7-Week-Old

Gimme, gimme. Your baby's movements are slowly becoming smoother and more coordinated. Her newborn ability to reflexively grasp objects is fading away. You'll notice your baby can now grab objects voluntarily — rattles, spoons, you. She may grasp them for a short time before letting go. Expect random, jerky movements for another month or so.

Now that she can hold her head steady, see more clearly, and understand that her fingers and hands are attached to her body, she may think that the rattle is an extension of her hand, too. You can encourage hand practice by making sure her hands are free. Don't keep them tucked into swaddling blankets all the time or cover them with mittens to prevent scratching. Introduce objects and toys for her to hold that have a variety of shapes but aren't too big or too small for her hands (about the size of a rattle). Cradle gyms with dangling toys are also fun for her when she's lying on her back.

How your baby's growing

You may notice short periods of time when your newborn is quiet and alert. This is prime time for learning: Your baby's brain will grow about 5 centimeters during her first three months!

Use these calm intervals to get better acquainted with your baby — talk to her, sing to her, describe the pictures on the walls. She may not be able to add to your conversation just yet, but she's learning nonetheless.New textures for her hands to feel and new sights and sounds (all in moderation) are all learning opportunities. Even bath time becomes a laboratory for understanding life.

• Learn more fascinating facts about your 7-week-old's development.

Your life: Guilt over not breastfeeding

Today's society puts a lot of pressure on new moms to breastfeed. No doubt breast milk is the perfect first food. However, there are many reasons why breastfeeding just doesn't work for some women and their babies, including illness, discomfort, and frustration.

Guilt over not breastfeeding can hit especially hard if you had planned all during pregnancy to do so but then circumstances, such as having a preemie or a c-section, made it impossible or more difficult than you'd expected. Some moms find that after hours and days of breastfeeding attempts, their breasts simply won't produce enough milk to satisfy their newborn.

Both breast milk and commercial formula nourish growing babies. If you've given up on breastfeeding — or are thinking of doing so — be sure to discuss your choice with your doctor or a certified lactation consultant. Talk through your feelings and don't be too hard on yourself. The main thing to remember is that how you feed your baby is ultimately not as important as providing her with love and care.

3 questions about: Hearing

How do I know if my baby can hear okay?
"She sleeps through everything!" you might marvel. "But is her hearing all right?" Most babies have excellent hearing. A baby who turns when you enter the room or is beginning to coo and make pre-speech sounds probably has fine hearing. You can check this in a simple way: When your baby's awake and in her alert state, stand behind her and clap your hands behind her head. She should startle at this loud, sudden noise if her hearing is fine. Repeat it a couple of times to be sure.

What can cause hearing problems?
Some babies are born with hearing difficulties because of a hereditary problem. A family history of deafness can be a red flag. Other causes include exposure to rubella (German measles) in utero, problems during delivery that compromised the supply of oxygen to the baby, or prematurity. There are also some birth defects that cause deafness. And in some cases, a hearing problem might be temporary, caused by a cold or ear infection. Or the inner ear could be damaged because of an injury, a tumor, or a virus.

What if there's a problem?
If you have any concern about your baby's hearing, be sure to tell your pediatrician, who can run other tests or refer you to an audiologist (hearing specialist).Early diagnosis is important regarding hearing. Even babies who have hearing loss can be fitted with hearing aids nowadays. Later, such children may be candidates for a cochlear ear implant, a device that uses electrodes to process sound, and speech therapy.