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By the second week, you might start to feel like you’re getting the hang of things with your baby, understanding their cues, and settling into some feeding and care routines. However, it’s normal if things still feel chaotic and unpredictable.Â
Your baby is new, and you’re learning about each other daily. So, if you’re still finding your footing and things seem uncertain, don’t worry—you’re not alone. It’s all part of bonding with your little one and figuring out your new role as a parent. Take it one day at a time, and trust that you’ll find your rhythm together.
This week, your baby may experience its first growth spurt! If you notice your little one seeming hungrier and fussier than usual for a few days, it’s likely because they’re experiencing rapid growth.
By two weeks old, most babies feeding well should have regained their birth weight if they lost any. You don’t need to worry too much about tracking their weight unless you’re concerned. Babies grow differently, so there’s no one-size-fits-all target. On average, your baby will grow about an inch monthly and gain 5 to 7 ounces weekly. Just focus on making sure they’re feeding and growing happily.
Once your baby has regained their birth weight, it’s common for them to gain around 4 to 7 ounces per week during the first 4 to 6 months, translating to about 1 to 2 pounds per month. Around the 4-month mark, formula-fed babies may gain weight slightly faster than breastfed babies. This could be due to the different formula compositions and your tendency to encourage your baby to finish their bottles.
During growth spurts, many babies become fussier and want to nurse more frequently, sometimes as often as every 30 minutes. It might feel like you’re overfeeding your baby, but this is normal and beneficial for both of you. Your baby’s increased nursing helps stimulate milk production to meet their growing needs. Remember, the more your baby nurses, the more milk your body produces.
It’s common to worry if you’re not producing enough milk during these times, but chances are, you are. Trust your baby’s cues and continue to feed on demand. Your body will adjust to meet your baby’s needs.
As your baby’s stomach expands, its appetite naturally grows, too. By the second week, you’ll notice that your baby’s feeding increases from 6 to 8 daily feedings for formula-fed babies. Breastfed babies will be nursed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, which may amount to every 1 to 3 hours.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests practising “responsive feeding“ with your baby at this stage. This means tuning in to your baby’s hunger cues and feeding them whenever they seem hungry.Â
Some signs your baby may be hungry include putting their fingers in their mouth, turning their head from side to side, or making sucking motions. By responding to these cues, you can help ensure your baby gets the nourishment they need and develop a strong bond with them.
Your baby might start cluster feeding, so they’ll nurse often, especially in the evenings. This can lead to shorter sleep stretches, with your baby waking every hour or two. It’s exhausting and stressful for parents, but there’s a reason behind it.
For breastfed babies, cluster feeding helps boost your milk supply. Your baby’s frequent nursing signals your body to produce more milk to meet their needs. For formula-fed babies, cluster feeding indicates they need more food, so it’s a cue to increase their feeding volume.
At two weeks old, babies haven’t yet established a clear sense of day and night, so they sleep whenever they feel tired, whether it’s daytime or nighttime. Their small stomachs mean they wake frequently to feed, regardless of the time. While it may seem exhausting, this pattern is normal and crucial for their early development.
According to Stanford, newborns typically sleep for about 16 hours in a 24-hour cycle, with roughly 8 hours at night and 8 hours during the day. However, anywhere from 14 to 17 hours is considered normal. Despite the total hours of sleep, it’s important to note that newborns don’t sleep in the longer stretches that adults do.
Your baby’s naps can fluctuate greatly. They may nap for just 20 to 30 minutes at times, while on other occasions, they might sleep continuously for a few hours, which can leave you feeling sleep-deprived.
At this stage, your baby’s sleep patterns might feel unpredictable, but swaddling can help them feel snug and secure, possibly leading to longer stretches of sleep. As your baby grows, they’ll develop more consistent feeding and sleeping routines. In the meantime, focus on establishing a feeding schedule and taking naps whenever you can.Â
According to AAP, It’s crucial to prioritise safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of SIDS or suffocation. Always place your baby on their back to sleep, keep them in the same room as you but not in your bed, use a firm mattress with no loose bedding, avoid letting them sleep in sitting devices for too long, and dress them appropriately to avoid overheating.
Yellowish skin in your baby could indicate jaundice, a condition where their liver isn’t fully developed to remove bilirubin, a yellow pigment, from their blood.
