One Week Old

Your baby is one week old and learning so much already!  Think about it, they have been developing at an insane rate in the womb and just when they were getting comfy (even though you weren't) their entire world changes.  The day after John was born I found myself crying when he was crying because I felt so bad that he had so much change to get used to.  I also cried because I was hormonal, but think about how much you would have to learn if you were transferred to a different country as quick as a finger snap. Well I guess you kind of know how it feels because you just had a human and you are responsible for them for the next 18 years (only legally).  Anyway, what is your baby learning about already?

Eye muscles
Eye muscles are being strengthened and you can help them! Now of course your baby's eye muscles will be strengthened but wouldn't it be awesome to take part in that learning with them? Isn't even more awesome if their eye muscles are strengthened even faster because you help them? Plus, you just had a baby and he/she came with fun things to figure out.  I felt like it was Christmas and I was just given a new toy; I got to figure out all the tips and tricks and learn about my new toy. A baby is much more amazing than a toy but hopefully you understand the excitement.  To help with eye muscles you can move your face from side to side about 8-10 inches away from theirs.  They will look at your face anyway because its the most amazing thing they have ever seen and learn to track it with their eyes.

Face imitations
Another fun thing to do when you are looking at your newborn (as you will catch yourself doing instead of getting those important Zs) is to make facial movements like sticking out your tongue, opening and closing your mouth, and raising your eyebrows.  This only works when they are awake (which isn't very often with a newborn) but they will start to imitate your movements. Again, babies love looking at faces and this is a great way to start practicing those funny faces.

Neck muscles
Babies' heads are huge. It's not a little known fact. Their heads are huge compared to their bodies and their little neck is the only thing able to hold up their noggin. A great way to strengthen the neck is with tummy time.  ***Ask your pediatrician when the best time is to start tummy time.  I have seen many different starting times on the internet and my pediatrician told us a different one too.  When you do start tummy time though a fun and easy way to strengthen those neck muscles are to put the baby on your tummy.  Since they love looking at faces they will want to look at yours and the only way to do that is to hold up their head. You can also put a book or black and white picture (apparently they like black and white pictures) in front of them to look at too but make sure you are also in front of them or else they will look at you at the side and lay their sleepy little heads down.

Important people
Babies come out of the womb being able to recognize the voices that were around them while in the womb.  Isn't that amazing?! Your baby is learning who those important people are; the ones who will give them love, food, and comfort.  A baby learns the best when there is peace and comfort in the home.  If there is continuous fighting in the home, the baby knows and it can hurt their developing brain.  It comes down to the hierarchy of needs.

So, talk to your baby, tell them about their clothes when you are dressing them.  Use full sentences and talk about the colors, animals, and prints on their clothes.  When feeding them tell them how you and your spouse met, what you like to do for fun, silly or embarrassing things that happened in the past.  They will eventually know all this anyway and even though I felt weird talking to my one week old son I figured if I felt weird right now and didn't get over it, then how weird would I feel when I was trying to give him the birds and the bees talk, or about drugs and alcohol. If you start now then it won't feel too weird when they need it. 

Balancing

My son loves to be swaddled.  When I open the blanket after a nap he usually stretches but sometimes he puts out his hands and kind of tilts from side to side.  Apparently this is them getting back their equilibrium.  They are also learning how to control all those appendages (4 of them at one time!) so let them be free to kick and wiggle every once in a while so they can learn about their body. 

Talking

Yep, language acquisition starts on day one.  Talking with your baby (in full sentences and in adult voices) now will help them learn how to talk later.  Just because a baby isn't developed enough to start talking doesn't mean they can't learn about it.  I mean, those building blocks have to start somewhere.  One of my nieces started talking an incredible age and rate and we all said it was because her mom wouldn't stop talking.  I believe it's true and now that niece (who is almost 4) is starting to talk her way out of consequences (with very compelling arguments too).   Tell your baby about your family, about your day, what you are going to have for dinner, things you are scared about, things you are excited about, really anything you want to tell them! One piece of advice though is to never complain about your spouse to them.  They might not be able to understand what you are saying now, but one day they will and if that habit is already formed then they will be hearing things about their parents that they just don't want to/need to hear. Plus, that can be damaging to their development as well. 

Nursery Rhymes/Singing
I love to sing to my baby and at one week old they can't tell if you are a good singer or a bad singer so don't let that get in the way if you have always wanted to sing to your baby.  Here is a song I looked forward to singing to my baby:

"Good Night"

Now it's time to say good night
Good night, sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light
Good night, sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me (Dream sweet)
Dream sweet dreams for you

Close your eyes and I'll close mine
Good night, sleep tight
Now the moon begins to shine
Good night, sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me (Dream sweet)
Dream sweet dreams for you

Mmmmmm
Mmmmmm
Mmmmmmmmmm

Close your eyes and I'll close mine
Good night, sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light
Good night, sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me (Dream sweet)
Dream sweet dreams for you

Good night, good night, everybody
Everybody everywhere
Good night

P.S. I hope to include a nursery rhyme or song every week that you can enjoy and learn with your baby!

Oh and congrats on having a baby!  You did it!!







Here are a few of the resources I am using to learn about my baby week by week:

http://www.babycenter.com/0_your-1-week-olds-development_1477163.bc
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/s1001638/1-week-old
http://www.everydayfamily.com/baby-week-1-activities/
"Brain Rules for Babies" by John Medina