Table of Contents
The importance of sleep training, understanding the difference between spit-up and throw-up, and the re-introduction of “me time” into your routine.
Your baby's sixteenth week after birth
At sixteen weeks or a solid 4-month mark, there’s a lot your baby will ‘suddenly’ start to do and say and so, there are a lot of milestones to be celebrated! Not only will your baby be making various sounds of sorts to communicate with you, but will also be rapidly growing in terms of their physical and mental development.
Your 16-week-old baby's development and physical growth
- Your baby’s reflexes; 16-week old baby
Talking about the spurt in growth and development, you can expect your little one to display increased movement and control over his limbs and reflexes. They will be more casually grabbing, holding, and reaching out for things by this week, signaling that they do generally understand the use of one’s own hands now! The baby’s ever-sensitive head will also now stop wobbling and you can expect to see more controlled and conscious head movement from them. A lot of babies also start attempting to crawl by this time. When you bend their legs and help them play-cycle, they will also begin to understand how their legs bend at the knees and will most likely be rather fascinated with this discovery!
- Your baby’s transitioning food habits; 16-week old baby
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends and approves to switch or at least begin the transition from liquid to solid baby foods between 4 and 6 months. Brace yourself for all the mess that is going to be created and all the struggle you have to bear to feeding your little one with solids! A good idea would be to put your baby in a high chair or booster seat and first dab some cereal on his lips and only then try to scoop it into their mouth. This way, they can be better prepared for what they are going to be fed with.
- Your baby’s sleeping habits; 16-week old baby sleep schedule
By the fourth month, most babies tend to finally start sleeping for longer stretches at night, at times even as long as even 8 hours at once! Your baby will still continue to roll over like they were doing last week and so, try to place them in an environment as secure as possible while they sleep. Using bed rail bumpers may also be a good idea.
- Your baby’s developing personality; 16-week old baby
As a rapidly growing baby, most toddlers tend to start displaying a personality of their own by the time they hit four months old. They may want to assert independence by fighting to hold the bottle on their own and some may even start to understand that it is time to eat when shown a bottle of milk. Your baby’s communication will also heighten, they will be able to follow voices, movements, and objects. Some clever kids may even faux cry to grab your attention as they’d understand that their cries will get you to them quickly!
Your 16-week-old baby's health
- Weight gain
At the age of four months, your toddler will most likely gain some visible, substantial weight and there’s absolutely nothing to be worried about here. It is in fact recommended and expected for babies to gain weight around the time they hit 16 weeks, and so, if your child has not gained enough weight, you may have a reason to reach out to your pediatrician. Besides, if your baby tends to be abnormally quiet, silent, and indifferent, do not forget to let your doctor know about that also.
As for their vaccinations, most of their vaccinations must already have been administered in the weeks prior. As long as you make sure you are on schedule for those, there’s nothing, in particular, to be worried about at week 16.
- Food allergies
As you now introduce your baby to solid baby foods, you should keep an active eye out for baby food allergies. Symptoms to most allergies vary in nature, however, the most common food allergy symptoms include itching, redness, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea. In more severe cases, your baby may also be asphyxiated or show signs of choking and you should call 911 immediately. In ideal case scenarios, doctors recommend not introducing the most common food allergy-causing foods like peanuts and cow’s milk to babies until their digestive and immune systems are fully developed. This is because an immature immune system is more prone to react to proteins in foods.
- Celiac Disease
Talking about food-related diseases, let’s quickly discuss the celiac disease. A commonly recognized condition, celiac disease is a reaction to gluten, which is a protein found in grains and cereals. Babies who are sensitive to gluten and cannot digest the protein may show symptoms of diarrhea, gas, vomiting, and heightened crankiness. The chances of a baby suffering from celiac disease are only 1 in 100, however, the chances increase significantly if someone in your immediate family has already had a history with celiac disease.
How to care for your 16-week old baby
- Burp your baby
A 16-week-old baby may not need to burp every time he or she eats. Your baby may be able to withstand feedings without burpings now that he or she can sit up and keep their head up better. However, because every baby is different if your 16-week old baby appears to be uncomfortable or gassy after feeding, burping should be continued.
- Bathing
Your 16-week-old baby should be bathed every two to three days. Your baby’s skin is still delicate, and very frequent baths might dry it out.
- Apply insect repellents to prevent bug bites
Insect repellents are safe to apply on a 16-week old baby. Be careful while applying repellents as few repellants may cause skin rashes and itching.
- Do not feed honey
A 16-week old baby cannot be fed honey. In fact, babies are not supposed to be fed honey till they complete 1 year of age.
- Do not apply sunscreen
Sunscreens are not safe to apply on the skin of a 16-week old baby. If you want to take your baby out in the sun, ensure that your baby is dressed in protective clothing and try to keep your baby in a shaded area.
Common health concerns of your 16-week old baby
- Cold
If your 16-week old baby has a runny nose, it is an indication that the baby is infected with a cold. Green and yellow color mucus discharge is common. The green color discharge might mean that the body is doing its regular job of cleaning the sinuses and nasal passages. If your baby’s cold lasts longer than 10-14 days or is accompanied by serious symptoms such as a high temperature, you should take your baby to the doctor.
- Vomiting
If your16 week old baby vomits after a breastfeeding session, consider shortening it down to five or ten minutes and waiting a few hours to see if he or she can keep the feeding down. You should seek medical help if your baby is unable to breastfeed or vomits everything after 24 hours.
- Fever
If your 16-week old baby has a fever above 101 degrees, it is better to consult a doctor and prevent further health concerns such as dehydration and vomiting.
Final Thoughts- Why do you, as parents, need to take some time off for yourself
As a new mother, you may have already gone back to work by the time your baby turns 16 weeks and so there’s going to be a lot on your plate to deal with. Take a deep breath and focus on one day at a time mama!. While it is absolutely essential and necessary that you devote your time and attention to your baby, you will now also need to ensure that you take good care of yourself.
You will have to ensure enough milk for your baby, especially if you are breastfeeding and so, it is recommended for moms to up their diet by as much as 200 calories v/s what they consumed when they were pregnant. Having said that, you’ll need to make sure that these extra calories are not empty calories and that you consume nutritious, enriching food that is loaded with vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, riboflavin, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, calcium, copper, and zinc. If not, your breast milk production may significantly go down.
It is also now a good time to take some time off for yourself and spend time reflecting on your day and life. A happy mamma makes a happy baby and so, do not be too hard on yourself, consider working out a responsibility distribution plan with your partner, caregiver, and/or family member, do not shy asking for help, and do things that make you really, truly happy in your time off!
16-week-old baby FAQs:
1. What is the best cereal to introduce my baby to?
2. Can I sleep train a baby at 16-weeks-old?
3. What is the difference between a baby spit up and a baby throw up?
4. How many hours of sleep will a 16-week old baby require?; 16-week old baby sleep schedule
Reviewed By-
Nimrat, Pediatrics
Dr. Nimrat S Sidhu is a practicing pediatrician for about 5 years now and holds an MD pediatrics degree. She was the topper of her batch, has always had a keen interest in her core medical field, and is specially trained for neonatal resuscitation.
