New-born’s behaviour is very different from that of an older baby and children. As they are adjusting to the outside world, they like to maintain the foetal position, clenched fists, bent hips and knees and arms and legs held close to the front of their body.  For many first-time parents, they may be unaware of the behaviours normally shown by a new born. It is important for the parents to know about their new born baby behaviour, how to manage that effectively and what they can expect.   New born behaviour: Know the normal aspects  A normal new born behaviour for the first few months typically consists of crying and sleeping for the long hours and eating. Other behaviour aspects include hiccup, sneeze, cough, spit up, burp and gurgle.  The posture for the first few weeks can be similar to that of a foetal position in the womb, which gradually changes with the baby’s development.  The reflexes can include ‘the sucking reflex’, the instinct to suck when an object is placed in its mouth, ‘the grasp reflex’ in which they tightly closed their fingers around an object placed in its hand and ‘startle response’ which is sudden throwing out of arms and legs and then quickly bringing them back to their body.  The breathing pattens in new born is irregular, that is they can stop breathing for 5-10 seconds and then again start breathing. This pattern usually occurs during the sleep and is considered normal but if it stops breathing for more than recommended time period or if it starts turning blue, then the parents should immediately seek medical attention.  New born crying: Causes and effective management  A new born usually cry and fuss for 2-3 hours a day for the first 6 weeks and the crying gets intense during the first 3 months or at about 6-8 weeks. Some new born can cry for longer time period than recommended. The baby crying typically signals to hunger, tiredness, need for burping, overstimulation, diaper change, need for comfort or even sickness.  The long hours of crying can get frustrating and overwhelming for the parents but they can definitely handle it by – Taking a break to calm the mind before soothing the new-born, making sure that the baby is not hungry, needs diaper change or sick, reducing the stimulation by lowering the noise and other activities and dimming the lights, wrapping the baby in a blanket and humming a soft calming tune and taking the baby for a ride in pram or sling.  In case the crying persists for the longer hours than usual or if the crying pattern is abnormal, try contacting the doctor for help. 

For parents, forming a bond or attachment and communicating with a new born is very important for infant’s healthy growth and development. It doesn’t take much effort, just responding to them with lots of smiles, love, warmth and cuddles. Here are some of the effective ways in which parents can bond with their new-born, how they can communicate with them and how baby forms attachments.   Bonding with the baby: benefits and major techniques Forming a bond with the new-born is considered very crucial as it plays a significant role in releasing of hormones and chemicals in new-born’s brain which boosts rapid brain growth and development, enabling them learn new things around them. Bonding also gives a new born baby, a sense of security and comfort from the parents, which further leads to social, emotional and cognitive development from an early age and also casts a positive lifelong effect on their mental health. A new born infant usually shows certain behaviour or uses certain body languages to signal that they want attention or they want to bond such as- smiling, cooing, laughing or making little noises while making eye contact, holding out their arms or more looking relaxed and interested. In that case, the parents can use certain tips and techniques like         1.Learning to understand the baby’s signals and copy them back in response to show the understanding, Regularly touching, cuddling and providing skin-to-skin contact to the baby during the breastfeeding, bath and massage.  Talking and singing to the new-born in a gentle, soothing and reassuring tone. It will make the baby calm, and helps them to recognise their parent’s voices and can also help in in understanding the language. Responding and proving comfort to the baby when they cry as it will help them to feel safe and secure. Baby communication: Significance and guidance A new born uses a vey unique way of communicate with its parents, that is using body languages and facial expressions and most importantly by crying. It is very crucial for the parents to understand these little signals and cues and responding warmly to their needs as it lets them form an understanding that their parents are listening. Parents should always utilise every little opportunity to talk with their baby as it will help them to recognise their voice and will increase the understanding of new words.  Some of the ways in which parents can communicate with their infant are- Speaking the words, slowly, softly and in an exciting manner. Saying the things, which will make the baby laugh and by using songs and facial expressions.

With the arrival of new born baby, there rises many questions about the feeding, whether to use breast feeding or bottle feeding, what are the advantages or how the men can help their partners. Here are some important key information and aspects to keep in mind.  New Born: breast feeding and its benefits  Breast feeding the new born baby is very crucial not only for the healthy growth and development of a baby but for the mother’s health too.  Breast milk is considered as an ideal source of macronutrients such as water, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, Micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals and other components such as antibodies, hormones and enzymes. It helps in reducing the chances of bladder and kidney infections, respiratory tract and ear infections, allergies, diabetes and even SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome.)  Breastfeeding is also beneficial for the mothers as it promotes faster weight loss after pregnancy, lesser chances of ovaries and breast cancer and lesser risks of type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure. It is also a convenient and free source of feeding and will also help in forming a bond with the baby.  The men can also help their partner in this process by proving the support and enthusiasm and comport, while she’s trying to adapt. They can also help by - carrying and holding the baby in a sling or a carrier, soothing the baby in case of fussing and crying bottle feeding the expressed breast milk. They can support their breastfeeding partner by doing the household chores, encouraging her eat healthy and drink plenty of water and through various other means.   New born: Bottle feeding and its underlying aspects It is always not possible for mothers to breastfeed their baby for variety of reasons. In that case they can choose the bottle feeding with expressed breastmilk or baby formula feeding, which is considered as a best alternative to breastmilk.  There are few things to keep in mind when bottle feeding such as – properly cleaning and sterilising the bottle-feeding equipment, which includes bottles, rings caps and teats, after every feeding so to avoid germs. Never leaving the bottle in baby’s mouth as it can increase the risk of chocking, ear infections and tooth decay. Never forcing the baby to finish the bottle in case the baby shows the signs of fullness as it can lead to overfeeding and throwing away leftover formula or breastmilk after one hour to avoid the risk of contamination.

