night. Leave the night lamp on - the soft light will allow the child to observe the bizarre outlines of surrounding objects.
Diapers and soft pillows
Over the last few months of utero, the baby has become accustomed to sleeping in close quarters. Therefore, he will feel good if he is swaddled or covered with pillows. Many stores sell hanging hammocks that can be attached inside a regular crib. Some of them are equipped with a special device that creates the illusion of the mother’s heart beating in the child. The rhythmic sounds remind the baby of those he heard while in the womb; this calms him down and he falls asleep.

For a child to fully develop, he needs toys. They must be selected taking into account the age of the baby and his needs. Despite the fact that children learn to play only after six months, the first rattle appears in babies quite early. First, parents interest the baby in the unusual sound and appearance of the object, and later he himself can touch and look at it. Bright things are a necessary stage in the development of a newborn and children under one year old.

At what age does a child need a rattle?

You can buy a rattle for a newborn almost immediately after he is discharged from the hospital, and you can attract his attention after three weeks of age. For babies in the first two months of life, the main role of this thing is to attract attention.

The whole life of a little person consists of emotions and impressions. He is attracted to everything unusual and new, and this can be any moving object. The baby is especially pleased with bright things that move, as well as all kinds of sounds. This is why small rattles, consisting of several parts, so capture the child’s attention.

If a newborn does not really need toys, then after a month the need for them arises. Rattles are involved in human development, influencing the following:

1. Development of vision and concentration. When mom or dad shake the rattle and move it from side to side, the baby watches it with interest and surprise. If you show your baby a new toy along with an already familiar one, he will concentrate all his attention on the first one. By sharply hiding it, you can watch how the child looks for the thing that interests him with his eyes.
2. Development of auditory perception. Despite their young age, children respond well to the sound of a rattle. If you shake the toy slower or faster, you can notice the child's surprise and joy. An unexpected sound from the other side makes the baby turn his head and turn his attention to its source.
3. The appearance of new objects next to already familiar ones allows the baby to develop his memory well, forcing him to closely study the unexpectedly appeared rattle.

Little kids are not able to control their arms or movements, so they express their joy with a smile, humming, and surprised eyes. After two months, the baby begins to wave his arms and legs in response to a new toy, laugh and actively “talk.”

When does a child begin to hold objects?

Thanks to the grasping reflex, a baby can hold a small toy well almost from birth. If you give him a small ring, he will grab it with his hand and hold it. However, this happens unconsciously, just as a child grabs his mother’s finger or clings to clothes.

A newborn is unlikely to let go of any thing on his own; his fingers will have to be unclenched. Despite the fact that the baby can hold objects at a fairly early age, he is not able to play with them. It is not a fact that he will even understand and see what is in his hand. To attract attention, the rattle should be kept at a distance of at least 30-50 cm from the baby’s face.

Toys hanging in a crib or stroller can be unexpectedly touched by a child when he waves his hand. Sometimes he is happy about this, and the parents think that the baby is playing; in other situations, an unexpected sound and sudden movement can frighten the baby. To prevent such situations, it is necessary to hang rattles at a distance of 40-50 cm from the child until he reaches two months of age.

Closer to three months, the child begins to consciously hold objects in his hands. A toy placed in the hand is quickly grasped and, as a rule, pulled into the mouth. In this way, the baby gets acquainted with an unknown object. At this age, the baby can already look at the toy; he shakes it not quite consciously, but the sound pleases him.

It is not recommended to give heavy rattles to children under 5-6 months, as there is a high probability that the baby will hit himself on the head while playing. A little later, the child will begin to choose favorite or new toys from the proposed options, not paying attention to boring and monochromatic ones. An interesting feature is that if a child’s hand is occupied with an object, and the parents place a new one in another limb, the baby will immediately let go of the first one.

When does a child start picking up toys?

After 4 months, the child learns to pick up objects independently. This happens in several stages:

1. The baby grabs objects that are located at eye level. He squeezes the toy with both hands and diligently pulls it closer to him to taste it. Also, babies knock on hanging rattles, shake the grabbed object and enjoy the sound.
2. The next step is to lift the toy from the surface of the crib or changing table. This happens after five months, initially the baby clamps the object that interests him between his palms and looks carefully, a little later he will learn to take rattles with one hand.
3. After six months, the child can already take the desired item from a lying position on his back, stomach or side. The baby confidently takes the toy with one hand, while at the same time the second can also be used with another object. At this age, a small person is able to independently play with a rattle, shake it well, choose the one he likes from several and push away the rest.

It should be noted that a child’s toy may well be his own hand or foot. A child can look at his limb for a long time, taste it, touch it. After 5 months, the baby is quite capable of taking his socks off his feet and happily being surprised at this. At the same age, children are able to clasp their hands together.

When a child reaches the age at which it becomes possible to independently grab an interesting object, it is worth putting away any things that may be dangerous for him. Sometimes even ordinary and harmless parts, according to adults, can cause injury to a baby.

Starting from 5 months, you should be prepared for the fact that the heir will begin to actively study the world around him: he will try to grab cutlery from the table while in the arms of his mother or father; pull the tail of a cat passing by; taste the tube of cream left next to it.

