🍼 Age-based baby guide

Week 10: Many babies are becoming little explorers – they watch you with bright eyes, splash you with big smiles and coos, wave their arms and legs like windmills, and then suddenly crash into sleep once their busy brain and tummy need a break.

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Key points

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Around ten weeks, lots of babies have a few longer calm-awake spells where they quietly look around, turn towards familiar voices, and follow faces or toys for a short time before they get tired.
Social smiles often appear more clearly now, and many babies start to “talk back” with coos, sighs, and squeaks when you chat or sing, as if they are practising their own side of the conversation.
Feeding still takes up a big part of the day, but some parents notice their baby drinks in a smoother rhythm, finishes a feed a bit faster, and sometimes has slightly longer pauses between feeds at certain times.
Sleep is usually still broken into short chunks spread across day and night, and some families notice one or two longer stretches appearing, while other naps and nights remain quite changeable.
Nappies often feel heavier now, and many parents know their baby’s usual pee and poo pattern very well, so new colours, smells, or a big change in how often nappies are wet or dirty are easy to spot.
Playtime is becoming more fun and active: your baby may swat at a dangling toy, stare at their own hands as if they are brand new, or enjoy a simple song and gentle bounce as a daily mini game.

Feeding

Guide

At around week 10 many babies still feed often both day and night, and responsive feeding – offering the breast or bottle when they stir, root, or suck their hands – usually fits well with their small stomach and steady growth.
Some parents notice feeds feel more settled now, with their baby latching more quickly, sucking and swallowing in a regular pattern, and relaxing their shoulders and hands as their tummy fills and they feel satisfied.
Wet nappies across the day, soft poos, and regular weight checks with a health professional are often looked at together as part of seeing how feeding is going over time, alongside how alert and content the baby seems after most feeds.

Sleep

Guide

At ten weeks, many babies still sleep for a large part of each 24 hours, but this is usually in short bursts, and it is common for nights to include several wakes for feeds, cuddles, or a quick nappy check.
Parents are often advised to place their baby on their back in a clear, flat sleep space in the same room as an adult, keeping pillows, duvets, and soft toys away from the baby’s face and keeping the room smoke-free to support safer sleep.
Some families gently show the difference between day and night by keeping daytime naps in normal light and everyday sounds, and keeping night-time care calm and low-light, while still following the baby’s need for feeds and comfort rather than a strict schedule.

Pee and Pooping

Guide

By this stage many babies have a fairly steady rhythm of wet nappies and soft poos, which might be mustard yellow, brown, or slightly green, and loud squirts or very serious “poo faces” are still common sights.
Some babies poo several times a day, while others poo less often but in larger amounts, and parents usually recognise what is typical for their own baby and notice changes quite quickly.
Contact your midwife, health visitor, paediatrician or local emergency service if wet or dirty nappies suddenly become very rare, or if you notice very pale poo, blood, or other changes that worry you.

Learning

Guide

Around week 10 many babies are practising early communication, such as holding eye contact for a little longer, smiling when you smile, and making soft coos when you talk, which all help them learn that you are someone who answers their signals.
Several times a day, for a few minutes when your baby is calm and awake, you might sing a favourite song, repeat a simple rhyme, or slowly move a high-contrast toy from side to side for them to follow with their eyes, pausing when they look away or start to fuss.
Short, watched bits of tummy time on your chest, across your lap, or on a firm surface help your baby practise lifting and turning their head and using their arms; many families find it easy to weave this into daily life, such as one song or story’s length a few times a day.

Sources

This content is general information only and is not medical advice. If you are worried about your baby, contact your midwife, health visitor, paediatrician, or local emergency service.