Although the red rings around your eyes may not agree, your baby is starting to learn the difference between night and day. You can encourage differentiation by establishing a bath time and bed time routine.
At two months old, your baby will also be awake more often in the day, which is a perfect time for you to start playing with your baby, which will assist in her development.
At five weeks old
Have the camera ready! Your baby will flash her first non-gassy smile between four and six weeks of age. From that first smile, your baby will likely smile each time you engage with her. Some moms even believe that babies return each smile that they are given, so be sure to smile at your baby as you talk to her.
This week your baby will start to;
- Ooh and aah during play time
- Stare at your face more than she stares at other objects
- Lift her head for a short while during tummy time
- Stretch out even more from the curled up foetal position
While at six weeks
This is an important week for your baby. She will visit her paediatrician for her six week check up and will also receive her first set of vaccinations. At your baby’s check up, expect the paediatrician to listen to her heart and lungs, in addition to evaluating her overall well-being. A few milestone checks will also be done to make sure that your baby is developing on track.
Your six week old baby;
- May sleep four to six hours at night
- Should stay awake for no longer than an hour at a time before going down for a nap
- Should be fed every three to four hours during the day
- Will start to communicate with you by cooing and not just crying
A seven week old baby
This week your baby might make her biggest discovery yet: her hands. You will probably catch her playing with her hands and fingers as she has realised that those fingers actually belong to her.
She may also;
- Follow an object with her eyes (although tracking is usually only expected of older babies)
- Turn her head towards sounds
- Start to laugh
The two month mark
Your baby continues to grow and develop. Are you keeping a journal to log your baby’s weight and milestones? If not, you should think about doing so. It will one day be nice to look back at the adventures of your baby’s first few months.
At eight weeks your baby;
- Should nap at least three times per day
- Will show tired cues after approximately one and a half hours of being awake
- Will take an interest in objects with patterns or bright, contrasting colours
- Will make more controlled movements
Lara Bestbier
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