All about rattles for newborns

A rattle is the very first toy in a person’s life. Despite the wide variety, they all have one thing in common - bright color and the appearance of sound when shaking. Such objects differ from each other in color, size, number of parts of which it consists, sound intensity and, of course, price.

There is no point in buying a newborn a lot of expensive rattle toys. It’s not a fact that he will like them; when the child grows up a little, he will begin to choose his favorite things, and the rest will have to be put away. In the first half of the year, the following set will be enough for a little person:

• two or three simple bright rattles of different sizes;
• one or two hanging toys for the crib or stroller (like several connected parts);
• If you wish, you can add a mobile to the crib, but not all children are interested in it. This soft, rustling toy will delight older children.

Closer to 6 months, you can add to the list a toy that develops various senses, consisting of materials of different textures. It is worth remembering that baby rattles should not be large and heavy, nor should they make sharp sounds that could frighten the child.

Types of rattles for children

When entering a children's goods store, young parents often get lost, and this is understandable; it is quite difficult to make out the presented assortment of toys for newborns. Manufacturers of such products try to present rattles in a wide variety of forms, supplementing them with original functions and details. Their main types, available to almost all parents, are as follows:

1. Rattle bracelets. In addition to developing the organs of vision and hearing, such toys teach the child coordination of movements. Trying to reach out and take a closer look at an unusual object, the baby gradually begins to control his body correctly. Over time, the baby realizes that in order to produce sound it is necessary to shake an arm or leg, and in order to taste it, it is enough to bring the limb to the face. It is recommended to use such rattles no earlier than three months of age and for a short period of time.
2. Rattles with and without handles. The choice of such toys is huge, parents are often lost, wanting to buy the best. It should be taken into account that each rattle corresponds to a certain age.
   – toys without handles are suitable for children who are already six months old. They can have an uneven texture, with various rings and pits, allowing the child to develop fine motor skills and hold an object;
   – For kids, there are toys with both one and two handles. The latter may be of particular interest to the baby. Having grabbed one rattle with both hands, he will be surprised by the impossibility of spreading his arms to the sides. A toy with a single handle and a split end helps exercise and strengthen the wrist.
3. Rattle pendant. Used almost from the moment you left the hospital. The toy is hung on the baby's crib or stroller; it usually consists of several fastened parts. The presence of this item allows you to develop your baby’s visual skills. After three months of age, the rattle can be hung closer to the baby so that he can reach it, touching it when flapping his arms.
4. Ring rattle. This is an ideal option for little ones. Starting from the age of one month, such an object can be conveniently placed in the handle. As a rule, such a toy is made with a special ring surface - it is uneven, ribbed or with pimples, which allows the hand not to slip off and develops fine motor skills.
5. Teether rattle. Designed not only for the child's play and development, but also to alleviate his condition during teething. It is usually made of plastic with rubberized parts that the baby can chew without harming the tender gums. The strumming and bright colors distract the child from pain, and the ability to scratch the gums speeds up the appearance of teeth.
6. Soft, rustling toys are also considered rattles. A very useful type for children over six months of age. They are made of soft fabric filled with rustling material. Individual parts may squeak when pressed; often a ball is sewn inside, which makes a sound when shaking. Additionally, such rattles may have various irregularities; for example, several types of fabric are used in their manufacture. This allows the child to develop fine motor skills while playing.

It should be remembered that an important criterion for choosing a toy is its quality. You should not buy even the brightest and most multifunctional rattle if it has an unpleasant odor, paint smudges, or is from a dubious manufacturer.

The presence of small parts is also of great importance. If they are present, before giving a new thing to the child, you should forcefully try to tear them off. Do not think that the baby is weak and cannot make out the object. If desired, he will tear off everything that comes out and pull it into his mouth. It is recommended to purchase toys from well-known manufacturers, and if you do not want to overpay for a brand, it is better to choose a domestic manufacturer with a good reputation.

Let's make rattles together

Probably every mother knows well how an infant should develop, at what months to hold the head up, and at what time to sit independently. The situation changes when the child reaches the age of 1 year. Few parents can answer questions like, “When should a child learn to ride a bike or tie his shoes?” In this article we tried to answer the most common parental questions.

It must be remembered that each child is individual and your baby’s skills may differ from the norm. Unless your child is several months behind on one skill, or behind on several skills at once, there is no cause for concern. Babies born prematurely may be slightly behind babies born full term. As a rule, by two years this difference is smoothed out. But if, in addition to the fact that the child “lags behind” on several points, he also has other alarming symptoms: he rarely smiles, is overly capricious, makes too few sounds or too rarely, parents should bring this to the attention of a doctor.

At the age of 1 year (12-14 months), the child usually:
· Walks or takes 2-3 steps without support.
· Well worth it.
· Places the item in the box.
· Places two dice on top of each other.
· Reacts to a simple command that is not accompanied by gestures (for example, “Give!”).
· In addition to “ma-ma” and “pa-pa”, he speaks from 1 to 6 words.
· He babbles a lot.

