Your 2 Week Old Baby – Development, Milestones & Care

Your little one is home now, and you’re still adjusting to parenthood. While your baby may not have a routine at two weeks, your days are busy and you are likely following the same routine—feed, change, clean, rock, and repeat. Your little one is adjusting to the outside world, and every day, you’re learning something new about your baby; their crying pattern, hunger cues, and more. But there’s still a lot to learn. Find out how your little one is developing at 2 weeks.

Your 2-week-old Baby’s Development

At 2 weeks, the only way your baby can express his discomfort is by crying. At this stage, your baby’s eyes haven’t developed the full sight that is required to be able to focus and understand something. But babies do have a fascination for human faces. And it is important he gets to see your face more often. At the same time, holding your baby in your arms, giving him skin-to-skin contact will help develop the bond between you and your baby.

[Also Read: Newborn Baby Development]

Your Two-week-old Baby’s Milestones

Towards the second week, the small remnant piece of umbilical cord dries up and falls off, leaving just the navel knot on the tummy. Therefore, until this happens, it is important that the surrounding area is treated gently and with care. It is important to bathe your baby but instead of the usual tub filled baths, opt for sponge baths that can keep the baby clean and the navel area safe.

This is also the time when you might be home already and close to establishing a routine. The baby has mostly been in the hospital rooms and within the house, which also means you’ve been in the same places, too. Staying indoors all the time can get boring for you. So you can take a small walk in your backyard if you have one, or on the terrace. Or simply step outside for a few moments and take a breather along with your baby.

[Also Read: Newborn Baby Milestones]

Feeding

In the first six months of life, the only source of nutrients for a baby is breast milk (or formula milk, in case the mother is unable to breastfeed). At times, the feeding process can get a little irritating or painful for mothers as the nipples could be a tad more sensitive than usual post-delivery. However, it is important for the breastfeeding process to take place, since that is how the baby starts getting used to the breasts, and with the right synchronization of his latching and your positioning, your breasts will get comfortable with the same, too. Every feed starts making the process easier.

A 2-week old baby’s feeding amount can vary from his growth to his weight and so on. Your breasts will also take some time in getting in sync with his hunger timings. At two weeks, it is still quite early to establish a fixed routine or schedule that your baby can adhere to for feeding. It is best to cater to the baby’s demands for now and feed him whenever he is hungry. This also sets your breast milk production into action and keeps you prepared for the increased feeding demands as your baby grows.

[Also Read: Newborn Baby Feeding]

Sleeping

At 2 weeks, a baby’s life is pretty much about feeding and sleeping. These periods alternate throughout the day. Your baby might wake up crying with hunger, feed, then stay awake for some time, observing the world around him, and drift off back to sleep. At times, your baby may start crying even after a feeding, and you might know what exactly is troubling him. Trying out multiple techniques to calm him down may fail to work and cause you to wonder if you are being a good mother or not. However, it is important to not lose hope or feel bad about yourself. By holding your baby in your arms, cooing in his ears, rocking him gently, or bathing him can calm babies down, and ensure that he gets back to his sleep.

While sleeping, it is best that your baby has his own crib or a separate bed and is situated next to you. There will be a constant need to keep checking if he’s fine and to feed him if he’s hungry. Having your baby close to you makes it easier for both.

[Also Read: Newborn Baby Sleep Basics]

Behaviour

As with every human being, even the behaviour of babies varies from one infant to another. However, most of them generally fall under the hungry-sleepy cycle. It may not be evident at first, but as you feed your baby, you will realise that a baby uses up quite a lot of his energy in just suckling at your breast, which causes him to fall asleep nearly right after feeding. Premature babies tend to sleep more often than others and doctors might advise you to wake them up so that they get the necessary feeding completely.

In other cases, certain babies are extremely wide-eyed and curious throughout. Even during breastfeeding, their eyes might dart towards any sounds that may occur in the room. Your baby’s facial expressions might remind you of your own childhood.

Tips to Take Care of a 2-week-old Baby

• Any crib or cradle that your baby lies in, should be comfortable for him. Let there not be too wide a gap in the bars. The bedding of the crib should be firm. Keep it in such a way that it doesn’t have direct air blowing over it. Don’t crowd the cradle with unnecessary toys.

