Pediatric Advisor: Well Child Care at 2 Weeks
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Well Child Care at 2 Weeks
Feeding
At the age of 2 weeks, a baby needs only breast milk or infant formula. Babies
can get enough milk by feeding every 2 to 3 hours, including during the night. If
your baby wants to feed more often, try a pacifier. Your baby may need to suck
but not feed.
Breast-fed babies should usually feed about 10 minutes at each breast during
each feeding. If you use formula, your baby will take 2 to 3 ounces of formula
every 2 to 3 hours. Carefully follow the instructions for mixing the formula.
Check it to make sure that it is warm, not hot. Keep formula you don’t use right
away in the refrigerator.
It’s important to hold your baby during feeding. This is a good time to talk to
your baby.
Development
Babies at this age are learning to use their eyes and ears. They start to respond
to smiling faces and gentle, pleasant voices.
Babies usually sleep 16 or more hours a day, but they won’t start to sleep all
night until 3 to 5 months of age.
Most babies will strain to pass bowel movements. As long as the bowel
movement is soft, there is no need to worry if your baby just has bowel
movements every few days. If your baby has bowel movements that are hard or
difficult to pass, ask your child’s healthcare provider about it.
Babies usually wet the diaper at least 6 times each day.
Safety Tips
Having a new baby is a major life change. Help from friends and relatives can be
very important at this time. A few mothers get the blues or feel depressed after
a baby is born. Be sure to tell someone if you are feeling this way. Ask your
baby’s healthcare provider for help. If you find yourself getting annoyed or
angry with your baby, or if your baby is crying too much and you cannot cope
with it, call a friend or relative for help. NEVER shake a baby.
Choking and Suffocation
• Be sure to pick a safe location for your baby’s crib or bassinet. It should
not be too near a heater. Make sure crib sides are always completely up.
Use a crib with slats not more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart. Babies can get
hurt if crib slats are further apart than this.
• Use a firm mattress that fits the crib snugly.
• Place your baby in bed on his back. Sleeping on the back lowers the risk of
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the sudden, unexplained
death of a healthy baby.
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Pediatric Advisor: Well Child Care at 2 Weeks
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• Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of your baby's crib. Also
keep plastic bags, balloons, and baby powder out of reach.
• Don’t let your baby sleep in a bed or on a couch, and don’t sleep with your
baby.
Falls
• Never leave your baby on a high place, like a changing table, bed, or
couch. Your baby should never be left alone except in a bassinet or crib
with the crib sides up.
• Keep mesh netting of playpens in the upright position. The mesh should
have openings of less than 1/4 inch.
• Always buckle the safety belts or straps when your baby is in an infant
carrier or shopping cart.
Car Safety
• Car seats are the safest way for babies to travel in cars and are required
by law. Place infant car seats in the back seat with your baby facing
toward the back of the car. If you are not sure how to install the seat in
your car, contact your local fire department.
• Never leave children alone in a parked car, even for a few minutes.
Children are at risk for heat illness and injury when left alone. Always
check to make sure your child is not still in the car when you leave your
car.
Fires and Burns
• Never eat, drink, or carry anything hot while you are holding your baby or
very near your baby.
• Turn your water heater down to 120°F (49°C) or lower.
• Install smoke detectors. Check your smoke detectors as often as
recommended by the manufacturer or at least once a month to make sure
they work. For all detectors that use batteries, replace batteries at least
once a year or when they are low.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen.
Smoking
• Children who live in a house where someone smokes have more
respiratory infections, like colds, flu, and throat infections. Their symptoms
are also more severe and last longer than those of children who live in a
smoke-free home.
• If you smoke, set a quit date and stop. Ask your healthcare provider for
help in quitting. If you cannot quit, do NOT smoke in the house, car, or
near children.
Immunizations
Immunizations protect your child against several serious, life-threatening
diseases. Shortly after birth, your child will get a hepatitis B shot. Ask your
healthcare provider what symptoms or problems you should watch for after your
child gets the shot and what to do if your child has them. The next vaccines are
recommended at 2 months of age.
Bring your child's shot record to all visits with your child’s healthcare provider.
Next Visit
Your baby's next routine visit may be at 1 month or 2 months of age.
Developed by RelayHealth.
Pediatric Advisor 2013.4 published by RelayHealth.
Last modified: 2013-10-03
Last reviewed: 2013-10-03
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes
available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical
evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
References
Pediatric Advisor 2013.4 Index
Copyright ©2013 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All rights reserved.
http://www.childrenshealthnetwork.org/CRS/CRS/pa_wc2week_pep.htm
3/22/2014
Pediatric Advisor: Well Child Care at 2 Weeks
http://www.childrenshealthnetwork.org/CRS/CRS/pa_wc2week_pep.htm
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3/22/2014