Two Week Old Baby: Feeding and Sleeping Expectations

Two weeks is a significant milestone in having a newborn, so congrats! It doesn’t sound like a long time in any other stage of life, but two weeks is a huge deal! As your baby reaches two weeks old, you should be getting into a bit of a routine. You’re starting to figure out what’s normal for your unique baby and what works best for both of you. Here’s what to expect when it comes to feeding and sleeping for your two-week-old baby!

Feeding Your Two Week Old Baby

Most full-term healthy babies are back up to birth weight by two weeks of age.² Remember, it’s normal for babies to lose weight initially and then start to regain weight by around three to five days of life.^2,3,4 They gain around 1 ounce per day during this time.²

Once your baby is growing well and above birth weight, it’s usually okay to let them sleep!⁵ Babies around two weeks old can usually sleep for longer stretches in 24 hours.⁶ So, I recommend waking your little one during the day to feed. This way, the long periods are more likely to happen at night, and you can let yourself sleep, too!

Your baby still has a tiny tummy that can’t hold a lot, so they will still need to feed often. Breastfed babies feed around eight to 12 times daily, about every one to three hours.⁷ Bottle-fed babies often feed a little less frequently, about every two to four hours, getting about six to eight feedings daily.^8,9 They usually take around 2 to 3 ounces per feed.⁸

Notes About Breastfeeding

If you’re breastfeeding, it’s important to note that nursing is a supply-and-demand process. This means the more your baby feeds, the more milk your body will make.^10,11 Your baby feeding and emptying your breasts stimulates your brain to produce more milk through a hormone called prolactin. So, the more they feed, the more prolactin is made, and the more milk your body will make.¹⁰ Pumping can stimulate this process, too.¹¹ The supply-and-demand phenomenon of nursing is why feeding your baby on demand is recommended. Use your baby’s hunger cues to feed when they’re hungry.⁹ By doing this, most women who choose to nurse will make just the right amount of milk their baby needs.

When breastfeeding is going well, your breasts should feel full before a feed and softer afterward.¹² You might still need help with an extra set of hands or nursing pillows to get in the correct position, and your baby might take a few tries to latch. However, if the latch doesn’t feel right or is painful, don’t suffer through it! You don’t want to teach your baby to be an infective feeder and destroy your nipples. Gently break the suction, take them off the nipple, and try again.¹³

When To Seek a Lactation Consultant

If you want to breastfeed but have concerns about how it’s going, you should seek help from a lactation consultant soon. Here are some common reasons to get a lactation consult:^14,15,16

• Maternal nipple pain with nursing
• Poor weight gain in the baby with nursing alone
• Baby isn’t satisfied after nursing
• Baby is fussy at the breast, has difficulty, or refuses to latch
• Feeding multiples or a baby with special needs
• Maternal health issues
• Pumping questions or concerns

Notes About Engorged Breasts

Some women experience an oversupply of breast milk. While this may sound like not a bad problem, it can be tough to deal with. The breasts can become swollen and quite painful.¹⁷ Here are some tips for dealing with engorged breasts:^17,18,19

• Hand-express a small amount of milk from your breasts to soften them up before nursing. This may help the baby to latch on better.
• Try a warm shower or warm compresses before nursing.
• Try a cool compress if your breasts are still painful and sore after nursing.
• If your breasts are very painful, not improving, red, and swollen, or you have a fever, please contact your healthcare provider.

Sleep and Your Two Week Old Baby

Now, what about sleep? For those first two weeks, newborns are very sleepy little beings, and you usually spend much of your time trying to wake them up to feed. But around two weeks old, babies tend to “wake up” a little, which is very exciting! They’re becoming more alert. But they still need around 16 hours of sleep in 24 hours.²⁰ The problem is that they usually don’t sleep for more than a few hours at a time.²¹

This happens for several reasons: they have tiny tummies, need to feed often, and don’t have an established circadian rhythm.²² A circadian rhythm is like your own internal clock. In utero, babies usually follow the mother’s circadian rhythm. Once the baby is born, though, that internal clock is gone.²³ Some say their days and nights are mixed up for at least the first six to eight weeks. Many parents find themselves with a newborn who easily falls asleep during the day but is difficult to settle at night.

Notes About Safe Sleep Practices

Since your sleeping patterns inevitably tend to mimic your baby’s, it’s very tempting to fall asleep while holding your newborn baby. However, it’s crucial to always practice safe sleep practices with your baby. Here are the recommendations for safe sleep, per the American Academy of Pediatrics:¹

• Have them sleep separately from your bed (so, in a bassinet or crib in your room).
• Put them on a firm mattress.
• Always put baby down on their back. If they roll to the side, it’s okay, but don’t place them that way.
• Ensure there’s nothing else around — no stuffed toys, loose blankets, pillows, or bumpers!
• A tight swaddle is okay. Once baby can roll over (usually around 4 months of age, but it can happen sooner or later), you need to stop swaddling them with their arms in.
• Don’t overheat your baby. A cooler temperature is better, around 68 to 72 degrees F. Instead of using their hands or feet (those will be colder than the rest of their body), use their chest to indicate if they’re too hot or cold.
• Pacifiers are okay.
• No smoking.
• Don’t leave your baby sleeping on a couch or chair. It’s unsafe, and they can fall off. Also, don’t let them fall asleep on nursing pillows or pillow-like lounging pads.

During the day, when you have things to do or just want to go for a walk, putting your baby in a stroller or baby carrier while they sleep is great. These tools can be very helpful, so take advantage! If baby doesn’t like them at first, keep trying. Because if there’s one thing that’s true about newborns, it’s that no stage lasts long.

Keep It Up, Mama!

I hope you’re enjoying each and every minute with your beautiful two-week-old baby. Every day, you will notice something new and see how your baby grows before your eyes. It’s a beautiful thing to witness! Remember, these days may be challenging in a lot of ways. But don’t forget you’re doing a fantastic job (even if it doesn’t feel that way). Keep it up!