Your 11 Week Old Baby – Development, Milestones & Care

11 weeks is just one week short of completing three full months, marking a significant milestone for both your baby and you as parents. During this time, you may notice that many relatives and family members begin commenting on how your baby’s facial features resemble either you or your spouse. Their unique characteristics are becoming more prominent, creating moments of awe and wonder. These moments create a beautiful and heartwarming time for you as a family, filled with love, joy, and anticipation for the amazing journey ahead. Embrace every precious moment as your 11-week-old baby continues to grow and develop.

11 Week Old Baby Development

On the verge of completing about 3 months of life’s journey since birth, your baby would have achieved a significant 11 week growth spurt. An 11-week-old baby’s weight gain is more than half a kilo by now since birth and they might start finding it comfortable to sleep on a normal cot instead of their crib.

Most babies start getting strength in their limbs and fat in their cheeks making them chubby and extremely adorable. On lying down on their tummy, your kid might be even able to push himself up a bit by using his arms. Reaching out and grasping for things will be ongoing, although hand-eye coordination will still need quite some development. Their perception of sound and space will sharpen further and can be compounded by using toys that make sounds such as dangling flutes or rattles. With enhanced listening skills, hearing your voice from even the doorway will cause them to respond positively to you.

[Also Read: 2 Months Old Baby Development]

Eleven-Week-Old Baby Milestones

Wondering what are the 11-week-old baby milestones? With increased strength in the upper body now, your baby might do his best to support himself using his arms, when he lies down on his tummy. This can be quite a good marker to understand when he can start crawling about. On lying down in their beds, if there are toys dangling above or on the bars of the crib, he will spend a lot of time being engaged and trying to grab them. The 11 week milestones are interesting and a joy to watch!

This also means that it is important to keep any objects that are harmful to your kid out of sight. It won’t be long before you see something random in your child’s crib and wonder how he got his hands on that. Leaving anything unsanitary near your kid even for a few moments could end up in him picking it up and putting it in his mouth. This is quite natural for kids as they try to explore each object by feeling it first and then by attempting to chew on it. This helps develop the muscular strength required to chew on solid food, too. He may partially lift his head too when held upright.

[Also Read: 2 Months Old Baby Milestones]

Feeding

Around the completion of 3 months, your baby might end up being one of those who is always dissatisfied and constantly hungry at any point in time. He could be the one who needs to be sucking on something or the other object all the time and may cry to be fed shortly after a feeding cycle has been completed. Again, this isn’t a cause of worry since every baby tends to behave in a different manner. Biological markers are important to note in this case and weight gain is the most important one. If that’s fine, then everything else is fine. Certain parents feel like introducing their kids to light solids just to keep their stomachs full. Do not attempt to do so since your baby’s stomach is still not strong enough to digest solids and this could also manifest in medical complications in cases of allergy. If your breasts fail to supply enough milk, always opt for formula and feed that to the baby instead.

[Also Read: 2 Months Old Baby Food]

Sleeping

An 11-week-old baby’s sleep signs are very evident and can be spotted easily. If your baby is tired, he will start yawning or tend to not stare at anything for a long time and have red eyes, too. Too much extension of tiredness could cause him to get cranky so it is important to get him to sleep the moment you notice these signs.

Around this age, your baby will start developing a fixed time of sorts when he will be able to sleep quite easily. All these behaviours are signs of that and it’s best to put them to sleep right away. In case the sleeping window is missed, your baby will stay awake and be irritated throughout. Fortunately, your baby might start understanding the difference between night and day and tend to sleep a little more at night. This will give you the sleep you require as well.

If your baby goes to sleep by himself, he might wake up within half an hour or so but still be a little groggy. In such cases, cuddle him or pat him gently so that he is lulled into sleep again and then continues to do so without interruptions.

Behaviour

All the previous noises and smiles and grunts get amplified and your baby starts responding confidently. He will also understand the concept of playing peek-a-boo and revel in laughter when he sees your face at the end. Listening to music or even saying nursery rhymes is important since their memory can then remember the tunes to be recalled later as a learning technique. Mimicking actions or repeating a simple sound like “boo” or “yaa” in the middle of the rhyme are easy ways to make the game exciting as well as an educational experience. Your baby may make cooing sounds and turn his head towards some sounds.

As excited and eager for interaction as he might be, at times, let your baby be by himself and engage in other activities. His mind is a playground of curiosity and imagination and who knows what goes on inside it while they are busy playing with toys? Allow that time of self to him as well.

Crying

With growing age, the volume and intensity of your baby’s cry start growing as well. His demands will start becoming sharper and precise and he will do his best to cry in a different way to convey something else. Around this age, your baby’s personality will be more evident and you will begin to realise certain behavioural patterns of being stubborn or being calm. This can make it easier for you to know what he really wants. You might be lucky to have a baby that calms down quickly once he is rocked or soothed in arms. You might be unfortunate to have a baby that cries to no end for no reason at all.

Pooping

You’ll observe that your baby tends to have bowel movements shortly after each feeding. In the case of breastfeeding, you’ll likely find that the stool appears as a yellowish mustard hue, often containing small white particles, which are indicative of its fat content, and this is completely normal. For formula-fed babies, the stool typically has a more solid consistency and lacks the small white particles found in breastfed babies’ stools.

