6 Weeks Old: What to Expect - Channel Mum

Summary

This video discusses the developmental milestones of a six-week-old baby, focusing on the excitement of real, genuine smiles that often occur around this time. It reassures parents that each baby develops at their own pace, with some smiling later, and highlights the upcoming six-week health checkup for both baby and mom. The video also touches on growth spurts, increased feeding, and the emotional journey of new motherhood. It encourages parents to ask for help if needed and join supportive online communities for shared experiences.

Takeaways

• 😀 This is around the time your baby might give their first genuine smile, typically around 6 weeks old.
• 👶 Smiling is a developmental milestone, showing your baby can recognize familiar faces like mommy or daddy.
• ⏳ It's normal if your baby doesn’t smile until 12 weeks; development varies between babies.
• 🍼 Babies at 6 weeks may start feeding more frequently, often due to growth spurts.
• 🌙 Sleep patterns might be disrupted, with babies waking more often and not settling easily.
• 🔍 At the 6-week checkup, your baby's physical health is assessed, including their hips, spine, reflexes, and heart.
• 🩺 The 6-week checkup also includes a maternal health review, including blood pressure and uterine recovery.
• 🤱 If breastfeeding, offering the breast more frequently can help match milk supply to the baby’s increased demand.
• 🛏️ Growth spurts may lead to more sleep, restlessness, or the need for larger clothes as babies grow.
• 💬 New moms are encouraged to join support groups for shared experiences and advice, particularly during challenging moments.

Q & A

What special event often happens around the sixth week of a baby's life?

Around the sixth week, many parents look forward to seeing their baby's first real smile. While early smiles may be due to gas, genuine smiles often start to appear at this time.

What should parents keep in mind if their baby isn’t smiling at six weeks?

If a baby isn't smiling at six weeks, parents shouldn't worry. It's normal for babies to smile anytime up to 12 weeks, as every baby develops at their own pace.

How do smiles indicate a baby’s development at six weeks?

Smiles at six weeks are a sign that the baby is developing well and beginning to communicate with their parents. It shows that the baby can recognize familiar faces, such as their parents.

What physical and developmental milestones are checked during the six-week baby checkup in the UK?

During the six-week checkup, the doctor checks the baby’s leg, hip joints, spine, heart, reflexes, eyes, and genitals. They also review developmental progress and answer any parental concerns.

What is a growth spurt, and how might it affect the baby at six weeks?

A growth spurt is a period when a baby grows rapidly. At six weeks, this may result in the baby wanting to feed more often, sleeping more, or being more restless during sleep.

What should breastfeeding mothers do if their baby is feeding more during a growth spurt?

Breastfeeding mothers should offer the breast more often to help increase milk supply, which will adjust to the baby’s increased demand within a day or two.

What are some emotional challenges new mothers may face at six weeks postpartum?

New mothers may feel overwhelmed, tired, or unsure if they are coping well. It’s important for them to be honest about their feelings and seek help if needed, as this is a common experience.

Why is it important for new mothers to attend their own six-week checkup?

The six-week checkup allows doctors to check a mother’s recovery from childbirth, including blood pressure, uterus contraction, and healing of any stitches. It’s also an opportunity for mothers to discuss any emotional or physical concerns.

What is the ‘red book’ that parents need to bring to the baby’s six-week checkup in the UK?

The ‘red book’ is a health record booklet used in the UK to track a baby’s growth, vaccinations, and development. Parents should bring this to the checkup for the doctor to update.

What humorous challenges are mentioned for parents of a six-week-old baby?

Parents of six-week-old babies might find themselves constantly smelling of milk or struggling to wear nice clothes again. These challenges are temporary but relatable for new parents.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Baby’s First Real Smiles

At six weeks old, many parents eagerly await their baby's first genuine smile. While previous smiles may have been due to gas, at this stage, real smiles are a sign of communication and healthy development. Every baby is different, so it's normal if this milestone hasn’t occurred yet, as babies may start smiling anytime up to 12 weeks. Around six weeks, babies also begin to recognize their parents, which brings about happy coos and sounds, making this phase especially joyful for parents.

🍼 Growing Fast: Increased Feeding and Sleep

Many new moms experience changes in their baby's feeding and sleep patterns around six weeks. Babies may go through growth spurts, feeding more frequently, and may have disrupted sleep schedules. Some mothers report feeding every two hours and challenges with getting the baby to settle back to sleep. Despite the increase in nighttime wakefulness, this phase is a normal part of development and should improve with time.

