50-Week-Old Baby
This week, you might be busy with last-minute preparations for baby’s first birthday party, as well as getting ready for their 12-month checkup. There’s a lot to do—but try to take it one step at a time. Take a closer look at what you can expect this week.
Growth
At 50 weeks, the average weight for baby is 19.5 pounds for girls and 21 pounds for boys. As for length, the average is 28.9 inches for girls and 29.6 inches for boys. Baby’s growth has slowed down a bit as their first birthday approaches—although they’re still likely growing an impressive half an inch a month in height.
Emerging skills
Baby can now see quite well near and far, and even focus on quickly moving objects. Your little engineer might love trying to figure out how objects with moving pieces work, and can stare at and manipulate them for quite a while. Baby’s understanding of language is improving with each day, and by the time they turn one, they’ll likely say “mama” and “dada”, as well as one other word. (It can be something as simple as “Uh-oh!”) Baby’s getting more mobile by the minute: They’re likely pulling up to stand, walking while holding on to furniture and getting ready for their first independent steps if they haven’t taken them already.
Feeding
Baby’s in a transitional stage, with solids gradually becoming a bigger part of their nutrition. At 50 weeks, they’re likely eating three meals a day and two snacks. Breastfeeding babies will still nurse about five or so times a day along with their solid meals—although every baby has different needs. Bottle-fed babies will generally drink around four bottles a day, with their milk needs slowly tapering down as they get closer to the one-year mark.
Sleep
Baby might still need around 12 to 16 hours of sleep per 24-hour period, although their sleep needs may start to lower as they head toward the one-year mark. If it feels like you’re the only one with an almost one-year-old who’s not sleeping through the night, rest assured you’re not: Research says that up to 27.9 percent of babies don’t sleep six consecutive hours at one year of age. If baby wakes at night, you can give them a few minutes to get back to sleep on their own before checking on them.
It feels like baby always has a cold. Is this normal?
With their still-maturing immune systems, babies have about six to eight colds in their first year of life, according to Mayo Clinic—maybe even more if they’re going to daycare. So yes, it’s normal, especially if they’re regularly around other kids. The best way to prevent colds from happening so frequently is to wash your hands often with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds each time. Make sure to clean baby’s toys, pacifiers and other frequently touched surfaces. Give baby plenty of fluids and ease their runny nose by keeping the air moist and helping keep their nasal passages open. Most colds will go away by themselves. Call the doctor if baby has a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or above, isn’t wetting as many diapers as usual, has trouble breathing or has any other worrisome symptoms.
Should baby be using a straw?
This is a great age to practice drinking with a straw cup, sippy cup or even an open-top cup, if you haven’t already: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends phasing out bottles by 18 months or earlier. Some experts specifically recommend straw and open-top cups over sippy cups, since baby will use these for life. (If you’re already using a sippy cup, don’t worry! Baby is adaptable and will quickly move on to new skills.)
Healthy foods
Baby can now eat more of what you eat, so it’s time to get creative with textures, flavors and preparation styles. Continue to encourage healthy eating with low-salt and low-sugar options. Make a rainbow of foods on baby’s plate. Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins and dairy in baby’s diet. A few meal ideas include whole wheat waffles, pasta bowls with veggies and an omelet with veggies or even salmon. Have fun experimenting!
When can baby have cow’s milk?
So far, baby's drink options have been limited to breast milk, formula and water—but that's about to change! Once baby turns a year old, you can start to introduce cow's milk. Before the 12-month-mark, baby's tummy isn't ready to digest cow's milk, and it can irritate their gut if offered too early. But once they're ready, milk is an important part of a healthy diet: It provides nutrients like protein, calcium and potassium, contains vitamins A, B and D and helps build strong bones, teeth and muscles. If your child doesn't take to the taste immediately, try mixing the milk with a little breast milk or formula to ease the transition. (And no, you don't have to stop breastfeeding when you introduce milk! When you wean is up to you and your child.) If you choose not to give baby cow’s milk, other options include pea-based milk or oat milk.
- Try something new. It can be easy for new parents to slip into a routine. Consider trying a new hobby or experience to use a different part of your brain. Take a class in your community or check out a new coffee shop. Consider redecorating a room in your house. If you enjoy walking, try out a new route. This’ll shake up your day-to-day and make life more interesting.
- First birthday present. This milestone deserves a memorable gift! These are our top recommendations.
- Bubble machine. If baby hasn’t been introduced to the wonders of bubbles yet, this is the time! Baby will love watching the bubbles float in the air and trying to pop them.
Encourage baby’s visual tracking skills by shining a flashlight on the wall. Once baby looks at the light, slowly move it from one side of the room to the other and up and down.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
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