Baby Care: 6 Week Old Baby

Many parents consider six weeks old to be a milestone. Their babies' initial neonatal period is over, and family life has often become a routine. You may find it difficult to remember your life before you had a baby and wonder what you've been up to.

Parents often feel like a few weeks have passed after the baby is born. This makes a lot of parents, especially mothers, very sad. If this sounds like you, try to find some time each day to sit and enjoy your baby. The best time to do this is probably when you're not doing anything specific other than hugging and looking at their little faces.

You and your partner will have fun, enjoy every minute!

Feeding

If you're breastfeeding, you'll find that your baby isn't as demanding as the first few weeks. There may be more regular intervals between daytime feeds, with greater predictability.

As your baby grows and their energy needs change, so do their calorie needs. During these growth spurts, you may wonder if your milk supply has dropped. Your baby's increased pumping will cause your breast to increase its supply, so give it a day or two and your supply should catch up.

If you are bottle feeding, you may find that your baby needs more formula. This is common around 6 weeks as they go through a growth spurt. The recommended feeding amount from 5 days old to 3 months old is about 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight per day. Check with your baby's healthcare provider or nurse who will weigh and measure your baby and plot their growth curve on a growth chart.

Sleeping

If your baby is waking up from sleep within a short period of time, you are not alone. This is common behavior in this age group. Sleep cycles are short, and babies usually wake up gently during the night, whether hungry or not. This is considered normal and healthy.

The aim is to put them in the crib when they are sleepy but still slightly awake. While it's always important to put your baby to sleep on their back, make sure they get some time each day to sleep on their tummy. The best time to do this is when they are awake and you are watching them. If your baby is not used to lying on his stomach, he may not be able to tolerate it for long. Start with a few minutes a day and start exercising.

Gradually, they will get more used to it and you will see the benefits as they develop strength in the neck, shoulders and upper body. It is from this position that they will begin to support themselves on their knees and eventually crawl.

Behavior and Development

During the first 6 weeks after your baby is born, they may gain 1 to 2 pounds. The rate at which they grow will be highly individual, but you'll notice that those little ones the size of a newborn are a little tight. It's normal for your baby to gain more weight than others for a few weeks.

Look at weight gain over a few weeks or a month to get a more accurate picture of normal changes. Try not to compare your baby to other peers. As tempting as it is to do so, it doesn't really yield any results and often only causes concern and concern.

Your baby may be smiling right now, providing some positive feedback for all your hard work! Smiling is an effective way for babies and parents to communicate with each other, especially in the early stages of language and language development.

Crying

For many babies, this period from 6 weeks can be the start of a more awake and fussy period. Crying tends to peak at this age, and despite years of careful study, the cause remains unproven.

Some experts believe that babies at this age are prone to overstimulation and that crying is a way of expressing their frustration. Excessive fatigue, discomfort, boredom, hunger, or the need for love are some of the reasons a baby may cry.

You will find that there is no one sure way to calm your baby down. Most people react to being shaken and hugged and having their parents around.

Sometimes your baby may cry and you don't know why. Check for obvious causes first, such as hunger, tiredness, discomfort, dirty diapers, or stomach pain that may be caused by gas.

Figuring out why a baby at this age is crying can be very difficult. Generally, they settle down by feeding, rocking, walking or riding, taking a hot bath, or tummy tuck. Seek help from your partner, family and friends, and contact your healthcare provider or nurse if your efforts are not working.

Hygiene

At this stage, you'll have a process for changing diapers, bathing, and general hygiene. Aim to make these times as enjoyable as possible. After all, they can quickly become an important part of your everyday life.

Your emotions

You may still feel tired and exhausted. At 6 weeks, your baby may have longer, uninterrupted nights of sleep, allowing you to get a little more sleep on your own. But tiredness is a fact of early parenting, and it can take months for parents to stop feeling tired all the time.

Symptoms of postpartum depression and exhaustion can be very similar. Many women worry that when they feel sad, anxious and exhausted consistently, they will feel depressed. If you are concerned that you may be depressed, talk to your midwife, obstetrician or home healthcare provider.

Your Physical Recovery

You will need a postnatal visit with your doctor or midwife 6 weeks after giving birth. By 6 weeks, your uterus and pelvic organs should have returned to their pre-pregnancy state. If you're still bleeding or have any concerns, write them down so you don't forget to ask.

Returning to Work

Some women need to return to work when their children are around this age. It will be an adjustment for the whole family, the transition to child care needs to be very organised.

If you're breastfeeding, you need to make sure your baby is getting the pumped milk from the bottle. Find out what your workplace offers in specific areas to take breaks to pump.