baby growth week by week after birth?

A Week-by-Week Guide to Developmental Milestones During a Baby's First Year
While every baby develops at their own pace, experts use certain milestones as a guide. Use this list of developmental milestones to learn what to expect during your baby's first year.
By Parents Editors


If you're curious about your baby's growth, check out these developmental milestones for the first 52 weeks of your baby's life. Consider this list a fun look at what you can expect your baby to learn and do during their remarkable first year, and don't worry if they aren't doing exactly what's described when it appears in the timeline.

Every child grows in a way that's unique and individual to them, and some babies will reach certain milestones sooner and hit others later. Use this list as a guide to milestones to look forward to, keep up with your baby's well-child check-ups, and be sure to discuss questions and concerns you have with your child's pediatrician.
Newborn Milestones

Week 1: It's only been a week, but your newborn already knows they can rely on you. By now, they can recognize your voice, and the familiarity helps them adjust to the strange new world outside the womb. They can't understand your words, but talking to them is an expression of love and will eventually lay the foundations for language development in their brain.

Week 2: In their second week of life, your baby can focus on objects 8 to 14 inches away—about the distance between their eyes and yours during a feeding. As you feed your little one, move your head slowly from side to side and see if their eyes follow you. This exercise helps build their eye muscles and tracking skills.

Week 3: Though their movements are still random and jerky, your baby can start snuggling by week three. As you hold them, watch how they adjust their posture towards you. They find your arms and even your scent calming and comforting.

Week 4: Have you noticed your baby using their vocal cords in ways other than crying? They may coo and make "ahh" sounds around week four, especially when they see a parent. Babies learn by mimicking, so replay their sounds back to them to promote progression through key newborn developmental milestones.