2-Week-Old Baby: Growth Spurts, Sleep (or Lack Thereof) & First Real Smiles

Welcome to Week Two—aka the First Growth-Spurt Thunderdome 🍼

My little guy turned two weeks yesterday and I swear he’s already grown an inch. Yesterday he nursed for forty-five minutes straight, took a ten-minute power nap, then looked at me like, “Got more?”

If your household feels like an all-night diner right now, you’re right on track. Pediatricians call this the “first growth spurt.” Translation: your baby is ordering the super-size combo meal every two hours.

At a Glance

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Sleeping basics
Newborns up to 3 or 4 months old need 14 to 17 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, usually waking every two to four hours to eat.
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Feeding basics
Breastfed babies should eat as much as they want at this age, but a general rule of thumb is roughly 16 to 24 ounces of breast milk or formula in 24 hours.
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Did you know?
Baby will lose weight after birth. Nearly all newborns will leave the hospital or birthing center weighing less than when they first checked in.

Feeding in Week Two: The Milk Marathon

Breast or bottle, the rules are simple—feed on demand. Most 2-week-olds take in about 16–24 oz (480–720 ml) of milk in 24 hours [^1]. That can look like 8–12 feeds spaced every 2–3 hours from the start of one feed to the start of the next.

Pro tip from my 3 a.m. self: keep a water bottle and a granola bar within arm’s reach. If you’re breastfeeding, your thirst reflex is basically a fire alarm.

Sleep Reality Check

Newborns this young clock 14–17 hours of sleep in a full day, but never in one heroic stretch [^2]. Expect 2- to 4-hour windows. The American Academy of Pediatrics reminds us the safest spot is a bare crib or bassinet in your room, baby flat on their back [^3].

My favourite hack: when the sun rises, open the curtains wide. Natural light helps set baby’s circadian rhythm—science says it, and my sanity seconds it.

Weight Check: The Two-Week Line

By day 10–14, most babies have regained (or surpassed) birth weight [^4]. If your clinic is anything like mine, the nurse will cheer like you just won the Stanley Cup when the scale ticks up.

Eyes, Umbilical Cord & Soft Spots—Oh My!

Crossed eyes? Totally normal. Newborns lack full muscle control and have extra skin folds at the inner corners. It usually resolves by 2–3 months [^5].

Umbilical stump still hanging on? Keep it dry, fold diapers below the belly button, and watch for redness, foul smell or pus—rare signs of omphalitis that need quick medical attention [^6].

Soft spots (fontanelles): There are two. The larger diamond-shaped one on top closes by 18–24 months; the smaller triangle at the back can close as early as 2–3 months [^7]. They’re covered by sturdy membranes, so gentle head support is enough—no need for a bubble-wrap helmet.

Postpartum Side Quests

Sore bits: Whether you delivered vaginally or by C-section, lingering pain is normal. Warm sitz baths, stool softeners, and pelvic-floor (Kegel) exercises speed healing [^8].

Constipation: Aim for 25 g of fibre daily. My go-to snack is a handful of almonds plus two dried apricots—moves things along faster than a Zamboni on fresh ice.

Low milk supply culprits: supplementing with formula too early, long gaps between feeds, or cutting sessions short. If in doubt, reach out to a lactation consultant [^9].

One More Thing—The Joke

Why don’t newborns ever make good secret agents?Because they always crack under sleep deprivation. (Feel free to groan—my partner did.)

When to Call the Doctor

Fewer than 6 wet diapers in 24 hours
Persistent sunken or bulging soft spot
Fever ≥38 °C (100.4 °F)
Signs of dehydration: lethargy, dry mouth, no tears [^10]

You’ve got this, even if today’s outfit is yesterday’s pyjamas. Growth spurts pass, milk supplies regulate, and one day soon you’ll wake up to an actual smile that isn’t just gas.

References follow below—bookmark these for 3 a.m. doom-scrolling reassurance.