Week-by-week library · about 1 week old
Week 1
Quick answer
What is my baby up to at about 1 week old?
This week, your baby's nose already knows you.
What's developing
Senses
Smell is one of the sharpest newborn senses; many infants can distinguish their own parent's scent from another person's within the first days (Zero to Three).
Motor
During supervised tummy time, some babies briefly lift their head and turn it side to side, though neck control is still very limited.
Social
Eye contact is brief but present. A baby this age can fix on a face for a moment before looking away, which is normal, not disinterest.
Try this together this week
- A few minutes of supervised tummy time on your chest or a firm surface, stopping before frustration sets in.
- Let your baby smell a worn (unwashed) shirt of yours nearby during a fussy stretch.
- Slow, exaggerated facial expressions up close; the contrast and movement are what catch attention right now.
- Swaddling for sleep, if your pediatrician has approved it, since the startle reflex is still strong.
What parents often notice
A lot of new parents notice their baby seems to calm faster to their specific voice and smell than to anyone else's, even a very attentive relative.
Sourced to
- Zero to Three, Early Development guides
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org
Last reviewed by the This Week Baby editorial team.