6-Week-Old Baby
It may be hard to believe, but baby is one and a half months old (give or take)! There are some exciting 6-week-old baby milestones to look forward to as your child becomes more and more interactive. Here’s what to know about 6-week-old baby development.
Growth
Babies usually grow on a slow and steady curve, but then there are days when you pick them up in the morning and swear they’re bigger than when you put them to bed. And you’re probably right! There is usually a 6-week-old baby growth spurt, so if your child is fussier and hungrier than usual, that’s probably why. It should last a few days before things return to whatever your version of normal looks like.
Each child grows on their own curve, so while your pediatrician will reference a 6-week-old baby growth chart to calculate percentiles, the most important thing is that they aren’t rapidly gaining or losing weight. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), on average a 6-week-old baby boy weighs around 10.8 pounds, and girls weigh around 10.1 pounds. But that’s just the 50th percentile, so half of babies will be lighter than that and half will be heavier. Typically a baby at 6 weeks old continues to grow about 1.5 to 2 pounds in weight and 1 inch in length per month.
Emerging skills
By far one of the most exciting 6-week-old baby milestones is the emergence of true smiles. Sure, gas smiles are cute, but there’s nothing better than an ear-to-ear smile from your child because something has actually delighted them. So keep singing, smiling, tickling, blowing raspberries or whatever else brings your baby joy. And if they’re not smiling yet? That’s okay too. Anywhere between 6 and 12 weeks is within typical range.
You may be wondering, how far can a 6-week-old baby see? By now they can clearly see about 12 inches away, so their world continues to feel bigger. You may notice baby at 6 weeks old looking around more as they observe their ever-expanding surroundings.
A 6-week-old baby is also getting stronger, smarter and more aware by the day. They should be able to lift up their head and look around a bit during tummy time and are probably following you with their eyes as you move around near them. This is also when their hands start to seem interesting to them. A baby at 6 weeks old might be starting to open and close their fists, looking intently at their hands or purposefully putting hands or fingers in or near their mouth. (Don’t worry, it’s also normal if they’re not doing this quite yet!)
Feeding
Is your 6-week-old baby feeding more than usual? If you’re breastfeeding, cluster feeding—when baby nurses several times in a short time period—is a sign they may be going through the 6-week-old baby growth spurt, right on schedule. The increased demand to nurse can be exhausting, but it nourishes their growing body and signals to yours that it’s time to start increasing the milk supply.
If you formula-feed and notice that baby seems to want more than usual, follow their lead and increase the amount in their bottle. After a few days of fussiness and seemingly ravenous hunger, your 6-week-old baby will likely return to drinking about 3 ounces every three to four hours.
How much should a 6-week-old baby eat, anyway? In a 24 hour period, babies this age generally consume about 2.5 ounces per pound of body weight. So if baby weighs 11 pounds, then they’d eat about 27.5 ounces every 24 hours.
Sleep
When it comes to a 6-week-old baby sleep schedule, it can feel like just as you’ve started to get into a rhythm, everything changes. If baby is colicky, this is when the crying tends to peak, which can make bedtime feel more difficult than ever. If your 6-week-old baby won’t sleep, it could also be due in part to their growth spurt, which is likely making them ravenous. Plus, as they become increasingly aware of the world around them, everything can be an overstimulating distraction, making it harder to settle your child. Don’t worry; within a week, things should calm down as baby settles into their body and newfound awareness.
If you have the opposite problem and have a 6-week-old baby who’s sleeping a lot, that may be their body’s way of managing their growth spurt. Did your 6-week-old baby sleep through the night? Congratulations! At this age, sleeping through the night means five to six hours of uninterrupted sleep and is a sign that baby is starting to consolidate their sleep. And if they’re not? That’s fine—there’s a huge range for when babies start. By 6 months, two thirds of babies still aren’t sleeping through the night, so don’t feel bad if you’re not even close. There’s also such a thing as too much sleep; if your child is lethargic or sleeping so much that they’re not getting enough to eat, consult your pediatrician.
Another issue is when your 6-week old baby won’t sleep unless held. This is an easy habit to get into, and a hard one to break. Your infant is still in the so-called fourth trimester, so experts say there’s no such thing as spoiling a baby at this age. Still, holding a baby around the clock is unrealistic, so it’s a good idea to start getting them used to falling asleep in their crib or bassinet on their back, drowsy but not yet asleep. It may take picking them up and putting them down a few times over the course of a few days or even weeks, but eventually they’ll get the hang of it.
So how long do 6-week-old babies sleep? They should still be getting a total of about 15.5 hours in a 24 hour period, with more than half of those hours overnight.
Common Ailments
Spit up There’s a reason burp cloths are a baby registry must-have. But some babies spit up more than others, and it’s common to wonder what’s normal. If your 6-week-old baby spits up soon after feedings and seem happy and comfortable, then it’s likely just typical baby behavior. However, if they’re losing weight, are choking on their spit up or seem to be in discomfort, it’s worth checking in with your doctor. Keep in mind that spit up is different than vomit. At this age, what you’re seeing is usually spit up. If it’s forceful, projectile or contains bile, those are signs it’s vomit and may indicate an uncommon condition called pyloric stenosis (the tightening of the channel between the stomach and gut), which requires surgery. When in doubt, it’s always best to check with the pediatrician.
