Week Ten
Week Ten
Your baby is now ten weeks old!
YOUR BABY'S DEVELOPMENT - TUMMY
TIME
Most babies don't like being on their tummies, especially
when they are very small, but tummy time is a vital tool for your
baby's development. As he or she gets older, head control improves
and you may find that he or she objects less to being put on his or
her tummy. Tummy time strengthens the muscles in the head, neck,
shoulders and legs, and provides the starting point for babies to
begin to roll over, sit up and crawl. Most babies begin to roll
over some time around 3 - 4 months, but the more tummy time he or
she has, the stronger he or she will be, and the easier it will be
for him or her to roll. Tummy time strengthens baby's back as well,
in preparation for the strength needed to sit up, and later on,
to crawl and
walk.
You can make tummy time more interesting for baby by
placing him or her on a brightly colored mat or
blanket, and by placing a few toys a
few inches away from him or her. Baby gyms or zoos are great, but
you can make your own using a couple of chairs spaced a few inches
apart with a broomstick across them. Hang brightly colored
toys, pictures of fabrics from the broomstick and
voila - your own homemade baby gym!
OHbaby! and COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Having a baby can be an isolating experience: you may feel
that your life consists of nappies and feeding all day long! Thank
goodness the OHbaby! message boards
provide a great way to keep in touch with other mums and dads
even when you don't feel like going out but need to chat, to bounce
ideas off other people or just want a good read!
There are also plenty of community-based organizations,
resources and groups for new mums to help get you out of the house
and your child interacting with other
children.
*Mothers Groups/Coffee Groups - If you
were lucky and found an antenatal group that you 'gelled' with, you
may still meet up regularly for coffee and a chat. But if not,
there are still plenty of options. OHbaby! mums on the message
board regularly meet up all over the country! Check out our
mums meet up
section of the message boards for catch ups in
your area, or if there isn't one - place a message inviting mums to
catch up in your area!
Also, Plunket run coffee mornings for Mum's and babies, and often
try to establish groups with babies of similar ages. Contact your
local Plunket Family Centre, or have a chat to your Plunket nurse.
Some areas also have community-based playgroups, often geared at
older children, but some also cater to smaller babies. Your Plunket
nurse should be able to give you some ideas here.
*Cry-Baby Sessions at the movies - Many cinemas
now run "Cry-Baby" Sessions one morning a week where you can check
out a movie and take bubs with you. Tickets are often cheaper than
standard movies, and some give a donation to Plunket from your
ticket price. The only downside is that you don't get to choose the
movie - but a different new release movie is screened each week,
and it can be good time-out. Contact your local cinema for session
times and movie details.
*Parents as First Teachers (PAFT) - Run in
conjunction with Plunket, PAFT is a programme designed to help
stay-at-home Mum's keep their babies entertained and encourage
their development. Your Plunket nurse can refer you to a PAFT
agency near you, and they will arrange for an educator to come and
visit.
*Playcentre - Playcentre operates using the
philosophy that parents are the best first educators of their
children. They cater for children from birth to 5, and sessions are
run entirely by parents (in some areas outside educators are used
to complement parent input). They work like an early childhood
facility, and parents undergo fully-funded training in Early
Childhood Education. Older children will get more out of Playcentre
than babies, but it is never too early to start, and is a great way
to meet other local parents. Check out www.playcentre.org.nz
.