Studies: At this early age, you can start teaching your child letters, numbers, colors and shapes. Don't think it's too early. Even if full understanding comes a little later, this information is somehow deposited in the child’s brain. Of course, learning should be unobtrusive and take place in a playful way with the help of pictures, poems and toys.

At 1.5 years (16-18 months) the child:
· Walks and runs well.
· Loves to climb stairs.
· Drinks from a cup.
· Tries to eat on his own with a spoon.
· Points to familiar objects called by adults.
· Understands a few simple phrases.
· Shows the nose, mouth and eyes on the toy.
· Scribbles with pencils.
· Lifts, bending, a toy and carries it from place to place.
· Expresses love, pleasure, excitement through gestures or sounds.
· Gives preference to his favorite toys.
· Speaks at least 15 words.

Pacifier: If you gave your child a pacifier, it is better to remove it from the child no later than one and a half years. Before this age, the use of a pacifier is generally considered harmless. Children who suck on a pacifier before the age of 3-4 years may later develop speech problems.

First responsibilities: At this age, start teaching your child how to: clean up toys, put laundry in the dirty clothes basket, or bring napkins to the dinner table. And if he needs your help first, you'll be surprised how quickly he learns to do it all on his own. As the child grows, add new responsibilities to this, such as: watering, wiping up after himself if he knocked over a glass of water, making his bed and taking dirty dishes (plastic) to the sink.

First visit to the dentist: The child's first visit to the dentist should take place approximately 6 months after the appearance of the first tooth. In the future, visit the doctor once every six months to a year, especially if the child has dental problems - stains on the teeth or an incorrect bite.

First bike: You can buy it for your child now. And even if the ability to pedal comes later, the child can happily ride back and forth, pushing off the ground with his feet, or enjoy the ride when you push the bike yourself.

At 2 years old the child:
· Runs and jumps well.
· Builds a tower of 4-6 cubes.
· Throws and kicks a ball.
· “Feeds” a doll with a spoon.
· Climb and descend stairs independently.
· Knows his name and speaks about himself in the third person, calling him by name.
· Shows his nose, mouth and eyes.
· Looks at the pictures in the book.
· Can remove some items of clothing independently.
· Speaks from 15 to 50 words (deviations from these numbers are quite normal).
· In his speech he uses several two-word phrases.
· Begins to control the bladder and bowels.

First "creativity": By the age of two, a child's eye-hand coordination improves significantly. Therefore, at this age, many kids love to draw (“scribble”), color, build with cubes, and make pictures from simple puzzles and cubes.

"Adult" bed: At the age of two, it is time to move your child from a crib to a big bed. At this age, many children try to get out of their crib by throwing their leg over the rail. It may be dangerous.

First four-legged friend: Don't have pets until your child is 2 years old. At this age, a child can watch with interest, for example, fish in an aquarium, without much harm to them or himself. With pets such as a cat or, it is better to wait until the child learns to be more careful and understanding, that is, until he is at least 3-4 years old.

At 3 years old the child:
· When going up and down the stairs, he alternates his legs.
· Can dress and undress independently (with varying success).
· Rides a tricycle.
· Understands and carries out combined two-part commands (“Pick up the spatula and put it in the bucket!”).
· Constructs phrases of 4-5 words.
· Uses pronouns in his speech (“I”, “you”, etc.)
· Pronounces most words clearly and articulately.
· He understands speech addressed to him well (within reasonable limits of difficulty).
· Points to at least 4 familiar objects in the book.
· Knows the names of at least 6 body parts.
· Plays and/or interacts with other children.
· Toilet trained (minor incidents are quite acceptable).

By the age of 3, a child’s speech skills improve significantly. Pay more attention to learning rhymes and songs, read more books with your child, carefully looking at and discussing pictures.

At 4 years old the child:

· Already has good control of his body. He becomes a real “expert” in the field of fastening and unfastening buttons, laces, zippers, frightening you with the desire for complete independence and independence. He also skillfully uses a spoon and fork. At this age, it is completely normal for your chubby baby to turn into a lanky little one. Don’t be alarmed, gradually over a few years the baby’s baby fat will “melt” and be replaced by muscles. The child's height and weight should increase evenly. If weight increases faster than height, then the child may be prone to obesity. Pay attention to the child's inner thighs and upper forearms - if the fat hangs there in folds, this is also a sign of excess weight. In this case, it is worth reconsidering the child and giving him more wholesome and healthy food, as well as more actively involving him in outdoor games. If your child has not grown noticeably in six months, consult your doctor: some children may lack growth hormone.
· A four-year-old's vocabulary may already contain 1,000 words! He can already construct phrases of 6-8 words, and his speech is already sufficiently understood by strangers.
· At this age, children begin to become interested in their bodies and the differences between men and women. This is why the game of “doctor” is becoming so popular.

Laces: A child should be able to tie his shoelaces by the time he starts kindergarten, in any case by 4-5 years old. Velcro boots are, of course, more comfortable, but then the development of fine motor skills in your child’s hands (for example, the ability to write) will take much longer.

Swimming: A child can learn to swim independently as early as 4 years old. At this age, you can enroll him in the pool. Until the age of 4 years, a child, on average, has not yet developed sufficiently the relevant skills and coordination.