7 Signs of a Healthy Baby
Children need a lot of care and attention. As a parent, you ensure doing everything possible to maintain your child’s overall well-being. Babies cannot communicate and tell their condition, which might put parents in a challenging situation. But if you focus, you may discover many signals that your baby is doing well.
Even if you are a new parent and do not know much about newborns, you will likely begin to differentiate between their tired and hungry cries. You will start getting an idea about how they prefer to be burped or rocked. Eventually, you become more confident and satisfied with your parenting skills.
But you know what? All it needs is a little paranoid notion of getting caught up in a cycle of stress and worry – Is the continuous crying unusual? Are they getting enough nutrition? Is my baby sleeping enough? Are they growing well? All these concerns may lead you to overthink and anxiety. You might start asking your family and friends for advice – How do I know my child is healthy? Are they developing well? How can I find out if my kid is normal?
You definitely need to visit a doctor if you have any serious concerns. But if you feel you are overthinking and need reassurance, we have enlisted some signs below to help you ensure that your child is perfectly fine.
1- Your Baby Requires Frequent Breastfeeding and Suckles Strongly
Newborns enter this world with a suckling reflex, and if you find that your baby suckles strongly and demands frequent feedings, this ensures that your newborn has a healthy digestive system and appetite.
On the other hand, if you feel your baby is facing difficulty in suckling, swallowing, or eating, check with a doctor to see if they have undergone medical negligence birth injuries, or is suffering from any other health problem. No matter the issue, getting professional assistance can help your baby grow healthy and happy.
Your baby might make a gulping sound while having milk, which indicates they are eating well. They may go to sleep once they are satisfied with feeding.
2- You Are Changing Their Diapers Frequently
Your baby’s poop and pee also define how healthy they are. Regular pooping is an indication of your child’s healthy growth and development. Although the frequency may decrease as the baby grows older, it is perfectly okay if your little one does not poop every day. You need not worry.
Your baby’s doctor may ask how many diapers you change every day. Typically, babies should be wetting four to six diapers, on average, in their first month.
Although the number of diapers can vary between breastfed and formula-fed babies, most pediatricians say it is normal to see eight to ten dirty diapers daily. It shows that your newborn is feeding and getting adequate hydration to support development.
3- Your baby Sleeps well
Getting sufficient sleep is critical for a newborn’s general growth. If your baby sleeps well, they will grow well. Their neurological system will properly develop, allowing them to assist in establishing schedules in the future, such as sleep.
Newborn babies should get fourteen to seventeen hours of sleep. Some babies may even sleep for up to 19 hours.
Your little one may wake up every few hours to eat. Formula-fed children may feed less, almost every three to four hours, while breastfed newborns often feed every two to three hours. If your baby sleeps longer, awaken them every 3 or 4 hours to feed.
The first few months of a newborn’s life can be challenging for parents. You might have to get up many times to feed your baby. Every newborn has a unique sleep pattern. Some sleep through the night, while others may sleep in the daytime. So, no need to worry if your baby is awakened all night or sleeps all day.
4- They are attentive to sights and Sounds
Children are not born with 10/10 vision, so your baby will take time to see clearly. By two months, your infant’s eyes will start focusing better, and they may be able to identify their parent’s faces and a few facial expressions. At almost three months, babies should be able to track moving objects and focus on things.
Although your baby can hear you while in the womb, they will take time to adjust to different worldly sounds outside the belly. At two or three months, your kid should begin turning their head towards loud, sudden noises and exciting sounds. You may notice them responding to new sounds, such as television, music, and toys, which is one of the indications of the healthy development of your little one.
5- They Are Gaining Enough Weight and Height
One of the signs that your baby is growing healthy is their increasing height and weight. A healthy and normal child typically gains double their weight within the first five months, and it’s tripled when they are almost one year old.
On average, children grow 1.5 to 2.5 cm (0.5-1 inch) a month until their first six months. From six to twelve months, their height increases an average of 1 cm (3/8 inch) per month.
Your baby’s doctor will weigh your infant and check if their weight and height are proportionate to their growth in every way. Make sure you visit the doctor for routine check-ups to stay updated on your kid’s progress.
6- Your Kid Begins Making Eye Contact
When your little one crosses a month, they can look at you and start having eye contact with you, smile by the time they reach two months, and chuckle when they are around four months old. These behaviors show their bonding with you and that your child is becoming aware of their surroundings, indicating a healthy sign. So, if your little loved one makes eye contact with you, sit back, and enjoy with them.
7- They Start Supporting Their Body Weight
Many babies hold their heads by the time they are one month old. When they reach three, they typically do it with greater skill. They begin holding up well and even start shifting while in arms. So, if your kid can lift his head, this is a sign that your little one has control over their muscles and trying to make different movements. By the age of six months, your child may sit with support and roll on both sides. When they reach one year, they can crawl, stand, and walk with or without support.
These all are signs of a healthy baby; however, if you feel your child has developmental delays, you must seek professional advice from a doctor to understand the causes and take any required measures.
Conclusion
Having a newborn is a fusion of love, happiness, challenges, and stress. It is perfectly normal to feel worried and confused in such situations. You might get worried about your baby crying continuously or if they are not sleeping at night. It is normal. You do not need to stress out at all. Just believe your instincts, and if you have any concerns about your newborn, visit a doctor to know if your baby is well. But when everything seems fine to you, avoid concentrating on your worries and look for indications that your baby is doing well. We have listed some signs of a healthy baby in this article to help you let go of your fears and worries and enjoy time with your newborn.
