Week 3 With Your Newborn
Growth spurts, gassy evenings & your baby waking up to the world
Three weeks in — and you are doing something remarkable. Week 3 tends to catch parents off guard because just as things were starting to feel somewhat manageable, a new wave arrives. The 3-week growth spurt is real, gassiness often peaks, and the evening fussiness may feel more intense. But your baby is also becoming more visually aware, more responsive, and more undeniably themselves. Here’s everything to expect this week.
Sleep in Week 3
How much should my baby be sleeping?
Your baby still needs 14 to 17 hours of sleep per day, but Week 3 often brings disruption to whatever rhythm was forming. The 3-week growth spurt can cause more frequent night wakings and shorter nap stretches. If last week felt like progress and this week feels like a setback — that is the growth spurt talking, and it will pass within a few days.
Why does my baby fight sleep this week?
At 3 weeks old, your baby is becoming more alert and visually aware, which means they can become overstimulated more easily. An overtired, overstimulated baby has a harder time settling even when they desperately need sleep. Keeping awake windows no longer than 45 to 60 minutes and offering sleep at the first sleepy cue (yawning, eye rubbing, looking away) can make a significant difference.
What awake time activities are appropriate at 3 weeks?
Keep it gentle and low-stimulation. Face-to-face time, soft talking or singing, brief tummy time on your chest, and gentle rocking are all perfectly calibrated for this age. Your face is the most fascinating and soothing thing in your baby’s world right now.
Quick Tip: Watch the clock during awake time this week. When baby hits the 45-minute mark after waking, begin your wind-down — dim lights, reduce noise, and start a gentle pre-sleep routine. Catching sleepy cues early prevents the overtired spiral.
Feeding in Week 3
What does feeding look like during the 3-week growth spurt?
Similar to Week 2’s cluster feeding, Week 3 may bring another round of increased feeding demand. You may find your baby wanting to nurse every 1 to 1.5 hours during parts of the day, clustering particularly in the late afternoon and evening. This is your baby driving up your supply to meet their growing needs — trust the process and feed on demand.
My baby falls asleep at the breast — should I worry?
Falling asleep while nursing is very common at 3 weeks. To encourage a full feed before sleep, try breast compressions during nursing to keep the milk flowing, switch sides when baby starts to slow, and use a cool damp cloth or undress baby slightly to keep them alert. A full feed means a longer, more satisfied sleep — for everyone.
Is gassiness related to what I’m eating?
Sometimes, but less often than you might think. Most newborn gassiness is simply the result of an immature digestive system. Common culprits worth considering if gassiness is severe include dairy and caffeine in excess. Note that it takes 4 to 6 hours for something you eat to appear in breast milk, so track timing carefully before cutting anything out.
Quick Tip: If your baby tends to cluster feed in the evenings and then is gassy and fussy, try offering more frequent, smaller feeds in the afternoon. Smaller, more frequent intake can reduce air swallowing and ease gas.
Diaper Changes in Week 3
What’s normal for diapers this week?
You’re still looking for 6 or more wet diapers per day. Bowel movement frequency may begin to slow for some breastfed babies — from multiple stools per day to once a day or every few days. As long as stools remain soft and yellow when they arrive, this is a normal shift in digestive maturity, not constipation.
My baby seems to strain and grunt — is that okay?
Yes — this is called infant dyschezia, the perfectly normal phenomenon of a baby straining and grunting while passing a soft stool. Their abdominal muscles and anal sphincter are still learning to coordinate. The straining doesn’t mean they’re in pain or constipated — it’s simply the learning curve of a brand new digestive system.
First tub bath milestone
If the umbilical cord stump has fallen off, congratulations — you can now give your baby their first full tub bath! Use a small baby tub with just 2–3 inches of warm water, support the head and neck at all times, and keep baths short (5–10 minutes). Use fragrance-free, tear-free baby wash. This is a beautiful bonding ritual to begin building into the bedtime wind-down.
Quick Tip: After baby’s first full tub bath, a gentle full-body lotion massage is a wonderful sensory experience. Use fragrance-free baby lotion and work from feet upward — it supports circulation, body awareness, and is deeply calming before sleep.
Baby Behaviors in Week 3
Week 3 is when many parents first feel like their baby is genuinely seeing them. Here’s what’s happening developmentally this week:
Increased visual focus
Your baby can now focus on your face from about 8–12 inches away with more intention. You may notice them studying your features, locking eyes during feeds, or briefly following a slow-moving object. This is the beginning of visual tracking — an exciting early milestone.
More vocal sounds
Beyond crying, your baby may begin producing small, soft sounds — little coos, grunts, and throaty noises. Respond warmly and enthusiastically — this early “conversation” is building the neural pathways for language.
Peak gas and fussiness
Week 3 is often when gas and colic-like symptoms first really make their presence known. Bicycle legs, tummy massage, and thorough burping remain your best tools. The good news: gas discomfort typically peaks around weeks 4–6 and then gradually improves.
Stronger neck during tummy time
If you’ve been doing tummy time consistently, you may notice baby beginning to briefly lift their head. This is an exciting sign of neck and shoulder strength developing. Aim for 2–3 sessions of 3–5 minutes per day, always supervised.
Hands near the face
You’ll notice your baby bringing their hands toward their face more frequently — sometimes sucking on their fist or fingers. This is a healthy form of self-soothing and an early sign of self-regulation developing beautifully.
A Note from the TLNC Team
Week 3 can feel like a lot — because it is a lot. The growth spurt, the gas, the fussiness, the disrupted sleep all layering on top of weeks of exhaustion. Please know: this is one of the hardest chapters, and the fact that you are showing up every single day through it makes you an extraordinary parent. Your personalized weekly care report captures how your baby is moving through this week — keep reading alongside this guide for the full picture.
You are three weeks in and still standing — that is strength. The growth spurts and the gassy evenings and the sleepless nights are all temporary. What’s permanent is the bond you are building, one feed, one snuggle, one witching-hour survival at a time.
We are so proud of you.
With warmth,
Roxanne Stinson & The Tender Luv Nu-Born Care Team