Some Problems That Parents of an 11-Week-Old Baby Should Be Aware of

As parents of an 11-week-old baby, it’s essential to stay informed about potential challenges and issues that may arise during this stage of your baby’s development. Here are three noteworthy points to consider:

1. Flat Head Syndrome

If your baby has an aversion to spending time on their tummy, which is a common occurrence, you might observe the development of a flattened area on their head due to prolonged periods spent on their back. This condition is known as Flat Head Syndrome, and you can address it by minimizing the duration your baby spends on their back and encouraging more tummy time.

2. Purposeful Crying

Your baby’s cries may become more intense and goal-oriented at this stage. They are beginning to realize that crying can be an effective means to communicate their needs, whether it’s for comfort or something else. With time, you will become attuned to the nuances of their cries and distinguish their various signals. If you find this adjustment challenging, don’t fret; most babies tend to become more settled in their crying patterns around the three-month mark.

3. Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression can manifest at any point during your baby’s first year. If you’re grappling with overwhelming guilt or feelings of inadequacy, sensing that everything could go awry and it’s your sole responsibility, it may be beneficial to consult your healthcare provider and discuss the potential presence of postpartum depression. Remember, you’re not alone in this, as it affects approximately 10 to 15 out of every 100 women who become mothers.

11-Week-Old Baby Care Tips

• Ensure your baby gets enough food that satiates his increased appetite. Make the switch to formula milk as a supplementary means if your breasts don’t produce enough.
• Keep the lights off at night and all stimuli away to start enforcing a night-time sleeping schedule on the baby.
• Make use of a lot of sounds and colours to interact with your baby and help his development.
• Engage in tummy time daily to encourage your baby’s motor skill development and reduce the risk of flat head syndrome.
• Be vigilant about your baby’s safety by baby-proofing your home as they become more active and curious. Install safety gates, secure heavy furniture, and cover electrical outlets.

[Also Read: 2 Months Old Baby Care]

Tests and Vaccinations

Once the important vaccines of the 8th week have been administered properly, there is no vaccination required at this week at all.

Games and Activities

Your baby’s perception of shape and colour has improved and so has his capability of recognising who you are. You could put them both together to the test by playing a game of peek-a-boo with a twist. Get a few leaves that are bright green in colour, yellow or red, too. You can then tie those to the baby’s pram and then let him observe them while you stroll around the park. With larger leaves, you can use them to hide your eyes or your mouth and make funny impressions with them.

Babies do not roll over at this age but they do start making some attempt towards achieving it. You can give a push in the right direction by making him realise how it feels to roll over in the first place. Use a soft blanket and lie down your kid on his back. Try clapping on one side and making sounds until he starts to tilt his head and make attempts to turn over. Once that happens, lift the blanket gently or push slightly to help him roll over. That first time when he rolls over will be quite an experience for him. If he is excited and makes happy sounds, use the blanket to roll him over onto his back. Keep doing that a few more times and make sounds of encouragement when he does.

[Also Read: 2 Months Old Baby Games and Activities]

Consult a Doctor If

Many times your baby might end up having gas due to drinking a lot of milk than required or because you ended up eating something that caused gases for both of you. But even after burping him or helping him pass the air, your baby starts crying and seems to have signs of stomach ache, you can let your doctor know about it.

If your baby starts demanding more milk and your breasts cannot provide it, let your doctor recommend the best formula to switch to.

Most babies at this age are already very physically active and communicative. If your child still does not show any signs of interaction or response to sounds and moving objects, a doctor’s examination is highly suggested.

FAQs

1. Why Is My 11 Week Old Baby So Cranky?

Your 11 weeks baby might be cranky due to a variety of reasons, including hunger, discomfort, tiredness, or general fussiness. They may also be going through developmental changes or growth spurts, which can affect their mood. Pay attention to their needs, ensure they are well-fed, rested, and comfortable, and provide soothing and cuddling as necessary to help ease their crankiness.

2. How Frequently Should an 11-Week-Old Baby Burp?

Babies need to be burped after feeding to release trapped air that can cause discomfort. Generally, aim to burp your 11-week-old baby after every 2-3 ounces of formula or when switching breasts during breastfeeding. However, not all babies need to burp after every feed, so it’s essential to observe your baby’s cues. If they seem fussy or gassy during or after feeding, that’s a good indication to burp them.

With 3 months of growth for your baby, you can start bringing some focus to yourself and try exercising to start getting back to a fit shape. Staying healthy in the long run is beneficial for you since, within no time, you might be running behind your baby to take care of him.

References/Resources:

1. Why Babies Spit Up; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Why-Babies-Spit-Up.aspx

2. Developmental Milestones: 3 Months; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Developmental-Milestones-3-Months.aspx

3. How Much Sleep Do Babies and Kids Need?; Sleep Foundation; https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep/how-much-sleep-do-kids-need

4. Pacifiers and Thumb Sucking; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Pacifiers-and-Thumb-Sucking.aspx

5. Thumb sucking: Help your child break the habit; Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/thumb-sucking/art-20047038

6. Boys Growth Chart; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/data/who/GrChrt_Boys_24LW_100611.pdf

7. Girls Growth Chart; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/data/who/GrChrt_Girls_24LW_9210.pdf

8. Plagiocephaly and brachycephaly (flat head syndrome); NHS UK; https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/plagiocephaly-brachycephaly/

Previous Week: 10 Weeks Old Baby

Next Week: 12 Weeks Old Baby