What do 5 week old babies actually 'do'?.........

[Tiredemma]

I feel like a novice again.

Its been 10 whole years since I was last at home with a baby and I honestly cannot remember much about it (other than I was tired - hence name)

DD is 5 weeks old tomorrow, utterly adorable- but other than take milk and sleep, she does very little else- I feel like im just waiting to feed her. I read to her this morning (and she fell asleep). Theres not much else to do really is there??

We went out to local town yesterday in the pushchair (she slept) and on Tuesday I took her on a buggy walk with other mums in the local park.

should I be doing much else????

Glad I'm not the only one! My DS is nearly 5 weeks old and all he seems to do is eat, sleep, cry when hungry, wave his limbs around, fart, make other amusing noises, piss, and sh!t. I just talk nonsense at him, laugh at the farts, and try to enjoy it as everyone tells me he'll be an angry teenager before I know it... Will gratefully receive any additional wisdom!

I've only got one but he didn't do anything at 5 weeks. I just talked to him and smiled at him when he was awake, but he couldn't even take much of that before tiring his little brain out.

Now at 10 weeks he's interested in shapes, patterns, faces and music, but still naps a lot in the day.

Search YouTube for videos for baby's brain development and you'll find videos of black and white moving shapes, if you want to do something different with them.

Congratulations Tired and Hooya on your DCs! My immediate answer to your question is they cry (or was it just mine?). You are both right, they are milk processing machines - milk in, vomit, wee and poo out. With some sleep inbetween.

Give them a tickle, you might get a smile. DD2 would give a lovely smile if I very gently traced round her lips with my finger.

SLT here. 5 weeks old is so tiny They're already communicating with you - giving you eye contact, making sounds, crying when they need something, maybe smiling or at least they will be soon!

They need you to talk to them, doesn't matter what about, face to face, in a high-pitched singy songy voice (much easier for babies to listen to). Singing to them is also really good - helps develop their attention and listening skills. And it's not too early to start using books - hold the book where they can see it and talk about the pictures. And don't worry if they lose interest in things very quickly and spend loads of time asleep.

If you have a Children's Centre in your area, go along and find out what sort of groups they run for parents and babies - you will find out loads more and will be able to ask any questions you have as time goes along.

Sounds like you're both doing great - enjoy your tiny babies!

Deprive you of sleep, fight falling asleep and bodily functions. They do smile and stick their tongue back out at you though.