Abby Barnes, M.S., CCC-SLP
When a baby’s on the way, it’s an exciting (and busy!) time. From gathering baby items, to making all those doctor appointments, to setting up the nursery... there’s a lot to do.
Not to mention all the research, learning, and planning! Babies may be small, but there is a lot to know about them. That’s why our childhood development experts have compiled 6 main topics to learn about when you’re expecting. Here’s what you need to know, from feedings to diapering to language development.
1. Feeding your baby
Babies need a lot of feedings to support their growing bodies and minds. If this will be your first time taking care of a newborn, it may feel a little overwhelming trying to figure out feedings.
Your child’s pediatrician will talk with you at appointments to make sure your baby is gaining weight and growing well. You can work together with your doctor, or a lactation consultant if needed, to figure out what type of feedings are best for your baby. Some babies are completely breastfed, while others receive formula through bottle feedings. Some families may do a mixture of breastmilk and formula. And others may exclusively pump and bottle feed their babies. There are so many factors that play into what parents decide to do for their infant.
Here’s something you may be surprised to know: Newborns typically eat every 2 to 3 hours. For such little people, they can certainly eat! Since they’re growing so quickly, they need to be fed frequently throughout the day. As they get older and stronger, they will begin taking more milk or formula at each feeding. But for a while, they will follow this 2-3 hour pattern.
Frequent feedings can be challenging, especially when it impacts your sleep (more on that below!). But as your baby begins to grow and settle down with the comfort of each feeding, the sleepless nights will become a little more tolerable.
2. Your baby’s sleep
Babies need lots of sleep–usually 14 to 17 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. They may be awake for 30 minutes or so before falling asleep again. Those naps can last anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours.
Your newborn may also seem to have their days and nights mixed up for their first few weeks of life. When they were in the womb, they were essentially getting rocked to sleep while you were up and about throughout the day. So those kicks you were feeling at 3 a.m. when you were in bed–now they become middle-of-the night wakeup calls from your baby. There is good news, though! Once your baby turns about 1 month old, they should begin making their own melatonin. This will help them begin figuring out daytime wakefulness vs. nighttime sleep.
Even so, newborns likely won’t have a very predictable schedule when it comes to their sleep. You can read more about tips and timeframes for beginning to help your baby achieve some type of sleep schedule. But this usually doesn’t happen until 3 to 4 months of age, at the earliest.
3. Diapering options
Until that sweet little baby of yours is potty trained, you’re going to be changing a lot of diapers. Like–a lot!
There are many options when it comes to diapers. First of all, families have to decide if they’re going to use disposable diapers or cloth diapers. There are pros and cons to both!
Disposable diapers are more convenient, but they can be expensive and less environmentally friendly. If you decide to go the disposable diaper route, there are lots of brands to research. If cost is most important to you, you may want to look at buying in bulk, such as from stores like Costco or Sam’s Club.
You may want to consider a brand made for sensitive skin. And truthfully, some brands just seem to fit or function better than others. It may take some time to figure out which disposable brand fits your baby best and leaves them feeling dry and comfortable. A leaky diaper is no fun for anyone–baby, or you!
Cloth diapering will come with lots of laundry, but many families prefer it. It’s eco-friendly, and cloth diapers are gentle on a baby’s soft skin. Similar to disposable diapers, there are different brands of cloth diapers to choose from. Families will likely need to try out different brands to determine the right one.
4. Bonding with your baby
Bonding with your baby is one of the most special and memorable parts of parenthood. For some people, the connection with their baby is instant. For others, it can take some time to develop. After all, you’ve just met them! They may be your baby, but they’re still a whole new person to get to know.
Hold and touch your baby
To strengthen your bond with your newborn, be responsive to their cries. Pick them up, cuddle them, hold them, rock them. Whatever they seem to need, give it a try. Your little one will respond to your attempts to calm them, and they’ll begin to feel safe and secure with you. Research has shown all the benefits that physical touch has for your baby.
