12 weeks - www.kidspot.com.au baby’s first year update

Baby's First Year Kidspot Welcome to week 12! This Week Your Baby Is: Developing hand-eye co-ordination Your baby was born with the ability to hold objects in her grasp - in fact, this is one of the reflexes she was born with - but until three months, she is unable to do this voluntarily. After this time, your baby will begin to be able to purposefully hold on to objects (as long as they're not too heavy) and she'll start examining her hands as she opens and closes them in front of her face. While it will still be some time before she can grab what she wants, at this age she'll start to swipe at toys that are within her reach. She'll now enjoy spending time in a baby gym on the floor batting at the hanging toys above her. Best baby toys Hot Topic: Sleep and wake routines For sleep-deprived parents, struggling to find a sleeping routine for their young baby is like the search for the Holy Grail - once found, they believe that their lives will be transformed. Who knows about the grail, but it is true that once a sleep routine (even a loose one) is in place, both parents and baby will be a lot happier. With both of you better rested, each day will seem easier. At about Week Twelve, your baby will begin to naturally move into a routine of 3 daytime sleeps, each lasting about 2 hours, and waking once during the night for a feed. He should be awake for about 2 hours between sleeps, during which time he should have some gentle physical play so that he's properly tired when you put him to bed next. Read our top tips for sleep and settling Kidspot Tip: Night-time feeding You want your baby to sleep through the night, right? But each night she wakes and each night you're dragged out of bed to feed her, change her and settle her again. As she grows and her stomach can stay full for longer, this midnight snack should start turning into a 2am snack, then 3am, 4am. But to do away with it completely, keep the stimulation to a minimum overnight - keep the lights dim (or off completely), don't talk to her, avoid eye contact, only change her nappy if it needs it, and DON'T turn on the TV. You want her to get the message that waking in the night isn't playtime, and once her stomach can sustain her for the night there'll be no other reason for her to wake. Discover ways to get your baby to sleep through the night My to do list • Check out Babyology. It's our favourite mum + baby style blog. • Take time out with Sarah's Page • Easy meal ideas and recipes for new mums Easy Recipes Healthy dinner ideas Easy entertaining Salads Snacks Quick breakfast ideas Search all recipes Your Baby Breast or bottle? Baby care advice Best baby sleep info Baby names finder Your newborn Baby activities Just for Mums Enjoy Sarah's Page Join Kidspot Social Browse Kidspot Market Win daily prizes Get Kidspot Daily Unsubscribe from the mailing list? Click here If this is not your correct week, please click here to change your baby's birth date.