How might you depict infant this week? Probably as having more of a little personality now.

With social smiling now a normal role of baby's repertoire and babbling and giggling soon to follow, the fun is seriously ratcheting upwardly.

Here'southward what you tin expect this week.

Your 6-week-one-time babe'southward development

At a Glance

Sleeping nuts

Newborns up to 3 or 4 months former need 14 to 17 hours of sleep in a 24-hr period, usually waking every two to four hours to eat.

Feeding basics

Breastfed babies should eat as much as they want at this historic period, but a general rule of thumb is roughly 24 to 32 ounces of pumped breast milk or formula.

Did you know?

Your baby volition smile for the first fourth dimension effectually now, if not sooner. Cue your middle melting!

By now y'all've likely seen that beautiful social smiling your babe is capable of, particularly considering he seems to be practicing information technology on you again and again.

So keep up those loving interactions with your baby — talking, cooing and singing to him — and you'll all have plenty to grinning about.

At this signal, your little one may also have stumbled across the best comfort object of all —  his fingers, which will help him larn the all-of import job of self-soothing.

Another milestone that'southward on the horizon: reaching for a dangling object. Be certain to pull out the play gym so your trivial 1 tin can get gear up to practice his motor skills and paw-centre coordination.

Your 6-week-former infant'southward growth

Your babe is eating upward a storm these days, taking in as much as 24 to 32 ounces of chest milk or formula each day. Feedings should exist spread out to every iii to iv hours or so (and maybe fifty-fifty more spread out at night), though demand feeding is all the same by and large the way to get, especially for the breastfed gear up.

Of course, with all that eating comes lots of pooping. Your baby will still be averaging a few bowel movements each mean solar day. And with all that'southward going on in that area, it'southward no wonder he isn't sitting on a pretty bottom.

Yep, diaper rash can ingather upwards as long as your baby is in a diaper, thanks to a combination of too much wet, too niggling air, friction, irritation and of form pee and poop.

The best cure for diaper rash is prevention — making sure baby'due south bottom is make clean and dry before re-diapering, spreading ointment or foam on that dry bottom, and changing him oftentimes so he's not sitting in a wet or dirty diaper for also long.

Your 6-week-old babe's health

You might exist in between well-baby checkups right at present, only you'll certainly be spending plenty of time in the md's office this year.

Those checkups allow the dr. to keep track of your baby'due south growth and development, ensuring that everything'south on target.

Here's what y'all need to know virtually baby's wellness this calendar week.

Questions to ask the doctor

Instead of relying on your retentivity, bring a list of questions to your appointment. Jot downwards the answers, plus whatsoever other communication and instructions your pediatrician dispenses. And trust your instincts. If you feel something isn't right with your infant, bring it upwards. Read More than

The color of poop

The color and texture of your babe's poop tin change from day to twenty-four hour period — and bowel movement to bowel movement — causing even experienced parents to worry about what's in their baby'south diaper. Read More than

Stuffy nose?

Congestion in newborns is common, even when there'south nothing wrong. Nevertheless, other causes of congestion could exist respiratory viruses like the common cold, allergies, and environmental irritants like tobacco smoke. Read More

Baby-safe medicine

Never requite a baby under 2 months former any medication, not fifty-fifty an over-the-counter one, that's not recommended or prescribed by a doctor. And never give your infant a medication that's intended for older kids or adults. Read More

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)

Nearly everyone — adults and children akin — will get RSV at one bespeak or another. For about people, the virus causes cold-like symptoms that last virtually a week or two. Just some babies tin get a more than severe example. Read More

Postpartum & new infant tips

The colic acquit

Sometimes when your infant is crying inconsolably, what he needs is more than force per unit area.

No, really. Pressure on a baby'southward tummy can save gas, and gas is thought to be i of the major causes of ordinary crankiness and even colic.

Try the "colic carry": Lay your baby on his tummy on your forearm, cradling his head in your hand. Utilize your other manus to stabilize him and rub his back.

Yous can also try laying him stomach-downwards across your lap, with one of your knees under his tummy and the other supporting his head. Or hold him upright, with his abdomen on your shoulder, while you rub and pat his little back.

Another gas reliever: Put him on his dorsum and push his knees upward to his tummy for 10 seconds. Release and echo. Burp!

Diaper rash

Diaper rash is best kept at bay past preventing information technology in the first place. Try these tips:

  • Change diapers virtually every two hours. Replacing a wet or muddy diaper with a clean, dry one plays a cardinal role in preventing diaper rash. That'south because when skin stays damp for besides long, it becomes more susceptible to rash-raising enzymes.
  • Avoid perfumes and alcohols in soaps, scented baby wipes and other products that come in contact with your baby's nether region, since they tin irritate that sensitive infant skin. Prevent diaper rash past cleaning his bottom with cotton balls or a washcloth soaked in warm water — at least during the newborn stage, when that tender pare is the virtually sensitive.
  • Try experimenting with different types of diapers or even switching to textile to see whether that helps forbid diaper rash. Sometimes super absorbent disposable diapers are so efficient at trapping moisture that they lead to more rashes. Cloth diapers are less absorbent, which can encourage more frequent changes — and that, in plough, can be a modify for the better if they lead to fewer breakouts.

