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Your Baby Development: 5 Weeks Old

How big is your baby?
This week your baby will be weighing around 91/4 pounds and measuring 211/4 inches if he/she was of average size at birth.

At about this time your baby may begin to recognize your face and voice. He/She may open and close his/her mouth or bob his/her head when you talk. He/She may even respond to voices with his/her own sounds in response as he/she begins to connect to what is heard and seen.

When your baby is supported he/she can hold his/her head steady for a brief period of time, even if it still a little wobbly. Baby can also probably lift his/her head for a brief period when lying on his/her stomach. To help develop and strengthen the neck muscles, place baby on his/her tummy in many different positions throughout the day when awake, both on the back and tummy.

Your baby will also begin to manually grasps and release objects such as your finger and if his/her hand finds its way to his/her mouth then he/she will begin sucking and mouthing the fingers or fist.

You may also notice that he/she is starting to stretch out and not spend as much time in the fetal position. He/She may arch his/her back and throw out his/her arms and legs, and even twist from side to side.

You baby can now see clearly from 18 inches, but doesn't have much control over his/her muscles, so at this stage he/she can at best wave an arm in the direction of what he/she sees.

Baby Development Milestones This Week

Bathing Baby

Most parents enjoy sharing their bathtub with their baby, and so you might as well. If you are going to introduce your baby to "the big tub" then there are certain precautions you will need to take to keep baby safe.

• Place a rubber mat on the bottom of the tub so that your baby will not slip
• Have your "baby bathing tools", such as shampoo and soap with in easy reach
• You may want to wear cotton gloves to ensure that you have a good grip on him/her.
• Make sure the bathroom is warm, but not too hot. Around 75F 23.8C is usually good.
• When placing baby into the tub, let his/her feet go in first. If he/she objects, remove him/her immediately.
• Support his/her head while you wash him/her
• Don't stay in the water too long
• Keep the temperature of your water heater below 120F (48.8C) to prevent accidental scalding
• Take baby out of the tub first, wrapping him/her in a towel to your partner before you get out.
• NEVER leave baby unattended in the tub!

Feeding Your Baby.

By the fifth week your baby is settling into a feeding routine, and should be feeding 6-8 times per day and taking in 2-5 ounces with each feed.

If you are breastfeeding you will notice that your feeding supply is well established.

To ensure that your baby is doing well, you can count the number of wet diapers. Usually 6 a day is good. Also the weight gain and growth will tell you that baby is doing well.

Baby Care

Stimulating Baby's Gums
It is never too early to help your baby develop strong and healthy gums for the teeth which will push through later.

You can do this by wiping his/her gums with a damp washcloth or gauze several times during the day and before bed time.

This will also help later, as he/she will be used to having his/her mouth cleaned, so it will be easier to get into the routine of cleaning teeth.

Hiccups
Hiccups is a contraction of baby's diaphragm, which separates the chest and abdominal cavities. It is not uncommon for a baby to have hiccups, and you may even have experienced your baby having hiccups while still in your womb.

There aren't really any ways in which to prevent hiccups, or even stop them for a matter of fact either. Hiccups usually occur after feeding, and in particular after burping. The only time you should worry about hiccups is when they prevent baby from eating or sleeping.

Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when baby doesn't take in enough fluids, or looses too much fluid from his/her body. It may occur if you are not breastfeeding properly, or not producing enough milk. It may also arise from vomiting or diarrhea. It may also occur during the hot summer months when your baby becomes overheated and does not receive enough fluid to compensate the overheating

Sign to Look For:

• Baby's coloring becomes grayish
• His/Her mucus membranes become dry
• Urination decreases. (Your baby should have 6-8 wet diapers per day)
• Sunken Fontanel (Soft part on top of the head)
• Rapid pulse
• Appears to be sluggish

Preventing Dehydration:

• Keep your baby out of the sun.
• Ensure he/she drinks plenty of fluids
• Dress baby appropriately for the weather.

When to Call You Pediatrician

• Baby hasn't had a wet diaper in 6-8 hours
• has been vomiting for more than 12 hours
• Has passed more than eight diarrhea stools in 8 hours
• Has a dry mouth and cries without tears
• is inconsolable
• seems unusually drowsy or sleepy
• has a sunken fontanel

Toys and Play

Nursery Rhymes and Conversations
If you have recordings of nursery rhymes to play for baby, then you should play them as he/she may enjoy the rhythmic cadence. Otherwise you can recite some from a book.

You could also make a hand puppet from an old sock and use it to talk to your baby in a high singsong voice.

Rattles Rings and Noisy Things
Because your baby is now beginning to develop his/her grasping technique, you may want to let him/her play with some safe rattles or rings. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and different materials.

Make sure that the toys don't have small parts, such as eyes, that could come loose.

House Tour
Take your baby for a tour of the house while holding or carrying him/her. Watch to see what objects interest him/her and point them out and talk about the objects.

When you do your routine chores around the house keep your baby close and talk or sing while doing them. Describe your activities to him/her, as this interaction will stimulate him/her and introduce him/her to household objects and tasks.