🤕 Postpartum Recovery: Moms Starting to Feel Better

At six weeks postpartum, many mothers start feeling more physically capable, able to take walks and resume daily activities, though occasional discomfort can still occur. For example, some moms report pain when moving in certain ways. However, overall, many are starting to feel better after the initial recovery period.

🩺 Baby’s Six-Week Checkup

In the UK, babies typically have a six-week checkup, where the GP examines their physical health, checking joints, spine, reflexes, and more. This is also an opportunity to discuss developmental milestones and any parental concerns. Parents are reminded to bring their baby’s red book for record-keeping during this important health check.

👩‍⚕️ Mother’s Six-Week Postpartum Checkup

The six-week checkup isn’t just for the baby—it’s for mothers too. During this appointment, the doctor checks the mother’s blood pressure, uterus, and any stitches to ensure proper recovery. It's also a time for mothers to speak openly about their emotional health, as postpartum struggles are common. New moms are encouraged to seek help if needed, as asking for support is seen as a strength.

📈 Baby’s First Growth Spurt

At six weeks, babies often go through their first major growth spurt, which may lead to increased feeding and possible restlessness. Breastfeeding mothers are advised to nurse more frequently to match their baby’s growing needs, with the reassurance that milk supply will naturally adjust. This is also a time when parents may have to put away outgrown baby clothes, marking an important developmental milestone.

👶 The Ups and Downs of Six-Week Parenthood

At six weeks, parenting comes with highs and lows. The joy of seeing baby smiles is unmatched, but there are challenges, too—such as dealing with constant feeding and the messiness of caring for a newborn. The video ends on a positive note, encouraging parents to cherish these moments and reminding them that even the hardest days get easier over time.

Keywords

💡Six-week milestone

The six-week milestone refers to a key period in a newborn's development, typically marked by significant changes such as the first real smiles. The video highlights that parents often look forward to this stage, as it shows signs of emotional and cognitive growth. This is the time when babies begin to differentiate between familiar people like parents and strangers.

💡First smile

The first smile is a major developmental milestone that parents eagerly anticipate. In the video, it's explained that smiles before this point are often due to gas, but at six weeks, genuine social smiles begin, signaling the baby's developing ability to interact and communicate with the world around them.

💡Growth spurt

A growth spurt is a period of rapid physical development, during which a baby may eat more, sleep differently, or become more restless. The video mentions that babies at six weeks may experience their first growth spurt, which can be challenging for parents as it involves changes in feeding and sleeping patterns.

💡Developmental check-up

A developmental check-up refers to a routine medical appointment that occurs at six weeks to monitor a baby's growth and health. In the video, it's mentioned that this is a key opportunity for doctors to check the baby's spine, joints, heart, and reflexes, and for parents to ask any health-related questions.

💡Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding plays a crucial role in a baby's nutrition and development, particularly during growth spurts. The video advises breastfeeding mothers to offer the breast more frequently to meet the baby’s increasing nutritional needs, which can also help boost milk supply during this phase.

💡Postpartum recovery

Postpartum recovery refers to the physical and emotional healing process that a mother goes through after childbirth. In the video, it's noted that the six-week check-up also includes an assessment of the mother’s health, including blood pressure and any stitches, to ensure she is recovering properly.

💡Parental bonding

Parental bonding is the emotional connection that develops between parents and their baby. The video describes how at six weeks, babies start to recognize their parents and respond to them with coos and smiles, strengthening this bond.

💡Red book

The red book is a health record given to parents in the UK to track a baby’s growth and medical history. The video advises parents to bring the red book to their six-week check-up, as it’s an important document for recording developmental milestones and medical information.

💡Mother's mental health

The video emphasizes the importance of a mother's mental health, encouraging new moms to speak up about how they're coping emotionally. It reassures viewers that it's normal to face challenges and that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

💡Community support

Community support, such as connecting with other new mothers, is highlighted as a valuable resource. The video suggests joining groups like Channel Mum on Facebook, where mothers can share experiences, seek advice, and find solidarity during the early stages of parenthood.

Highlights

Six weeks is a special time when babies often show their first genuine smiles.

Babies may begin to smile around six weeks, which is a sign of healthy development.

Every baby is different; smiling can occur anytime up to 12 weeks, which is normal.

At six weeks, babies start to distinguish familiar faces from strangers.

Babies at this age make more noises and communicate more with parents.

Parents may notice their baby feeding more frequently during a growth spurt.

Babies might sleep more or be more restless during growth spurts.

Breastfeeding mothers should offer the breast more often to increase milk supply.

UK babies usually have a six-week checkup to ensure both baby and mother are doing well.

