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Imagine being inside a world that is quiet, calm, cosy and warm and then suddenly feeling cold, heat, wind, noises, and hunger all at the same time. That’s pretty much what babies undergo once they are born. They, too, are coming to terms with the novelty of living outside the womb and understanding what these different things are. As a parent, you can always be there for your child and keep a track of whether he is developing the right way.
2 Week Old Baby Development
One of the primary ways your baby has to be able to let you know something is by crying. At this stage, the 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, increasing skin-to-skin contact is all that a baby remembers and builds trust upon, and starts understanding you even without knowing your face fully.
Two Week Old Baby 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 you bored and be boring for the baby, too. Take a small walk in your home’s 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.
Feeding
At the age of two weeks, feeding off your breast is the primary means for the baby to get his food. At times, the feeding process can get a little irritating or painful for mothers, since 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 your breast, 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 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 breastmilk production into action and keeps you prepared for the increased feeding demands as your baby grows.
Sleeping
For a 2-week old baby sleep and feeding is pretty much all their life is about at this stage. 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 them in your arms, cooing in their ears, rocking them gently, or bathing them can calm babies down, and ensure that your child gets back to his sleep.
While sleeping, it is best if 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. Throughout their sleeping periods, babies tend to make a variety of sounds. They may groan, grunt, move around, or make weird sounds, all of which are absolutely normal markers of your baby’s growth.
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 might not seem evident but a baby uses up quite a lot of his energy in just suckling at your breast, which causes them to fall asleep nearly right after their feeding is done. 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. They are awake for extended periods, respond to sounds, look around when faces appear, and try to give expressions. Even during breastfeeding, their eyes might dart towards any sounds that may occur in the room. Certain movements or facial expressions might remind you of your own childhood or your spouse’s. Constant bickering might cause you to believe that you have an irritating child in your hands. It is, however, important to remember that most babies have the same tendencies and grow up to be unique individuals in their own right.
2 Week Old Newborn Baby Care Tips
- Any crib or cradle that your baby lies it 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.
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. His hands will keep trying to get a hold of various things around him and understand why something feels the way it does. Not only does it make them understand objects better, but they start understanding what they are seeing and how they can control their hands to move in a certain direction. This development of hand-eye coordination builds up quite a lot.
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. Let your baby grab onto each one of these, one at a time and observe his reaction. Be communicative with him as well and make sounds, saying words, describing what you feel. Babies learn a lot from our own emotional communications with them and each other. At times, your baby might want to put the object in his mouth and see how it feels. As long as it is clean and does not pose a harm to the baby, let him go ahead and do it. Sometimes, that seems to make them understand the object better.
While your baby is busy with his newfound discovery, you can make him feel more comfortable by giving a nice gentle massage. Take some baby-friendly massage oil and rub it on your palms to make it warm. 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.
Consult a Doctor If
Here are some cases when a doctor consultation is warranted.
Jaundice
Most babies suffer from jaundice when they’re young, but can be taken care of by increased feedings or even certain medical lights as an extreme measure. 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 their 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, get your doctor’s advice about 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 of salt water 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.
Water-Filled 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
Leaving poop in the diaper for long times can result in such a rash. Keep the area airy and change diapers regularly while making sure that the area stays hygienic.
Respiratory Problems
A 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 might seem to grow a lot within a few days. With increased feedings and weight gain, 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.