How to plan meals ahead

One mode to brand sure you're eating healthy every bit a new mom: Do as much every bit you tin can ahead of fourth dimension.

If you lot're boiling an egg for lunch, boil six so they're prepare and waiting for you tomorrow. If it'south salmon salad you crave today, crack open a large can so that y'all'll be able to fish for an like shooting fish in a barrel snack the next day.

Bake a half-dozen potatoes at once — information technology's quick and easy to warm them subsequently, along with some pre-shredded cheddar and leftover broccoli. Ditto dark-brown rice — make a box, and reheat it all week.

Using a breast pump

If you're breastfeeding and ready to first pumping breast milk, maximize your output past drinking at least eight glasses of water a day plus eating plenty of h2o-packed fruits and veggies.

The all-time time to limited is likely in the morning time, when your breasts are fullest. If y'all're at work, try to pump on the same schedule as your baby'south feedings then you keep your milk supply going potent.

If you're at dwelling house and are stockpiling milk, try pumping an hour or then after the baby's forenoon feeding or pump one chest while baby is going to boondocks on the other.

To begin using your best pump, discover a comfortable, serenity spot and relax as much as possible to encourage letdown. A quick breast massage or gently shaking your breasts can go the ball rolling, as can hot compresses to the nipples.

If your baby is shut by, try cuddling him (as long as he doesn't mind beingness this close to milk he can't have); if you lot're abroad from home, await at a favorite picture of him, or close your eyes and imagine his confront and his smell every bit he nurses.

If you're using an electric chest pump, employ the lowest suction at first — you're not trying to vacuum your breasts off your chest! —  then increase the juice when things get moving.

Practice be patient. It may accept a few minutes (or a few weeks) for you to get into a comfortable rhythm.

Wearing babe

Wearing your infant and walking around is a great fashion to soothe him if he'southward crying. Your baby will savour the feeling of closeness and the rhythm of your steps.

And as an actress bonus, your easily remain gratis for multitasking (laundry or dinner prep anyone?).

Have your baby face your body in a front end-pack carrier for the beginning 3 months when he needs the extra caput support. Or employ a sling — which is smashing for on-the-go nursing and can convert to a side or back hold when your infant gets older.

If your baby balks at being in a sling or front carrier at commencement, don't give up on information technology entirely. Some babies who don't like to be facing backward come to dearest it when it's time to face forwards and see the world.

Baby sun protection

Babies should exist kept out of straight sunlight for extended periods of fourth dimension until they're 6 months old, according to the American University of Pediatrics (AAP).

When you lot do go exterior in the sunny weather, dress your infant in protective wear — a beautiful footling hat to shield that noggin and those kissable cheeks, as well equally long sleeves, lightweight pants and socks.

If there's no shade around — either from the stroller, an umbrella or a tree — utilize sunscreen (yes, even on a baby under 6 months old). Put a small dab on whatever exposed skin except his  hands (since babies honey to put their easily in their mouth), though a tiny bit on the back of the hands is generally okay.

Grocery shopping

When friends inquire if there'southward anything they can practice to aid, suggest they transport a roast chicken, a tray of lasagna, pre-washed bags of salad greens, a giant carton of fruit salad, a platter of veggies and dip, or a dozen whole-wheat bagels (cook a slice of cheese on top of ane of those babies, and you take yourself a healthy mini-meal).

In other words, try to keep your kitchen stocked with easy-to-prepare foods y'all similar, so that thinking about what to eat takes no thought at all.

And tap into every delivery choice bachelor to yous — including groceries, repast kits and takeout. As well consider ordering ahead a few meals, so that y'all'll take something to reheat tomorrow.

From the What to Wait editorial squad and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Wait When You're Expecting. What to Wait follows strict reporting guidelines and uses simply credible sources, such equally peer-reviewed studies, bookish research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we continue our content authentic and up-to-appointment by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

  • What to Await the First Yr, 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Sore Throat in Babies and Toddlers, June 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Diaper Rash in Babies: Causes, Tips and Treatments, November 2018.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Colic in Babies: Signs, Causes and Tips for Parents, November 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Children's Medication Safety Tips and Guidelines, November 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Stuffy Nose in Babies and Toddlers, March 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Newborn and Baby Sleep Basics, May 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Hither'due south How Much Sleep Babies Need, June 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How Much Should My Baby Consume?, April 2020.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, Sun Safety: Information for Parents Nearly Sunburn and Sunscreen, July 2019.
  • La Leche League International, Pumping Milk, 2020.
  • American University of Pediatrics, Mutual Diaper Rashes and Treatments, January 2020.
  • American University of Pediatrics, How to At-home a Fussy Baby: Tips for Parents and Caregivers, July 2016.

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