Here's your week 8 email from the SMA® Baby Club. This week, we have tips for getting your little one off to the land of nod and how to deal with those all important vaccinations.
P.S. Not at week 8? Update your baby's birth date here.
You and your baby
Week 8 News
Your little one's vision will be much clearer now, so try using colourful toys to stimulate them. The colours and movement will help their development. They're probably experimenting with kicking and waving now too. If you find bed covers continually kicked off, try a sleeping bag instead.
The Expert View
Baby's first vaccinations are due this week, including defences against tetanus and polio. Don't worry, it's often more stressful for mum than for baby! Contact your GP or health visitor to organise.
Need to know
Although they need a lot of sleep, babies can be hard to settle. Introducing a routine at the same time every day really helps them get into the habit of falling asleep. Give them a warm bath, read a story or sing a lullaby – and go through those same steps every night. It can take a little while to establish, but soon you and baby will feel the benefits.
To know if your baby is getting enough milk, try counting nappies – a well-fed baby may get through about 6 a day. Also, keep an eye on how your baby's poo looks and smells. If you're worried about anything at all, talk to your health visitor.
Tip: Trust your gut
If your instinct tells you something is amiss, ask your GP or health visitor about it. Your mummy instincts are a vital healthcare tool!
Get some expert help
Remember our Careline team is always on hand to help. You can talk to our expert mums about vaccinations or anything else that's on your mind. Get in touch 24/7 using our live chat, by phone or by email.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The best way to feed a baby is to breastfeed, as breast milk provides the ideal balanced diet and protection against illness for your baby and also many non-nutritional benefits for both baby and mother. We recommend that you speak to your healthcare professional when deciding on your choice of feeding your baby. Professional guidance should also be sought on the preparation for and maintenance of breastfeeding. If you do choose to breastfeed, it's important to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Infant formula is intended to replace breast milk when mothers choose not to breastfeed or if for some reason they are unable to do so. A decision not to breastfeed, or to introduce partial bottle-feeding, will reduce the supply of breast milk. If for any reason you choose not to breastfeed, do remember that such a decision can be difficult to reverse. Using infant formula also has social and financial implications which must be considered. Infant formula should always be prepared, used and stored as instructed on the label, in order to avoid risks to a baby's health.
