What Happens With Newborn Babies in 1st Week

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So you've brought home your little bundle of joy -- now what? Though taking intendance of your newborn can exist one of the well-nigh special and rewarding experiences of your life, you lot may feel at a loss for what to practise and will need to give your kid constant attending and care. To take care of a newborn, y'all demand to know how to give your babe the residual, sustenance and intendance that s/he needs -- as well as a healthy dose of honey and affection.

1. i

   Help your newborn get plenty of rest. Newborns need to get lots of rest to continue growing good for you and strong -- some can rest up to xvi hours a day. Though one time your baby is three months or so onetime, he may exist able to slumber for half dozen-8 hours at a time, in the starting time, your baby may only sleep for 2-iii hours at a time and should be woken up if he or she hasn't been fed for four hours.

   • Some babies have their days and nights confused when they are born. If your baby is more than alert at night, try to limit nighttime stimulation past keeping the lights dim and your talking low, and be patient until your baby begins a normal sleeping bike.
   • Make sure you place your baby on his back to lower the adventure of SIDS.
   • You should alternating the position of your infant'south caput -- whether it'southward leaning to the left or the right -- to eliminate the "soft spot" that tin appear on a baby's face if he spends too much time sleeping with his caput in one position.

2. 2

   Consider breastfeeding your newborn. If you want to breastfeed your baby, then feeding your baby the first time you concord her afterward she is delivered is a great place to beginning. You should turn your babe's body toward you, and so yous are holding her breast toward yours. Touch her upper lip with your nipple and pull her to your breast when she opens her oral cavity wide. Once she does this, her mouth should cover your nipple and every bit much of the areola every bit possible. Here are some things you should know about breastfeeding your babe:^[1]

   • If the babe is getting enough nutrient, it will produce 6-8 moisture diapers a twenty-four hour period, along with steady bowel movements, be alert when it's awake, and will steadily gain weight.
   • Don't stress if your baby has a hard time feeding at first; it takes patience and practice. You can become help from a nurse or even a lactation consultant (who can be helpful before birth).
   • Know that nursing shouldn't hurt. If the latch-on hurts, break the suction by placing your pinkie finger between your infant'due south gums and your breast and repeat the process.
   • Yous should nurse nigh 8-12 times during the offset 24 hours of baby's nascence. You don't have to stick to a strict schedule, but should nurse whenever your baby shows signs of hunger, from increased mouthing and action to looking for your nipple. Yous should nurse at least every four hours, fifty-fifty gently waking your babe to feed her if necessary.
   • Make sure to get comfortable. Feedings can take up to 40 minutes, so pick a cozy spot that can requite you back support when y'all're nursing.
   • Eat a salubrious and well-counterbalanced diet. Stay hydrated and be prepared to feel more than hunger than normal and follow it. Limit your use of alcohol or caffeine because it will enter your breast milk.

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3. three

   Consider formula feeding your newborn. Choosing whether to formula feed or breastfeed your baby is a personal determination. While some studies show that breastfeeding may be healthier for your infant, you also have to consider your own health and convenience and a variety of other factors before making this decision. Formula feeding tin get in easier to know how much you lot've fed your infant, to limit the amount of feedings, and to not take to restrict your own diet. If y'all exercise choose to formula feed your babe, hither are some things yous need to know:^[2]

   • Brand sure to follow the directions on the label of the formula when you prepare it.
   • Sterilize new bottles.
   • Feed your baby every two or three hours, or whenever he seems hungry.
   • Discard whatever formula left out of the fridge for over an hour or any left unfinished by the baby.
   • Store formula in the fridge no longer than 24 hours. Yous can carefully warm it because many babies prefer information technology that mode, but it'southward not necessary.
   • Concur your baby at a 45-degree angle to help him take in less air. Cradle him in a semi-upright position, offering plenty of head back up. Tilt the bottle and then the nipple and neck are filled with formula. Never prop it, which tin can cause the baby to choke.

4. four

   Diaper your newborn. Whether you lot're using fabric or dispensable diapers, if you program on taking care of your newborn, yous'll have to be a diaper-changing expert, and fast. Whatsoever method you use -- and yous should decide before yous bring home your infant -- you lot should be prepared to change your baby'southward diaper around 10 times a twenty-four hours. Here what you have to do:

   • Get your supplies ready. Yous'll demand a make clean diaper, fasteners (if you apply cloth diapers), diaper ointment (for rashes), a container of warm water, a clean washcloth, and some cotton wool balls or diaper wipes.
   • Remove your baby'due south dingy diaper. If it's wet, place your baby on his back and remove the diaper and use the water and washcloth to wipe your baby's genital area. Wipe girls from front to back to avoid UTIs. If yous see a rash, place some ointment on it.
   • Open the new diaper and slide it under your infant, gently lifting your baby'south legs and feet. Movement the front of the diaper up between your babe'southward legs, over the abdomen. And then, bring the adhesive strips effectually and snugly fasten them so the diaper is prissy and secure.
   • To avoid diaper rash, alter your infant'south diaper as soon every bit you notice that it's soiled.^[3]

