What should I and he be doing

[newby87]

My little one has just turned 7 weeks old, what should he be doing at this age, and what should I be doing with him, he reacts to light a lot but sounds he doesn't really react too. I'm just a little worried I'm not doing enough Thankyou

I'd call your health visitor if you're concerned but I would recommend the book 'what to expect in the first year' and it covers things like that xx

Hello! My DD is 12 weeks and only in the last couple of weeks has she shown much interest in anything other than milk and sleep! At 7 weeks babies are mainly only interested in faces. Try lots of singing along to nursery rhymes face-to-face, tummy time, sitting with him at the baby gym. I do a lot of just describing everything I’m doing even if it’s so boring as unloading the dishwasher whilst she watches from the bouncer. Just really try and maximise vocal interaction. You should be getting social smiles around 6-8 weeks. Next up he will start trying out his voice box and making sounds, which is adorable. Just keep talking and singing to him!

Thankyou for your replies I will take them on board, I have been doing tummy time, and we sing to him a lot, just his concentration goes to the tv or light so was just a little worried, he has a syndrome called Pierre robin syndrome and he has teeth coming already which hasn't helped, as he's crying a lot with the pain so just a struggle at time especially at night

Hello, I am sure you will be doing enough. Are you worried about hearing, is that what you're getting at? I agree with just carrying them round and talking about everything.

I wonder - if your baby has Pierre Robin syndrome do you have consultant care? You can ask them about any worries.

I had a baby in NICU many years ago and I used to ask the consultant all sorts . They were very kind and answered with a straight face, even though with hindsight my questions were odd. You can't really care too much, in my view.

Yes we have a consultant and have and have had hospital appointments, but because of covid there in a months time, so just want to do best I can until I see specialists, he cries until he's being held, so I don't know if I should just immediately pick him up and comfort him or not, but because of condition he has(breathing) I do and I think is he just doing do it all the time now,

@newby87

Yes we have a consultant and have and have had hospital appointments, but because of covid there in a months time, so just want to do best I can until I see specialists, he cries until he's being held, so I don't know if I should just immediately pick him up and comfort him or not, but because of condition he has(breathing) I do and I think is he just doing do it all the time now,

No one ever harmed a baby responding to it, and I think the breathing issue sounds the most important thing?

I think you can ring your GP for a chat about any worries.

Mine liked the black and white books.

Crying unless being held is common for a new born (google 4 th trimester). It’s not possible to cuddle a baby too much but it is possible to cuddle them too little.

We are awaiting appointment at alder hey kids hospital for ENT team, he is sleeping so much more in the day and at night awake for bottle every 3 hours rarely he goes longer in the night is that about right?

As PP have said, it’s mostly just talking to them and singing at this age, having them face to face with you and being super expressive. My baby also loves laying out on a foil blanket and we read a lot of books, obviously she doesn’t understand them but she seems to get really excited!

@newby87

We are awaiting appointment at alder hey kids hospital for ENT team, he is sleeping so much more in the day and at night awake for bottle every 3 hours rarely he goes longer in the night is that about right?

That sounds perfect for this stage.

Just keeping up talking is the most important thing. Narrate everything you are doing. Remember to ask questions so that he is hearing different ways that the voice is used. Do a bit of singing. You sound like you are doing all these things already!

At that age they aren’t interested in much, although they will follow light.

Some things my DD liked by the time she was about 10-12 weeks, so you might like to think about:

• light shows. You can get cheap night light thingies that project patterns on the ceiling. Or get any old cheap light up fairy wand. Or a disco ball light thingy. Switch off the lights and close the curtains and give them a light show with some music in the background.

• different sensory things for tummy time. Foil blanket is a winner (you can get car emergency blankets for very little), as are coloured scarves. You can get water mats for tummy time - I have twins so I have two, I make one warm and one cold and swap them over so they have different experiences.

• black and white things. You can get rustly black and white books, those are quite good. Or you can print off patterns for free on the internet and stick them up by the changing mat or on the side of the cot.

• screen time (if you want to, can be controversial). Hey bear do “baby sensory” videos with music. I don’t generally advise screen time for tiny ones, but if you can find one of the slow ones (baby Einstein do some slow ones) and you have a big TV (so not phone or tablet) then the baby will track the images across the screen. If you do this, make sure you don’t sit them in the same place for too long - you don’t want them to be focussing only at the same distance, keep it varied.

• motion - make sure you do a bit of dancing! It stimulates their vestibular system, which helps them develop balance.

@newby87

Yes we have a consultant and have and have had hospital appointments, but because of covid there in a months time, so just want to do best I can until I see specialists, he cries until he's being held, so I don't know if I should just immediately pick him up and comfort him or not, but because of condition he has(breathing) I do and I think is he just doing do it all the time now,

Oh, and you can’t spoil a baby this small by picking them up, nor do you neeD to “train” them to not cry. They are supposed to want to be held. A child that has learned that you come when they need you will be confident about separating from you when they are ready.