Baby Week6

Your Baby Development: 6 Weeks Old

How big is your baby? This week your baby will be weighing around 91/2 pounds and measuring 211/4 inches if he/she was of average size at birth. Your baby is gaining more control over his/her neck muscles. You may notice He/She shifts his/her head more often now to look at what is around him/her. He/She can also hold his/her head up for a few seconds now, and may extend his/her legs and arms when he/she holds his/her head up. Your baby may be smiling on his/her own now! He/She has been making expressions that may appear to be smiles since birth, but these would not have been of a social nature. You may also notice that baby is showing more excitement when it comes to regular activities such as bath time or play time. He/She may demonstrate this by cooing or making other noises while kicking his/her legs. Your baby will be more visually alert now when in a sitting position. He/She will begin to associate lying down with sleeping, so when baby is awake keep him/her in a sitting position, or semi upright, for as long as possible, and he/she will enjoy seeing what is around him/her.

Baby Development Milestones This Week

Feeding Baby Introducing the bottle to a breastfed baby If you find it necessary to feed your baby from a bottle, keep in mind the following as you learn this new skill:

• Don’t offer a bottle until you have breastfed for at least 4 weeks
• Let someone else, such as your partner, give your baby the bottle first
• Offer the first bottle when he’s not hungry, if you wait till he/she is starving, then he/she may be too distressed to eat
• Introduce the bottle slowly. Drop a little milk on his/her lips from the bottle, then wait till he/she open his/her mouth before you put the bottle in
• Your baby may take to the bottle better if you hold him/her in a different position than when you nurse him/her.
• When bottle feeding your baby, site him/her in a more upright position.
• Don’t loose control. Be patient when you are trying to start your baby bottle feeding. If your baby gets angry or upset, take a break and try again later

Dealing with a temperature A fever may be a sign that the immune system is at work. When your baby has a fever he/she may be fighting an infection. A fever is defined as a rectal temperature of greater than 101F (38.3C). You can try some treatments at home to reduce your baby’s fever:

• Encourage baby to take in fluid
• Let him/her rest
• Don’t dress him/her to warmly
• Give him/her acetaminophen if he/she seems uncomfortable. DO NOT exceed the recommended dosage, follow the instructions and measure carefully
• Pay special attention to any other symptoms which your baby may display

When To call the doctor:

• Your baby is less than 3 months old with a temperature higher than 101F (38.3C) taken rectally.
• Has a fever of 104F (40C) and acts ill
• Cries inconsolably
• Is lethargic or difficult to wake
• Has breathing difficulties
• Has sore throat or difficulty swallowing
• Shows signs of improvement after giving him/her acetaminophen
• Has a fever for more than 72 hours
• Was better but the fever returned
• Seems to have ear pain
• Has difficulty or pain when urinating
• Has a febrile seizure (seizure accompanied by fever)

Toys and Play Let baby enjoy many sounds Most babies enjoy toys that make sounds when they play with them, but baby enjoys other sounds too, such as water sounds or the sound of waves. Some toys make many different sounds such as: white noise, tick-tock and wind chimes. The Reaching Game Play this game to encourage your baby to begin using his/her arms. When you hold a toy near baby, he/she may crane his/her head and neck to see it in his/her field of vision. Move it a little closer and place it near his/her hands. See if he/she reaches for it, if not then place one of his/her hands on the toy. Keep up with this game every time you play for a while without forcing him/her. Pulling While baby is lying on his/her back gently pull baby up to a sitting position. He/She will probably flex his/her neck slightly. This encourages him/her to lift his/her head steady. Be sure not too pull to hard or too fast. Quick Tips For This Week