“Is My Baby Normal?” Navigating Early Development Without Dr Google

Being a new mum will have you visiting Dr Google a hundred times, literally! Do you need assurance that your baby is developing normally?

Here are a few things you might encounter and what you need to know.

Babies sleep a lot

You will find yourself checking up on them when they are sleeping. Subconsciously confirming if they are still breathing.

This is normal because they are developing and growing quickly and they need sleep to support their physical and brain growth. Watch out for weight loss and dehydration since they might not feed enough.

Colic

If your baby is crying uncontrollably, take them to the hospital! They might be having colic or acid reflux.

Colic is frequent, prolonged and intense crying or fussiness in a healthy infant, while acid reflux happens when they can’t keep the breast milk or formula in their tiny tummies.

The sphincter muscle at the lower end of the oesophagus relaxes at the wrong time, allowing stomach acid to back up into the oesophagus. This makes them uncomfortable, making them cry a lot.

Your baby will cry in their sleep

When a baby is milk-drunk, they go through different emotions. You might think they are smiling or laughing with you, while in the real sense, it is just a reflex, and it is a part of their normal development.

The baby may also have short crying episodes in their sleep because they might be experiencing a dream or be in a dream-like state. Talking softly to the baby or rubbing their back or stomach will help soothe them back to sleep.

The baby’s skin will peel

In the first two weeks, your baby’s skin will peel, especially if they were born past their due date. It is most common on the arms and legs, but it can happen anywhere on the body.

If you notice flaking skin on their scalp, your newborn likely has cradle cap, a harmless buildup of scaly patches on the scalp.

If their skin is too dry and painful, kindly consult your paediatrician to rule out skin conditions such as eczema, which can be caused by baby products or the mother’s diet.

Their heads are squishy

The baby’s head is made of soft bones, which help to ease the delivery process by allowing it to squeeze through the birth canal. The back fontanelle closes within two months, while the front fontanelle takes up to 18 months, depending on the individual child.

What does it do?

It also helps to identify when a baby is dehydrated, as it sinks or when they have meningitis, it bulges out as they cry. It allows the brain to grow and the development of the skull in the first year. If it closes too soon or takes longer than 18 months, consult a doctor.

From admiring their little smiles, stretching as they kick the air, to rushing to Dr Google. I hope you know that you are doing an awesome job raising your little one, and no one can do it better for your child. Cheers to motherhood, where every experience is unique.

Also Read: Baby Hygiene Tips: Diaper Change

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