5-8 Weeks

Visit from Your Health Visitor

Your Health Visitor will visit you when your baby is between 6 and 8 weeks old. You can find out more on Happy Healthy Tots.

6 Week Postnatal Check-Up

Being a new mum is exhausting. It is important to take care of yourself so make sure you book and attend your GP appointment for your 6 week postnatal check-up.

8 Week Immunisations

Now is the time to start your baby's immunisation programme. It is vital that your child receives protection against significant illnesses. Your Health Visitor can give you more information. Remember to take your red book with you to the appointment.

Your child will receive the following vaccines:

1. The Six-in-one vaccine helps protect your baby against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B (HepB).
2. Rotavirus helps protect your baby against rotavirus.
3. MenB helps protect your baby against meningococcal group B infection.

The immunisation pages of NHS Inform includes information on when and why you should immunise your child, and what to expect after immunisation.

Public Health Scotland have produced a Protect your child against serious diseases guide. This booklet is provided by your Health Visitor within the first two weeks of your baby being born and will help you over the next five years of your child’s own immunisation journey. This is also available in other languages.

If you need help with breastfeeding or feeding your baby ask your Midwife, Health Visitor or Family Nurse.

Breast milk or first stage infant formula is all your baby needs until they are around 6 months old.

Babies need to be close to their parents. This helps them to feel secure and loved. This also helps you to learn your baby’s signals for when they are hungry. Let your baby guide you on how much and how often they need fed.

You can find lots of information and resources using the links below:

• NHSGGC Early Years: Breast and Formula Feeding
• NHSGGC Happy Healthy Tots: Feeding your baby or child
• Ready Steady Baby! How your body prepares to feed your baby
• Ready Steady Baby! Meeting your new baby
• Parent Club: Feeding Your Baby
• Off to a Good Start: All you need to know about breastfeeding - this leaflet is available in other languages
• Formula feeding: How to feed your baby safely - this leaflet is available in other languages
• UNICEF: Baby Friendly Support for Parents
• First Steps Nutrition Trust: Infant Milks Information for parents & carers
• National Breastfeeding helpline offers both telephone and web chat services. Tel 0300 100 0212 open 9.30am – 9.30pm every day. British Sign Language users in Scotland can contact the helpline via Contact Scotland BSL

If you live in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde you can also access Breast Feeding Support using the links below:

• NCT Glasgow Breastfeeding Buddies : a peer-led breastfeeding support group. Open to any mum in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
• Breastfeeding Network (BfN) : this BfN Greater Glasgow and Clyde Families group offers support and chat with families in the local area. Join a virtual peer group every Tuesday and Friday at 2.00pm.

We know that babies cry a lot, and it can be really tough sometimes. Around 6-8 weeks the crying reaches a peak and lots of parents and carers find it hard to cope.  

ICON gives simple, helpful advice to help you cope with crying and stay calm. 

• Infant crying is normal 
• Comforting methods can help 
• It's Okay to walk away 
• Never ever shake a baby 

It’s based on research and aims to keep babies safe by helping parents and carers understand how to manage stress and avoid actions like shaking, which can be very harmful. 

You can find out more information by visiting the ICON website.

Infant crying is normal. The ‘Normal Crying Curve’ shows how babies start to cry more often at about two weeks of age. The crying may get more frequent and last longer during the next few weeks. It will reach a peak at about six to eight weeks, sometimes a little later. Every baby is different, but after about two to three months, babies start to cry less and less each week. 

Babies cry for lots of reasons. They are built to cry whenever they need a parent/caregiver to help them. Crying is meant to be upsetting for a parent/caregiver. Crying is nature’s way of making sure adults pay attention quickly.  

Comfort methods can help. These can sometimes soothe the baby and the crying will stop. 

Think, are they: 

• Hungry
• Tired
• In need of a nappy change? 

Try simple calming techniques such as skin-to-skin cuddles, singing to the baby or going for a walk.  

