By now, it must have just started to sink in that those tiny hands you felt fluttering in your belly just two weeks ago are yours in real life to kiss and hold. That’s right – you’re a mommy to a beautiful 2 week old baby!
Here’s a glimpse of 2 week old baby development and milestones.
2 week old baby development
Physical Development
By now, your 2 week old baby would have regained the weight he lost during his first week. However, his head probably still looks quite large in relation to the rest of his body. Don’t worry – he’ll fill out beautifully over the next few months.
At this stage, your child’s median length and weight* should be as follows:
- Boys
– Length: 49.8 cm (19.6 inches)
– Weight: 3.3 kg (7.4lb) - Girls
– Length: 49.2 cm (19.4 inches)
– Weight: 3.3kg (7.3lb)
And your child’s head circumference* should be:
- Boys: 34.5 cm (13.6 inches)
- Girls: 33.9 cm (13.3 inches)
Once your baby does start to gain weight again, he/she should continue to put on weight at around 25 grams a day. But this won’t necessarily happen in a predictable way, more likely in fits and starts.
He may have a little bit of hair or lots of it. If his hair is patchy, you should see it filling out over the next month or so.
You will also notice that the baby can grip onto your finger quite strongly. This is known as the palmar grasp reflex. To learn about other reflexes in your newborn, click here.
Umbilical cord care might still be needed if baby’s stump has not fallen off yet. Keep the stump and the surrounding area as dry as possible, and it should fall off this week.
When to see a doctor?
If your baby:
- Experiences rapid weight loss.
- The umbilical stump is red, the area around it is swollen and/or it’s giving out a foul smell.
Cognitive Development
At two weeks, your baby will start reacting to sound and light, startling at loud noises. Though their vision has still not developed that well, you will notice them gazing at your face or their daddy’s face.
Your little one won’t have much of a personality yet and you may think all he does is sleep, eat and poop! However, in reality, all that yummy breastmilk is fueling his brain development as he spends his time moving between sleep, and being quiet-alert and active-alert.
All that sleep your baby does right now is also helping his brain and body grow. By this week, your sweet baby can recognize your voice and even your smell! He also loves being touched and held by you.
Mommy, did you know that research has found out that holding your baby can actually help fuel brain development and help them grow faster? That’s right! So please shower your 2 week old baby with plenty of cuddles and kisses.
Nutrition and Health
Your baby is very very happy with your breastmilk, and this is absolutely all he needs at this age to meet all of his nutritional requirements. There’s no need to supplement with anything else, including water and juice.
By now, your milk would have come in and you’d probably have an established breastfeeding pattern.
It’s likely that your 2 week old baby is nursing every 1.5 to 3 hours, for approximately 15 minutes on each breast. Having said this, there’s no need to time your baby’s feeds. Feed your baby on demand and know that when you do, you’re not just nourishing him, but also providing comfort and security.
If you are struggling with breastfeeding issues, please contact your pediatrician without delay. Your doctor can help you get back on the right track.
And if for some reason you cannot breastfeed, then the only other source of nourishment your baby should get is formula milk.
In general, your baby needs around 368.7 calories a day to help fuel his/her growth. Typically, the amount of breastmilk/formula milk for your baby at this stage is:
- Breastmilk: 19.3-30.4 ounces/day
- Formula: 16 – 24 ounces/day
In terms of 2 week old baby health issues, colic is probably the most common problem you’ll encounter. It may be caused by incorrect latching while breastfeeding, where newborns end up sucking more air than milk, which causes their tummies to fill with gas.
This eventually goes away but their uncontrollable crying even after a feed will indicate they may have colic. If it persists, seek medical advice.
2 week old baby constipation remedies
Addressing constipation in a two-week-old baby is crucial. Remedies include frequent feeding (breast or formula), ensuring proper latching or bottle-feeding technique, massaging the baby’s tummy, bicycle leg movements, warm baths, supervised tummy time, and offering water if approved by the pediatrician for formula-fed babies.
Avoid solid foods at this age. If constipation persists or worsens, consult a pediatrician, as underlying issues should be ruled out. Every baby is different, so follow professional guidance when managing constipation in a newborn.
