Your baby

Baby talk

By the time babies are a month or two old, they often begin to make some sounds of their own – and not just the crying kind! It’s never too early to talk to your baby. At first your baby will stop still and listen intently when you talk, but won’t look your way. By six weeks your baby will turn to sounds, and begin to watch your face when you talk and smile.

The best time for a chat is when babies are awake and alert, and that’s usually when they’re being bathed, changed or dressed. You can encourage your baby to communicate by chatting together, especially when he makes noises or looks your way. You might sound daft, but it’s true.

Now’s a great time to begin share book - ideally with simple black and white pictures. Even the youngest baby will gaze at the pictures and enjoy listening to your voice. When babies get too tired, too hungry or too restless to chat any longer, they say so by crying or not responding. Be sensitive to such signals, and you’ll tune in to each other.

Playing with your baby

It’s never too early to play with your baby. Tickling and stroking, singing and dancing, enjoying a cuddle together, are all pleasurable for your little one. And as your baby’s hands begin to uncurl, they become another great form of entertainment. Now’s a great time to introduce a rattle or toy to grasp.

Babies can now move their arms around randomly but quite energetically, so a baby gym on the floor or attached to the crib is likely to capture your baby’s attention, even before he is ready to kick and grasp at the activity toys.

Your progress

Getting back to normal

You periods may start again some five to eight weeks after giving birth, however if you’re breastfeeding it could be quite a bit longer before your periods return to normal.

Of course, sex might be the last thing on your mind in the early weeks, but you could become pregnant again quickly after the birth. So it's well worth thinking about contraception before having sex again. If you wait for your periods to return, or until you have your postnatal check, you could already be fertile and your body getting ready to do it all again…

If you are breastfeeding, you can use any method of contraception, except the combined pill. Although breast feeding full time can act as a contraceptive in itself, if it’s crucial not to get pregnant, always use contraception, whichever way you are feeding your baby.

Things to think about or try

Immunisations

At eight weeks old, babies are offered the new 5-in-1 vaccine, which is repeated at 3 and 4 months old. This protects your baby against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, and haemophilus influenzae. At the same time, babies are also given the meningitis C jab, which is repeated again at 4 months old.

Either your Health Visitor, Practice Nurse or GP will give your baby these immunisations, free of charge, probably at a baby clinic. If you have any concerns about immunisations, talk to your doctor or health visitor. They should be able to give you enough information so you can make up your own mind.

Tests

Your health visitor may arrange to check your baby’s development at 6-8 weeks old, though the timing and the range of these tests varies from one health authority to another. These checks may include eyesight and hearing tests, plus range of physical measurements and checks including weight, joints and the fontanelles In addition to these reviews, your health visitor will encourage you to have your baby’s height and weight measured regularly at your local child health clinic. These measurements give you and your health visitor a good indication of how your baby is developing, so that any problems can be identified and help sought if necessary.