A small newborn baby is already a person, communication with the baby is a very important aspect; it is possible and even necessary to start conversations while still in the womb. At this time, the baby recognizes his mother by her voice and feels her psycho-emotional state. Many young mothers have a question about how to properly talk to a newborn baby during the first year of life. The main thing that needs to be understood is that an infant really needs communication; not only the mother’s gaze, touch, but also conversations are important to him.
What to tell, what to talk about with your baby? Yes, about anything. When you perform a certain action, and the baby sees and understands you, tell him what you are doing. He may not understand everything, but everything cannot be explained at once. Many contradictions often arise about lisping with a baby. Newly-made grannies especially cannot restrain themselves; they want to give him a sea of tenderness and happy moments.
Communication with a newborn baby
Watching the interaction between a mother and her baby, you can notice how her manner of speaking changes: timbre, speed, intonation. Scientists use the term “parent/motherese language”. Its distinctive features:
- the voice sounds a little louder;
- intonation is slightly higher than usual, slower and more melodic;
- vowels are stretched;
- words are repeated;
- speech is directed at the child and stimulates his hearing.
At the same time, one should not confuse this manner of speaking with lisping, which does not develop speech, because in reality we do not communicate this way either with adults or with grown-up children.
So what should you talk about with your newborn? And will the conversation with the baby differ depending on who is speaking to him: mom, dad, grandma?
For a baby, it doesn't matter what you talk about. What is more important is your voice, intonation, smiles, affectionate touches and the fact that all attention at this moment is turned to him. At the same time, he literally looks into your mouth, doing a tremendous job - imitating your movements, mastering the speech apparatus.
During the first year, adults will have to turn into an “interactive radio”: radio because the more they talk to the baby, the more they contribute to his development and the establishment of a trusting relationship with him, and interactive because the baby is not just a passive listener. From the very beginning, he is an active participant in communication: in response to any call, he freezes or, conversely, begins to actively wiggle his arms and legs, smile or frown, make sounds or blow bubbles. So don't forget to pause and include your little one in the conversation!
How much sleep does a one-month-old baby need?
At this age, children sleep 14-17 hours a day, including naps during the day (about 5 times). From the 6th week onwards your baby will sleep longer at night if you are very lucky. Yes, you are probably tired as hell, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Over time, your baby's sleep cycle will sync up with yours. After some time, you will develop a bedtime ritual, and your baby will develop biological sleep rhythms. But now it is important to put your child to bed when he wants. Then there will be maximum benefit from sleep. The child must be placed on his back.
If your baby cries when you put him to bed, try rocking him, turn on calm music, and speak kind words to him. Hold him in your arms for a couple of minutes and when he calms down, put him back in the crib.
How to communicate with a baby
Remember the akyn’s song: what I see is what I say. Describe everything you do, what the baby does, what’s happening around:
- “Now I’ll put some pants on Katyusha: on the right leg, on the left leg.”
- “Whose eyes are these?”
- “There is sun outside the window and green leaves on the trees.”
By naming parts of the body and at the same time touching them, you form a body diagram in the child, which is the most important condition for the development of his inner self. This is a universal method that can be used by all family members.
If you have already described everything within sight, act like Winnie the Pooh: talk about what comes to mind, or simply make sounds or sound combinations to some tune.
This method is perfect for men if they have difficulty choosing words and phrases to say to their child. But they are great at making bass sounds and imitating a brass band (and composing those “noisemakers, puffers, sniffles”).
Sing for real. Not only lullabies or children's songs, but also any work that you like. Voice data is not important; for a baby, the voice of a loved one is the best in the world!
For the first six months, it is especially important for an adult to be a “mirror” for the baby. Therefore, do not be afraid to look funny and repeat the sounds made by the baby (“a-a-a”, “gee-khi”, “a-gu” will gradually develop into “ba-ba-ba”, “al-le-e-ly” -agy"). The main thing is that he sees your face. So the baby, with the support of an adult, will go through the stages of speech development in the first year: humming and babbling. And the child will also have a feeling that he is understood and answered. This is also a necessary communication skill.
It's great to have poetry in your arsenal. The baby not only gets pleasure from the rhythm, syllable, and intonation. With their help, he learns to distinguish individual elements in speech, which he will then connect. Start with nursery rhymes, poems, fables.
In folk tradition you can find a saying for any situation:
- “Bayushki-bayu, don’t lie down on the edge...” - before going to bed.
- “Water, water, wash our face...” - when bathing.
- “The magpie-crow was cooking porridge...” - while eating.
- “Stretchers, stretchers! And in the hands - grabs..." - doing a massage.
Surely the first to come to mind are those that were once sung and told to you in childhood. Most of us will immediately remember “Okay, okay” and “The horned goat is coming.” But you shouldn’t limit yourself only to nursery rhymes and jokes: any poem will do, be it Pushkin, Mayakovsky or Barto.