For the parents, it is really amazing feeling to see their baby grow and achieve all the developmental milestones, specified by its age. Developmental milestones refer to the skills, behaviors, tasks, and body movements that a baby can perform by a certain age. These are used to keep track of a baby’s proper development for its age.  Sometimes there can be slight variations in age groups by which the babies reach to a certain developmental milestone, which can be different from a specified age group. So, a certain developmental delay in a baby is usually nothing to worry about because the babies sometimes learn and develop at their own pace too.   Achieving a developmental milestone actually depends upon certain factors such as  How the parents interact and respond to their baby’s needs or how they provide the baby, the needed sense of security, attention, and comfort, which is significant in their social and cognitive or intellectual development. The physical and social environment around the baby. There are many aspects involved in it like the proper access to clean air, water, and food, health care facilities, stress, and toxic-free surroundings which will allow them to explore and play without any fear and healthy interactions and relationships with other people.  Genetics can also influence a baby’s developmental pace to an extent as genetic disorders, (health problems or diseases caused by changes in the structure of a gene) can cause slow mental and physical development. Developmental Milestones: Know the various aspects Developmental milestones can be grouped into the following Gross motor skills: which involves the large body movements or control of large muscle groups to perform the tasks like running, walking siting etc. Fine motor skills: which involve the small body movements or small muscle groups to perform holding and picking an object. Language skills: which involves the ability to use and understand certain sounds and words for communication. Social skills: This refers to the ability of a baby to learn, understand and interact with the other people. Vision and hearing: which involves the ability to see and hear and to understand it.  Developmental delay: when to see medical and professional help Not all babies achieve the specified developmental milestone at a given age group and it's completely alright as these can be for a short period of time, but if it prevails over several months, the parents should consider seeing a doctor or pediatrician. There are some physical and social signs such as vision and hearing problems, body movements and coordination problems, constant crying, and if the baby is not responding to the people around it.

Relationships that are formed by a child in the early years, play one of the most significant characters in its learning and all-around development process and it will further determine how a child will perceive the world around it in the future. Playing is also an important medium through which a child can learn and develop crucial skills in an interesting and fun way.  Relationship for the child development: benefits and strong bonding A baby forms its very first relationship with its parents or caregiver since birth. The way the parents respond to or interact with their babies plays a huge impact on their development. For example, a baby uses certain signals to show that they need attention like crying, holding out their arms or laughing, or cooing when making eye contact. When parents respond back in a warm, loving, and gentle way, it provides them a sense of comfort and security and at the same time, strengthens the bond between the parents and their baby. Forming a relationship, not only enables emotional and intellectual development but also helps in building confidence and self-esteem in a child from an early age, which will allow them to explore more of the surrounding world all while gaining new knowledge and experiences. It will also boost the social skills of a child, effectively helping them in communicating, behaving, and expressing themselves and forming meaningful friendships and bonds with the other family members, friends, and teachers.  As a baby observes and imitates everything around them, so it is important for the parents to check how they interact and behave with their partner, relatives, and other family members.  If the child from an early age will be exposed to the loving and respectful relationships around them, they will also learn to form relationships of the same nature with others in the future. Playing: creative and fun medium for child’s development Play is proven to be one of the interesting, fun, and effective way through which physical, mental and social skills development takes place in a child during its early years. It also offers a golden opportunity for the parents to spend more time with their children, thus, strengthening their bond and making them feel worthy.  Playing also allows the children to boost their imagination, decision making and problem-solving skills, which will help them significantly in their careers and life. Playing also teaches team corporation and how to peacefully resolve the conflicts, which will enable the child to socialize with other children and make friends.

