At 29 weeks, baby’s becoming more expressive, interactive, explorative and mobile—all while adding new foods to their repertoire and maybe even cutting a tooth or two. Here's a closer look at what baby’s up to, what's around the corner and what you can do to support baby at this stage.

29-Week-Old-Baby Milestones and Development

Growth

Every infant grows at their own individual pace, of course. But on average, a 29-week-old boy is 27.1 inches tall and weighs 18.1 pounds. The average size for girls at the 29-week mark is around 26.4 inches tall and 16.6 pounds.

Emerging skills

Baby’s very much into exploring everything these days, reaching to grab for toys and putting things in their mouth. Baby’s raking objects into the palm of their hands and working on using their thumb to grab objects too. Babbling is taking center stage, and baby’s getting more mobile, likely pushing up and rocking on their hands and knees in preparation for crawling.

29-Week-Old Baby Health

Feeding

Baby’s likely starting to eat solid meals at least once or twice a day. Make sure baby’s not too “hangry” (or too full!) at mealtime: You can offer breast milk or formula as an “appetizer” about 30 minutes before meals. If baby’s still hungry after solids, you can wait another 15 to 20 minutes and offer more milk as a top-off. At this age, you can start to offer small amounts of water (less than 2 ounces) at each meal.

If you’re breastfeeding, baby will typically nurse six or more times a day—although there’s no set rule. If bottle-feeding, they’ll typically have around six bottles a day, not exceeding a total of 32 ounces in 24 hours.

Sleep

At 29 weeks, baby needs about 12 to 16 hours of sleep every 24 hours, including (ideally!) a stretch of at least nine hours at night. Of course, these days it’s pretty normal for baby to hit the occasional sleep snag when they’re teething, working on a new milestone, dealing with a cold—or just missing you. When that happens, try to stay the course with your typical bedtime routine. Also, make sure baby gets plenty of activity and sunshine during the day, so they’ll know daytime is for play and nighttime is for sleep.

Common Ailments

Constipation
As solids start taking up more space in baby’s diet, their poop will start to become more solid too. It’s not uncommon to deal with bouts of constipation at this stage. If baby’s stool becomes hard and pebbly, they’re pooping less than usual, straining to poop or have a swollen belly, make sure to reach out to their pediatrician. At-home treatments—like exercising baby’s legs in a “bicycle” pattern, giving baby a warm bath to relax or massaging the belly—will usually do the trick. You can also try eliminating potentially constipating foods like bananas and rice, and adding in foods that’ll help baby poop (like pureed prunes, pears and plums). Make sure to reach out to your provider if symptoms don’t go away within a few days.

29-Week-Old Baby FAQs

Baby's third nap is getting iffy some days. How do I know baby's ready to transition from three naps to two?

It’s common for babies to drop a nap sometime between 6.5 and 8 months. Until around now, baby was likely taking a late-afternoon catnap to give them just enough rest to make it to bedtime. But if baby is regularly protesting or refusing their third nap, having trouble falling asleep at nap or bedtime, or waking up super-early when they weren’t before—and they’re doing these things consistently, for one or two weeks—they might be ready to ditch that third nap. To help them, you can gradually lengthen wake windows (aim for 10 to 15 minutes every few days), adjust their bedtime as needed and make sure to stay consistent with their routine. The transition can take between two and four weeks for many babies, so be patient!

Baby is weirdly fussy and I can't figure out why. Could they be going through a growth spurt?

They absolutely could be! Babies go through many growth spurts during their first year, and around 6 months is a typical time, although every baby is different. If you’re breastfeeding, baby might want to nurse longer and more often. The good news is, the fussiness won’t last long—growth spurts typically only last a few days. If it continues, make sure to check in with your pediatrician to rule out any other issues.

Timely 29-Week-Old Topics

Adding new foods and flavors to mealtime

Exposing baby to a wide variety of foods now means they’re less likely to be a picky eater later. You’re in a golden age of feeding where baby will try new things, so take advantage of this by offering a variety of colors, textures and flavors. Also, make sure to give baby fruits and vegetables early and often; that way, they’ll be more likely to eat them later.

Homemade baby food

Making your own baby food is actually simpler than it seems—just blend up some steamed veggies and fruits or well-cooked meats and you're in business. It may be more time-intensive than cracking open a pouch, but if you're up for it, it can save you money and give you more control over the ingredients in baby's food. You don't need special gear; steam or roast foods and use a blender to puree with formula, breast milk or water. To make the most of your time, whip up baby food in big batches and freeze in ice cube trays to have options on-hand.

Parent Tips

• Take five. Frustrated when it feels like you can’t walk away from baby for a second without them getting whiny? That’s totally normal. Encouraging baby to play independently will let you get some time to yourself, whether it’s to do a skin-care routine, read a little or even just load the dishwasher while listening to a podcast. There are plenty of benefits to solo play for babies, including the ability to think creatively, problem-solve and accomplish tasks independently. Set baby up in a safe space with a few age-appropriate toys and let them explore while you stay close but avoid intervening. Baby might protest a little at first, but over time they’ll reap major benefits—and you’ll get a breather.

Products You Need at 29 Weeks

• Baby food maker. If you're eager to try your hand at making your own baby food, an electric baby food maker that steams and blends all in one can be a true game-changer.
• Baby food. If you’re not planning to make all your baby food at home, this is a good time to stock up on jars, pouches, cereals and snacks. Make sure to read product labels so you can make an informed decision, and check that all ingredients are safe and age-appropriate. If you’re looking to take the hassle out of making baby dinner every day, a baby food delivery service is also a convenient option.

Weekly Activity For Your 29-Week-Old Baby

Teaching baby sign language can help improve communication before they’re able to use their words to tell you what they want—which can reduce frustration and improve bonding with baby. Babies who are taught simple sign language at 6 or 7 months can begin to use it to communicate as early as 8 or 9 months, so now is great time to begin! Start with simple words like “milk” and “more,” saying the word while making the sign and using it consistently. Be sure to involve other caregivers, so everyone can join in on the conversation.