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| |    Development and the Older Newborn by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. These descriptions of a healthy baby during the first few months of life represent an average newborn. But no newborn is average! Your own baby probably won't do all of these things right on schedule. She may be "behind" or "ahead." But keep in mind that development is not a race. If you are concerned about her development, certainly ask your child's healthcare provider. (See Red Flags: Signals That Your Child May be Lagging.) Four to eight weeks Lying on her front (prone), her legs are less flexed. She can pick her chin up, turning her head from side to side. When you support her chest and abdomen, she holds her spine straight, but only for a moment. On her back, she lies with arms and legs relaxed; her hands make random fidgety movements. She moves her right and left sides equally. When her head is turned to one side or the other, she holds the arm on that side straightened out, the so-called fencing posture. Her head still lags when you pull her to sitting, but less than before. She follows faces and objects with her eyes, back and forth and up and down. She is still quite nearsighted; this changes as her eyeball grows and visual pathways of her brain mature. She is already very much a social being. When you talk to her, her body stills momentarily because she is listening. If she is fussing, the sound of your voice can sometimes help her calm down. She likes soft music and singing. She is beginning to smile in response to your smiling at her. She is becoming an expert feeder, whether breast or bottle. Part of this is her growing competence. Part is your ability to read her signals and anticipate her needs. The two of you are a team. 8-12 weeks Lying on her stomach, she lifts her whole head and chest off the bed, but still only briefly. When you support her under the chest, she straightens her spine and "flies" with head held above the level of her back. She may begin to roll from front to back (back to front is harder), or she may be content to lie in one place. Her head no longer lags much as you pull her up to sitting, and she can balance her head for a few moments. Her back is rounded while sitting, but less than before. On her back, she begins reaching toward things, but it looks as though she is just waving her arms randomly. She holds a toy that you put into her palm, but does not seem to know that she can let it go. She has not yet discovered that she can control her hands, but takes an interest in them whenever she happens to see them. The early reflexes--the automatic hand grasp, the reaching out when startled (Moro), the "walking," and the fencing posture (asymmetric tonic neck)--are fading. In their place, more and more, she controls her movements voluntarily. By now, you know the difference between her cries of hunger, boredom, tiredness, and discomfort. She has also begun making a variety of cooing sounds. She chuckles. She listens when you talk to her, and her eyes brighten. While she's awake, she can handle more noise and activity, but still at times becomes overwhelmed and fusses or wails. If you are lucky, she has fallen more into a regular pattern of feeding times, bowel movements, sleep, and wake. She may have begun to sleep more at night and stay awake more during the day. You can help this to happen by being are more playful during the day, more quiet and businesslike (that is, boring) during the night.
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