{"id":100850,"date":"2019-09-05T06:05:12","date_gmt":"2019-09-05T10:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.oviahealth.com\/guide\/100850\/8-week-old-baby\/"},"modified":"2021-12-08T16:14:06","modified_gmt":"2021-12-08T21:14:06","slug":"8-week-old-baby","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/100850\/8-week-old-baby\/","title":{"rendered":"8 weeks old"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tummy time is an important part of any baby\u2019s day, but even though it has a really, really fun name, not every baby is a huge fan of the closest thing an infant has to an exercise routine. In fact, for a lot of babies, it\u2019s even less of a favorite time of day than bedtime. It\u2019s important for the parents of grumpy babies who don\u2019t much like tummy time to keep them trying it, but it\u2019s also important to remember to take some time for you and Baby<\/span> to have fun together – even if that means keeping them<\/span> off of their<\/span> tummy for a while.<\/p>\n

Baby<\/span>\u2019s idea of what a game is might be a little bit different than yours right now – they probably won\u2019t<\/span> go for anything with too many rules, and checkers is right out until Baby<\/span> grows out of putting things in their<\/span> mouth. Just making sure you\u2019re taking the time to laugh together, as well as glare down at the floor on your tummies together, is a great way to make sure you\u2019re getting the time to bond, as well as to encourage their<\/span> development.<\/p>\n

Now that Baby<\/span>\u2019s umbilical stump has been gone for a little while, they has<\/span> probably been getting some experience with the non-sponge-bath, and it\u2019s hard to predict whether a baby is going to love or hate bathtime, but even the most reluctant bathers can warm up to a little splish-splash. If Baby<\/span> is a little wary of getting their<\/span> head wet, saving it for the end of the bath, and using a warm, wet washcloth, instead of pouring water over their<\/span> head can be a good way to ease into it.<\/p>\n

More than that, though, even if Baby<\/span> isn\u2019t a water-baby right away, with a little encouragement, a few bath toys, and a little bit of luck, the bath can be as much fun for you and Baby<\/span> as tummy time sometimes isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

When you do start bath time, whether in the sink or a little tub inside of a big tub, it\u2019s important to keep an eye on Baby<\/span> at all times, and to make sure that they stays<\/span> warm on the way in and out of the bath. And remember, Baby<\/span> probably isn\u2019t picking up a ton of dirt and grime throughout the day quite yet (just wait until the toddler days), and so likely doesn\u2019t need to be bathed more than every few days to a week.<\/p>\n

Milestones<\/strong><\/h4>\n