🍼 Age-based baby guide

Week 2: Many babies are still very sleepy and hungry, but you may now see slightly longer bright-eyed moments, stronger stretches, and a few more clear cries as your baby settles into life outside the womb.

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In the second week, feeding often still feels almost constant, and some babies have days where they want many feeds close together, especially in the evening, as they grow and look for extra comfort.
Sleep usually comes in lots of short naps through day and night, and any small stretch of more settled night sleep is still likely to change from one night to the next.
By now the black meconium poo has usually gone, and nappies are often full of softer yellow, green, or brown poo, with wet nappies appearing regularly across the day.
Your baby may start to uncurl a little, stretch their arms and legs, and briefly turn their head towards your voice or a nearby light or window before tiring again.
Calm skin-to-skin time, cuddles, and your gentle voice still help your baby feel safe, and repeating the same simple songs or phrases can already become familiar and soothing.
Many families have a postnatal check or contact with a midwife or health professional around this time, which is a good moment to ask questions about feeding, crying, and your own recovery.

Feeding

Guide

At around week 2 many babies still feed at all times of day and night, and responsive feeding – offering breast or bottle when they stir, root, or search with their mouth – helps match feeds to their needs.
Some babies seem especially hungry in the late afternoon or evening and may want several feeds close together, which is often linked to growth and comfort rather than a problem with milk supply or routine.
Wet nappies, a changing pattern of poos, and regular weight checks with your midwife, health visitor, or paediatrician are commonly used to see how feeding is going overall.

Sleep

Guide

In the second week, most babies still wake very often at night because their tummies are small and they need regular feeds, so long unbroken nights are not expected yet.
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 the area smoke-free and not too hot to support safer sleep.
You may gently start to show the difference between day and night by keeping daytime feeds and nappy changes in normal light and household noise, and nighttime care dim and calm, without trying to enforce a strict schedule.

Pee and Pooping

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By week 2, many babies pass wee regularly through the day and have soft poos that can be runny, seedy, or pasty, and noisy or explosive nappies are very common.
Poo colour can range from mustard yellow to brown or green depending on feeding and how long it has stayed in the bowel, and small changes from nappy to nappy are usual.
Contact your midwife, health visitor, paediatrician or local emergency service if wet or dirty nappies suddenly drop off, or if there is blood, very pale poo, or other changes that worry you.

Learning

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During short awake spells, your baby is already practising early social skills by listening to your voice, looking briefly at your face, and feeling the rhythm of your touch and movement.
A few times a day, for a couple of minutes when they are awake and calm, you might talk or sing gently, describe what you are doing, or show a simple high-contrast picture or toy held about the length of your forearm from their face, stopping when they look away.
Very short bits of tummy time when your baby is awake and watched – such as lying on your chest or on a firm surface for a moment before a nappy change – help them feel their body, practise lifting or turning their head, and build strength little by little.

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.