Jaundice usually begins on the face and progresses to the chest, abdomen, arms, and legs. In some cases, the whites of the eyes may also turn yellow. If you notice jaundice in your baby, it’s crucial to reach out to the doctor for additional assessment and advice.
Fevers are common in babies, but they can be hard to notice in newborns. Within the first 12 weeks, if your baby feels warm or unusually fussy, it’s important to use a rectal thermometer to check their temperature. If it’s 102 F (38.9 C) or higher, seek immediate medical attention for prompt evaluation and necessary care.
During the first month of life, if your baby poops less than once a day, it could mean they’re not eating enough. However, if your two-week-old hasn’t had a bowel movement for a while, monitor their wet diapers and bowel movements and talk to your pediatrician about your concerns. Don’t give your baby juice or home remedies for constipation without consulting your doctor first.
When your baby has colic, they cry intensely and fuss for long periods without a clear reason, which can be challenging for you. Soothing techniques may not help much, and colic episodes often occur in the evening, adding to your exhaustion.
Baby hiccups are common and usually not a cause for concern. They typically stop on their own and may even be beneficial for your baby’s brain development. Hiccups occur when the diaphragm muscle spasms, often triggered by overfeeding, eating quickly, or swallowing air.
If your baby hiccups frequently, try feeding them more slowly and taking breaks for burping. Avoid using home remedies like startling your newborn, as this can distress them. Remember, hiccups are normal in infancy and usually nothing to worry about.
Your baby’s vision is still developing, but they’re showing preferences and abilities. They can focus on objects about 8 to 12 inches away and are drawn to high-contrast patterns like black-and-white images. They may occasionally cross their eyes as they learn to control their movements.
Your baby’s hearing is fully matured, and they’re beginning to recognise and respond to sounds around them. They may turn towards familiar sounds and voices, showing their growing ability to detect and engage with the auditory world.
When you touch your baby’s cheek, lips, or mouth, they will turn their head toward the stimulus and open their mouth, instinctively searching for a source of food. This reflex helps your baby find your breast and learn how to eat.
When your baby hears a loud noise or experiences a sudden movement, they may automatically arch their back, extend their arms and legs, and possibly cry out. This reflex helps protect them from potential danger. It’s normal for newborns to have this reflex, but it usually goes away when they’re three to six months old.
When you touch your baby’s palm, it automatically curls its fingers around your finger or an object. This involuntary reflex helps the baby grasp things for support.
 If you hold your baby upright with their feet on a flat surface, they may make stepping movements as if they’re walking. This reflex is a primitive instinct that disappears after a few months.
Sucking is a normal reflex for babies serving both to nourish and soothe them, so your baby’s natural sucking reflex is in full swing. Even after feeding, your baby may still seek out sucking as a way to comfort themselves, known as “non-nutritive” sucking. This soothing action helps them feel calm and secure, so pacifiers are often used. Some babies may prefer non-nutritive sucking more than others.
Your baby’s vision is still developing, but they’re showing preferences and abilities. They can focus on objects about 8 to 12 inches away and are drawn to high-contrast patterns like black-and-white images. They may occasionally cross their eyes as they learn to control their movements.
Your baby’s hearing is fully matured, and they’re beginning to recognise and respond to sounds around them. They may turn towards familiar sounds and voices, showing their growing ability to detect and engage with the auditory world.
When you touch your baby’s cheek, lips, or mouth, they will turn their head toward the stimulus and open their mouth, instinctively searching for a source of food. This reflex helps your baby find your breast and learn how to eat.
When your baby hears a loud noise or experiences a sudden movement, they may automatically arch their back, extend their arms and legs, and possibly cry out. This reflex helps protect them from potential danger. It’s normal for newborns to have this reflex, but it usually goes away when they’re three to six months old.
When you touch your baby’s palm, it automatically curls its fingers around your finger or an object. This involuntary reflex helps the baby grasp things for support.
If you hold your baby upright with their feet on a flat surface, they may make stepping movements as if they’re walking. This reflex is a primitive instinct that disappears after a few months.
