7th week after the baby is born

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Dang Huy Toan - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.
Child development begins from the moment a child is born. Most children will reach certain milestones at certain ages, but because each individual is unique, development may vary from child to child. Let's find out the development of babies at 7 weeks.

1. How does a 7 week old baby develop?

7 week old babies are developing rapidly and are interested in a lot of things, including music, whether mom sings at diaper change or when the music comes from somewhere. Not only music, children also pay attention to many other types of sounds, such as doorbells, dogs barking, vacuum cleaners, whistles, etc. Children can laugh loudly, wave their limbs, or simply silence to hear more clearly. Pay attention to what kind of sound your baby will quietly listen to, because parents may need it later when they want to calm their baby.
In order for your child to develop at their best at each stage, let them play in the prone position, so that they have more opportunities to develop muscle reflexes that will later be needed for many other skills (such as skills) ability to sit up).
What if the tummy position is uncomfortable for the baby? So let's try to turn it into a game. Put your baby on his stomach on your chest, then sit up and smile with him, making noises with each beat to keep him interested. Lie back down and get your baby's attention with some toys. Change the scene when the baby plays in the prone position such as in the morning in the living room, and in the afternoon in the bedroom. Suitable pillows or rugs can be used to increase the excitement for the child. Massaging the baby's back gently is also a way to make the child feel more comfortable and enjoyable. If your baby starts to show discomfort, stop and wait until another time to put him on his stomach again.
Between tummy tucks, give your baby plenty of opportunities to build muscle reflexes by changing positions frequently. Placing the child in one position for too long will inhibit the child's ability to move.

2. How does a baby grow at 7 weeks?

On average, from the 2nd to the 6th month, children increase by 2.5cm per month and weigh 113-227g more per week, but it depends on how much the child eats.
If a 7-week-old baby is behind on the growth chart, what should parents do? If your baby is being exclusively breastfed and is still not growing well, consult a specialist. Sometimes a mother doesn't have enough milk to meet her baby's needs for some reason, such as a hormonal imbalance. Or your baby may have a problem like a tongue tie that makes it difficult for him to breastfeed. If your doctor prescribes formula milk because breast milk doesn't help your baby grow enough, follow the doctor's orders so your baby can catch up on milestones like other babies.
In case the baby uses formula milk and has growth retardation, try changing to another milk to solve the problem.

3. Common health problems in 7-week-old babies

At this stage, the baby's head may appear rough patches of skin. This phenomenon is very common and completely normal. Parents have nothing to worry about and it's also not permanent, usually going away after 6 months.
Use baby shampoo and soft brush to remove those rough patches. If that doesn't work, mineral oil can be used to soften the patches, then shampoo to clean. If it still doesn't work, take your child to see a doctor for specialist advice.

4. The problem of bathing babies 7 weeks old

Children do not need to bathe every day. Bathing too much can dry out the skin, and in fact, the child is not so dirty that he needs to bathe every day. Babies only need to be bathed a few times a week with soap and shampoo made specifically for babies. Use a baby soft cloth, shower from head to toe, and the diaper area alone will be bathed last.

5. The problem of using vaccines for babies 7 weeks old

This is the time when parents need to pay attention to the use of the first doses of vaccines for children. Please consult your doctor for complete and detailed information about the necessary vaccines and the duration of use for children. Never refuse to use vaccines to ensure that children are protected against dangerous diseases that may be acquired in the future.

6. When to take your child to the doctor?

Coughs and colds: See a doctor if your child has a dry cough that doesn't go away for more than a week, wheezes, or turns to a cough with phlegm. Children should seek medical attention if the runny nose persists for more than 10 days; runny nose with green mucus on both sides of the nose for more than 10 days, or nasal mucus with bleeding; Constipation : Take your child to the doctor if he or she is constipated frequently, or has blood in the stool; Vomiting and diarrhea: Take your child to the doctor if he or she vomits or has diarrhea with a lot of water, sometimes with mucus, appearing more than usual; lasts more than 24 hours or is accompanied by fever, or bloody stools. Take your child to the doctor right away if he or she shows signs of dehydration: diapers are less watery or completely dry (or dark yellow urine instead of clear urine), dry skin, dry mouth, no tears, sunken eyes , fontanelle; For children under 2 months old: if the child has a fever, it should be taken to the doctor immediately. Above is the necessary information for parents around the development of a 7-week-old infant. The process of taking care of children during this sensitive period requires the patience and thoughtfulness of parents to lay a solid physical foundation for their children to grow up.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of top doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious, knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment. Doctor Dang Huy Toan has many years of experience in Pediatrics and Neonatology, especially in pediatric respiratory diseases. Doctor Dang Huy Toan was the former head of the pediatric department at 22.12 hospital and the head of the Department of Internal Medicine at Tam Tri Nha Trang hospital. Currently, he is a Doctor at the Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

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Reference source: mayoclinic.org; whattoexpect.com