Your 13-Week-Old Baby

Milestone: Noticing Hands and Feet!

It’s an exciting time when your baby starts to take notice of their own hands and feet, and all the magical things they can do. They’re the perfect “toys” for curious kiddos as they continue to explore their world. Your little one will be hard at work grabbing things, swatting and going to great lengths to get their toes into their mouth.

Try this: Lamaze Gardenbug Footfinder & Wrist Rattle Set

These cute, colorful bugs will be your baby’s new BFFs. The rattles gently Velcro around wrists, while ankle socks slip on their feet, encouraging movement, visual stimulation and continued awareness of their oh-so-exciting body.

The contrasting patterns and jingly sounds will have your kiddo kicking with joy—so be sure to get a few good videos. Better yet, the materials are totally safe for chewing, because that’s inevitable!

Bathtime

Bathtime is getting a lot more fun and even more adorable at this stage. Your tot’s probably loving toys and bubbles just as much as you’re loving those baby shampoo mohawks.

While you still don’t need to bathe your baby daily, it’s a great addition to a bedtime routine. Your little one may still fit in the kitchen sink or it could be time to move to a larger basin (standalone) tub that can be used inside your regular tub.

Here’s a rundown of Babylist parents’ favorite tubs (there are some great options for small spaces in here, too!).

What is Croup?

When your sweet little babe suddenly sounds like a barking seal, that’s usually the tell-tale sign, or sound, of croup. Commonly triggered by a viral infection, croup causes swelling of the vocal cords and windpipe, which narrows the airway and makes breathing harder and noisier. So croup can feel especially scary for babies and for parents. And it usually kicks in at night (just what you need, right?!). Sometimes it starts with a cold, or it can come on suddenly.

A few fast facts:

• Croup is more common between the ages of three months and five years.
• Croup is more common in fall and winter.
• Croup usually lasts less than a week and gets worse at night.

Aside from a barky cough, these are other symptoms to be on the lookout for:

• Fever
• Stridor (a raspy, whooping sound when your baby breathes in when they’re crying or active)
• Hoarse voice

The good news is that mild cases can be treated at home. Turn on the shower to steam up the bathroom. Sitting in the humidity can help promote clearer breathing. Sometimes just a quick walk in cold outside air (or standing near a cool mist humidifier or an open freezer) will calm down irritated airways and ease breathing.

And speaking of calming down, croup can be exasperated when your baby is crying and upset. So as hard as it may be to relax during stressful bouts of coughing or stridor, soothe your baby to minimize crying and the symptoms.

In more severe cases where breathing is very labored and could be obstructed, call your doctor or head to the ER. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, if you notice that your baby has stridor while resting, it can be a sign of more severe croup and you’ll want to seek medical attention right away.

The Back-to-Work Woes

Crying in the office bathroom while scrolling through baby pics on your phone? You’re not alone. Going back to work is a huge adjustment and filled with emotional highs and lows, especially since you aren’t the same person you were when you left a few months ago.

On one hand, you’re pumped to see your co-workers, contribute in meetings, have a hot cup of coffee in peace and feel like the “old you” again. On the other hand, you miss your little sidekick, you may feel guilty for being away from them and sad that you’re not there for all the day-to-day happenings. Here are some tips to ease the transition, let go of guilt and cope with separation anxiety:

Get organized the night before. If you’re breastfeeding, wash your pump pieces and re-pack the bag so you don’t have to deal with it in the morning. Prep lunch and snacks. Get your baby’s belongings organized if they’re going to daycare. And pick out your outfit to avoid staring into your closet until 30 seconds before you need to leave the house.

Create a morning routine. There’s nothing worse than rushing into the office with wet hair, spit-up on your shirt and your laptop at home. But those hot-mess kind of days certainly do happen! So roll with it and hope you have a good work friend to bring you coffee, STAT.

To avoid feeling frantic and overwhelmed in the mornings, set an alarm to give yourself plenty of time to ease into the day, get dressed and have QT with your baby before heading out. If you have a partner, the two of you can come up with a good flow to alternate who is with the baby and who is getting ready for work. Tip: don’t put on your work clothes until right before you leave to avoid last-minute spit-up or diaper explosions on your favorite shirt.

Stay connected. Whether you have a nanny or your child goes to daycare, find ways to check in during the day through texts or quick calls so you feel involved. Some baby monitors allow you to actually see your baby even when you’re at work!

Don’t add extra pressure. It’s normal to feel like you need to stay late to prove you’re “back” to your coworkers. Moms are the most efficient people on the planet, so if you’re done with your work and it’s five o’clock, go home and don’t feel guilty about it!

Remember, it’s all about quality time. When you’re with your baby in the mornings and evenings, disconnect from work so you’re 100% focused and enjoying the moment. And always keep your eye on the prize: the weekend!

Be kind to yourself. You’re doing it all (even though sometimes it doesn’t feel that way). It’s not easy to balance everything, so go easy on yourself as you adjust.