From Cuddles to Chaos: How Long Does the Newborn Stage Last for Your Little One?

Welcome to the magic and mayhem of the newborn stage. One minute, you’re staring in wonder at their squishy little fingers and toes; the next, you’re Googling “newborn development week by week” and worried they’re not getting enough tummy time.

It’s true these first few months are a significant time for babies, as well as parents and caregivers. The crucial foundations of early development are being laid, with a lot of changes and milestones to expect. It’s also an important time to bond – and while plenty of cuddles are usually a given, this period will look different for everyone.

In this article, we’ll explore the typical duration of the newborn stage and the newborn developmental milestones to expect. However, it’s important to remember that not all experiences are the same. Keep in mind that cultural, environmental and healthcare factors all play a part in shaping the journey that makes yours as a parent unique.

Understanding the Newborn Stage

The outside world is new to your baby, and their bodies are busy playing catch up in every aspect – from neurological to respiratory and gastrointestinal. A variety of fundamental physiological changes take place that set the stage for future development. Not to be left out, parents and caretakers also experience a great deal of change.

For new parents, the newborn stage usually involves intensive infant care, important decisions about early parenting, postpartum recovery and very little sleep. It's an incredible but often challenging time. Almost every parent eventually asks, “When will it get easier?”.

Rest assured, as you begin to master nappy changes, baby feeding, soothing, burping and bathing, the steep learning curve will soon ease. And it’s one that has great reward, as you get a front row seat to watching your baby grow and progress.

Exploring Newborn Development Stages & Weekly Milestones  

Newborn baby milestones are subtle but significant. While some things may seem typical on the surface (like crying) they can actually signal great change in your baby’s development. Here are some of the key stages in more detail:

Motor Function

Newborn babies tend to display certain physical reflexes that signal the development of motor skills, such as making a fist in a “grasping” motion.

When you first bring your little one into the world, their range of motion and physical control will be limited. But as they develop through the newborn stage, they’ll gain more control over their movements. Some examples of motor development milestones include:

  • Opening and closing their fists

  • Lifting their head while on their tummy

  • Kicking their legs while on their back

  • Moving both arms symmetrically

Emotional Bonding and Socialisation

As your bundle of joy gets used to the world around them, they will quickly form bonds with their caretakers. They’ll also begin to express their emotions and learn how to interact with others.

Some examples include:

  • Crying to signal distress

  • Making and maintaining eye contact

  • Recognising your voice

Language

While newborns won’t be able to speak or understand language until they're much older, they still explore verbal communication in their own way. Cooing, crying and making small grunts are all forms of verbal communication that are a precursor to more advanced language development.

Sensory Development

Newborns go through a lot as their brand-new senses develop. Generally, their hearing is fully formed before they’re born. In fact, most babies can even hear their mother’s voice while in the womb and distinguish between familiar voices by the time they’re born. During the newborn stage, your baby will begin to respond to noises with facial expressions and small sounds.

Their eyes, on the other hand, are less sophisticated after birth. The basic anatomical structures are in place when they’re born, but their vision, retina and optic nerve will undergo a great deal of development throughout the first year of life. They won’t be able to focus their vision or make out differences between colours for the first few days. However, over the course of the first couple of months, their vision becomes more refined and they’re able to:

  • See contrasting colours

  • Focus on objects up to 30 centimetres away

  • Show interest in faces and recognise familiar adults

  • Track moving objects

Feeding

Newborn babies need to eat frequently (every 2-3 hours) because their stomachs are very small and they digest their food rapidly. Breast milk and/or formula are the primary sources of nutrition for newborns.

In an ideal world, newborns and babies up to six months old would exclusively consume breast milk. It contains all the nutritional and immune benefits babies need during this important developmental period. However, many parents can’t or choose not to breastfeed, and therefore, they need to rely on formula, which will also provide what they need to grow and develop.

Both formula-fed and breastfed newborns often require cluster feeding (when a baby eats more frequently during certain times) during the neonatal period – especially during growth spurts. The extra nutrients they receive through frequent feeding help their bodies grow and develop.

Sleeping

Sleep is critical to newborn development. While there’s some variation in the sleep habits of newborns, new babies tend to sleep between 14-17 hours every day. However, they don’t have a typical night-and-day routine. Instead, this sleep is generally broken up throughout the day in 40-60 minute segments.

