Your 2-month-old's development: Week 4

Hands on

Your little one first discovered her hands a couple of weeks back, and now she's downright fascinated with them. Watch as she examines them, puts them in her mouth, and tries to suck on them.



Don't worry if your baby becomes a bit obsessed with her newly discovered digits: This form of self-comfort can be very soothing for your baby — and can possibly give you a little break, too.

Steady now

This week, when you go to pick up your baby, she may be able to lift her head and hold it up for several moments, or even longer, while lying on her back. When sitting with support, she should be able to hold her head steady and erect.



When she's on her stomach, you might see her lifting her head and chest to about 45 degrees as if she were doing mini-pushups. You can offer encouragement by sitting in front of her and dangling a toy.



For a fun game that also develops her neck muscles, place your baby on her back and slowly pull her up by her hands to a sitting position. Slowly ease her back down, and repeat. She should be able to hold her head in line with the rest of her body as it's pulled up.



Your baby may be ready for a jogging stroller at 4 months, but stick to smooth pavement for now. Running trails will be too bouncy for her at this point, unless she can hold her head up well and is able to sit up. When her head is steady, she may be ready for a backpack with good support and a headrest.

Reading 101

Reading to your baby, even at this young age, will pay off. Hearing you read helps your baby develop an ear for the cadence of language. Varying the pitch of your voice, using accents, and singing will make the connection between you and your baby that much more interesting.



If she looks the other way or loses interest while you're reading, just try something else or give her time to rest. Take your cue from her responses.



You'll find plenty of good books to read to your baby — such as Goodnight Moon, Good Night Gorilla, and The Big Red Barn. Choose board books that have large, bright pictures and simple text — or even wordless books that have pictures for you to narrate. At this point you needn't be slavish to age guidelines. Books designed for older children can captivate a baby if they have clear, crisp images and bright colors.



You can even read out loud to your child from something written for adult ears — try reading from the newspaper, your favorite novel, or a magazine. Whether it's Shakespeare or the latest bestseller, if you enjoy reading it, your baby will like hearing the rhythms of your voice.

Remember, your baby is an individual

All babies are unique and meet milestones at their own pace. Developmental guidelines simply show what your baby has the potential to accomplish — if not right now, then soon. If your baby was premature, keep in mind that kids born early usually need a bit more time to meet their milestones. If you have any questions at all about your baby's development, ask your healthcare provider.

source : babycenter

Your 2-month-old: Week 4

How your baby's growing:

Reading to your baby, even at this young age, will pay off. Hearing you read helps your baby develop an ear for the cadence of spoken language. Varying the pitch of your voice, using accents, and singing will make the connection between you and your baby that much more interesting.



If your baby looks the other way or loses interest while you're reading, just try doing something else and give her time to rest. Take your cue from your baby's responses.



You'll find plenty of good books to read to your baby — such as Goodnight Moon, Good Night Gorilla, and The Big Red Barn. Choose board books that have large, bright pictures and simple text — or even wordless books with pictures for you to narrate. At this point you don't have to be slavish to age guidelines. Books designed for older children can captivate a baby if they have clear, crisp images and bright colors.



• Learn more fascinating facts about your 2-month-old's development.

Your life: Handling unwanted advice

When you have a baby, everyone in the world seems to have an opinion to share: "Shouldn't she be wearing a sweater?" "She won't grow big and strong if you don't feed her solids now." "If you let her suck on a pacifier, she'll ruin her teeth!" Whether the advice is right or wrong, it's the sheer intrusiveness of it all that can irk you.



How to deal with it? First, don't take everything you hear seriously. There's no quicker way to undermine your growing confidence than to listen to every shred of information you're offered by friends, relatives, and strangers. Do what you think is best.



Realize the advice is mostly well intentioned. People are drawn to babies. Sometimes they make "helpful" comments simply to have something to say. In response, say something noncommittal, like "Thanks for your concern" or "I'll think about that." A great way to handle grandparents who have their own ideas about feeding or sleep is to enlist a third party: "Thanks, Mom. I'll see what our doctor says."

3 questions about: Colds

How did my baby catch a cold?

It's practically a given that your baby will catch a cold during her first year — the numerous viruses that cause colds are nearly impossible to avoid. In fact, it's estimated that children catch up to eight colds a year. Viruses are spread through airborne droplets and by touching contaminated objects, such as doorknobs and toys. Your baby can't fight them off as easily as you can because her immune system is less well developed.



On top of this, your baby is constantly putting her fingers near her eyes and in her mouth, giving any viruses lurking on her hands easy passage into her body, where they can set up camp. If your baby is in group daycare or has older siblings, she's even more likely to come into contact with some of the hundreds of different cold germs. Common symptoms of a baby's cold include sneezing, watery eyes, stuffiness, coughing, runny nose, fussiness, and low-grade fever. These symptoms usually last for about a week.



How can I make my baby more comfortable?

Suction stuffy nostrils with a rubber bulb syringe, and use a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier in the room where she sleeps. These steps help keep her mucus thin and moving so she can breathe more easily. Remember that babies like to breathe through their nose instead of their mouth, so a clogged nose can make for an unhappy baby. You might also try giving her smaller and more frequent feedings, since it may be harder for her to breathe comfortably while eating.



Raise the head of your baby's mattress by a few inches, if possible, to ease her postnasal drip. Never use pillows for this purpose, though. If her crib mattress can't be elevated, try putting her to sleep in her car seat in a semi-upright position.



Don't give your baby over-the-counter cold remedies. Doctors don't recommend them for children under 6 years of age because they haven't been shown to help and they can have serious side effects. Since most colds are caused by viruses, antibiotics don't help. Your baby's body should fight off the infection on its own. If your baby's cold is accompanied by a fever, your doctor may recommend that you give your baby acetaminophen.



When should I call the doctor?

Play it safe and call the doctor if your baby has any of these symptoms:

• A fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or higher, taken rectally

• Labored or rapid breathing (more than 60 breaths a minute), a worsening cough, or wheezing or gasping

• Discharge from eyes, which may signal conjunctivitis (pinkeye) or an ear infection

• Tugging persistently at her ear, crying when sucking during a feeding, or crying uncharacteristically when being put to bed, all of which also suggest an ear infection



Also call if your baby seems sicker after five to seven days or has ongoing symptoms for more than two weeks.

source : babycenter