Once you've exhausted your supply, get creative. Remember Dunno and start rhyming words. So, while stroking the baby’s legs, you can hum and say: “Our legs ran along the path.” Or choose a rhyme for different forms of the name: “Katerina the ballerina, Katyushka the girl.” The main thing is that the rhymes are not offensive!
By the way, about the name and address. This is another inexhaustible topic of conversation. Call your baby by name, using as many pet names and nicknames as possible, and you will hear how much tenderness will appear in your voice and see how relaxing it will have on your baby.
Read aloud any books: prose, popular science publications, encyclopedias. Do this during feeding or, if possible, when you put the baby to bed - the right moment will be different for each parent.
If you understand that there is a long process of getting to bed ahead and you are trying to figure out what to say when rocking your child to sleep, try the role of a story teller: Homer or Arina Rodionovna.
These don't have to be fairy tales. Tell your baby how mom and dad met, how he was born, about his brothers and sisters, what happened today or will happen tomorrow. The main thing is to do this in a monotonous, soothing voice.
By and large, the ideas listed are suitable for conversations not only with newborns. Most children love when poems are read to them by heart, songs are sung and stories are told (especially about themselves), so all adults can and should continue to do all this in the presence of the baby. But, of course, the repertoire of topics will grow as you grow older.
One month old baby: Feeding
Many mothers worry about how to feed their ever-growing baby. Keep up the good work - feed him when he's hungry. At this stage, breastfed babies need about 8 feedings per day, and bottle-fed babies need one feeding every 3-4 hours. If your baby's growth spurt occurs during this time, more feedings may be required.
If you are breastfeeding and have questions, you may find breastfeeding tips helpful
Breastfeeding moms may benefit from breastfeeding tips, from hunger signs to pumping.
How to help your baby burp
When feeding, babies sometimes catch air. This happens more often with bottle-fed babies. Due to air getting inside, babies experience discomfort. To avoid this, you need to let your baby burp between feedings or when switching from one breast to another. Cover your clothing with a special towel or other fabric to prevent regurgitated milk or formula from getting on it. Here are the positions and techniques for burping:
Counting wet and dirty diapers:
At this stage, the baby needs to change 4-6 wet diapers per day. The number of dirty diapers varies. Most babies have one bowel movement per day, but sometimes a month-old baby won't poop for days or a whole week. There is nothing wrong with this if the consistency of the stool is normal, that is, soft, somewhat watery, and the baby eats well and gains weight. If you rarely change diapers and are concerned, contact your pediatrician.
Baby's delicate skin doesn't just need a lot of diapers, but a lot of soft and comfortable diapers, like Pampers ProCare Premium Protection.
Promotions and discounts for young parents will help you save.
What to talk about with a child aged 1 to 2 years
After about a year, the child masters his first words—an avalanche-like growth of his vocabulary begins. This is often a difficult period for parents and children: children really want to express their thoughts and feelings, but do not yet have full command of speech. Therefore, it is important for an adult to be attentive and tactful:
- do not laugh or imitate,
- watch your speech: the baby will actively copy everything he says.
At one and a half years old, sentences of two words normally appear: “Mom, give me,” and at two years, an “explosion of language” occurs, as Maria Montessori designated this stage. The main question here is: “What?” Even if the little person has not yet spoken, he will actively point his finger at objects and demonstrate his interest. The task of parents is to satisfy the baby's need for communication and support his attempts to express himself, creating situations of success. To do this, an adult can:
- Continue naming objects and events around you. Only now it is necessary to give the child the opportunity to respond with “speech”: sound, word, sentence.
- Ask questions and wait for the baby’s reaction, even if it’s a simple nod of the head.
- Read as much as possible, look at pictures (for example, in Wimmelbooks) and discuss what you saw and read.
- Sing songs and choose those that you especially like.
Baby Health: When does crying mean your baby has colic?
All children cry from time to time. However, sometimes crying means your baby has colic. This is accompanied by the following signs:
- the child cries for hours every evening;
- the tone of the crying is high;
- the child cries for no reason;
- It's hard to calm him down.
A diagnosis of colic is made if a baby cries more than three hours a day in a row or more than three days a week for at least three weeks in a row. Colic in children often begins at 2-4 weeks of age and stops by 3-4 months.
There is no consensus on the causes of colic, but there are several factors that are sometimes associated with the occurrence of this condition:
- Gases.
Perhaps the baby is crying due to unpleasant sensations associated with the accumulation of gases. If your baby has a swollen tummy, passes gas and cries, this could be the reason. Don't overfeed your baby. If your tummy is swollen, place it butt-side up on your lap - it may feel better from the pressure on the tummy.
- Sensitivity to stimuli.
Perhaps the child is tired and crying because he does not yet know how to calm himself. Pick him up and walk around the room with him, or sit him in a rocking chair, put him in a vibrating child seat and take him for rides in the car.
- Food sensitivity.
