Week-by-week library · about 3 weeks old
Week 3: your checklist
Quick answer
What should I actually do at about 3 weeks old?
A growth spurt can make this week feel like a step backward. 6 concrete tasks below, grouped by what they're for.
What's going on this week
A common growth spurt window falls around this age, which can mean more frequent feeding and a fussier baby for a few days, not a sign anything is wrong. If your partner had a C-section, this is roughly the point many providers clear more normal movement, though full internal healing takes longer; confirm her specific restrictions with her own provider rather than a general timeline.
Your checklist
Night-shift logistics
- Expect more overnight wake-ups this week and plan the rotation around it in advance rather than reacting exhausted.
Feeding support
- Stock up before the spurt outpaces your supply of clean bottles or pump parts; do a supply check now.
Appointments & paperwork
- If you have not started your own parental leave paperwork with your employer, start it this week; most employers want notice, not a surprise.
Visitor management
- Reassess the visitor calendar for the next month; space it out so no week gets stacked.
Partner care
- A fussier week is a plausible growth spurt, not a parenting failure; say that out loud to her.
- Take one task fully off her plate this week without being asked.
Sourced to
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Last reviewed by the First Dad Guide editorial team.