Your baby is just over 2 months old, which may be hard to believe, but week nine brings some exciting milestones. For one thing, your baby is likely sleeping for longer stretches at night, but if your little one isn't, don't fear. Every baby is different, and that milestone may be right around the corner.
Read on for what you can expect from your 9-week-old baby, from physical development and sleep to handling common health concerns. Plus, learn what to expect if you're heading back to work.
Your Growing Baby
A 9-week-old baby is getting better at just about everything. When it comes to sleep, they are learning to stay asleep for longer stretches at night and may even be learning skills like self-soothing. They also startle less and have more control and intention behind their movements.
Sleep milestones for 9-week-old babies
The good news is that by this week, your baby might be sleeping six or more hours at night! Don't be surprised if your baby has a relapse, though. A 9-week-old baby is still settling into their sleep routines, and it's common for babies to take a step back before they make the next leap forward.
Don't expect your baby to sleep through the night just yet. According to Stanford Medicine, that developmental milestone (defined as sleeping for six to eight hours overnight) doesn't happen for most babies until closer to the 3- to 6-month mark. So, it may be a few more weeks (or even months) before that happens.
But you can help your baby sleep better by establishing a bedtime routine, putting them down at the same time every night, and sticking to the same pre-bed activities, such as a warm bath and reading their favorite book before you tuck them in.
At 9 weeks old, babies are also better equipped to soothe themselves back to sleep. So you might try letting them fuss for a few minutes at night before you leap to the rescue. Your baby might just surprise you by dozing off again without you!
But hold off on full-fledged sleep training until they're a little older. Research suggests that babies aren't developmentally ready for sleep training until closer to 6 months. In the meantime, hang in there. That precious through-the-night sleep will come eventually.
Newborn Sleep: What to Expect Between Birth and 3 Months
Physical development for 9-week-old babies
As your baby develops more physical control, some newborn reactions—such as the Moro (or startle) reflex—will start to fade. Meanwhile, new abilities take their place.
You might see your little one shimmying around on their bellies or even wiggling off their blanket during tummy time. Some babies start rolling from their backs onto their sides. But don't expect your baby to roll all the way over yet—that's a milestone that will likely occur between 4 and 6 months.
And don't worry if your baby hasn't hit all the same physical milestones as other babies. It could just be that their more fine-tuned movements are less noticeable or that they are working on another, less-physical milestone for the moment.
Keep in touch with your pediatrician if you have any concerns, of course, but also remember that all babies develop at different rates.
Newborn Baby Milestones to Know
Baby Health and Safety
A 9-week-old baby may develop clogged tear ducts or pinkeye. Both are common infant conditions and are usually not too concerning, especially if you know what to do.
Clogged tear ducts in a 9-week-old baby
Your baby might have wailed a lot during the first few weeks, but those cries weren't accompanied by actual tears since their tear glands weren't fully developed. Now that the glands are up and running, your baby can turn on the waterworks—unless they have a blocked tear duct.
According to Boston Children's Hospital, the following are symptoms of blocked tear ducts in babies:
- Tears that pool in the corner of your baby's eye
- Tears that drain down your baby's eyelid and cheek
- Mucus or yellowish discharge in the eye
- Reddening skin around the eyes from rubbing
Although it looks a little icky, a clogged duct shouldn't be painful for your baby. The best solution is simple: Apply a warm, damp towel to your baby's lids for a few minutes. If using a warm compress a few times a day does not work after a day or two, talk to a health care provider. They might prescribe an ointment and instruct you to massage the tear duct in the inner corner of the eye.
For some babies, the problem lasts a while. But, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), 90% of blocked ducts will resolve on their own by a baby's first birthday.
Pinkeye in a 9-week-old baby
What looks like a blocked tear duct could also be conjunctivitis or pink eye. Caused by a bacterial or viral infection that might affect one or both of their eyes, it's notoriously common among babies.
According to the American Academy of Opthalmology, symptoms of pink eye in babies include:
- Excessive tearing
- Yellow or green discharge in the eye
- Redness or swelling of the whites of the eye
- Crusting around the eyes
It's usually not a big deal to treat; a health care provider will likely prescribe eye drops that will help it go away in a few days. But it is super contagious, so wash your hands well after touching your baby's face. Also, pop any sheets, blankets, or towels they've used recently into the washing machine in hot water to keep the infection from returning.
Must-Know Postpartum
Many parents find themselves heading back to work or thinking about heading back to work by the time their baby is 9 weeks old. When you do, you'll likely experience a slew of emotions, and it's important to remember that like any other big transition, it will be an adjustment.
Returning to work
If you work outside the home, you may be approaching the end of your parental leave—and dealing with the tumult of emotions that accompany that. It's important to remember that everyone has different feelings around this time, and they are all valid and normal.
Some parents look forward to returning to work—not because they're eager to leave their babies, but because they love their jobs and the intellectual and social stimulation accompanying them. Other parents get torn up about leaving their children with other family members, nannies, or daycare providers. They might wonder, Can I trust this new person to care for and nurture my baby as well as I can? Will the baby love a new caregiver more than me?
However you feel deep down about returning to work, you're almost guaranteed to deal with some guilt—which means you're just like every other working parent out there. So take it slowly and accept yourself and your whole range of emotions. After all, it is a big transition with plenty to worry about.
Help yourself adjust to the daily grind again by giving yourself lots of time to adapt and finding some other working parents you can also talk to. Your first work day away from your baby might be teary, but it'll get easier as time passes. And the more you see how happy and cared-for your baby is with your child care provider, the less you'll stress.
Key Takeaways
A 9-week-old baby is sleeping longer stretches but probably not sleeping through the night yet. Enjoy watching their more intentional movements and keep an eye on their eye health. Look out for blocked tear ducts and pink eye, both of which are common conditions in babies. As you prepare to head back to work, give yourself grace as you make that big transition. Whatever feelings you have are valid, and soon you'll be into a routine that feels as natural as ever.
