4th week after the baby is born

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Dang Huy Toan - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.
At 4 weeks, baby is almost a month old and both mother and baby have undergone a huge change in just a very short amount of time. Before you do anything else, congratulate yourself for coming this far and acknowledge your own success since meeting your baby.

1. Newborn development at week 4

Now that the baby is a bit older, the doctor will measure the baby according to the growth curve, depending on the week of birth and the weight and length at that time. This allows the doctor to make sure that the baby is still developing properly, but that development is different for each baby. Babies born prematurely will have a different growth rate than full-term babies. At one month of age, most babies will gain about 140 to 200 grams per week and add about 2.5 centimeters in length.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) does not recommend starting developmental milestones for babies until they are 2 months old because development during infancy can vary. . Some babies will develop a little faster than others, and some may need time to catch up. After 4 weeks, your baby can:
1.1 Body Lift head for a few minutes Bring hands towards face or mouth, but it won't be long before they touch mouth More control of head movements, like neck rotation from side to side Holding hands tightly Continues strong reflexes 1.2 Brain Child is already able to recognize parents or family members with eyes wide open or showing signs of excitement See objects have a distance of about 46 cm from the baby Listen attentively when parents speak or sing Begins to make low voices or imitate parents' voices or familiar sounds. Hearing is fully developed at this stage. Look closely at other people's faces

2. Basic care for a 4-week-old baby

*Whether you're using cloth diapers or disposable diapers, your baby can start to develop diaper rash from time to time, especially during the summer months. To help prevent and treat diaper rash:
Change your baby's diaper more often: Do both at night feedings and as soon as you notice the diaper is wet or dirty during the day. Use diaper rash cream: You can apply diaper rash cream to prevent diaper rash in your baby, especially if your baby is prone to rashes or he's going outside or when traveling. No diapers and pants: The best way to prevent and treat diaper rash is to leave your baby naked. Spread a blanket on the floor and let your baby enjoy the fresh air in the hot weather or after a bath. * If the baby seems uncomfortable, especially after feeding, he may have swallowed a lot of air. Try these helpful tips:
Burping your baby is an important and indispensable step that many first-time mothers do not know. The compressed air during sucking of breast milk or bottle will be pushed out by burping. Thanks to that, the baby feels comfortable, comfortable and prevents vomiting right after eating. Switching formula: Newborns may need to change formula several times before finding the right formula that is best for their digestive system. The mother can ask the doctor for appropriate advice. Changing bottles: All bottles and teats are made differently, so it's a good idea to try several bottles and teats with different airflows to test which will reduce air intake. in the baby's stomach. 2.1 Nutrition At four weeks of age, the mother will know when the baby has had enough and how the baby is gaining weight. At this time, it is best for children to gain about 14 to 28 grams per day. With breastfeeding, it can be difficult to know exactly how much milk a baby is consuming, so instead, track the length of each feed and keep an eye on whether your baby is emptying the udder well. .
For formula-fed babies will eat about 85 to 115ml per feeding during this period and gradually increase that amount by about 30ml per month until they reach 230ml. Remember to let your baby feed himself and never force him to finish the bottle.

Typically, at this age, your baby will still eat about eight to 12 times per day, continue to consume at least six pee diapers a day, and also have one to three poop diapers a day.
If a mother expresses breast milk for storage, she may not know how long breast milk can be stored and still safe to use. Breast milk storage guidelines recommend that breast milk can be safely stored in the following time frames:
Four to six hours at room temperature Up to 24 hours in the freezer Five to eight days in the refrigerator Two weeks in the freezer (if there is a freezer in the fridge) Three to four months in the freezer (a separate freezer compartment) Six to 12 months in a separate freezer At this age, your baby may be trying to reach or hold bottle, but can't grip furniture, so parents will have to support the bottle while the baby feeds. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents not to do so, as it poses a safety risk to young children, causes overeating, and may increase the risk of heart disease. future dental problems. To make breastfeeding more comfortable, use a nursing pillow to hold your baby, but never leave a breastfed baby alone.
2.2 Sleep At this age, most babies won't be able to sleep through the night. Typically, a 4-week-old infant will sleep for 16-18 hours a day, with a few naps during the day and one or two extended naps in the evening.
As long as the baby is gaining weight well and there are no other medical problems, you can let your little one sleep as long as they want and the mother has time to rest as well.
Although sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) remains a concern for many parents at this age, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents not to use any heart monitor. lungs at home, because there is not enough evidence for the machine to detect this syndrome. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents share a room but not for at least six months. If you are in the same room with your child, you can detect and intervene if there are problems, if not in the same room, parents can use a video camera to monitor the child.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of top doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious, knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment. Doctor Dang Huy Toan has many years of experience in Pediatrics and Neonatology, especially in pediatric respiratory diseases. Doctor Dang Huy Toan was the former head of the pediatric department at 22.12 hospital and the head of the Department of Internal Medicine at Tam Tri Nha Trang hospital. Currently, he is a Doctor at the Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

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Article reference source: Whattoexpect.com; Mayoclinic.com; Verywellfamily.com