Stages of Care for an Infant

Understand the stages of care for your infant to adapt to his rapidly changing development. During the first year, your child will develop quickly, and understanding these changes will prepare you to handle fluctuations in feeding, deal with health issues quickly, determine if your baby is sleeping enough during the day and deciding whether his motor skills are developing at a solid rate. Learning about these stages will help you feel at ease and in control when it comes to your baby's health and wellness.

Feeding

• Learn what types of food your infant should eat at certain times in his development.

  Infants' feeding stages will change every one to four months. According to Clemson University, for the first four months, newborns will only need breast milk or formula. Between month four and six, you can stagger in mushy foods, such as cereals like rice and oatmeal. At six to seven months, you can introduce mashed fruits and vegetables. Between months seven and nine, your baby can begin to drink sugar-free juice and eat dairy, such as cottage cheese. Between months eight and nine, you can begin giving your child baby food with meat, and by year one, your baby will begin eating processed foods, such as breads and pasta.

Health Issues

• Take your baby's temperature if she feels hot.

  Always consult your doctor regarding your infant's health issues. One of the most common health issues infants experience is fever. According to Health Mad, you should contact your doctor if your child experiences a fever under the age of six months. Many babies experience jaundice. The baby will have a yellow tint to his skin, which occurs when an excess amount of bilirubin floods the bloodstream. Thrush, another common illness, occurs as the result of a fungal infection and often occurs after your child has had a treatment of antibiotics.

Sleep Schedule

• Newborns sleep almost 20 hours a day.

  You may feel your newborn sleeps all day and rarely at night, and you might be correct. Most newborns sleep 18 hours a day, but that does not mean that a newborn will sleep 18 hours, undisturbed. Most babies wake up every few hours. By one month, your child may sleep 16 to 18 hours throughout the day and night. By three months, that time will reduce by one hour. By nine months, most babies sleep fourteen hours a day, and by one year, most babies will sleep 13 to 14 hours a day.

Motor Skills

• Babies should laugh in response to you.

  Infants should reach certain motor skill milestones within a few weeks of the recommended times. Though most babies will reach these motor skills within the suggested age range, all children develop at different rates, and you should consult your doctor for information if your child does not develop at the recommended rate. At one month, your baby should perform unprompted vocalizations. This means your child should coo, cry and chat without any outside stimulation. According to Web MD, "at three months, a baby should push her head up when she is on her stomach." By four months, your child should display vocal responses, such as chatter, laughter or cooing, after prompted.