How big is your baby?
This week your baby will be weighing around 11 1/2 pounds and measuring 22 3/4 inches if he/she was of average size at birth.
Your baby should be sleeping through at night now, although pediatricians define "all night" as not waking between midnight and 5am.You can help establish this sleeping pattern by feeding baby more frequently during the day, and if baby naps for longer than 3 hours during the day then wake him/her up.
Establish a bedtime routine, which will help teach baby when it's time to go to sleep. If you do need to get up at night to feed baby, keep interaction to a minimum and keeps any lights low.
Baby is now recognizing familiar sights and sounds, and is starting to explore his/her world.
Baby's strength continues to increase, and by now he/she may be able to sit up quite well if he/she is securely propped up.
When lying on his/her stomach, he/she may be able to push herself up using his/her elbows and forearms.
Baby will no longer hold his/her hands in fists, and they will be loosely clenched, or perhaps they are open at times.
The reflexive grasp he/she was born with is now gone, and may now use his/her hands to hold an object. Baby will also bring his/her hands together at the center of his/her body.
Baby Development Milestones This Week
Physical Development
- Stays awake for longer periods during the day
- Turns head and neck to find sources of sound
- May hold and wave toy
Mental & Social Development
- Is interested in sounds
-
May glance at own hand
- Responds with excitement to a persons presence.
Feeding Your Baby
Feeding Tips for Traveling
Bottle feeding: Prepare before you get in your car with baby. If you feed formula, refrigerate any prepared formula, if directions call for it. If you are unable to do that, then pre measure out water in clean feeding bottles, then when baby is hungry simple mix the formula powder to the water. Remember to discard any left overs.
Breastfeeding: It is easy to feed your baby on the road, as long as you can find a place where you feel comfortable. Feed baby when he/she is hungry, and if you have to be away from baby for a period of time, pump extra breast milk and refrigerate or freeze it.
Traveling With Baby
When traveling with baby on a family car trip. Family trips will now take longer than normal, as you will need to stop and feed baby, change baby, play with baby etc. Be prepared for the trip, and this will only make it more enjoyable to everyone. Here are some ideas for making your trip a more happy experience:
Feed baby just before you leave
Leave just before naptime
Know your baby's tolerance for being confined
Be prepared to stop often
Factor in extra time for EVERYTHING
Keep CD's handy that he/she may enjoy listening to.
Have favorite toys handy.
Keep all the supplies you will need handy
Take food with you
Toys and Play
When you talk to your baby, capture his/her attention before you begin. This will help you hold his/her attention longer, and you will be more likely to get a response. Keep using baby's name. He/She may not associate with his/her name yet, but is he/she hears it frequently, he/she will eventually realize it as a special sound.
Use short sentences, with four or five words, and try and use one or two syllable words. It is often easier for baby to recall words which can be associated with actions, so when you wave good by to grandma, say "bye-bye grandma" as you wave.
Baby is fascinated with sound and movement. Entertain him/her by slowly moving around as you talk.
Quick Tips For This Week
Never place a bouncer or chair with baby in it on any counter or other place where it could fall.
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