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1 week milestones
Congratulations! The newborn weeks are all about eating, sleeping, and getting to know each other. Here is what is typical right now.
Feeding
- Newborns eat often: about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, on demand.
- The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months when possible; formula-fed babies take small, frequent bottles.
- Look for roughly 6 or more wet diapers a day once feeding is well established.
Sleep
- Most newborns sleep 14 to 17 hours a day in short stretches, day and night.
- Always place baby on their back to sleep, on a firm flat surface with nothing else in the crib.
Comfort and bonding
- Skin-to-skin contact helps with warmth, bonding, and feeding.
- You cannot spoil a newborn: responding to cries builds trust.
The first well-child visit is usually within the first week or two. Bring any questions about feeding, weight, or sleep.
Common questions
What should a 1 week old baby be doing?
Around 1 week, most babies: newborns eat often: about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, on demand; most newborns sleep 14 to 17 hours a day in short stretches, day and night; skin-to-skin contact helps with warmth, bonding, and feeding. Every baby grows at their own pace, within a range of time.
What if my baby was born early?
Most pediatricians count milestones from the due date, not the birth date, until about 2 years. That is called corrected age, and it is how Bobbychips counts milestones too.
What if my baby is not doing these things yet?
Most children reach each milestone within a range of time, so one missing item is not a verdict. If you have questions, or your baby has lost a skill they once had, talk to your pediatrician. The CDC's advice is to act early rather than wait.
The day at this age, in numbers: newborn schedule.
Every baby grows at their own pace, and these are general guides, not medical advice. If you ever have questions about how your baby is growing or developing, your pediatrician is the best person to ask.
Sources: the CDC's Learn the Signs. Act Early. milestone checklists and the World Health Organization's infant and young child feeding guidance.
A guide like this, on the day
Bobbychips emails a guide like this one when your baby reaches each of these ages, counted from the due date for a baby born early, and keeps a checklist of the milestones in the app.