Week 5 at a glance
Week 5 brings increased social alertness — baby is watching faces more intently and may produce the first hints of a social smile. Colic-like crying often peaks this week. Evening fussiness is at its most intense, but so is baby's daytime curiosity.
Something shifts noticeably around week 5: many parents describe their baby becoming more present. Alert periods extend to 60–90 minutes. Baby watches faces with sustained focus and may begin to mimic expressions — stick out your tongue and observe.
The first true social smiles — responding to your face and voice rather than gas or reflex — often appear between weeks 5–8. Not all babies hit this exactly at 5 weeks; there's a wide normal range.
Cooing sounds may start this week or just after. Respond to every coo with language — back-and-forth "conversations" this early have been linked to stronger language development at age 2.
Breastfed babies continue feeding 8–12 times per day. Some notice feeds becoming slightly more efficient — baby gets what they need faster and unlatches. This is normal, not a sign of poor supply.
Evening cluster feeding is common and intense this week. Many breastfeeding parents feel as though their supply has "disappeared" in the evenings — this is usually not the case. Supply is typically lower in evenings and higher in mornings, which drives cluster feeding.
Formula-fed babies typically take 90–120 ml per feed. If baby seems consistently unsatisfied or hungry very soon after feeds, discuss volume with your pediatrician before increasing.
Total sleep remains 14–16 hours. Wake windows are around 60–75 minutes. Most babies still have no discernible "schedule" — sleep is driven by hunger and tiredness, not the clock.
The longest sleep stretch of the day may begin to shift slightly toward night around week 5 for some babies, but this varies considerably. Some babies still have their longest stretch at 10am. See our guide on wake windows by age for what to expect.
{callout("info", "Safe drowsy settling", "Putting baby down 'drowsy but awake' is the advice you'll hear — but most 5-week-olds can't yet settle this way independently. Responding to baby's sleep cues quickly and helping them settle (patting, shushing, feeding to sleep) is appropriate at this age.")}Diaper output: 6+ wet nappies daily is still the benchmark. Dirty nappies may become less predictable if breastfeeding.
Colic-like crying typically peaks between weeks 5–6. If your baby cries more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week, and this has been ongoing, discuss it at your next appointment. Our article on why babies cry covers what to try.
If you haven't established consistent tummy time sessions by now, this is a good week to build the habit. Aim for 15–20 minutes total per day in 3–5 minute sessions.
⚠️ When to call your pediatrician
crying lasts more than 3 hours daily for more than 3 days · baby can't be soothed at all · seems in pain during feeds (arching, screaming) · not gaining weight · any fever above 38°C (100.4°F)
Week 6 is the peak crying week for most babies — and also the 6-week checkup that gives parents a chance to breathe and ask questions. The good news: after week 6, crying typically begins to gradually reduce. See week 6 for what to expect.
True social smiles — where baby smiles in response to your face or voice — usually appear between weeks 5–8. They're different from the random 'reflex' smiles seen in the first weeks. If you don't see social smiles by 3 months, mention it to your pediatrician.
Evening fussiness peaks around weeks 5–6 for most babies. Strategies that help some babies include skin-to-skin contact, gentle rhythmic motion (rocking, swaying), white noise, dimmed lights, and sucking (breast, bottle, or pacifier if established). Different strategies work for different babies — experiment and give each at least a few minutes.
A well-fed formula-fed baby produces 6+ wet nappies per day, seems satisfied between most feeds, and is gaining weight appropriately. At 5 weeks, most formula-fed babies take 90–120 ml per feed, 6–8 times per day. Don't force the bottle if baby turns away — overfeeding can cause discomfort.
Brief supervised dozing in a swing is generally considered low-risk for awake observation, but swings and bouncers are not safe for unattended sleep. If baby falls asleep in a swing, transfer them to a firm flat surface on their back as soon as it's safe to do so.
Week-by-week newborn tracking, sleep logs, feeding tracker, and more.
Track your newborn →No credit card · No ads · Always free
Baby
1-Month-Old Development
Week-by-week newborn tracking, sleep logs, feeding tracker, and more.
Track your newborn →No credit card · No ads · Always free