Newborn 2 weeks old: How to care and note

This is an automatically translated article.

This article is professionally consulted by Master, Resident Doctor Dang Thi Ngoan - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital.
The 2-week-old newborn is a sensitive period, the baby is still immature and needs special care. Therefore, mothers pay attention to the developmental stages of their children to help them develop comprehensively.

1. Newborn 2 weeks old

A 2-week-old newborn is still quite immature, some physiological needs and development of the child such as:
The baby's sleep time is mainly about 15-18 hours The child still does not recognize the difference differentiate between day and night Baby's neck muscles are weak and need support to hold baby's head The baby can see well between 8cm-18cm and can see moving objects. Especially like to see smiling faces and bright colors such as red, white, yellow, etc. Children can turn to gentle voices and like cuddling and comforting movements. Often startled by loud sounds or sudden movements. Babies can cry for up to 2-3 hours a day, and often differ when asking for a certain need. Babies need to feed for about 10 minutes on each side and every 2 hours. In order to properly and comprehensively care for newborn babies, mothers need to know the physiological needs of their babies at each stage so that they can take care of them comprehensively.

2. How to take care of a 2-week-old newborn and some notes

2.1 Feeding the baby properly A 2-week-old baby usually feeds 6-12 times, depending on the case it can be more or less. During this period, babies need to be exclusively breastfed. To avoid vomiting, mothers need to pay attention to the baby's feeding position, give the baby a break after each feeding, 2 hours apart.
Some mothers have little milk, not enough for the baby's needs. It is necessary to consult a nutritionist to choose the right formula for your baby.
2.2 Get enough sleep 2-week-old babies spend most of their time sleeping. Only wake up to eat or play for a while. Therefore, prioritizing sleep for children is a top factor. Keep a quiet space to prevent the baby from being startled during sleep. Mothers also need to regularly hold and pat their babies to create a sense of peace of mind for the child.
In addition, mothers should also start training their children to distinguish between day and night, avoiding the situation of playing at night and sleeping during the day, affecting the mother's health. At night, it is necessary to turn off the electricity to create a quiet space. During the day, the room should be airy, natural light and not too quiet. Gradually, children will distinguish between day and night and can stabilize their sleep cycle.


2.3 Bathing and skin care 2 week old babies still have the umbilical cord. However, your baby's umbilical cord will dry out and fall off after 10-14 days. So keep your baby's umbilical cord clean and dry to avoid infection. Babies should be bathed with a small sponge or towel, gently wiping until the umbilical cord falls off. When the umbilical cord falls off, the baby can be bathed in the tub. Regular daily bathing for children is not necessary, can rely on weather factors to schedule a bath. After bathing, you can apply baby lotion. When bathing the baby, the mother needs to clean the outer ear, wash the baby's scalp with shampoo, and gently rub the scalp and body with a cloth. Gentle scrubbing can prevent the development of seborrheic inflammation.

For girls, bleeding or vaginal discharge is normal. For boys, if you are not circumcised, do not try to pull it out, wash it with warm water. If circumcised, it is normal to have a yellow scab on the penis during the first week. Rinse the tip of the penis with warm water, and add a little oil until there is no more bleeding and discharge.
In addition, to avoid diaper rash, heat rash, ... mothers need to pay attention to change diapers regularly for children. Especially when your baby pushes, twists or turns red. Anti-rash creams and oils can be used for children. Avoid using tissues containing alcohol or irritants to wipe your baby.
2.4 Vaccination During this period, mothers should also pay attention to the vaccination schedule of their children, especially the tuberculosis vaccine (Injected within the first month after birth).
2.5 Diet and oral hygiene Newborns 2 weeks old need to be exclusively breastfed, not eat solid foods, drink water or juice,... within 6 months. However, babies can be given iron-fortified formula milk if they are unable to exclusively breastfeed. In addition, vitamin D can be provided by exposing children to sunlight. After feeding, the baby needs to be cleaned gums with gauze or small cloth.
In addition, to help children develop comprehensively, mothers can read books, talk, or sing to their children. Show your child objects with bright colors, interesting pictures, and materials.

In summary, the 2-week-old newborn is a sensitive age, still gradually adapting to the outside environment. Therefore, mothers need to take care of their children meticulously so that their children can develop comprehensively.
To prevent diseases that babies often get, parents should pay attention to nutrition to improve children's resistance. At the same time, add supporting foods containing lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, B vitamins,... snacks and less digestive problems.
Parents can learn more:
Why do you need to supplement Lysine for your baby?
The role of zinc - Guidelines for reasonable zinc supplementation
Please visit the website Vinmec.com regularly and update useful information to take care of your baby and family.