Understanding Baby Development and Sleep Patterns

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It’s finally happened: your baby is starting to sleep through the night and you are, too!

But wait… You’ve started to see the light at the end of the tunnel when they suddenly start waking up every few hours again. Although rarely long-lasting, this sleep regression can provoke worry, confusion, and frustration. The good news is it’s completely normal, and we’re here to help you get through it!

A 6-month sleep regression is when a baby’s journey toward regular sleep is unexpectedly interrupted or takes a step backward. For example, you may notice that your baby goes to bed just fine but a few hours later starts fussing. Keep in mind, that your infant may not hit the regression at exactly 6 months, but perhaps a bit before or after.

So, how long should a 6-month-old be awake for?

Naps for a 6-month-old should be less frequent and they should stay asleep for longer stretches of time. The majority should be able to sleep for around 8 hours a night and around 12 to 15 hours per day. They shouldn’t be hungry for a snack during the night at this point, either.

At 6 months, infants are going through significant physical and mental changes. Awareness of their surroundings and additional physical abilities is expanded, and they’ll gain an abundance of physical and mental abilities. As they’re busy learning new things, playing with toys, babbling, and moving around, it can affect their sleep.

A number of factors can influence your baby’s sleep patterns, such as discomfort or general restlessness, leading to the sleep regression. Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes:

As your baby has likely learned to sit up and roll over on their own, they’re likely to do so while sleeping. It’s possible that your infant has been rolling over into an uncomfortable position and is unable to get themselves out of it. Alternatively, they may even get themselves stuck in the crib and cry to get your attention.

It’s not uncommon to hear your baby babbling away to themselves in the next room in the early hours of the morning. They’re likely having the time of their lives in there, entertaining themselves and it’s completely normal at this age. While it’s certainly cute, it likely isn’t quite as charming at 4 am.

As we mentioned briefly earlier, your baby is going to start crawling and rolling around at this age. As they’ve learned these new skills, they’ll often want to cruise around more or play with toys at night.

Yet another newly-acquired skill, as your baby starts to learn to push themselves into a seated position, they may be surprised and start crying.

Your baby likely has gotten used to being close to you late at night or early in the morning. As they’re not snacking away at this time, they may crave that closeness and cry to express this.

Both of these can cause babies to become restless. Teething can be extremely painful and growth spurts can cause them to become hungry more than usual. If they’re sick with something like a cold or ear infection, this could also cause them to be in pain or discomfort and wake up.

If you’re traveling and your baby is sleeping in a new environment or recently had a disruption in their regular routine, they could have trouble sleeping through the night.

After a couple nights of waking up in the wee hours again, you may be desperately wondering, “How long does the 6-month sleep regression last?!”. As with everything, it varies from baby to baby.

The good news is that this usually only lasts from 2 to 4 weeks, max.

This is around the length of time it will take them to get used to their change in routine, their new skills, or get over an illness. Again, the exact duration will vary based on the cause of the regression and the infant.

In the meantime, you may notice your baby having a fitful sleep, being more fussy than usual, or taking longer naps in the daytime. You can use this time as an opportunity to start sleep training your baby and let them cry it out. Of course, if the cause of the regression is something like an illness then that’s not the best option, so use at your discretion.

Now that you know all about the 6-month sleep regression, how can you manage this time in the smoothest way possible?

Leave Them to It: As we just covered, offering your infant the opportunity to fall back asleep on their own is often the perfect solution. Checking in on them to make sure they’re okay is never a bad idea, but picking them up or talking to them may only awaken them further. If you notice they aren’t getting drowsy or falling asleep again after a few minutes, you can go in and comfort them. Stroking their head or arm or whispering gently can help soothe them back to sleep.

Stick to Your Schedule: Sticking to a consistent bedtime routine despite the regression will only help your baby get back on track. There’s no need to add any extra naps: this only makes it more difficult for them to sleep through the night.

Track Your Baby’s Sleep: To help make the process easier and leave out the guesswork, we recommend using a high-quality sleep tracker like the popular Baby Connect app. The app displays graphical charts of your baby’s activities, so you can see what they’re doing and when. During a sleep regression, you’ll appreciate how easy it is to track the average number of naps and duration of sleep per day, as well as their longest sleeping session. You can utilize the timer not only to track naps, but activities, feeding sessions, and even their mood.

We hope these tips help you and your baby breeze through their 6-month sleep regression. Remember that each day they’re getting closer and closer to a normal sleep schedule!

Shay is a versatile writer originally from Boise, Idaho, now based in Los Angeles, California. When not writing, she's a touring music producer and DJ who tries to fit in time with her partner and 4 fur babies as much as possible.