Smile at your baby
Here’s another way to promote bonding. Try smiling at your baby and looking at each other face to face throughout the day. You’ll probably soon find that your little one is looking at you, as if to request some smiles and engagement!
Sing and talk to your baby
Sing to your baby and talk to them often. Your voice is one powerful way to help them calm down. Not to mention, when babies hear words, they begin to learn language. This is all part of their communication development! That’s why speech therapists recommend talking to your baby often throughout the day, even though they can’t talk back yet. You’ll be giving them the important building blocks for speech and language growth, as well as deepening the bond you share.
5. Developmental milestones for the first year of life
The first year of a child’s life is a whirlwind. But even through all the sleepless nights and constant diaper changes, it’s a blast! Watching them grow into their personalities, try new foods, and do new things–it’s one sweet ride that you get a front seat for. What could be better? Take a look at these exciting milestones to watch out for in your baby's development from birth to age 1 year:
First smile: 0-3 month range
First laugh: 3-4 months
Crawling: 7-9 months
Babbling: 6-9 months
First words: 9-12 months, likely closer to their first birthday
Walking: 12-18 months
6. Your baby’s language development
You’ve probably been preparing for your baby’s sleep, feeding, and diapering needs, but have you thought about how they’ll learn to communicate? You play a big role in your child learning to talk! Take a look at some of the things you can do to help set your baby up for speech and language success.
Using parentese
Parentese is another word for “baby talk”–that sweet, higher-pitched way many adults naturally seem to talk to infants. Baby talk can actually help children develop language skills! But in order for it to work, the adult still needs to use proper speech, even if we’re changing the tone of our voice. It’s important to avoid using incorrect grammar or substituting silly sounds for actual words. For example, using baby talk to say, “Let’s put on your hat,” is better than saying, “Let’s put your widdle hat on your itty-bitty head.” That would be teaching your baby incorrect words and speech sounds–not what we want to do!
Here are the language characteristics that make up parentese:
Speaking at a higher pitch
Speaking slowly and clearly
Elongating your vowels (for example, “Let’s drink some mi-i-ilk.”)
Exaggerating your facial expressions (such as using lots of happy, surprised, or sad faces when reading a book or playing together)
Using a variety of engaging tones of voice
Using simple sentences with correct grammar
Check out this quick (and adorable) video showing parentese in action. These are easy changes you can make in the way you talk with your baby–and they’ll make a difference in your child’s language growth!
Reading with your baby
The importance of reading with your child can never be overstated. For one, research shows that children who hear more language will eventually learn and use more language.
Reading together allows your baby to hear more sounds, words, vocabulary, and sentence structures than they may typically hear in a day. You can start reading with your newborn. By the time your child is 8 months old, reading is also a fun way to help them learn the names of items in pictures.
Make reading together a routine. Follow your child’s lead, and pick books with pictures that interest them. And here’s a tip: You don’t always have to read the words on the page. Simply talk about what you see in the pictures, or give a simpler version of the story. If your baby points to something or seems interested in it, make sure to respond and focus on that picture.
Playing with your baby
Did you know that play is a huge part of language development? It may not seem like your baby is old enough to play, but they are! Even the simplest forms of play can teach essential, back-and-forth communication skills.
As your baby gets a bit older, try out a fun interaction, like tickling. Tickling your baby is sure to get lots of giggles, and it teaches them to anticipate what happens next. Here’s how to do it:
Tickle your baby a few times.
Then, hold up your hands and pause. See if your baby scrunches up their face, smiles, giggles, or puts up their hands, as if they’re saying, “I know what you’re about to do!”
After a short pause, go on with the game and tickle your baby.
Babies typically demonstrate these anticipation skills during play by 6 months of age. Just be sure to watch for any point when your baby seems ready to stop!
We hope this article helps get you ready–and excited!–to meet your sweet baby. Parenting is an amazing journey, and you’re in for one of life’s best adventures!
