How much should your child be eating and sleeping? What can your baby see at 6-weeks-old? Learn all about your 6-week-old baby.
After the first month home with your newborn, you have probably started to settle into new parenthood. Each new day will bring new and exciting developments and it may seem like your bundle of joy is growing and changing right before your eyes.
You may even notice that your baby has started smiling at you and showing more of their personality. With so many changes, you may be wondering what to expect from your little one this week.
Read on to discover everything you need to know about your 6-week-old baby, including the average weight for 6-week-old babies, 6-week-old milestones, their visual development, 6-week-old sleep, and more.
What Is The Average Weight For A 6-Week-Old Baby?
One of the most common things new parents worry about is their baby’s weight. Every new parent and caregiver wants to make sure their baby is getting enough nutrients to grow and develop properly.
It may make you feel better to know that the average weight for 6-week-old babies has a wide range and that every infant will have different weights that are considered normal for this age. If your baby is eating regularly and having regular urination and bowel movements, there is generally no cause for concern.
By 4 weeks, your newborn should have returned to their birth weight. Most babies lose 5-10 percent of their birth weight by the time they come home from the hospital. After that, on average, you can expect your child to gain 4-7 ounces a week until they are 4 months old.
That means that the average weight of a 6-week-old baby is about 2 pounds more than their birth weight and by the end of their first 2 months, will be about 4 pounds more than their birth weight. Your pediatrician will monitor your baby’s weight at their regular weekly check ups following their birth.
What Should A 6-Week-Old Baby Be Doing?
Watching your baby reach developmental milestones is one of the most rewarding parts of being a new parent. At 6-weeks-old, you may be wondering what your 6-week-old baby should be doing or learning at this time.
One of the most exciting developments at this age is your baby’s first smile. At 6 weeks, your baby is smiling socially and not just involuntarily! In addition to this adorable and endearing milestone, be sure to look out for these other 6-week-old milestones:
- Increased neck control – Make sure to keep up with tummy time to encourage muscle strength and development.
- Can recognize their parents and caregivers
- Brings hands to their mouths – At 6 weeks, your baby will start using their hands and finger to suck on as they begin to learn self-soothing
- Makes cooing and guttural sounds
- Eats more efficiently and on-demand
- Fully developed hearing
- Turns head towards sounds
By the end of the second month, your baby will have so many new and exciting skills to practice and many of them are just beginning at the 6-week mark.
Be sure to download the Kinedu app to track all your baby’s development and progress at every stage!
What Can A 6-Week-Old Baby See?
When your baby was born, their eyesight was between 20/200 and 20/400. Their vision is blurry and can only focus on objects that are 8-10 inches away from their face. Your baby’s vision is improving every week, and at 6-weeks-old, your little one can now see up to 12 inches away.
Your 6-week-old baby can see and focus on your face and is beginning to be able to recognize and distinguish between the faces of their parents and caregivers.
While your 6-week-old can in fact see colors, their brains are still not able to perceive them as clearly older children or adults do. Your baby is able to define facial features and shapes by following the lines where light and dark meet.
As your 6-week-old baby begins to become more focused and interested in the world around them, there are some ways you can begin helping them to develop their vision.
Some ways to help with your 6-week-old’s vision are:
- Place a mobile over their crib – your baby will love staring at the moving objects.
- Introduce a shatter-proof mirror during tummy time so they can examine and focus on their own face.
- Introduce bright-colored or black and white toys – anything that has high-contrast and interesting shapes will spark your 6-week-old’s interest.
- Read books to your baby and be sure to hold the pictures close enough for them to see the images.
By helping to encourage and develop your baby’s vision, you are also supporting their curiosity, attention span, memory, and nervous system development.
How Much Should A 6-Week-Old Baby Eat?
On average, a 6-week-old baby should eat 24-32 ounces (700-950ml) of breast milk or formula every 24 hours. This usually equates to 8-12 feedings each day.
If you are formula feeding your baby, it can be easier to feel confident in the amount of “milk” your 6-week-old baby is consuming. However, for breastfeeding mothers, you may wonder if your 6-week-old baby is getting enough milk during their feedings.
Here are some signs that your baby is getting enough breast milk at 6-weeks-old:
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- Adequate weight gain
- 8-12 feedings a day
- Your baby is active and alert when awake
- Proper breastfeeding latch
- Completes a full breastfeeding session
If you are concerned about how much breast milk your baby is getting, be sure to contact your pediatrician or a lactation consultant.
How Long Should A 6-Week-Old Baby Sleep?
Your 6-week-old should be sleeping an average of 16 hours a day. However, your child will most likely not be sleeping through the night at this time.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, the appropriate range for sleep for your 6-week-old baby is between 14 and 17 hours. Because every baby is different, your little one may sleep a little less, or a little more at this age.
If your baby sleeps less than 11 hours or more than 19 hours, you should consult with your pediatrician. Anything less than 11 hours a day is insufficient for your baby’s growth and development and anything more than 19 hours may be an indicator of an underlying health problem and doesn’t allow your little one to get the proper number of feedings or stimulation they need.
To learn more about your 6-week-old baby and to access guidance from experts in early childhood development, download the Kinedu app for free today!
