12 weeks

Behavior and development

How does the baby develop?

At this point, you will notice the baby grows up like a blow. By the fourth week of the second month, your baby can:

Laughing endlessly;

Put your hands together;

When lying on their stomach, the baby can raise their head 90 degrees;

Laugh out loud;

Scream when excited;

Follow the object 15 cm away and move the face 180 degrees (from side to side).

What do you need to do to support your baby?

Reading is one of the best ways to support your baby's development. Listening to you reading will help your baby's ears catch up with the rhythm of spoken language. Changing the tone of voice when reading, stressing and singing to your baby will make the interaction between you and your baby more enjoyable. If your baby keeps looking the other way or showing no interest while you are reading, give him a break. You need to pay attention and follow the baby's reaction.

There are so many great books you can read to your baby. Choose books with large, colorful pictures and simple characters or picture books that you can describe to your baby. When choosing a book, you don't have to focus on age restrictions. Books designed for older children can still appeal to younger children if they have clear, sharp images and bright colors.

You can create a positive atmosphere for your baby by:

Baby bottle;

Interacting with your baby;

Talking with your baby;

Play games to make your baby feel relaxed;

Create a private space for your baby;

Afternoon according to the baby;

Do everything at the right time.

Health and safety

What should mom discuss with the doctor?

Depending on the specific condition of the baby, the doctor will perform general physical tests. Your doctor can:

Measure the weight, height, head circumference and progress of the baby's development after birth;

Physical examination, including re-examination for previous problems;

Guidance on what you need to consider for the next month regarding feeding, sleeping, development and infant safety;

Answer the questions you are wondering: How will your baby react when he is vaccinated? How should you respond? What reactions should you call the doctor?

You should also look for health problems, breastfeeding / feeding problems or family changes that have occurred over the past month or so. Take note of your doctor's information and instructions. Record all necessary information, such as weight, height, head circumference, birthmark, vaccination, illness, prescribed medications, test results ... in your baby's health record .

Mother should know more?

Baby's head is flat

If your baby's head is flattened, it is most likely because your baby is sleeping too long in the same position. When a baby is born, the baby's skull is very soft and flexible, so when lying on his back at night, his head may flatten out where he is pressed against the mattress. However, do not worry too much. In many cases, flats no matter how deep they will return to normal once your baby begins to crawl and sit.

But to make sure that everything is okay, you should take your baby to a pediatric neurologist or a cranial and facial specialist to determine if his condition is serious and needs treatment. If your baby's situation is not serious, your doctor may instruct you to try some home remedies, such as lying on your back (when the baby is awake and supervised by parents) to strengthen the neck muscles. for baby.

Baby is bald or hair loss

Babies are bald, usually due to their lying position, not because they have any serious health problems. Babies tend to hold their heads in the same position and rub them against the mattress or rub against the edge of the crib, which can lead to a lot of hair loss in these positions. This situation will stop when the baby gets older and change the above habits.

It is difficult to predict when your child's hair will grow back. Most babies will have two separate groups of hair before they turn a year, but the timing of hair loss and hair regrowth is very different. Some babies have hair regrowth shortly after it falls off, while others take longer. The color and texture of new hair can also differ significantly from a baby's early hair.

Disc herniation

A hernia is often thought to occur only with an adult carrying too many heavy objects. But the reality is that even young children who have never had to carry anything heavy can suffer from a hernia. Disc herniation can be common in infants, especially boys, premature babies, and twins. When your baby has a herniated disc, you may notice early signs such as a lump in one of the contiguous folds between the thigh and abdomen, especially when the baby is crying or agitated. This tumor usually shrinks when the baby is quiet. Your child may also experience a herniated scrotum when the intestines slide all the way down the tube into the scrotum causing the scrotum to swell or enlarge. A hernia usually does not cause discomfort for the baby and if treated promptly it will not be dangerous to the baby.

However, if you notice lumps or bumps in your baby's groin or scrotum, see your baby's doctor as soon as possible. Doctors often recommend treating the baby as soon as the baby is diagnosed with a hernia. In some cases, the doctor can perform surgery on the baby. Surgery in this case is often very simple, has a high success rate, and can quickly leave the hospital.

Very few disc herniations have recurred after surgery. Untreated disc herniation in a newborn can lead to blockage of the hernia because the part of the organ is squeezed by the muscular layer of the inguinal canal, thereby impeding blood circulation and digestion in the intestine. As a result, your baby will experience vomiting, pain, and even shock. If you notice your baby suddenly crying in pain, vomiting and not having a bowel movement, see a doctor right away. If the doctor is far away, the baby needs to be taken to the nearest emergency room. Gently lift your baby's lower body and apply ice on the way to the emergency room to help your baby's bowels contract, but don't try to push it in with your hands.

Mother's concern

What do you need to care about?

Developmental indicators are useful for comparing your baby to a range of other normal babies to gauge your baby's progress and to find out if he's slow to develop, but comparing your baby to other babies or with your baby's siblings will unnecessarily worry and disappoint you.

Two perfectly normal babies when placed in different circumstances will develop in different directions: one can talk a lot and talk sooner, the other develops physically, such as can soon turned over. The difference between babies will be even more pronounced when they turn one year old: some babies can crawl very early, but until 15 months of age they begin to walk, some children do not know how to crawl but can walk when they are 10 month old. Therefore, the evaluation of parents is only subjective opinion but not completely accurate. Some parents may not even realize that the baby has started to practice conversation by gurgling, while others can hear the baby say "baba". All of this shows you shouldn't compare your baby to other babies. Remember that this comparison is really pointless.