Vaccination and common illnesses
In terms of vaccinations, your 2 week old baby should have got the following at birth:
- BCG : Immunization against Tuberculosis
- Hepatitis B – first dose: Immunization against Hepatitis B
Do note: Two to three weeks after BCG vaccination, a small red lump usually appears at the injection site. This lump may increase in size and develop into an ulcer with a crust forming over it. A scar remains after the crust falls off. This is a normal reaction and not a side effect.
To know when the next vaccinations are due, please refer to this guide.
Your baby’s immune system is still very immature at this point. He/she is very vulnerable to illnesses like the common cold at this stage. In newborns, common colds could lead to even severe consequences.
To prevent this, it is important to make sure your whoever handles your baby is practicing strict hygiene which includes frequent hand-washing. Wear a mask if you have a cold or cough, and any other family members or friends with colds or who are sick should stay far away from the baby until they are better.
If your baby catches a common cold or any other common illness, make sure that you bring him/her to the pediatrician immediately. At 2 weeks, our baby is too young for any kind of home remedies.
It is important to make sure everyone avoids kissing your baby on his/her face, mouth, hands or feet as this could potentially transmit the fatal HPV virus to your little one.
Your baby is a sleepy little thing and will probably struggle to stay awake for more than two hours at a stretch. Over the months, a more regular sleep-wake pattern will get established.
At 2 weeks old, you should be seeing around six to eight wet nappies a day.
Look out for these health conditions in your two week old baby, and seek medical advice without delay if you spot them:
• Jaundice
If your baby has a yellow tinge on the face or chest, they might be suffering from jaundice. It is very common for newborns to go through this. This can be taken care of with some light treatment and increased breastfeeding, but best to consult a doctor.
• Skin Rashes
It is very common for babies to spit-up after a feed. The resulting dampness on their neck and chin might give rise to rashes. Be sure to gently wipe baby’s face after a feed or spit up, taking care to clean the creases of his neck.
• Blocked Tear Ducts
This is also quite common among newborn babies, however nothing to worry about. Your doctor may suggest eye drops, or that you just wait for a week or so until it goes away.
Newborn Care
Your newborn is still very fragile, so care must be taken especially for duties like carrying and/or bathing him. His neck should be supported at all times as it is still not strong enough to support his head.
In order to encourage his neck muscles to develop, you could start some tummy time as early as now, but for very short periods, and always under your watchful supervision.
At this age, baby still doesn’t need to be bathed every day as you might rob their skin of moisture by doing this. And this could lead to dry skin and rashes. Unless the weather is very hot, stick to a bath every other day. A gentle rub down with a damp, soft washcloth will be adequate on the other days.
Newborn Safety
Your 2 week old baby might have nails that look like they’ve been perfectly manicured. As pretty as they are, those pointy nails could cause some serious damage to baby’s tender skin if she startles and scratches her own face.
Use a baby nail cutter to gently trim them while baby sleeps or breastfeeds. Or you could gently bite them off with your teeth! Use mittens if all fails.
Baby’s head is still very delicate, and the soft-spot on top of it is very vulnerable. Be extra careful when you or other caregivers wash his head, and do not allow older siblings to touch baby’s head. Never leave your newborn alone with older siblings.
Remember to always lay your baby down on his back to sleep, to prevent the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Avoid placing heavy bedding and soft toys in his crib or cot too.
New parent wellness
Yes, as much as you are excited to become a new parent, you may feel the blues. As much as you lavish care and love on your 2 week old baby, you need to look after yourself too, mommy.
Due to hormonal changes and lack of sleep, you may feel overwhelmed and irritable. This is normal. But this is also why compassion and support from family and friends will be of utmost importance during this phase.
By week 2 of your baby’s life, you would have figured out what works best for you in order to get some rest: Sleep when the baby sleeps or take turns to stay up the night so that both parents share the load and maintain their health.
Remember, this is a self-discovery journey and each parent goes through different experiences. Comparisons with others will only make it worse. Feeling guilty may come to you very easily in terms of not being good enough or missing out on a few minute details. But remember this is not the case.
If you feel like you just cannot cope, or struggle with feelings of overwhelming sadness, please, please reach out to your doctor without delay.
The previous week: 1 week old baby development
The next week: 3 week old baby development
Republished with permission from theAsianparent Singapore