I feel like everyone talks about the "newborn phase" but nobody defines when it ends. My daughter is 12 weeks and she's changed SO much already. When do they stop being a newborn and start being a baby or infant or whatever we're calling it?
Some people say 3 months, some say 6 months, some say when they sleep through the night (rip). Probably doesn't matter much what we call it - sounds like you're noticing she's changing a ton which is the real marker
12 weeks is still solidly newborn imo. The real shift happens around 3-4 months when they start actually engaging with the world instead of just eating and pooping. Your daughter probably just feels bigger because you're out of the fog a bit.
The changes you're seeing at 12 weeks are WILD though right? Like they go from a potato to having actual opinions about things
lol everyone defines it differently but I'd say newborn = first 3 months, infant = 3-12 months. By 12 weeks mine was smiling on purpose and tracking faces so it felt like a totally different kid than week 1
The confusion is real because everyone uses the terms differently lol. Pediatrically it's like 0-3 months but honestly it's more of a vibe. When your kid stops being a potato is when they stop being a newborn imo
I'd say 12 weeks is right where it starts shifting. Your daughter can probably track faces better, maybe smile, definitely has more personality. The "newborn" phase is basically when they're just eating/sleeping/crying potatoes. Once they start interacting back it feels different.
12 weeks here too and I swear it was like a switch flipped. She went from "random blob" to "actual person with preferences." I think that's when people stop calling it the newborn phase naturally.
My wife kept saying our 12-weeker wasn't a newborn anymore and I was like 'she literally can't hold her own head up how is that not newborn' but you're right that the temperament changes. way more responsive now
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honestly the terminology is kinda arbitrary. what matters is you're noticing the progression. some pediatricians say newborn is just the first month, some say 3 months. i stopped caring about labels and just called mine a potato until she could hold her head up consistently