Sucking is a normal reflex for babies serving both to nourish and soothe them, so your baby’s natural sucking reflex is in full swing. Even after feeding, your baby may still seek out sucking as a way to comfort themselves, known as “non-nutritive” sucking. This soothing action helps them feel calm and secure, so pacifiers are often used. Some babies may prefer non-nutritive sucking more than others.
This involves holding your baby against your bare chest, which encourages bonding, regulates body temperature, stabilises heart rate and breathing, promotes breastfeeding, and reduces stress. It’s good to practise this “kangaroo care” right after your baby is born and during their first few months.
Encouraging your baby to spend time on their tummy helps strengthen their neck muscles, essential for later developmental milestones like rolling over, sitting up, and crawling. Starting a tummy early can also prevent flat spots on the head and promote healthy development.
Before feeding your baby, try gently stroking their lips with the nipple or bottle. This helps stimulate their reflex to open their mouth wide for feeding. When offering the nipple or bottle, aim for the centre of the mouth. This activity helps your baby latch on more effectively and comfortably.
Engage with your baby daily by reading, telling stories, talking, and singing. These activities create special moments and familiarise your baby with different sounds and words.
Make eye contact with your baby regularly to strengthen your bond and promote their physical development. Encourage your baby to follow your gaze and turn their head, which helps build their neck strength and head control.
However, if your baby looks away, it’s a sign they need a break, so be attentive to their cues and give them the space they need to rest.
This involves holding your baby against your bare chest, which encourages bonding, regulates body temperature, stabilises heart rate and breathing, promotes breastfeeding, and reduces stress. It’s good to practise this “kangaroo care” right after your baby is born and during their first few months.
Encouraging your baby to spend time on their tummy helps strengthen their neck muscles, essential for later developmental milestones like rolling over, sitting up, and crawling. Starting a tummy early can also prevent flat spots on the head and promote healthy development.
Before feeding your baby, try gently stroking their lips with the nipple or bottle. This helps stimulate their reflex to open their mouth wide for feeding. When offering the nipple or bottle, aim for the centre of the mouth. This activity helps your baby latch on more effectively and comfortably.
Engage with your baby daily by reading, telling stories, talking, and singing. These activities create special moments and familiarise your baby with different sounds and words.
Make eye contact with your baby regularly to strengthen your bond and promote their physical development. Encourage your baby to follow your gaze and turn their head, which helps build their neck strength and head control.
However, if your baby looks away, it’s a sign they need a break, so be attentive to their cues and give them the space they need to rest.
Umbilical cord care: Instead of cleaning your baby’s umbilical cord stump with alcohol as previously advised, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends leaving it untouched to heal naturally until it falls off, typically within about a week.
Circumcised penis care: For a baby boy circumcision care, gently clean the area with warm water and gauze at every diaper change to remove any poop. Allow the area to air-dry to prevent irritation. Normal signs such as redness and a yellow secretion in the first week are expected, but contact your baby’s healthcare provider if you notice excessive swelling, crusty sores, or cloudy fluid secretion.
Bathing: Bathing your baby once a week is enough; daily baths are unnecessary. However, if your baby has been unwell or has a soiled diaper, you can give them a sponge bath. Keep the umbilical cord stump clean and dry, avoiding submerging it in water until it naturally falls off.
Diaper changes: Ensure you have all necessary supplies nearby when changing your baby’s diaper. Always keep one hand on your baby and never leave them unattended on a changing table or elevated surface. Quickly remove wet or soiled diapers to prevent diaper rash. Clean the area gently with wipes and replace it with a fresh diaper.
You may notice your baby’s personality shining through at two weeks postpartum, which can be exciting. However, it’s also a significant time for you as you navigate recovery from childbirth.
Around this time, your hormones begin to stabilise, but you may still experience some mood swings and emotional ups and downs, commonly known as “the baby blues.” This is normal due to sleep deprivation and hormonal changes.
While feeling emotional is typical, your mood should generally feel more balanced. If you find yourself struggling with your mental health, such as feeling persistently sad, anxious, or overwhelmed, it’s essential to reach out for help.
You could be experiencing postpartum depression or another mood disorder, and consulting with a doctor or therapist can provide support and guidance for your well-being.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), when done correctly and following safe sleep guidelines, swaddling can help your newborn sleep better. This means ensuring the swaddle is snug but not too tight, allowing room for movement of the hips and legs, and stopping swaddling once your baby starts showing signs of rolling over.
