At 7 weeks old, your baby is meeting important developmental and growth milestones. Here's what to know about feeding, sleeping, baby care, and more.
It might be hard to believe that your baby is already 7 weeks old, and quickly approaching the 2-month mark. You're likely more confident in your ability to care for your baby, but each day still has its own set of challenges, so it’s normal to feel some uncertainty.
This week, your baby should be finishing their latest growth spurt, and they might be a little less fussy as a result. Your little one is also becoming increasingly social and aware of their surroundings.
Here, we break down the exciting 7-week-old baby developments and milestones you'll notice in your little one. We also share tips on feeding, sleep, health, safety, and baby care.
Over the past few weeks, your baby has become quite the social butterfly, and this week is no exception. At 7 weeks, some babies have flashed their first smiles (if not, the milestone is likely coming soon). You may also notice that they're smiling more responsively.
“They're starting to have social smiles in response to something and/or someone, and not just randomly,” says Gina Posner, MD, a pediatrician at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center. “They're watching you and turning their head to sounds, reacting to external stimuli.”
In general, 7-week-old babies are more aware of the world around them, says Norma Perez, MD, pediatrician and medical director at AltaMed Health Services. You may notice that your baby studies your face and readily turns toward sounds in the room. “They're consistently making more eye contact and smiling in response to someone smiling at them,” says Dr. Perez.
Your baby just finished their 6-week growth spurt, which hopefully means they're slightly less fussy this week. Additionally, if your baby had colic or colicky symptoms, they may have decreased slightly from their peak at 4 to 6 weeks. However, if your baby is still acting fussy or colicky, this is normal, as colic doesn’t usually disappear completely until around 3 months.
Your baby keeps getting stronger and stronger! “During tummy time, you may notice that your baby is now able to hold up their head for longer periods,” says Dr. Perez.
By spending time on their stomach, your infant is developing important muscles that will eventually help them sit, roll over, crawl, and walk. Right now, though, their little bodies still need support from you. “The neck muscles are still getting stronger every day, but at this age, babies still need help to support their head when held,” says Dr. Perez.
Your baby is also starting to develop their communication skills. “You'll also see some language/communication development at this stage in the form of cooing from your baby,” says Dr. Perez. They'll also make other vowel sounds, begin to gurgle, and have more refined cries that sound different when they're hungry, tired, or need changing.
Some other milestones you may notice this week include:
- Increased eye contact and responsive smiles. - Ability to hold up their head for longer during tummy time. - Development of communication skills through cooing and making vowel sounds. - More refined cries indicating specific needs.
Feeding is still a big part of your baby’s day. After all, they have a lot of growing to do right now! Continue feeding your 7-week-old baby responsively, says Roya Samuels, MD, a pediatrician at Northwell Health Adolescent & Pediatric Medicine in New Hyde Park, New York. “It's important to be in tune with your baby’s hunger cues and learn to feed on demand,” she says.
Around this age, babies usually take 4 to 5 ounces per feeding, and they eat every three or four hours (though some babies will eat less, which can also be normal). Formula-fed babies may space their feedings out a little more than breastfed babies; that's because breast milk digests more quickly. As Dr. Samuels says, though, there's a lot of variation when it comes to feeding frequency at 7 weeks. “Every infant is different and doesn’t necessarily follow hard and fast rules about timing between feeds,” she says.
At 7 weeks, babies are still prone to gassy tummies and frequent spitting-ups. One common culprit is overfeeding. “Babies who are overfed can have more spit than usual, excess gas, stomach pain, and vomiting,” says Dr. Perez.
Always pay attention to your baby’s cues and stop feeding when they seem full and less interested. Babies might also tell you they're done by moving their head away from the bottle or breast, unlatching while breastfeeding, pausing often, or falling asleep.
You're less likely to overfeed a breastfed baby because the milk doesn’t flow unless your baby is actively suckling. However, some parents are prone to having an oversupply that can contribute to a faster flow at the breast, leading to excessive spitting up and an upset stomach. You can remedy breastfeeding oversupply by making sure that your baby finishes one breast before offering another. Also, lean back while breastfeeding so the milk can go “down the hatch” better. Talk to a lactation consultant with any concerns.
After weeks of sleep deprivation, parents of 7-week-old babies are often desperate to know when their babies will snooze a little better. Unfortunately, they're still too small to sleep through the night. Seven-week-old babies tend to sleep about 14-16 hours per day, and increasing amounts of that slumber will happen at nighttime.
Right now, your baby is growing rapidly and requires the extra calories that nighttime feedings offer them, says Dr. Samuels. It’s not usually recommended that your baby sleeps without being fed until they're closer to 3 months and about 12-13 pounds.
That said, it’s never too early to implement a bedtime routine for your baby, adds Dr. Samuels, which will set the stage for the longer stretches of sleep that will hopefully come soon. Try soothing rituals like warm baths, reading a book together, or singing a song. “Having a reliable routine will cue your infant into the fact that it is time to doze off to sleep,” says Dr. Samuels.
As your baby becomes more alert and social, they'll want stimulation for longer pockets of the day. In between those feeding sessions and naps, you'll likely be brainstorming ways to fill the time and keep them happy.
Consider having some baby-safe toys for this purpose. The best options are designed with development in mind, and they're often brightly colored with interesting sounds. Consider rattles, soft baby books with “crinkly” pages, stuffed animals, and musical toys.
This week, your baby is probably bulking up due to their recent growth spurt. You may notice that their face has started to fill out and their arms and legs have gotten more chunky. All babies are different, though, and there's a wide range of normal when it comes to body shape and growth rate. The most important thing is that your baby is following their own growth curve and developing normally.
At 7 weeks old, most babies are gaining weight rapidly, about 1.5 to 2 pounds per month. They're also growing about an inch taller each month. Next week
