6 WEEK OLD BABY DEVELOPMENT
6 week old baby development will probably
be:
. . . hold his head well off the
bed when he's placed on his abdomen
. . . start to smile.
Between the ages of six weeks and three months, your baby may:
. . . follow a moving person with his
eyes
. . . stare at a bright object
. . . lift chest a short distance when
placed on abdomen
. . . lie awake for longer periods at
a time
. . . kick feet or push with legs in
bath
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Your baby's weight gain at 6 weeks should be from 2 to 3
pounds over his weight at birth. Depending on his size at birth, a baby usually
gains from 4 to 8 ounces a week during the first four months. However, if your
baby was premature or small to begin with, his weight gain may be slightly less.
FEEDINGS
By now, the baby has usually dropped one feeding and is nursing or
taking formula 4 to 5 times a day. Many pediatricians omit the 10 P.M. feeding
if the baby is gaining well and takes a sufficient quantity in 4 bottles.
However, if a fifth bottle is necessary, it is better to wait until the baby
wakes up. You wouldn't want to be awakened
if you really aren't hungry and neither does Baby.
It's not necessary to alter the formula at this age. The breast-fed baby
doesn't suddenly get a change in breast milk which still contains the same
amount of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Also, the total calories per
ounce are unaltered. Therefore, the formula-fed baby doesn't need a change
either.
SLEEP SCHEDULE
Your baby will sleep in the position in which you put him to
bed. He lies that way unable to row' his body during the first three months.
During this time, it is best to encourage the baby to sleep first on one side, then
the other, or on his stomach. Alternate after each feeding if you wish. Lying on
his stomach may soothe him if he is restless because of unburped gas.
By the time the baby is 6 weeks old, he should be sleeping 6 hours at night, but
this isn't a hard and fast rule. Some babies will sleep longer, and,
unfortunately, some babies will sleep their longest during the day or early
evening and demand a feeding every 4 hours at night.
These little night owls are too young to tell time, and you can't very well tell
them when to sleep and when to stay awake.
In an attempt to rearrange his offbeat schedule, you might try awakening him
after he's slept four hours in the morning or afternoon to feed him. But do this
only when the baby has his days and nights mixed up.
SLEEPING BAGS
Many mothers have found a sleeping bag helpful, because the baby
can't get uncovered. If you do use a sleeping bag, it should be long so his feet
won't get cramped. It should not bind around the neck or confine the baby too
much, and it should be made so that he can't get tangled tip in it.
The following pages will provide with
more information on 6 week old baby development:
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