Life with Your Newborn

Care of the newborn

You've looked forward for months to welcoming your new baby into your life. It's exciting to bond together and become a family. However, during your first days and weeks at home, you may begin to wonder if all your baby will ever do is eat, sleep and wet or mess in her pants. You may wonder if she will ever get on any type of schedule.

Let your baby develop her own schedule. You'll be able to make changes as your baby grows and develops. You may find your baby needs a lot of sleep. It's normal for a baby to get day and night mixed up for a while. Take heart—this doesn't usually last longer than a few weeks. If possible, keep baby awake and active during the day. It may help her get on a better sleep schedule.

In the first 4 weeks of life, your baby may sleep as many as 20 hours a day. You may wonder if she will ever be awake long enough for you to get to know her. She may only be awake long enough to feed, change and bathe her. Cuddle and bond during these times, too. Each day she will become more aware of you and her surroundings.

Babies eat quite often in the first few months of life, whether they are breastfed or bottlefed. A baby can eat every 2 to 4 hours. When your baby is quite young, feed her when she's hungry. Denying your baby food when she's hungry can cause her to become anxious. If you breastfeed, note each time you breastfeed and for how long. If you bottlefeed, note when your baby eats and how much she consumes. This is important information to share with your pediatrician on your baby's first visit.

It's surprising to find out how often a baby needs to be changed! You may need as many as 100 diapers a week for your newborn. A baby wets her diaper every 2 to 4 hours; the number of bowel movements varies from one baby to the next. If you breastfeed, your baby may have a bowel movement only once every couple of days; this is normal. If you bottlefeed, your baby may have as many as six bowel movements a day, usually following a feeding. This, too, is normal. Change your baby's diaper as soon as possible. Babies have very delicate skin, and wet diapers can lead to diaper rash. If baby has diaper rash, a wet diaper can make it worse. And it hurts!

It's also normal for baby to cry. A baby cries to make her wants known—she has no other way of communicating with you. Some babies cry more than others. You'll soon learn to distinguish different cries in your baby. You'll be able to tell a "hungry cry" from a "lonely cry" or a "bored cry." It just takes time and practice. Until you learn what different cries mean, check the baby's diaper, burp her again and be sure she isn't uncomfortable. Sometimes your baby just wants to be held and loved by you.

Babies cry! Plan ahead—decide whom you can call to talk to or to ask for help and support when your beautiful baby won't stop crying!

More on: Your Baby