Throughout the first year, you will watch your infant grow at an extremely fast rate. By the time they are 12months, they will have doubled in length & tripled in birth weight & will be crawling and even attempting to take a first step!
The most essential ingredient in caring for an infant is a warm, responsive, and dependable caregiver. Spend lots of time holding, cuddling, and playing with your baby
WEEK 1
Your baby's first days can be exciting, and slightly overwhelming depend on a lot of factors for example whether or not this is your first baby. With your first baby, everything that happens from it’s first cries to it’s first diaper change can be new, unexpected.
Breastfeed your baby within one hour of their birth and then 8 to 12 times a day. See our Breatfeeding page for tips.
During their first week, It is normal for babies to lose 5% to 8% of their birth weight. Yourmay find that your baby will lose weight before leaving hospital.
Before going home, it is likely that your baby will have a hearing test, newborn screening test, and a jaundice test.
 WEEK 2
During the first 2 weeks, your baby will mostly eat, sleep, and cry.
While ‘’Feeding on demand’’ (when your baby is hungry) means having to breastfeed your baby every 1 1/2 hour at times, it will usually balance out with other times when she goes three or four hours without eating.
The key to "on-demand" feeding is to only feed your baby when they are hungry and not just because they are crying. Using this method, means your baby will quickly move to a more regular schedule that fits their needs.
The average baby cries 3 hours a day, once it reaches two - three weeks of age. Be prepared, you may have to cope with a crying baby for three hours a day.
The average two week old baby will sleep for about 16 hours a day. Keep in mind that your baby usually shouldn't go more than five hours without eating until they are gaining weight and feeding well.
WEEK 3
This is a transition week, from a calm, quite, and feeding baby, to one that is more active and often crying. Continue to feed your baby on-demand and work towards staying on a regular routine or schedule.
WEEK 4
Due to their immature immune systems, newborns can be prone to sickness. Experts recommend that you don’t take your baby out in his first few months. The risk of catching a cold, or another infection, is the main reason that you don't want to take your baby out much during his first few months. Encourage people to wash their hands before holding your baby
WEEK 5
Your newborn is now officially an "infant." You may notice scaly patches on the top of your babies head; this is known as cradle cap. Most babies get this. Cradle cap goes away on its own after a few weeks, but rubbing olive oil on the patches can help.
WEEK 6
This week you may have your six week check with your DR. Your baby will be given a full examination checking his size, length and weight, his head, eyes, ears and mouth, his heart, chest and his breathing and his abdominal organs and genitals.
Your GP will examine your abdomen to check that your uterus has shrunk back to its normal size and if you had an episiotomy , you will be checked to make sure you are healing.
WEEK 7
You may notice that your baby will start grab at things so expect to have your hair pulled!
 WEEK 8
This week your baby may be able to fully-focus. Try placing a rattle in front of your babies face,to see if they follow the rattle with their eyes.
WEEK 9
Now that your baby is in her third month, you can start taking your baby out a little more. You don't want your baby to get sick, so avoid going out in public if your baby was born premature and is likely still at increased risk if he gets a cold or other infection. Keep your baby covered up when you go out, with a blanket.
WEEK 10
This week your baby discovers their fingers and toes. This can make nappy changes tricky as she plays at catching her feet
WEEK 11
Many parents worry that their babies aren't getting enough to eat. Parents of a big baby will worry that they are feeding their baby too much. If you are breastfeeding or giving your baby an iron-fortified infant formula, then it is unlikely that you will overfeed your baby. Most babies will stop eating or will spit up once they have had enough.
WEEK12
Now you ave reached week 12, you will notice more is hapenning with your baby. Your baby will now sit with support and hold her head steady at a 90-degree angle. You will also find she will be able to roll over and grasp a rattle.
WEEK 13
At this age, your baby still needs breast milk or an iron-fortified baby formula. Three months is a little early for baby food, but here are some signs to look out for if your baby is ready to start solid foods.
* She holds her head steady and is able to sit with support.
* She reaches for and shows some interest in food.
* She opens her mouth wide when she sees food.
WEEK 14
A three-month-old baby should be gaining at least half an ounce a day. If a breastfeeding baby is losing weight, it may be because he is not nursing often enough or because your breastmilk supply has decreased. Your DR can help get your baby to feed better or boost your breastmilk supply.
By this stage, breastfeeding should be going well, although you may still run into some problems, such as making too much breastmilk. In this situation, it may help to breastfeed from just one breast at each feeding, alternating each time your nurse your baby. And then, if you feel full, manually express some breastmilk from the other breast in between feedings.
WEEK 15
You may notice your baby sucks on his thumb at around three months.At three months your baby is aware of their fingers and thumb. Your baby will suck their thumb, when they need to comfort or calm themselves. Don't worry about your baby's thumb sucking habit, it is normal and it’s likely he will give it up by the time he is six months old.
 WEEK 16
Unfortunately, breastfeeding moms can still encounter problems with their breast milk supply at this stage and misinterpret some things as a sign of a slow down in milk production, when they are actually normal. If your breasts feel empty, this may just be because your body is used to your baby's feeding schedule and your milk production.
Many factors can decrease your breast milk supply, for example if you are not breastfeeding or pumping often enough (about seven or eight times a day at this age). Losing weight too quickly (more than one pound each week), can also decrease your milk supply. Make sure you are drinking enough fluids and don’t over excercise
WEEK 17
By three months your baby should be able do the following. Speak with your DR if your baby is not doing these actions, to see if your child has a developmental delay
* Grasp and hold objects
* Notice her own hands
* Smile
* Follow moving objects with her eyes
* Respond to some loud noises
* Hold her head up without support
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