3 week old

How your baby's growing

You may find it hard to believe, but your baby's nearly a month old already! Look out for him trying to lift his head when he's lying on his tummy. By the end of the week he may have succeeded, and may even be able to turn his head from side to side. You'll also notice his arm and leg movements becoming smoother and less jerky as he gains control of his muscles.

Your baby probably won't be in any kind of sleep routine just yet. But you can still start to teach him the difference between day and night. As he grows, his sleep patterns will start to become more regular.

Here's the average amount of sleep that babies need. Just keep in mind that some babies need a little more shut-eye than this, while others are fine with less. With time, you'll discover what works best for your baby.

Are you considering giving your baby a dummy to help him sleep? Find out about the pros and cons of dummies before making up your mind.

Your life: coping with sleep deprivation

Why mince words? There's only one way to describe how you're feeling: exhausted. If it's any consolation, sleep deprivation is the bane of every new parent's life. So what can you do? Try to sleep, or at least rest, whenever your baby does. It's worth dropping everything for a few precious minutes of shut-eye.

Try to stay positive. Talking to parents of older children may help. They've been through it all before, and will be happy to pass on any tips for coping with tiredness. It may also be worth speaking to your health visitor, to check that you're getting enough iron.

Feeling exhausted can make it harder to cope with your baby's crying. Sometimes, it may seem as if he cries all the time. Knowing some of the reasons why he might be crying may help you to cope with it more easily.

Make the most of your health visitor. Talk to her or a breastfeeding counsellor if you're having any problems feeding. Too much milk, breast pain, cracked nipples and mastitis are all common problems, but there is plenty of help available.

Everything may feel a bit hectic right now, but you'll soon find your new groove as a family. In the meantime, reassure yourself that a little chaos is normal and have a look at these real-life tips on life with a new baby.

What you need to know this week

• Your baby's immune system is still developing, so he may get poorly frequently during his first year. Find out what to do if your baby develops a fever, and when he needs to see a doctor.
• Don't neglect yourself. Try to make an appointment with your GP for six weeks to eight weeks after the birth, so you can have your postnatal check-up. And see our new mum essentials for simple ways to make life a little easier.
• Are you fitting in your pelvic floor exercises? They're essential to help your muscles to recover after birth and prevent incontinence. Protecting yourself against leaks of wee is good for your mental health too.
• Some babies sleep with their eyes open, but is it normal? Find out what our expert has to say.
• Do you need to buy any equipment to help with breastfeeding?
• Featured video: when will my baby's eyes change colour?

Let's play

Your baby loves to gurgle and coo at you. Encourage his communication skills with two fun games to play this week.

FAQs at 3 weeks

• How do we cope with colic?
• When can I leave my baby unattended?
• Why are my breastfed baby's poos often green?
• What are the signs of postnatal depression?