Sneezing Sure, sneezing is a classic sign of a cold setting in. But it’s also a common way for infants to simply clear their airways. If your 6-week-old baby’s only symptom is sneezing, know that it’s a natural and common reflex. If they’re congested, lethargic or have a temperature greater than 100.4, give the pediatrician a call.
Bleeding belly button
It might be scary if you see your 6-week-old baby’s belly button bleeding. Their umbilical stump should have fallen off around 3 weeks, and hopefully it’s healing well. If the belly button starts to bleed a little, it’s probably no cause for concern—there could be scabbing that got scratched off by accident. If it continues to bleed, or baby also has a fever (even a low-grade one), contact your medical provider just to be safe.
Can babies have dry skin?
Babies’ skin is thinner and more delicate than adults’ and tends to lose moisture more easily. Infants can certainly have dry skin or allergies, especially if they run in the family. Make note of whether your infant’s skin breaks out after using a particular product. If it’s just dry skin, limit baths to less than 10 minutes and keep the water at lukewarm temperature, and apply an ointment or cream afterward while baby’s skin is still damp.
Should I be concerned if baby is pooping less often?
Before you became a parent, you probably had no idea how much thought you’d be giving to your infant’s excrement. If baby is pooping less, that’s pretty typical at this age. As their body matures, they may go from having a stool after every feeding to pooping every other day or even going a few days between poops if breastfed. As long as they continue to have wet diapers, seem comfortable and are growing at their usual rate, there’s no cause for concern. As for appearances, 6-week-old baby poop will still often be mustardy yellow and seedy for breastfed babies. The poop of formula-fed babies is usually yellow and brown with a pastier texture akin to peanut butter.
Tummy time
By this point, your 6-week-old baby should be doing at least 30 minutes of tummy time a day. This helps strengthen their necks and core, develop motor skills and prevent flat head syndrome. If baby seems to hate tummy time, don’t give up. Start the activity when they’re calm and alert, and don’t be shy about getting down on the mat with them or breaking out some eye-catching toys or pictures. If they still sob through it, try a change of scenery. Lay them on your chest for some face-to-face time or even try gently rolling them back and forth on a yoga ball as you hold them.
Decoding baby’s cues
Baby is learning tons of adorable new facial expressions, like pursing their lips, raising their brows and widening their eyes. Besides being super-adorable and photo-worthy, baby’s new skill will make it a little bit easier to understand what’s going on inside their head. A scrunched up face and grunting noises probably means your little one is gassy. Furrowed brows and a pouty lip could signal they’re overstimulated. An intense stare? They’re fascinated by something! Getting to know baby’s expressions and what they indicate can help you better care for and communicate with your child.
- Attend your postpartum checkup. It’s an important follow-up appointment with your provider. They’ll check your weight, blood pressure and vitals, conduct a physical exam to gauge how your body is healing, ask questions about your emotional recovery, discuss whether you’re ready to resume exercise and sexual intercourse and if you’re interested in birth control options. But more than half of birthing parents don’t show up for this visit, which increases the risk of postpartum health complications. So remember to mark your calendar! After so much focus on baby, it’s often nice to have something that’s all about you.
- Listen to your body. The 6-week postpartum visit is often when you’re cleared for exercise and sex. If the doctor gives the go-ahead, just remember to take it slow. When it comes to working out, be sure to ease back into things—go for walks and focus on low-impact exercises. And when it comes to sex, prioritize communication and connection. Whether you’re not quite ready or want to pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate, it’s important that everyone is on the same page.
- Check for diastasis recti. Among the many pressures pregnancy puts on your body, the weight of baby pressing against your abdominal muscles can sometimes result in a separation of the abs, known as diastasis recti. If you have a gap (and about 60 percent of new moms do!), you can feel it about two inches above and below your belly button. To check, lie flat with your knees bent, like you’re about to do a crunch. Place your fingers just above your belly button, gently lift your head and feel your abs. If there’s softness, your muscles may not be zipped tight; if you feel a bulge, that can also suggest diastasis recti. It often resolves itself within eight weeks. Plus, there are some at-home exercises you can do to help close the gap; ask your OB for more guidance.
- Baby bouncer. As precious as those baby snuggles are, at some point you’re going to need your hands to tackle other tasks. A baby bouncer is a great way to safely place baby down and entertain them while you bustle about the room.
- Tummy time toys. If you need a little help making tummy time more enjoyable for baby, there’s no shortage of fun tummy time toys. From play mats and activity gyms to musical toys and mirrors, there’s sure to be something that appeals to your little one.
- A pelvic floor trainer. Carrying baby for nine+ months can put a serious strain on your pelvic muscles, often causing them to weaken and stretch out. (Finding yourself peeing a bit when you sneeze or jump? You’re not alone.) Once you’ve been cleared by your medical provider at your postpartum checkup, a pelvic floor trainer can help you regain that muscle strength.
Now that baby is (maybe) smiling and (definitely) interacting more, the real fun can begin. If you’re wondering how to play with a 6-week-old baby, consider a game of peek-a-boo. Though it may seem simple, peek-a-boo actually has many developmental benefits. A baby at 6 weeks old will enjoy the attention, movement and smiles from their special grownup. Start by putting your hands over your face for just a few seconds, then remove them and say “peek-a-boo!” with a big smile. Soon enough, baby will understand the pattern and look forward to this game, responding with coos and maybe even a grin. Later, as baby begins to grasp object permanence, the game can help them understand that those they love will always come back, even if they can’t see them.
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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