Usually, newborns wake up regularly to eat or be changed and won’t begin to sleep through the night until they’re about 3 months old.  It’s also common for newborns to go through periods where they sleep less or won’t sleep when you put them down for a nap, which can be stressful and frustrating for new parents. Fortunately, these periods tend to become less frequent over time.

Newborn Development Week By Week

Below is a breakdown of newborn development week by week and what you can expect in those first few months. Be mindful that the below is based on an average and if you’re ever concerned about your baby’s development, reach out to your GP or pediatrician.

Week 1

Baby begins to adjust to life outside the womb, feeding and sleeping frequently, while relying mostly on natural reflexes. They find comfort in the familiarity of their caregivers voice, which they recognise from the womb.

Week 2

Alertness increases and baby’s eyes can now focus on objects 20-30 cm away. 

Week 3

More expressive crying and movements. As you hold them, they may adjust to snuggle in or lift their head briefly as they lay on your chest.

Week 4

Baby begins to make noises, mimicking ‘coos’ and ‘ahhs’ as they test their vocal cords.

Week 5

Neck strength improves but will still need support. Baby may begin following objects, tracking with the eyes, as well as sleeping in longer stretches (maybe!).

Week 6

Their first genuine smile (that’s not a reflex) may appear. It’s subtle, but their mouth will turn upward and their eyes will brighten – usually in response to your coos.

Week 7

More vocalisation. Baby begins to understand senses, e.g. recognising where a sound is coming from (like a rattle). They may also begin to favour colour over contrast as the eyes develop further.

Week 8

Stronger head and neck control. They may now be able to lift their head quite high during tummy time.

Week 9

Baby becomes more engaged with their surroundings. They’ll be fascinated by sounds and your mouth, maybe even mimicking the noises you make.

Week 10

Social skills and personality begin to show. They’ll have more control over movements and be able to recognise their caregiver’s face and voice in social settings.

When Does the Newborn Stage End?  

Despite the World Health Organization (WHO) defining the newborn stage as the first 28 days of a baby’s life, most parents and experts consider the newborn phase to last from birth to 3-4 months. By this time, the baby is usually more alert, socially interactive and falls into a more predictable feed, play, sleep pattern. 

While the newborn stage is largely about following your baby’s queues (feeding on demand and getting sleep where you can), you’ll soon be adjusting to longer wake times, where learning about wake windows and implementing gentle routines can be helpful. You’ll also have more time to support development through sensory play. 

For parents and caregivers, transitioning to the next development stage coincides with a growing confidence, which can make it feel like you’re “out of the trenches”. But just because the newborn stage is ending, it doesn’t mean parenting gets easier and you’re not alone if you need support. Resources like the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby helpline, Family Connect and Support and your local child and family health centre are available to help no matter what stage you’re going through. 

Tracking Newborn Developmental Milestones  

Tracking newborn developmental milestones can be helpful and reassuring for parents that they’re on the right track. While there can be many adorable and exciting ones to look forward to, the key ones all parents should monitor include:

  • Growth – Tracking weight, height and head circumference to ensure your baby is feeding and growing well.

  • Reflexes – Sucking, startle and grasp reflex all indicate proper brain and nerve function.

  • Responds to sounds and your voice – Indicates healthy auditory development and bonding.

  • Eye contact and tracking – For early visual development and focus.

  • Head and neck strength – Important for future milestones like rolling and sitting.

As for things like smiling, laughing and their first time sleeping through the night – make sure to document and celebrate! Baby books are a great way to record key moments that you can all look back on fondly. 

While it’s good to track milestones regularly, be mindful not to obsess or compare. Milestones can also be anxiety-inducing, but if your baby isn’t meeting them ‘on time’ try not to worry immediately. Every baby is different, and some will meet milestones early while others take their time. Speak to your GP or pediatrician if you have any concerns, as early detection can produce better outcomes. Take notes of your baby’s behaviour so that you’re armed with the information you need for your appointment and schedule a follow-up so you can monitor progression together and put your mind at ease.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a first-time parent or you’ve done this before, it’s important to remember that every baby is unique. Every journey has its ups and downs, and it’s completely normal to feel a little lost during this incredible transition. But one thing is always certain: proper nutrition is essential to early development. If your baby is formula-fed, you need to know that they’re getting high-quality ingredients and that their formula is made with the utmost care, without additives like corn syrup solids, pesticides or artificial sweeteners and colours.

At Bubs, we’re committed to creating clean, wholesome and nutritious products for babies and toddlers around the globe. Our infant formulas are made from goat milk and cow milk and are free of harsh and unnecessary additives.