A new-born baby arrives with lot of happiness and joy, but it also brings lots of responsibilities for the parents. One of the most significant responsibility includes the daily hygiene and care for the new-born. For first time parents, proper hygiene care process can be filled with lots of doubts and questions, for example about bathing, diaper change or how to properly clean their teeth and many more. This website will prove you the easy to access guide for the all-round daily hygiene routine for the new born. For baby’s eyes First start with cleaning baby’s eyes. For this, one has to wet a soft cotton ball with warm water, then gently wipe it, staring from the inner to outer eye lids. Change the cotton ball after each wipe. For ears First, start with tenderly wiping behind and around the outside of the ear. Careful as to not use ear buds or insert anything inside the ear for cleaning.  For nose Try wiping the area around the outer nose with soft cotton ball and warm water. One should not insert anything in the nostrils to avoid the possible damage. For cleaning blocked nose, use saline water, saline nasal spray or rubber bulb syringe. For face Wash the baby’s face by- first, soaking a cotton ball in warm water and squeezing the excess liquid, then wiping the face, chin and neck gently taking utmost care of the eyes, nose and ears. Lastly dry the baby’s face using a soft material towel. For teeth and gums One should clean the teeth after every feeding by using water and soft cloth. Careful to clean baby’s front and back of teeth. One can use the soft infant toothbrush for cleaning when baby is little older.  For nails Always try to trim nails by using baby nail clipper or scissors designed for this purpose. Careful to pull baby’s finger pad down and away from the nail to avoid cutting skin. The best time for trimming would be when the baby is asleep.  For hair  One can wash the hair by using water and soft towel and gently wiping it across the scalp. Genital care  For a boy, gently wash the genital area with water and pat it dry afterwards. For a girl, use a wet cotton ball to clean the genital part, starting from front to back area. The parents should always keep in mind to properly wash their hands before proceeding to clean the baby. Always keep the baby’s skin clean and dry before changing the diaper.

Taking care of the new born baby can be a very tough. The parents have to see and check every little aspect which are related to the baby’s well being. One such aspect includes heath problems and illness in babies. So, it is advised that the parents should be aware about the general health problems and issues surrounding a new born baby, so that they can seek medical attention in time or can take effective steps to handle such issues in best way possible. Here are some of the common health problems in the infants.        1.Colic  When a new born baby cries frequently for long hours, in a day and may seem to be screaming or in pain, the baby may have colic. It is difficult for the parents to handle as colic doesn’t have any accurate reason behind it. Colic usually subsides by the time, baby is 3-4 months of age but if it persists for longer than that, it is best to contact the doctor.       2.Jaundice  Jaundice or neonatal jaundice is said to be common among the new born babies. It causes yellowing of the skin and the eyes due to excess amount of bilirubin, (a yellowish pigment occurs during red blood cells breakdown) in baby’s blood, and their liver aren’t developed enough to get rid of the excess amount. It is not a matter of serious concern as it usually disappears within 2-3 weeks after the birth without any treatment but it stays longer than that, the parents should contact the doctor.       3.Skin problems  Skin problems like rashes like diaper rashes, eczema and cradle cups are usually nothing serious and it can be treated with frequent diaper change and keeping the skin clean and dry, properly moisturizing the skin and by gently brushing and hydrating the baby’s scalp.       4.Blue skin It is harmless for the new born babies to have bluish colour in their hands and feet but it subsides after some time when their blood circulation improves. But if the parents spot blue tinge around, especially around mouth and lips for a long time, they should immediately contact the doctors as it maybe due to breathing difficulties or heart and lungs problems.        5.Fever and high temperature  Fever or high temperature in the babies usually an indication of their body fighting infections and it doesn’t signal any serious issues but if it persists for a long time, especially in babies less than 3 months , the parents should immediately contact the doctors for diagnosis.  

A new born baby usually spends most of the time in 24 hours sleeping only waking for feedings in every few hours. For the birth to first 3 months, they generally sleep around 8-18 hours a day. Then it gradually decreases to around 8- 12 hours a day as the baby grows older.  Every baby sleep pattern can be different from that of other baby so the parents shouldn’t concern themselves with comparing the sleep patterns but if there is something unusual i.e., if the baby is sleeping longer than their usual routine, in that case it might be a signal to the underlying fever, illness or other health issues and the parents should seek proper medical attention. Since a new born doesn’t know the difference between day and night sleep schedule or their brain is not developed enough to comprehend day and night sleep cycle, they sleep during both, the day and night. They usually start to get aware about this routine around 6 weeks and by the age of 12 months, they start to adapt to this routine. The parents can also help in this process by exposing them to the light and playing with them during the day and provide a quite environment for sleeping at night. New-born babies are known to sleep known to sleep in short bursts, lasting around 2-4 hours at a time. They need frequent feeding and changing.  New born sleep cycle   A new born baby have 2 different types of sleep cycle. These are Active Sleep: During the active sleep, a new born usually show irregular shallow breathing, make noises and lots of movements. They can easily wake up during the active sleep phase. From the birth to around first 12 weeks, the baby usually spends most of their ‘sleeping time’ in active sleep. The amount of their active sleep slowly starts to reduce after that.  Quite Sleep: During quiet sleep, a baby is still and shows deep and even breathing. They don’t easily wake up during the quiet sleep.  A new born sleep cycle involves both active sleep and quiet sleep and these cycles are generally around 40 minutes.   Settling the new born: things to follow After each cycle, a new born baby usually wakes up crying and the parents can settle them back to sleep by holding the baby in the arms or swaddling the baby in a receiving blanket and gently rocking, patting, swaying and singing before putting them in their cot for sleeping.