1 week old
How your baby's growing
At 1 week old, your baby has two favourite activities: feeding and sleeping! Your newborn needs a LOT of shut-eye – up to 18 hours in every 24. Unfortunately for you, this won’t happen all at once, as they’ll wake up often to feed.
Your baby still doesn’t know the difference between night and day, and it’s unlikely they’ll have any kind of feeding routine yet. They’ll certainly let you know when they’re hungry though. It’s fine to feed them whenever you notice the signs that your baby wants a feed.
Does your dozing baby sound a bit snuffly? If you watch, you'll see that they breathe in cycles. It can be fast and deep one minute, then slow and shallow the next. You'll probably also hear occasional snorts and grunts, and may even notice your baby pausing in their breathing for up to five seconds before starting again.
This is all perfectly normal, and not a sign that your baby has a cold. But if you ever have any concerns about your baby's breathing - or anything else - you can always call your midwife, health visitor, or GP.
Your life: looking after your mental health
You just did something incredible: bringing a whole new life into the world! So although it’s important to get to know your newborn and respond to their needs, don’t forget to be kind to yourself, too. The old saying ‘sleep when your baby sleeps’ may be easier said than done, but rest when you can, and be sure to accept any offers of help from friends and family.
Whether you're a first-time parent, or you already have children, welcoming a new baby can be an emotional rollercoaster! No matter how much reading you’ve done during your pregnancy, nothing can truly prepare you for that moment when you finally bring your baby home and start adjusting to your new family.
The blues are likely to be caused by your changing hormones, and will probably only last for a few hours or days. Although it's completely normal, talk to your midwife or health visitor if you're finding it overwhelming.
Whatever your birth was like, it’ll take you time to recover. See our tips on dealing with stiches, pain and bruising, or recovering after a c-section.
These early weeks and months after the birth are often known as the fourth trimester. We’ve gathered together tips from parents who’ve been there, to help you make the most of this magical – if emotional - time.
What you need to know this week
- Does your baby have a birthmark? See our photo guide to birthmarks to learn whether it’ll fade, and when to see a doctor. If your baby develops a rash, it’s always best to ask your health visitor for advice, but you can also see what common rashes look like in our photo gallery.
- Friends and family are bound to be excited to meet your new arrival, but visitors can be exhausting in these early weeks. See our top tips for handling visitors with a baby, and find out if people really need to wash their hands before holding your little one.
- Have you noticed your baby’s nails growing already? Babies’ fingernails and toenails grow surprisingly quickly, so learn how and when to cut them.
- If your baby seems irritable or unsettled after feeds, it could be due to wind. Find out how to burp your baby to help relieve their discomfort and make them feel better.
- Discover how your baby will develop over the next weeks and months in our guide to your baby and the fourth trimester.
- Featured video: what can I do to help recover from tearing?
Let's play
Your 1 week old will spend most of their time feeding and sleeping, but that doesn't mean you can't still have fun together! Try these two fun games to keep your little one entertained.
FAQs at 1 week
