The Playbook

25 Weeks Pregnant: Build the Crib, Tour Daycares

By the Guide to Fatherhood editorial team. Last reviewed . 2 min read.

Checked against guidance from organizations like the AAP, CDC, ACOG and NHS (linked below). This is general information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.

Trimester2
Sizea cauliflower
Length / weightabout 13.6 in (34.6 cm), about 1.5 lb (660 g)

The baby is adding fat and getting smoother-skinned, hair is growing (with its color and texture), and the baby may respond to familiar voices.

Your to-do list this week

  • Assemble the crib, bassinet or play yard now. Follow the instructions exactly and check for recalls on the CPSC website.
  • Anchor any dresser or bookshelf in the nursery to the wall. Tip-over injuries are real.
  • Tour two childcare options this month and take notes on safety, ratios, and how they handle infant sleep.
  • Take the heartburn-friendly approach to dinner: smaller portions, earlier in the evening, not too spicy.
A conversation to have this week

"What matters most to us in childcare: cost, location, philosophy, or flexibility?" Rank them. It makes the decision much easier later.

The baby this week

About the size of a cauliflower, the baby is adding fat, so the skin is starting to smooth out. Hair is growing, and the baby may start responding to familiar voices (NHS; Mayo Clinic). Yours is one of them.

How she may be feeling

Heartburn, constipation, and broken sleep are common as the uterus crowds her stomach and bowel. Some people get tingling or numb hands (carpal tunnel symptoms) from fluid retention. Mention anything new at the next appointment.

Furniture week

Building baby furniture is one of the most satisfying dad jobs there is. Do it right:

  • Follow the instructions exactly. Don’t improvise with hardware. Missing or wrong parts are a known cause of crib injuries.
  • Check for recalls. Search the model on the CPSC site, and register the product so you’re notified of future recalls.
  • Make the sleep space bare. A firm mattress that fits snugly (no gaps bigger than two fingers), a fitted sheet, nothing else.
  • Anchor furniture now. Dressers, bookcases and TVs can tip onto a climbing child. The CPSC’s Anchor It! campaign explains how. Do it before you forget it exists.
  • Keep cords away. Window blind cords and monitor cables should be out of reach of the crib.

Daycare touring

If you’re using childcare, tour two places this month. Things to ask and notice:

  • Staff-to-infant ratios and staff turnover.
  • How they handle infant sleep: babies on their backs, in cribs with nothing else in them.
  • Sick policy and closures.
  • How they communicate with parents during the day.
  • Whether the place feels calm.

Write notes right after each visit; they blur together fast. Then plug the price into the childcare comparison.

Frequently asked questions

Is a used crib safe?

Only if it meets current federal safety standards (drop-side cribs are no longer allowed for sale), has no missing or broken parts, and hasn't been recalled. When in doubt, a new crib or play yard is inexpensive peace of mind.

Sources

  1. Safe Sleep: Cribs and Infant Products, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
  2. Anchor It!, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
  3. Fetal development: The 2nd trimester, Mayo Clinic
  4. Week 25: Your baby and your body, NHS

We link to the original source for every medical and safety claim. Guidance changes; if a source has been updated since our last review, the source wins. How we research.