Baby Development

Babies grow rapidly in the first few weeks after birth, and by 7 weeks of age, you will find a noticeable change in it. Your baby may have gained an average of 200 grams per week. If your baby has gained less or more weight than this, there is no reason to feel stressed out as each baby`s growth rate can vary.

You may find your baby awake and quiet at times. These special moments are very valuable for brain development.

This is a good time to start talking, singing and humming with your baby. You will notice that your baby`s eyes have changed as well. It will start making eye contact, tracking objects.

Milestones

1. Your baby will be able to follow objects with its eyes.

1. Your baby`s head is now stronger and it can easily turn its head.

1. Your baby is becoming more social at this age. It makes frequent eye contact with you and can recognize your face.

1. It can grab things you put in your hand and may hit nearby objects.

1. It`s listening and absorbing language - so keep talking even if it doesn`t understand most of what you`re saying.

Nutrition

Your baby may have developed better feeding skills around this week. It is now more aware of how to absorb and also swallows more efficiently. It may also have adapted to a diet that suits its needs. As a breastfeeding mom, you may find your breasts lighter now as your milk supply is adjusted to your baby`s needs and demands. As your baby grows rapidly, your baby`s nutrition increases. It may take a few days for your milk production to adjust to your baby`s growing needs, but it will happen. If necessary, you can contact a lactation specialist.

If breastfeeding is not possible and your baby is bottle fed, it is recommended to increase the amount of milk at each meal to meet your baby`s growth needs.

The most important thing to remember is that how you feed your baby is not as important as providing love and care. Breast milk and breastfeeding are great, but don`t blame yourself and stress when that`s not possible.

Toilet

Just because your baby suckles more doesn`t mean he or she will defecate frequently. It may pass the stool every 3 to 7 days or 10 times a day, both are normal. However, if its stomach is hard, restless, it is fed with formula and has not pooped for 3-4 days, consult your doctor. In breastfed babies, pooping can sometimes be delayed up to 10 days. You can also take a close look at the color of the stool to make sure your baby isn`t experiencing any health issues due to increased feeding. Sometimes, babies can suffer from constipation when feedings are not regular. In this case, you can feed your baby more regularly and more often to get it into its feeding routine. If your baby isn`t hungry, it may resist at first, but eventually it must accept it and get used to the routine. If you`re still having trouble feeding your little one, consult a pediatrician right away.

Sleep

If you`re wondering that you can get your eight hours of beauty sleep a night, the answer is that this dream might seem a bit exaggerated at this stage. However, if your baby has been well fed in the last 24-hour cycle, your 7-week-old baby can sleep for up to six hours a night without interruption. The good news is that your baby may have a more predictable sleep pattern by week 7, or its sleep pattern may become more structured by this time. It would be a good idea to start a bedtime routine. So your baby knows that it`s time to sleep now. If your baby wakes up at night before it`s time to feed, try tapping its back and calming it down without lifting. But if this isn`t an adequate response to its continuing sleeping, take it and breastfeed/feed it.

Behavior

Your baby can begin to express itself by this time. Get ready to hear those cute chirps. Talk to your baby, sing songs to it, it will definitely enjoy listening to it and it will help stimulate its little brain.

It is recommended that you plan a small tummy time each day. Have your baby lie on its stomach on a hard surface and let it try to lift its head. Despite raising its head longer than before, its neck is still not strong enough, so be careful. It must have tummy time, but under your constant surveillance.

Crying

There may also be a significant change in your baby`s crying. You may notice a transition to louder crying. You may notice different types of crying for different reasons. Cries of hunger, tiredness, restlessness and the need for a diaper change can all be different. Some crying sessions do not require immediate attention, while others do. As a parent, you know best what your baby wants and how it feels. Listen to your instincts and take appropriate action.

Care Tips

1. Your baby is growing faster and may require more feeding sessions than before. Respond to your baby`s demand by offering to breastfeed when you see signs of hunger.

1. Your baby can sleep up to 6 hours a night, make sure it is well fed and sleeps in a safe and clean environment.

1. Daily tummy time will help your baby develop neck and back muscles. Make sure you have it done every day under your supervision.

1. It is recommended that you talk to your baby. This calms your baby and also helps develop listening skills.

1. Change your baby`s diaper regularly, as babies tend to get diaper rash. If the room temperature is suitable, keep some change times long to allow the diaper area to breathe. Keep the groin area dry and clean.

1. To prevent your baby from vomiting, feed at regular intervals, burp and give the required amount (neither too little or too much) of milk or formula each time. Do not supplement with formula if breast milk is sufficient for your baby. Do not even give water to your baby for the first 6 months (There is enough water for your baby in both breast milk and formula).

1. Do not shake your baby quickly, do not make sudden movements, as this may cause permanent damage to the brain.

1. Burp your baby after each meal to help get stomach gas out.

1. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes while you are feeding your baby (This includes formula feeding also. The smell of both will bother the baby).

1. Stick to your baby`s feeding and sleep schedule to avoid unnecessary fuss and irritation. Babies don`t like their routines disrupted.

Tests and Vaccines

When you take your 7-week-old baby for a routine check-up, your doctor can take the following steps:

1. It controls your baby`s head and fontanelle.

1. Tests your baby`s ears to see how they respond to sound and also check for infections.

1. Checks your baby`s eyes for clogged tear ducts or any congenital eye problems.

1. Will check your baby`s mouth for thrush or any other infection in the mouth.

1. Will listen to your baby`s heart and lungs to check for any breathing or heart abnormalities.

1. Will check the muscles for reflexes and examine the skin for redness.

1. Will check your baby`s genitals for any rash or infection.

1. Will examine your baby`s abdomen to check for enlarged organs or hernia symptoms.

1. Will move your baby`s legs and hip joints to control flexibility.

Plays and Activities

Your 7-week-old baby has better hand and eye coordination and is also highly responsive to the sounds around it. You can involve it in a variety of games and activities to help it develop its fine motor skills, listening skills, cognitive skills and various other skills.

1. Play a rattle toy - to help with listening skills.

1. Sing to your baby - to help its language and listening skills.

1. Massage your baby - for better attachment and body awareness.

1. Read to your baby - to help language and cognitive development.

1. Give your baby active, sound and colorful toys to develop sensory skills.

When to Apply to The Doctor?

Every baby can reach the milestones mentioned above at its own pace. However, sometimes there are developmental issues and other health issues that may require immediate medical attention. Here are some signs that your 7-week-old baby may need immediate medical attention:

1. Your baby does not respond or respond to loud sounds.

1. Your baby cannot raise its head while lying down.

1. Your baby does not recognize you, your partner or the people it sees all the time.

1. Fever more than 38 degrees.

1. It has diarrhea accompanied by vomiting and fever.

1. It has not pooped for 3-4 days and has a hard stomach, anorexia and restlessness.