6 Week Old Baby: What to Expect

Can you believe they’ve been in your life for over a month already?

Well, congratulations, mama!

This is a super exciting time for you and your 6-week-old baby.

Expect growth spurts, babbling and giggling — and even a smile or two.

Of course, you’re still finding your feet as their mama.

(If you need to hear this right now, you’re doing great!)

Every day with a newborn comes with equal parts challenge and wonder.

Here’s what to expect during week six.

In this article: 📝

What should a 6-week-old baby do?

You’ve probably discovered this already, but every baby develops in their own unique way.

So if there are any 6-week-old baby milestones that aren’t quite happening yet, don’t worry, mama.

This week, keep an eye out for your baby’s first proper smile.

You’ll know it’s authentic (and not just trapped wind!) from the way their whole face lights up.

And we can almost guarantee that you’ll be smiling too.

These facial expressions also show your little one is communicating and starting to engage with the world.

In the same way, you might notice your baby has different cries for things like boredom, tiredness, and hunger.

By week 6, they’ll also babble and gurgle a lot, especially when they see your face up close.

Your baby will probably be more focused on toys and fascinated with, well, just about anything that comes their way.

If you put them on their belly, they might lift their head to look around.

As well as studying you, they’ll also start looking at their own hands and feet.

Does my 6-week-old baby recognize me?

Yes! Your baby is starting to recognize you and the world around them.

By week 6, your baby can tell your face from strangers.

And they’ll likely want to show you the love they feel.

At 6 weeks, your baby will love plenty of skin-to-skin contact tickles and chit-chat.

They also might be recognizing other familiar faces too!

What should be the weight of a 6-week-old baby?

At 6 weeks, your baby will have had their first major growth spurt.

At birth, the average weight of a baby girl is 7 lb 2 oz.

A baby boy is slightly heavier, at 7 lb 6 oz.

By two months (that’s 8 weeks), the average female weighs 11 lb 5 oz.

The average male weighs 12 lb 4 oz.

So at 6 weeks, expect anything in this range.

Of course, your baby might be smaller or larger than average.

So don’t worry about an exact 6-week-old baby weight chart.

These numbers are just averages.

Most babies put on around 1.5 to 2 lbs a month.

Some gain weight slower, others quicker.

What matters most is that your little one is in good health and growing on their own curve.

And if you’re at all worried, check in with your doctor.

How many Oz should a 6-week-old eat?

Have you noticed your baby eating more?

This is because there’s another growth spurt on the way soon.

Breastfed babies should eat as much as they want at 6 weeks old.

This will likely be in the region of 24 to 32 ounces of formula or pumped breast milk.

Try to spread feedings out every few hours or so (if you can!).

But at this age, “demand feeding” is usually the best way to go.

Of course, with all that feeding comes lots of pooping.

So have those extra diapers at the ready.

Why is 6 weeks the peak of fussiness?

With all that 6-week-old baby feeding comes another challenge for new parents.

Have you heard of “peak fussiness”?

Well, it’s something that it may be hard not to notice around this time.

The “witching hour” often lives up to its dramatic name — and may be reaching its climax at 6 weeks.

They’re noticing the world more, which can be overwhelming.

All those new sounds, smells, and sights equal a tiring day!

Your baby might cluster feed in the evenings and mornings, cry more, and get restless at night.

If you’re nodding your head, hang in there.

The good news is most babies get out of this “peak fussy” phase by 8 to 12 weeks.

How long should a 6-week-old sleep at night without eating?

Babies need to feed every few hours until they reach 3 months.

Around 6 weeks, your baby might be sleeping 15 hours or more in a 24-hour period.

This doesn’t all happen in one go, though.

At this age, your baby probably isn’t sleeping through the night (which means 6 to 8 hours at a time).

But they might be getting closer.

If your baby is gaining weight well, try to let them sleep.

Don’t worry — most babies won’t have any hesitation in letting you know they’re hungry.

If they’re waking to feed, oblige.

There’s so much important growing to do at this point.

And they need their strength for the all-important tasks ahead.

How long should a 6-week-old sleep at night?

Is there such a thing as a 6-week-old baby sleeping schedule?

Not exactly.

Between 2 weeks and 2 months, your baby will sleep (on average) 15 to 17 hours each day.

This might break down as 8 to 10 hours at night with occasional waking.

And 6 to 7 hours during the day as several shorter naps.

But all babies are different.

So in terms of a 6-week-old baby schedule, take things slowly and work alongside your little one.

Go at your own pace and prioritize your own Zzzs whenever you can.

What time should a 6-week-old go to bed?

Newborn babies don’t have a real sense of day and night.

This makes predictable patterns a bit hard to pin down.

It’s never too early to start taking small steps toward a nighttime routine, though.

So what might a 6-week-old baby sleep schedule look like?

Include a short bedtime routine.

This could be a quiet, cuddly feed and a brief singsong or read of a book.

For babies between 0 and 3 months, a bedtime of anytime between 7.30 and 9.30 pm is fine.

If this seems late, remember their circadian rhythms aren’t driving sleep yet.

A slightly later bedtime means early mornings might not be quite so early.

You’ve got this, mama!

This time is filled with all sorts of firsts which can be both delightful and overwhelming.

Know that there is support available.

Join our Peanut community.

We’re here for you. ❤️

➡️ Up next: 7 Week Old Baby: What to Expect