Always place your swaddled baby on their back to sleep, and avoid overheating by keeping the room temperature comfortable.
It’s important to always consult with your baby’s healthcare provider before giving them anything other than breast milk or formula, especially if you suspect they’re constipated. Bowel movement patterns can vary widely among babies and may change as they grow. For formula-fed newborns, having firm stools less than once a day could indicate constipation, but this schedule may still be normal for some breastfed babies.
At two weeks old, your baby may be fussy due to hunger, discomfort, overstimulation, or simply adjusting to life outside the womb. They may also be experiencing a growth spurt, causing them to be hungrier and fussier than usual. Also, babies at this age may have immature digestive systems, leading to gas or colic, contributing to fussiness.
Responding to your baby’s cues and providing comfort and reassurance during this development period is essential.
For the first two weeks, it’s important to feed your newborn at least 8 times a day, making sure to spread the feedings evenly throughout the day and night. This means feeding your baby roughly every 2 to 3 hours, even at night.Â
While it may feel exhausting, paediatricians usually recommend waking your newborn, who sleeps for longer stretches to feed at night; this ensures they’re getting enough nourishment for healthy growth and development.Â
If you have any concerns or questions about nighttime feedings, it’s best to consult with your doctor for personalised guidance.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a nursing strike occurs when your baby suddenly refuses to breastfeed. This can happen for various reasons, including inadequate milk supply, normal growth and development phases, or a preference for bottle feeding, which may seem faster and easier for your baby.
To address a nursing strike, it’s important to continue to offer breastfeeding opportunities before resorting to bottle feeding, as this can help encourage your baby to resume nursing.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), when done correctly and following safe sleep guidelines, swaddling can help your newborn sleep better. This means ensuring the swaddle is snug but not too tight, allowing room for movement of the hips and legs, and stopping swaddling once your baby starts showing signs of rolling over.
Always place your swaddled baby on their back to sleep, and avoid overheating by keeping the room temperature comfortable.
It’s important to always consult with your baby’s healthcare provider before giving them anything other than breast milk or formula, especially if you suspect they’re constipated. Bowel movement patterns can vary widely among babies and may change as they grow. For formula-fed newborns, having firm stools less than once a day could indicate constipation, but this schedule may still be normal for some breastfed babies.
At two weeks old, your baby may be fussy due to hunger, discomfort, overstimulation, or simply adjusting to life outside the womb. They may also be experiencing a growth spurt, causing them to be hungrier and fussier than usual. Also, babies at this age may have immature digestive systems, leading to gas or colic, contributing to fussiness.
Responding to your baby’s cues and providing comfort and reassurance during this development period is essential.Â
For the first two weeks, it’s important to feed your newborn at least 8 times a day, making sure to spread the feedings evenly throughout the day and night. This means feeding your baby roughly every 2 to 3 hours, even at night.Â
While it may feel exhausting, paediatricians usually recommend waking your newborn, who sleeps for longer stretches to feed at night; this ensures they’re getting enough nourishment for healthy growth and development.Â
If you have any concerns or questions about nighttime feedings, it’s best to consult with your doctor for personalised guidance.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a nursing strike occurs when your baby suddenly refuses to breastfeed. This can happen for various reasons, including inadequate milk supply, normal growth and development phases, or a preference for bottle feeding, which may seem faster and easier for your baby.
To address a nursing strike, it’s important to continue to offer breastfeeding opportunities before resorting to bottle feeding, as this can help encourage your baby to resume nursing.
1. AAP: Developmental Milestones: 1 Month
2. AAP: How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained
3. AAP: Is Your Baby Hungry or Full? Responsive Feeding Explained
4. AAP: Newborn Reflexes
5. AAP Publications: Umbilical Cord Care in the Newborn Infant
6. AAP: Swaddling: Is it safe for your baby?
7. Cleveland: Fever
8. Healthy Children: How can I Tell if my Baby is Constipated?
9. March Of Dimes: Newborn Jaundice
10. Mayo Clinic: Why would a baby go on a breastfeeding strike
11. Stanford Children’s Health: Infant Sleep
12. WIC Breastfeeding Support: Cluster feeding and growth spurt
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