It’s Okay to walk away if you have checked the baby is safe and the crying is getting to you. 

A baby’s cry is designed to get your attention.  It might feel like it’s driving you crazy, but you can cope. If you think your baby is poorly see a health professional. You can find more information about where to ask for help if you are concerned your baby is unwell on the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow. If you’ve done all the normal checks, the baby is not ill, and if you feel yourself reaching that point of stress, take a break! It’s OK to walk away if the baby is safe and the crying is getting to you. Remember this will pass – the crying will stop. 

Never ever shake or hurt the baby. 

It can cause lasting brain damage or death. 

If you are worried that your baby is unwell contact your GP or call NHS 111. 

If you are finding it difficult to cope with your baby’s crying talk to someone. Your midwife, health visitor or family nurse can support you. 

Practice pausing at the door. It is a great tool to help you make sure you are ready to enter the baby’s room/space and offer care. 

Before entering check the 3 C’s. 

• Can I be careful?
• Am I calm?
• Will I be caring? 

A quick check each time you enter the baby’s room/space will help you know if you need to take a few minutes before seeing to your baby’s crying or ask someone else to help.

Other ICON resources:

Infant crying and how to cope
How to manage when a baby cries
Infant crying and how to cope (Babies born prematurely)
How to manage when a baby cries (Babies born prematurely)
Infant crying and how to cope: Information for friends and relatives
Crying Plan

When lying on their back your baby's head will tend to turn to the side. If they are lying on their side, they will roll onto their back. When they lie on their tummy they will try to lift their head up for a short time. Remember to supervise your baby while they are on their tummy. Their head control will still be developing. Make sure you encourage your baby to turn to each side.

When pulled to a sitting position, your baby's head may lag but this should start to improve. Support them at their shoulders to help improve their head control.

Your baby is beginning to take their hands to their mouth. They will open their hands from time to time and will grasp an adult's finger.

NHS Health Scotland has published three books to encourage parents to support their child's learning through play. These books also encourage you to get your child into good exercise habits.

The first book is called Play@home Baby and is meant for babies from birth to one year. The book has play activities for babies which will help your child's development and well-being.

The books are provided free of charge to all parents with children under 5 years within Scotland. If you have not received the book, then contact your Health Visitor. 

You can find more tummy time ideas:

• Parent Club Tummy time with your baby
• Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapist (APCP) tummy time ideas.

Your baby will be starting to get used to care routines, like nappy changing, feeding and bathing. You might start to notice differences in their cries which could help you to work out what they need. Keep talking to them and trying to establish routines around each task. You could try singing different rhymes for different tasks. Find out more from CBeebies Parenting Bath time bonding.

Find out more about bathing your baby:

• NHS Inform Bathing your baby
• Parent Club Bathing your newborn

Find out more about nappy changing:

• NHS Inform Nappies
• Parent Club Top tips to help nappy time be a happy time

Find out more about hygiene for infants:

• Hygiene for Infants NHS information from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Children and Young People's Health Services

Listening and Understanding 

Your baby is becoming much more interactive and responding to your voice and expressions. Your baby will stop whimpering and turn to the sound of a nearby soothing voice.

Talking 

Your baby will blow bubbles and coo when you talk gently and play with them. Find out more from Cbeebies Parenting How cooing with your baby can help language development.

Interacting 

Your baby is starting to copy your facial expressions. If you stick your tongue out and wait, they will copy you. Your baby is beginning to develop a social smile (it's not all down to wind!). Find out more from Cbeebies Parenting Copying actions.

For more information look at Parent Club Top tips for chatting together with your baby.

Your baby will be starting to follow bright objects that move slowly in front of them. They can focus on objects further away now too. They like looking at your face close up to them. Find out more from CBeebies Parenting Babies love faces.

Your baby might be frightened by sudden noises. They might freeze when hearing certain sounds. They will still find your voice and familiar sounds soothing.

They will still enjoy movement and touch so try dancing with baby. Find out more from CBeebies Parenting Dancing with baby.