4 weeks

Behavior and development

How does the baby develop?

Baby is four weeks old. At this time, your baby will love and want to suck on something, so don't stop him from doing this. In fact, giving your baby a pacifier is very helpful in keeping your baby from fussy and crying. In many cases, babies can even take their own thumb or fingertips to suck.

At 4 weeks, your baby may be able to focus on objects between 20 and 35 cm away.

What do you need to do to support your baby?

At this stage, always let your baby lie on his back while he is lying down, even when he is still awake. If your baby is lying on his stomach, his head is also at risk of indentation, so always place your baby on his back to prevent this.

Look straight and face your baby to encourage him to see you. You can also roll a towel or place a blanket under your baby's chest to help him practice sitting up. Doing so will help your baby's nerve and muscle control system be more complete.

Health and safety

What should mom discuss with the doctor?

At this stage, you need to take your baby to the doctor according to the schedule recommended by the doctor. The doctor can do:

Take blood from your baby's heel with a quick test strip to check if your baby has phenylcetonuria or hypothyroidism. Blood tests can also help your doctor check for metabolic disorders. In addition, you can ask your doctor to do intensive screening tests that can detect any disorders or other health conditions your baby may have.

In some cases, your baby may be required to get vaccinated against hepatitis B. This is even more important if you've been tested and found positive for hepatitis B. If you don't have hepatitis B You can get your baby vaccinated with hepatitis B at any time during the first two months of life, or you can give your baby a synthetic diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine when he is two months old. year old. Babies who are born with a difficult birth can also receive a combination vaccine and a booster vaccine to prevent hepatitis B. Always consult your doctor if you decide to vaccinate your baby.

Get a hearing test. Your doctor will check to make sure your baby doesn't have any hearing defects.

Mother should know more?

The first months of life are the most fussy time babies. The fussy state is when the baby is crying violently. About 10-25% of babies under 3 months old, including babies are healthy and fussy eaters. During the first three months, all babies cry more than at any other time, but how they cry is different. Some doctors call this the rule of number Three (3): 3 hours of crying, at least three times a week, for at least three weeks in a row - usually starting between the third and third week six. Babies often fussy and cry at night. Many babies will cry violently, unable to comfort them, they can squeeze their fists and kick their feet continuously. Each baby has different signs, but usually the baby's condition should improve after about 3 months.

Some people think that fussy crying can be due to the baby's incomplete digestive system or possibly due to a food allergy. Others believe that the cause may be the baby's still developing nervous system or the baby's moody irritability. Although it may be that many parents feel helpless, rest assured that this condition is only temporary and this is not a sign of illness.

Each baby will have different fussy conditions and therefore different coping methods. Therefore, you may need to experiment with a few ways to find the best method to help your baby reduce fussiness. Some suggestions below:

Try to create a comfortable, warm and calming space similar to the one in the womb: You can wrap your baby with a blanket, gently bump your baby in your arms or put your baby in a crib.

Many babies feel comfortable again when they hear sounds like the vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, dryer or the sound of a crib. All of these sounds are similar to the sounds of the mother's organs when the baby is still in the womb. In addition, you can give your baby a warm bath, place a hot water bottle or warm towel on your baby's abdomen to make him feel comfortable or let him latch on. Some parents share that their baby's gas symptoms will improve when they take simethicone - a medicine that helps to digest easily.

You may feel tired or exhausted from crying all day. It is better to have someone help you take turns looking after the baby. If you have to put your baby in the crib for a few minutes to bathe even though the baby is still crying, rest assured that doing so will not affect the baby's psychology and spirit much. Consult your doctor if your baby is crying and in pain, if he or she hasn't gained weight, has a fever or has fussy symptoms after three months of age - as these could be signs that your baby may have it. a certain health condition.

Mother's concern

What are the things you need to care about?

At this stage, you need to be mindful of your baby's health and tobacco. If you or anyone in your family smokes, stop smoking immediately. Tobacco smoke is extremely dangerous for babies because it can weaken the lungs, making children more susceptible to ear infections, snoring and sleeping breathing disorders. They are all causes of health, behavior and learning problems in babies. They also double the risk of sudden death syndrome in SIDS infants. Even if you smoke when your baby is not in the room, harmful chemicals will stay in the room, clinging to your clothes and possibly affecting your baby.

Ask your doctor how to quit, or if you or a family member can't quit right away, ask your doctor how to take care of your baby and not let smoke affect your baby.