5 Week Old Baby Routine: Feeding Schedule, Sleeping Schedule, and More
The first month of having a newborn is definitely a rush, and so much has already changed! At 5 weeks, they’re starting to really engage more with their surroundings and you. This is such a fun stage, and there’s so much more to come!
As you start to get the hang of this parenting thing, you’ll both start developing even more of a steady rhythm. Let’s talk all about what to expect for a 5-week-old baby routine in order to best prepare.
How Do 5 Week Old Babies Communicate?
You’re sure to have already noticed your baby start communicating with you in different ways. One of the most wonderful things about this age is that they start smiling from being happy! They may laugh at certain noises you make or games you play with them. That’s always the best sound in the world.
Aside from crying and laughing, they have likely started to babble, coo, and make all kinds of other noises. If you’d like to encourage them, go ahead and make sounds back or talk to them. While they may not actually comprehend what you’re saying, hearing you speak is crucial to speech development and connecting with you.
You may also notice that around this time, they start dancing or smiling when they hear music, too! Singing to them may be just the thing to calm them down, or have them giggling with joy (they’ll let you know if they like your singing voice or not).
How Big Are 5 Week Old Babies?
It’s completely normal to wonder if your baby’s growth is right on track. At this point, you’ll notice your baby growing like crazy! While every infant is different, the average weight of a 5-week-old is around 9 pounds. However, if your little one is heavier or lighter than that average number, there’s no need to worry.
Instead of comparing their growth to others their age, track their growth against their own history. If you have any doubts, it’s never a bad idea to give your doctor a ring.
Are 5 Week Old Babies Fussy?
This week, you may see your baby being fussier than normal. This is oftentimes due to the fact that at 5 weeks, colicky symptoms really come to a head. Even babies who are normally very calm and easygoing can become irritated.
Research suggest that this is due to the onslaught of changes and development your baby is going through at the 5-week mark. They’re experiencing a big growth spurt, may feed more often than usual, or may be gassier than normal. Combine them all and you have a recipe for a very cranky newborn.
You may decide to cut back on the amount of stimulation your baby receives during the day, like bright and colorful toys, loud music, etc. until this stage passes. They may enjoy cruising around in a baby carrier to soothe and relax them.
Potential Allergies
Another cause of colic is due to a reaction from your baby to your breast milk. They may be experiencing a dairy allergy or intolerance. It’s important to understand that their reaction isn’t to your actual breast milk but the dairy you have consumed. If your baby is formula-fed, they’re reacting to the cow’s milk proteins found in said formula.
No matter what the case may be, symptoms look the same: frequent spit-ups, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, not gaining weight, hives, scaly skin rash, coughing, watery eyes, stuffy nose, issues breathing, and more.
5-Week-Old Feeding Schedule
At this point, you’ve likely already fallen into a feeding routine that works for both you and your baby. If you're breastfeeding, your baby should require 8 to 12 feedings in a 24-hour period. However, at 5 weeks, you can also give them their first bottle if you’d like. They’re likely to be confused by the bottle at first, but it can be helpful to have someone other than you first introduce it to them.
If formula feeding, you can up the amount at 5 weeks if your pediatrician gives the green light. Regardless, they’ll likely start going longer between feedings, taking in anywhere from 24 to 32 ounces of formula a day.
5-Week-Old Sleep Schedule
At 5 weeks, your baby will still be snoozing quite a bit, though not often for long stretches of time. They should average a total of 15 hours of sleep per 24 hours. 7 hours of sleep should occur during the day, and 8 to 9 at night.
As they get older, they’ll sleep less during the day and more at night. Creating a bedtime routine can be a big help in getting them into a healthy sleep routine. You can start by dimming the lights around bedtime, playing gentle music, singing to them, caress their arms and back, etc.
Related: How to Manage the 4 to 3 Nap Transition
5-Week-Old Playtime Schedule
When they aren’t sleeping, your baby is going to want to play much more than before now! Playing with your baby can help them build confidence, develop social and motor skills, and aid their overall well-being. However, we know this isn’t always a possibility.
When you’re unable to play with them or need to set them down for a moment, play stations can be a big help. These are areas that are completely safe for them to play in and are ideally contained in a way (like with a playpen) that they can’t access unsafe spots such as outlets.
Enjoy It!
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed by all the new happenings occurring at the 5-week mark. But in years to come you’ll look back at this time with great memories!
One way to really simplify things and leave the guesswork out of it is to use an app like Baby Connect. It can help track feedings, sleep schedules, mood, activities, and so much more so you know that your 5-month-old is exactly where they need to be at this stage.
