What are the physical parameters in a baby from one month to three and what should a baby be able to do?

In the first two months, the baby's weight increases by 750-900 g per month, and its height by 2 cm monthly. But if your baby "deviates" somewhat from these average figures, there is no need to worry. If he is cheerful, not depressed, has normal stool, and does not give the impression of being sick, then nothing terrible is happening.

The skin of a child in the first months of life is soft pink (unless, of course, he is dark-skinned), velvety. He has a well-developed subcutaneous fat layer, thanks to which the skin folds are clearly visible, so touching to adults.

The folds on the buttocks and thighs are especially well contoured. If you notice asymmetry of the folds (lower on one hip than on the other), you need to consult an orthopedist. Perhaps your child has a congenital dislocation of the hip joint. The condition of the skin can be used to judge the child's health: if the skin becomes too moist, this is a signal that the child needs to be shown to a doctor. Vascular spots gradually fade by two to three months and soon disappear. If the spot does not disappear, it means that it is a hemangioma - a vascular tumor. Only a surgeon can determine the degree of its danger to the child.

At two or three months, the hair on the head and body begins to change. If the child had vellus hair on the shoulders at birth, it falls out by this time, but sometimes, with some diseases, it can remain. Black (usually) vellus hair on the head is gradually replaced by real - bulbous, and can change its color (was black - became white). They can rub off, forming bald spots. This may be due to the fact that the child constantly lies in one position - on the back or on the side. At the same time, baldness can be a symptom of the onset of rickets.

Sometimes children lack the pigment melanin in their bodies - this is albinism. It is difficult to call it a disease, since, as a rule, the condition of children is not impaired. Although with pronounced albinism, when there is no pigment even in the iris (usually albinos have blue eyes, but in this case they will be red), the child has photophobia and being in bright light can damage the retina. In addition, the skin of albinos is very sensitive to sunlight, so they should not sunbathe, and a dermatologist will advise you on what protective creams you need to use.

In general, it is important to remember that the skin and nervous system developed from the same germ layer, so all changes in the skin should be examined by both a dermatologist and a neurologist.

Newborns and children in the first month of life do not remain indifferent to touch. If you touch his eyelids, the child will close his eyes, touch his palm - he will clench his fist. If the mucous membrane of the nose is irritated, the baby will frown and twitch his arms and legs. At the age of two or three months, something new appears in these reactions. Touch his eyelashes - and the baby will not only close his eyes, but will also reach for them with his hand, rub them. Similar reactions can be caused by touching the face, ears. This is the so-called skin concentration reaction. Starting from four months, it can be caused by touching the stomach, palms.

Starting from the age of two months, the child's pain sensitivity increases. He begins to react more acutely to discomfort, for example, to wet diapers. As the child grows, the time from the moment of application of a painful stimulus to the reaction to it gradually shortens, and behavior and facial expressions become more varied. If reactions to pain and tactile stimuli are absent, this may be a symptom of damage to the spinal cord or brain.

By the age of three months, the child controls moving objects in his field of vision with his gaze.

If a newborn reacts to all smells almost the same way, then a two-three month old child is already able to express his attitude to pleasant and unpleasant smells. He reacts to the former by freezing, becoming animated and even smiling, to the latter - by grimacing in displeasure and sneezing.

A newborn reacts to taste stimuli. Gradually, this ability improves, and the child begins to distinguish more subtle taste differences. If a child has a taste disorder associated with damage to the central nervous system, then he does not enjoy food, eats poorly, which can contribute to the development of hypotrophy.

Since the baby has a pronounced interest in the voices of adults, it is not surprising that his own sounds, as a rule, arise when communicating with other people: when adults hold him in their arms or play with him. From about one and a half months, the baby begins to react if you smile at him or talk to him: he will smile, start moving his legs and arms and with his whole appearance will show you that he is pleased. By two months, he adds some sounds "from himself" to the smile and from time to time makes a melodic "twitter". A little later, he begins to separate the smile from the "conversation". Now he will smile at you in response to your smile. Moreover, those babies with whom parents talk more are more "talkative" than those with whom they "communicate" less.

The more words a child hears and perceives when communicating with adults, the more he will "practice" while lying alone in his crib. The child begins to use his voice as a way to interact with his parents. If you talk to him, he waits for you to finish, and only then tries to "answer" you, and after "answering", he waits for your reaction to his "comments". Research has shown that children who like to "talk" tend to behave more calmly when left alone.

The main task of parents is to maintain communication with the child, because this will stimulate the development of speech. Therefore, it is necessary to talk to the child, show him picture books, name objects and explain what these objects mean.

At one and a half months, most babies already have enough control over their neck muscles to hold their head upright, but if you hold them in your arms and bend over, their head will "fall" in the direction of the bend. However, by 2.5-3 months, the neck muscles will be strong enough that the head will be held upright and the baby will be able to control it. As the baby gains weight, the head is no longer the heaviest part of the body. Therefore, you only need to support the baby's head when you pick him up from the crib or make any sudden movements.

By three months, he begins to change positions, stops lying in the "crouched fetal position", learns to lie on his back, while his arms and legs move freely in the joints. He turns his head from side to side. When pulled up by the arms and transferred to a sitting position, the child lifts his head together with the body and does not allow it to fall back.

At three months of age, a child who does not sleep is constantly on the move. He twitches his arms and legs, and his legs make movements reminiscent of riding a bicycle. And his hands, which sometimes appear in his field of vision, sometimes disappear, become almost his most important toys.

In the tummy position, he can already hold his head up quite well for a few seconds. And once he has learned this, he can hold up part of his body with his arms, so that when he leans on his elbows, not only his head but also his shoulders are lifted off the mat.

At the age of two months, a child is already able to roll over on his back. And by three months, he can already spin around so actively in the crib that he starts hitting his head on the bars. And the previously convenient and safe changing table becomes so dangerous that don’t even think about leaving your child alone on it!

Therefore, at three months, you should no longer swaddle your baby (if you did it before). Tightly swaddled and placed facing the wall, he will not be able to kick his legs and arms or look at those around him. He will be uncomfortable and very bored. Do not offend the baby!