Sometimes it’s hard to know when your newborn baby is ready for the next stage of their life, newborns have been classified to be ranging from the ages of 28 days to 3 months and after that, they’re considered infants. However, all babies grow differently at varying rates, meaning the age specifics of newborns may not even apply to your child. So how can you tell when your child is ready? Well, there is no defining moment where a baby is miraculously no longer a newborn. However, fear not! The excruciating newborn phase will soon be over and here are 4 common signs the time has arrived:
The Feeding Process Changes
It’s inevitable that during the first few stages of feeding your newborn it can be extremely exhausting for you as your baby seems to be feeding for ends on. However, when the process feels like its become easier and sped up, it is obviously a good alteration for you and a common sign that your newborn might be prepared for the next stage of development. They become accustomed to their feedings and learn when they’ve had enough. Alteration in the feeding process may be a sign, but do not mistake it for a signal to move your newborn onto eating solids. Doctors actually recommend starting solids between 4 to 7 months of age, otherwise, your child may generate food allergies affecting them later in life. When you start to notice a change in your baby’s feedings, making it a little bit easier for you, then that may be a crucial sign!
Developing a Sleeping Routine
In the newborn stage, your baby’s sleeping regime is also yours, meaning a particularly erratic pattern. This may have caused you to become exhausted than ever trying to keep up with their unpredictable and irregular sleeping times. However, when your baby starts to sleep according to a schedule, it’ll be a beneficial sign of development as not only does your baby start to adapt to a sleeping routine, but you might be able to squeeze in more shut-eye too. The exhausting stages of the abnormal and inconsistent duration of sleep will eventually improve as your child moves towards infancy.
Becoming More Interactive
Babies develop a reflex smile when they’re quite young, however, their first real genuine smile emerges from the ages of 3 months and onwards. This is a highly common sign of a newborn’s responsive development, starting to show personality as they begin to interact with you more. When they grow out of the newborn stage, they will initiate responses to their surroundings and become entertained on their own accord. Soon they’ll be able to hold up their own head, meaning they are in the process of gaining self-control, though they still have a long way to go. Their interactions may not be seemingly grand, although the smallest signs of liveliness are still massive improvements from the newborn phase which consisted of only eating, crying and sleeping.
Finding More Time
The signs are not only present in the change your babies are showing but how your day to day life has altered from the beginnings of the newborn phase. The early stages of taking care of your baby may have limited your time from other chores or activities, however as your child starts to grow, time will be distributed back to any hobbies or everyday tasks you used to do. This is due to your child’s adaption to a routine, where they’ll become comfortable with your designated eating and sleeping schedule. This makes it much easier for you to start working on other things. This is a common sign you’re ready to move on from the tiresome newborn stage so why not use this precious time to get back into cooking, exercise or picking up that good book again?
With all these combined, it’ll be a definite sign your newborn baby is ready for the next stage! Before you know it, the tiring newborn phase would have just merely been a refreshing experience. Your baby will soon be able to do more things on their own and you’ll be able to find your momentum again. The beginning is undeniably a huge hurdle, especially for new parents, but it’s a hurdle you will definitely overcome that’ll all be worthwhile. Every new thing you and your child learn from the newborn stage and onwards is a milestone into becoming a toddler! And soon you will be hearing some funny excuses they would say to avoid bedtime. Have you noticed any of these common signs with your newborn baby?
