My son is about 7 weeks old. I am breastfeeding him. He nurses, falls asleep at the breast, sleeps for hour and a half or so, wakes up to eat. I change and feed him, and he falls asleep again. This kinds gose on all day long, except at night he gose one five hour strech, but then two or three hours after that. He dose have one or two days a week that he seems more awake, though. Now I know that this is normal, but how long till they stay awake more. Also how long till they start to have more muscle control? I feel like I am holding a rag doll, he just dosen't seem to have anymore head control then he did the day he was born. Another question: I noticed this past week that his hands tremble sometimes. Kind of the way peoples do when they have parcansins (sp?) Is this normal? You would think that since this was my second that I would know the answers, but for some reson I remember my daughter having more head control, and being awake longer by this time. But then again that was almost 3 years ago...
My daughter is 12 weeks old and just about last week started holding her head up most of the time. She is still a little floppy though. I think that it's pretty normal for them to still be floppy at 7 weeks.....as long as they are moving around and using and strengthening their muscles. Her sleeping patterns at 7 weeks were just like your son's too. She now stays awake for 3-4 hours at a time and almost sleeps through the night. Only waking up usually one time. She takes short (about 1-2 hours) naps throughout the day. And still feeds (I'm breastfeeding too) about every 2 hours, more if it is really hot and we are outside a lot. As far as the trembling....I think that is pretty normal too. Bella's foot trembled a lot, but I haven't noticed it lately. I wouldn't worry about it unless it is severe trembling, but maybe you could check with your pediatrician. This is my second too, and it seems totally different this time around....or maybe I just forget. Who knows....
Mrs e. The way your baby nurses and sleeps sounds really normal for a baby his age. As for his muscle control, it should be getting stronger all the time. It may be, and you are just not noticing, as you are with him all the time. You may want to ask his Ped, the next time you go, just to make sure he is on track with his physical development. Is he making good eye contact? Starting to smile more? That is what babies are doing at this age. Some babies do tremor, but without seeing it, there is no way to tell what is normal and what isn't. It is most likely normal, but, again, physical development is what your ped is there for. If it is really worrying you, see your ped or family doc and see what they say. Just one question. Your baby doesn't spend more than an hour or so (or less) a day in a carseat or other hard plasic carrier, does he? These are actually known to effect physical and mental development. A soft body carrier is fine, in fact, they are a great idea, but your baby should not be in a car seat or other hard "chair" for any longer each day than it takes for you to run a few errands. And the seat should not be taken out of the car, into the house, into stores ect. Use your arms or a sling. Let us know how he is doing.
A good article about the "Brain Dance" of infant development, car seats, and movement and positioning for infants. http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBMarApr01p44.html
I don't have an infant carrier. I have a big car seat one that gose from 5 to 40 pds. Unless he is sleeping he is usually in my or my husbands arms. Or I am carring him in my sling. I do use a swing, but i dont think he is in it even an hour a day. Oh and I have a reclining high chair that i use when I am at the computer and i need my hands free.
