The idea of caring for an infant can feel scary if you don’t have a lot of experience. What do you do if the baby starts crying? How do you know when they’re hungry? What if you’re not holding them the way they like? We know it can be overwhelming and we’re here to help!
While there are many things to consider when caring for a baby, you’ll be in good shape if you focus on these three things:
- Make sure the baby is fed
- Make sure the baby is clean and changed
- Make sure you keep the baby safe
If you’re brand new to infant care, or if you need a refresher, check out these posts about how to change a diaper and how to feed a baby with a bottle for step-by-step instructions!
Babies go through a variety of stages as they grow. Each stage comes with fun, exciting new milestones, and also things to be aware of and watch out for. We’ll review each stage here and share developmental milestones, as well as ways you can help keep them safe.
From birth - three months
Babies in this stage sleep a LOT (about 14 - 17 hours of sleep every 24 hours). Their sleep is broken up into chunks of sleep time and many babies don’t sleep long stretches of time especially when they are younger because they wake frequently to eat. This is totally normal and necessary for their growth! When awake at this age and on their bellies, babies will raise their head and chest, and bring their hands to their mouth. They can also hold items (soft rattles, etc), although they may not be able to hold them for long periods of time.
As the babies grow a bit older (2 - 3 months), you may see them start to smile and show more facial expressions. They may even imitate the faces and expressions you are making! Babies at this age love when you make eye contact and talk to them. They can follow you (and most objects) with their eyes and can start to coordinate their hands to move where they’d like them to go.
Fun things to do with babies at this age:
- Sensory play (books with soft/coarse pages for baby to touch)
- Soft toys to practice fine motor skills (soft rattles, stuffed animals that do not have any choking hazards, etc.)
- Play mats for tummy time
- Singing/talking to baby
Things to be aware of at this stage:
- Newborns should never be left alone, unless they are in their crib (with no toys or other items).
- When putting baby to sleep, always place them in their crib on their backs as recommended by the Association of American Pediatrics. Check out this link for a great resource on infant sleep safety.
- When holding the baby, be sure to support their head and neck. When the baby is laying down and you need to pick them up, place one hand under the baby’s head and neck and hold the other hand on their bottom. Bring baby close to your chest as you pick them up, keeping them close to your heart!
- Babies before the age of 4 months should only be fed breastmilk or formula. Touch base with the parents on what to feed the baby.
4 months - 7 months
This is such a fun age! Babies at this stage love seeing themselves in the mirror and enjoy social play. Talking, singing, and clapping with baby can bring big smiles and giggles. They may be able to sit up and stand with assistance, or even crawl. They explore with their hands and mouths (on pretty much everything). They do still sleep quite a bit (about 12 - 16 hours/day).
Fun things to do with babies at this age:
- Safe books (board books with bright photos, etc.)
- Staying on the floor with baby as they reach for items and roll
- Playing peek-a-boo and partially hiding objects for them to find
- Singing/talking to baby
- Mirror play (bring baby to the mirror and watch the giggles/smiles!)
Things to be aware of at this stage:
- They can start to reach and get to things quickly (especially when they are rolling or crawling). Be sure to keep tiny items or anything else that can be a choking hazard off of the floor and out of their reach!
- EVERYTHING goes in their mouth - this is how they learn! Be sure the toys they are playing with are safe, age appropriate, and clean.
- As with the newborn stage, never leave them alone unless they are in their crib and always place them on their back to sleep.
- Check with the parents on what the baby is allowed to eat. Many babies at this stage will still only have breastmilk or formula, while others may be allowed to eat solids.
- If the parent advises that the baby can feed themself, make sure the food is cut into small pieces to avoid choking
- Always be sure to feed them while they are secured in a safe high chair or parent-approved baby chair
- Ask the parents about any allergies and what the baby is allowed to eat
- Only give food to the baby that the parent advises is safe
8 months - 12 months
Babies are full of wonder at this stage! Everything to them is exciting and new. At this age, babies can (usually) sit up without assistance, crawl forward on their belly, and “cruise” (pull themselves up to standing and use furniture to stay steady as they walk). During this time, they might start to cry when their parents leave (see our post here for help and guidance on navigating separation anxiety). They will usually take about 2 naps during the day at this age and sleep 9 - 12 hours at night.
Fun things to do with babies at this age:
- “Hide” soft toys and other safe objects on the couch for baby to find
- Sing or play music and have a dance party (their little bounce is the cutest!)
- Take them around and show them pictures of their family or other photos
- Clapping (they can usually imitate you as you clap!)
Things to be aware of at this stage:
- Babies at this age are more confident and can move FAST (crawling or walking)
- Be sure to keep the area clear of any tripping hazards
- Check any gates to make sure they are sturdy and watch out for any other fall hazards
- Close the doors to any rooms that baby should not be walking in
- Check to make sure the kitchen cupboards and drawers have child safety locks on them (and if not, be sure the items inside are safe for baby - i.e. towels/Tupperware lids)
- Some babies can start to feed themselves - be sure to check with the parents to see if this is something they encourage.
- If the baby can feed themself, make sure the food is cut into small pieces to avoid choking
- Always be sure to feed them while they are secured in a safe high chair or parent-approved baby chair
- Ask the parents about any allergies and what the baby is allowed to eat
- Only give food to the baby that the parent advises is safe
The infant stage can feel a little intimidating at first, but with the right tools and approach, it can be one of the most fun ages! Enjoy your time with baby and be sure to share with the parents how things went and what you played with. This will help build rapport and trust with the family!