Sometimes children have intolerance to some components of their mother’s diet. Because of this, unpleasant sensations arise, to which the baby responds by crying. In rare cases, a baby may be hypersensitive to milk protein in formula. Your pediatrician will be able to accurately determine whether your child has a food allergy or intolerance.
- Medical reasons.
In some cases, this is how the child reacts to discomfort caused by illness or other problems, such as a hernia. The doctor will examine the child, determine the cause and prescribe treatment.
Although colic usually goes away after a couple of months, when the baby cries continuously, time drags on endlessly. Sometimes it is impossible to calm him down, and, naturally, many mothers are at their limit. But under no circumstances should you shake the baby.
It's better to leave him in his crib for a while and go into another room or ask someone close to him to look after him for a couple of hours so that you can rest. Remember that crying attacks with colic will pass very soon, especially if you are mentally and psychologically prepared for them.
At this time, the following diseases also occur in children:
- Seborrheic dermatitis.
It consists of scales on the baby's head. Sometimes combing out the scales after washing your hair helps; in more complex cases, the doctor will prescribe a special shampoo, but most often this physiological condition goes away on its own and does NOT require intervention. Here is a whole article about seborrheic dermatitis.
- Diarrhea.
If your baby has loose, watery, foul-smelling stools that happen more often than the number of feedings, contact your doctor right away.
- Constipation.
If your baby hasn't had a bowel movement for several days, which usually doesn't happen, or if you think he's constipated, is restless, or has a tense stomach, see your doctor.
- Vomit.
If the child has severe vomiting (“fountain”), vomiting lasts more than 8 hours or occurs after several feedings, and is also accompanied by high fever or diarrhea, or the smell of acetone, consult a doctor immediately.
- Regurgitation.
It is normal for your baby to spit up some milk after feeding or burping, especially within an hour of eating. If during feedings the baby is capricious or feels unwell and refuses to eat, then show him to the pediatrician.
- Baby pimples.
At the beginning of the month, pimples may appear on the baby's face. It is believed that they are caused by hormones that enter the baby’s blood through the placenta and enhance the functioning of the sebaceous glands. Place a clean towel under your baby's head when he is not sleeping, and wash him with special baby products once a day.
Regular medical examinations and vaccinations
As a rule, at the age of 1 month the child undergoes the first regular medical examination, and at 2 months - the second. But you can contact your pediatrician at any other time, even between appointments, if something bothers you. Medical examination includes:
- monitoring the rate of growth and development of the child;
- objective examination;
- passing the necessary tests, if they have not yet been taken;
- consultation on the current condition;
- answers to all your questions;
- an explanation of what awaits you in the coming months;
- Prescribing or completing required vaccinations.
Recommendations for speech development
- Create situations that encourage you to listen to the sounds of speech.
- In the process of emotional speech contacts, provide models for the formation of speech imitation and mastery of the sounds of the native language.
- Carry out preparatory articulatory work: encourage the child to hum: the sounds “kgy”, “kga”, “g-ga-ga”, “k-gu-gu”, which arise in the child as he exhales in moments of high emotionality.
- Include in games and activities with your baby not only speech and intonation patterns, but also singing: to develop an ear for music.
- Introduce infant folklore into communication with the child, using ancient patterns of speech contact with the smallest children - nurseries, nursery rhymes, songs, fables, sayings, etc.
FAQ
Is it possible to give a pacifier to a newborn or 1 month old?
If you are breastfeeding, wait until your baby is at least 1 month old before giving a pacifier. It is recommended to give the pacifier after feedings so as not to disrupt this process. Pacifier placement often reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Some babies enjoy the pacifier and find the act of sucking soothing, but if your baby refuses the pacifier, don't force it. Sometimes a pacifier is indicated for children (with disorders of the maxillofacial apparatus or neurological pathology), but more often, especially during natural (breast) feeding, you can do without it altogether.
Why do little children cry?
Babies cry when they need something, such as food or to be held, and when they are uncomfortable and need a diaper changed, for example. They also cry when they become tired of multiple visual and auditory stimuli. Sometimes children cry seemingly for no reason. If you think your baby is crying too much or in a strange way, contact your doctor.
How to calm a crying child?
If the child's basic needs are met, that is, he does not want to eat and does not need to change his diaper, try to calm him down with gentle words, play with him, roll him in the stroller. You will soon understand what your baby responds to best. If the child does not calm down, colic may be the cause. If you are concerned about why your baby is crying, contact your pediatrician.
Passive gymnastics
The development of a baby should concern not only the aspects of organized nutrition, regular walks and healthy sleep, although these aspects are extremely important. Physical development is no less important. Therefore, it is worth starting to strengthen the muscles of the whole body as soon as possible. Passive gymnastics performed with the hands of mom or dad, active swimming in the bathtub, first attempts to crawl while lying on the tummy - all this is the basis of home physical education for an infant. Besides being useful, it's also fun. And cheerful communication with parents is always appropriate.