• When preparing water for your baby’s bath, check for temperature by dipping your elbow. Make sure it is not hot by the baby’s standards since his skin is a lot more sensitive than yours.
• Don’t keep any tiny objects around the baby while playing with him or even while taking care of him. A random hand movement could cause him to grab it and put it in his mouth.
• At two weeks, babies still can’t move their bodies fully. Therefore, it is necessary to put your baby to sleep by making him lie on his back. Don’t keep any blankets near him that might cover his face accidentally.
• Never leave your baby alone by himself. Childproof the home properly and make use of baby monitors or so, if required.
• If your baby is premature or if doctors mention a low immunity, it is best to keep your baby away from strangers or hordes of relatives. Restrict the number of people that interact with your baby or hold him close. Make sure anyone who does, makes use of a sanitizer before touching your child.
• Keep your doctor’s number handy and feel free to check with them if your baby has a fever or if there are any signs of irritation that seems out of the ordinary.

[Also Read: Newborn Baby Care]

Tests and Vaccinations

Most tests and vaccinations are administered in the first week of the baby itself. These cover the BCG vaccine for tuberculosis, IPV for polio, and the hepatitis B vaccine. If for any reason, these are delayed in the first week, they could be followed up in the second week as per the doctor’s recommendation. If they have been done as per schedule, then week 2 is pretty much vaccination-free.

Games and Activities

As your baby is discovering various things around him, one of the first things he can perceive and remember is the sense of touch. You can play with your baby by using a variety of items that have different textures. This could be a baby-friendly plastic toy, a velvet cloth, a silk scarf, a nice soft blanket, your hair, and so. This is the time when a baby’s vision develops, so make sure you should him a few bright coloured blocks or mobile toys to improve his vision. Keep talking to him to encourage him to look at you. This will also increase the bond between you and your baby.

Massaging your baby is a great activity for babies. Make your little one feel comfortable by giving him a nice gentle massage. Take some baby-friendly massage oil and rub it on your palms to warm it up. Starting from your baby’s legs, begin massaging gently as you continue talking to him. Begin from the calves and continue to the thighs and to the tummy. Be gentle and gradual as the baby will also start recognizing what’s happening to him. In the tummy and chest area, be careful around the umbilical cord if it hasn’t fallen off yet. Make eye contact with the baby and talk to him to keep him calm and engaged. Making soothing voices is extremely beneficial. If your baby resists at any point, stop massaging and hold him closer so that he may not burst into tears.

[Also Read: Newborn Baby Games and Activities]

When to Consult a Doctor

Consider a doctor in the following cases:

Jaundice

Most babies suffer from jaundice when they’re young, but jaundice can be taken care of by increased feedings and keeping the baby in sunlight for some minutes. In case, it is severe, medical help will be needed. If your baby’s face and chest start getting a yellow tinge, it is important to let your doctor know immediately.

Constipation

Constipation is yet another problem that many babies face as they have trouble passing stools. These reduced bowel movements can be taken care of by either giving little water or going for a different formula. Before attempting either of these, check with your baby’s doctor for the same.

Sneezing or a Runny Nose

With polluted air all around or even dust particles, your baby could start sneezing or have a runny nose. Try using nasal drops or saltwater if it gets severe.

Skin Rash

Constant drooling from the mouth can mostly cause a rash, which goes by itself with hygiene. If it stays or worsens, call your doctor immediately.

Dry and Flaky Skin

Most babies get a dry skin problem which can be easily fixed by using a baby-safe soap without harsh chemicals in it. Using a moisturizing lotion can help the skin retain the moisture within it as well.

Reflux

Babies are known to throw up food more often than not. This happens usually when the feeding is more than required. If your baby continues to gain weight in an expected manner and doesn’t end up choking on food, these reflux spit ups are fine. Feeding him a little less than usual and making sure burping is diligently followed after every feeding will ensure a reduction in these.

Watery Eyes

At times, the tear duct of a baby could be blocked, causing the eyes to fill with water occasionally. This is not a condition to worry about unless there seem to be signs of an eye infection. In such a case, your doctor might recommend baby safe eye drops.

Diaper Rash

Not removing the soiled diaper for long can result in a diaper rash. To keep your baby safe, keep the area airy and change diapers regularly while making sure that the area stays hygienic.

Respiratory Problems

Cough and cold could plague a young baby too, and advanced medication is rarely required for it. In case the fever aggravates or breathing problems ensue, the doctor will take appropriate measures to resolve it.

At two weeks, your baby seems so delicate and fragile. But as he grows and gains weight, you will know that your baby is on his way to being a healthy child, and you will get to enjoy wonderful days with him in the time to come.

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