During the checkup, the GP will check the baby's physical development and reflexes.

Mothers should also have their blood pressure and uterus checked post-pregnancy.

It's important for mothers to be honest about their well-being during the checkup.

Parents can find support and share experiences with other mothers on Facebook groups.

Cutting a baby's nails can be a challenging task for new parents.

The video provides a balanced view of the joys and challenges of having a six-week-old baby.

The video encourages viewers to share their experiences in the comments.

Viewers are invited to watch more vlogs about motherhood on Channel Mums.

Transcripts

so your baby is now six weeks old and

this week is usually the time when a

very special first happens and put it

this way is going to put a big smile on

your face so let's see what your baby

might be getting up to this week the

sixth week of your baby's life is one

that a lot of us really look forward to

as this is the week we're told to expect

some real genuine smiles smiles before

now are usually down to gasp but as

parents that you will know when it's

real it goes without saying that every

baby is different so don't worry if your

baby isn't smiling yet anytime up to 12

weeks is considered within the normal

range and as well as being gorgeous

smiles are also a sign that baby is

developing well they're essentially

communicating with you around six weeks

of age babies will start to be able to

distinguish mummy or daddy from

strangers

so do expect a lot of grunt coos and

happy noises when they spot you from now

on

it is the loveliest feeling here at

Shalimar we thought we would put you at

ease with a little help from other new

mums just like you

[Music]

period he is so big and so strong now

aren't you a little bit we've had a few

half smiles here and there but nothing

proper what molarity vaccine for Iowa

more and the dog and us things like

that's that nice

and we've obsessed with my mom's washing

line and you don't have to consider

whether he's going through a growth

spurt or if the change in milk I have no

idea but he is feeding so much more

often he's feeding like every two hours

every night he'll feed I'll lay em down

and then he'll just be wide awake again

and he'd like no not sleeping just

because I said doesn't mean we're going

to sleep feedings in a lot better

feeding lies not so confident anymore so

roughly every two and a half three hours

any citric are finally starting to feel

better I'm able to go out and walk and

things like that and they still have

like a couple of bad moments like say if

I spit in the wrong kind of position and

like one time it will then make them

hurt for like another you know couple

hours or so now here in the UK babies

usually have a six-week checkup and this

is a chance your GP to check you are

both doing well he or she will check

baby's leg hip joints and spine listen

to their heart and check their reflexes

eyes and genitals as well they will also

go through a few developmental questions

with you this is a really good chance be

to ask any questions or raise any

concerns if you have them you will also

need to a baby's red book as well so

don't forget it but it's also the time

of your 6-week checkup - your doctor

will want to know how you are doing you

is just as important so what can you

expect well he or she will take your

blood pressure which should be back to

normal now if it rose during pregnancy

you'll also have your uterus palpated to

check that it's contractive properly and

any stitches we'll check to see happen

now another thing your GP will ask you

at this appointment is how you are doing

so try and be honest and speak up if

you're not coping

no one will think any less of you if

you're having a tough time in fact they

will think the opposite because asking

for help is a really great thing to do

and remember if you need some

like-minded months to talk to them make

sure you come and find a group on

Facebook just search the channel

mulberries and you'll soon see that a

problem shared is absolutely a problem

hug one other thing to mention for week

six is that your baby is likely to going

through his or her first proper growth

spurt

you might notice they want feeding more

often or take more milk than usual they

may also want to sleep more or be more

restless when sleeping not the great one

tip here if you are breastfeeding is to

offer your baby the breast more and to

help increase your supply to match up to

their new needs you might worry you're

not making enough milk we'll be hanging

there and feed often your supply should

increase within a day or so with this

growth bird you may also have to do the

tough task of cutting away all those

tiny new or slow in fact you may have

already done this but will you be saving

them for a future baby offensive numbers

keepsakes so now is time to look at

channel mums the good the bad and the

ugly of having a six week old baby the

good those smiles are going to be the

highlight of your days now and let me

tell you no matter how old they are it

never gets old the bad will I ever wear

nice clothes again or when I wear a

perfume that isn't the smell of stale

milk and thick it will happen he uh Glee

the source of sex is probably making

each other increase your legs right now

baby steps but we hope you've enjoyed

watching our video about the sixth week

of your baby's life we would love to

know how you doing in the comments below

remember we are right here with you if

you would like something to watch after

this why not take a look at all the

vlogs from other mums sharing their six

weeks of motherhood over on channel mums

we will leave the link below for you

so that's all from us here at home mum

we will see you and your little baby

next week

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