6 weeks

Behavior and development

How does the baby develop?

When the baby was 6 weeks old, he often laughed. Now your baby knows how to show love to you. Get ready for a radiant baby smile just for you as a response that your baby loves you so much, too. Surely you will feel relieved and forget all the fatigue. By the second week of the first month, your baby may be able to respond to the ringing in a certain way, such as staring, crying, or being silent.

What do you need to do to support your baby?

Most experts recommend that you put your baby to bed while he is still awake even though he is tired. This will help the baby sleep on its own. Self-sleep is a skill that will help both you and your baby when they wake up in the middle of the night. You can help your baby form this habit early by establishing a healthy sleep routine from the start, such as a gentle bath, massage or storytelling to your baby before bed. This habit also helps to build up your baby's independence later on.

Health and safety

What should mom discuss with the doctor?

Depending on your child's health, the doctor will schedule an exam for your baby. However, if you take your baby to see a doctor this week, talk to your doctor about the following:

If your baby is gaining weight slowly or having any illness;

If you have any concerns arising in the past two weeks about your baby's health, behavior, sleep, baby's problems.

Mother should know more?

Nutrition for your baby

Don't worry if you can't breastfeed your baby. If you are using a bottle, make sure your baby is always healthy, happy and that the weight increases steadily and properly. This means that your baby has received enough nutrients from formula. However, be careful not to overfeed your baby. Using too much formula can make your baby look chubby and obese and can also lead to a number of other health consequences in the future. If your baby is vomiting a lot, has stomach pain or is gaining too much weight, he may have been drinking too much milk. Ask your doctor about how much milk your baby needs and how often to feed your baby so that your baby can grow steadily.

Also, at this stage, your doctor may prescribe several vitamins and nutrients like vitamin D and iron.

Baby's sleeping position

You also help your baby maintain a supine position while sleeping. Studies have shown that babies sleeping on their backs are less likely to experience fever, stuffy nose, ear infections, and vomiting at night. Let your baby sleep on his back from now on so he will learn to get used to and feel comfortable with this position from a young age.

Baby's breath

A newborn's normal breathing rate is about forty times per minute while the baby is awake. However, when the baby sleeps, the breathing rate can be only twenty times per minute. You should pay attention if your baby's breathing becomes abnormal while the baby is sleeping. Babies can breathe rapidly, repeatedly, fast and shallow, lasting for about 15-20 seconds and then stop for less than 10 seconds and then breathe again. This breathing is called periodic breathing. This is mostly normal and is the result of an incomplete development of the breathing center in the brain.

Clean the umbilical cord

Umbilical cord infections are rare, especially if you've taken care of your baby's umbilical area clean and kept dry at all times. If you notice redness in the surrounding skin or discharge from the umbilical cord or the bottom of the umbilical cord, especially if the umbilical cord smells bad, immediately take your baby to the doctor. If your baby has an infection, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics for the baby. The umbilical cord usually dries up and falls off within a week or two after your baby is born. When the umbilical cord falls off, you may notice a small streak of blood or a small amount of fluid like blood. This is completely normal and not worrying. However, if the umbilical cord does not completely close and does not dry within two weeks after the umbilical cord has fallen, take your baby to see a doctor for timely care and help.

Mother's concern

What are the things you need to care about?

Baby's sleep

Perhaps nothing is happier than watching your lovely little angel fall asleep. However, if your baby falls asleep while in your arms, while you have other things to do, gently move your baby to bed. You should wait ten minutes until your baby falls asleep, then gently hold and bring your baby to bed. Things you need to note:

Put your baby to sleep on a high mattress for easy placement. For the first few weeks, use crib replacements such as cribs, stroller or anything else that makes it easier to lift your baby in and out of the crib;

Reduce lighting in baby room;

The more distance between where your baby falls asleep and where you put your baby to sleep, the higher the chance your baby will be awakened when you pick him up. So, let your baby eat or lull your baby to sleep near the crib;

Let your baby eat or gently bump the baby in your arm to make it easier to place the baby in the crib;

Always watching the baby;

Lullaby to help your baby sleep better.

Crying state

By the second week of the first month, the baby may still be fussy. Some of the following solutions may help you. Instead of trying different methods of comforting your baby, try a certain way at a time. Try to try each method one at a time before you move on to the other method. Here are a few things you can try if your baby is crying:

React immediately when your baby cries: Don't worry that you will spoil your baby if you immediately react to the fussy baby. Paying more attention to your baby does not make him dependent on you. So, please hold and comfort your baby;

Situation assessment: Before determining that your baby is crying just to ask for something, consider whether there is another cause of the crying;

Be close to babies: Research has shown that babies held for at least three hours a day cry less than babies who aren't held very often;

Wrapping a towel around your baby: Some babies may feel comfortable being tightly wrapped, especially this can help soothe a fussy crying;

Cuddle: Give your baby a cuddle to make him feel safe;

Put some pressure: Put your baby to lie down in any position that gently affects the baby's abdomen to reduce discomfort;

Breastfeed or suck on a pacifier;

Make it new: You can hold your baby by moving from hand to hand.

Find a place with fresh air to comfort your baby.

Control the amount of air your baby swallows: Make sure you help your baby burp regularly while feeding to avoid swallowing too much air.

Kidding

Reduce your baby's excitement.

Check the diet: Make sure your baby doesn't cry from hunger;

Take your baby to the doctor;

Seek help: make use of everything you can to share the burden of comforting the baby with others.