5. five

   Bathe your newborn. Parenting specialist Jami Yaeger recommends "giving your infant a sponge bathroom rather than a full bath if their umbilical cord is withal attached." Once the umbilical string falls off, you can commencement bathing your babe regularly, around 2 to iii times a calendar week. To practice this the right way, you should get together your supplies, such equally towels, soap, a clean diaper, etc, in advance, so that your babe isn't fussing around. Fill the tub or baby tub with almost three inches of warm water earlier you begin the bath. Here'south what you should practise next:

   • See if you lot can become help. Y'all may experience a little scared or uncertain when you bathe your baby for the start time. If then, run into if you can go your partner or a family fellow member involved. That way, one person can concur the baby in the water while the other person bathes the baby.
   • Undress your baby advisedly. So, skid your baby into the tub feet first, while using ane of your easily to support the baby's neck and hands. Go along to pour warm cupfuls of water into the bathroom so your babe doesn't go cold.
   • Use mild soap and use it sparingly so yous don't get it into your baby's eyes. Wash your infant with your hand or with a washcloth, making certain to gently launder your baby from top to bottom and from front to back. Make clean your baby'south body, genitals, scalp, hair, and any dried mucus that has nerveless on your babe's confront.
   • Rinse your baby with cupfuls of warm water. Wipe your baby clean with a washcloth. Elevator the baby out of the tub, continuing to utilize ane hand to support her neck and head. Exist careful -- babies are slippery when moisture.
   • Wrap your babe in a hooded towel and pat your infant dry. Afterwards that, put a diaper and clothes on your baby and osculation him and then he has positive associations with beingness bathed.

6. half-dozen

   Know how to handle your newborn. You may be intimidated by how tiny and delicate your newborn seems, simply with a few basic techniques, you lot should feel more confident about handling your babe in no time. Here are some things you should do:

   • Wash or sanitize your hands earlier you lot handle your baby. Newborn babies are susceptible to infection considering their allowed systems aren't quite and then strong yet. Make sure that your hands -- and the hands of anyone else who handles the baby -- are clean before you make contact.
   • Support your baby's caput and neck. To concord your infant, cradle his caput whenever you comport him and support it when you lot're holding the baby upright or putting him down. Babies can't hold up their own heads notwithstanding, and so don't e'er let a infant'due south head flop around.
   • Avoid shaking your baby, whether you're playing or angry. This can cause haemorrhage in the brain, which can lead to expiry. Don't try to wake up your baby by shaking it, either -- instead, tickle its feet or give it another gentle touch on.
   • Acquire to swaddle your baby. This is a great way to keep your baby feeling secure before he reaches the two month mark.

7. 7

   Concord your newborn. You accept to brand sure to give your babe as much head and neck back up equally possible when you hold it. You should let the baby's head residuum within your inner elbow, with the length of his torso resting on your forearm. His outer hip and upper legs should residuum with your hand, with its inside arm resting over his chest and abdomen. Concord the babe snugly and give your babe all of your attending.^[4]

   • You tin can too hold the baby by pacing his stomach on your upper breast, while using the same side hand to concur his body, while using the opposite hang to support the baby's head from the back.
   • If your baby has older siblings or cousins or is around people unfamiliar with holding babies, carefully instruct them on how to hold the infant and make sure they are sitting downwardly with a knowing adult nearby to go on the babe safe.

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1. ane

   Give your baby "tummy fourth dimension" every day. Since your baby spends and so much of its time on its back, it'due south important to too give your baby time to stay on his tum then that he develops both mentally and physically and strengthens his arms, head, and neck. Some doctors say babies should get 15-20 minutes of tummy time a day, while others say that you should simply place your baby on his breadbasket for 5 minutes during different parts of the twenty-four hours as he develops.

   • You can showtime with breadbasket fourth dimension as soon every bit a week after the infant is born, once the umbilical cord falls off.
   • To make tummy fourth dimension fun, become level with your baby. Make eye contact, tickle your baby, and play around.
   • Breadbasket time is hard work, and some babies volition be resistant to it. Don't be surprised -- or give in -- if this happens.

2. ii

   Care for your newborn's umbilical cord stump. Co-ordinate to parenting specialist Jami Yaeger, "The umbilical string will autumn off in 1-2 weeks. Like whatsoever other wound, it ends upwardly healing, scabbing, and going away." It volition change in color from a yellowish light-green to brown and black every bit it dries and falls off on its own. Yaeger besides suggests "keeping an eye out for signs of infection. Information technology's natural to see a scrap of dried blood or a little chip of crust well-nigh the stump; however, you should see a physician immediately if the stump produces a smelly discharge or yellowish pus, continues to bleed, or is swollen and ruby." Here are some more tips on how you can intendance for your baby's umbilical cord:^[five]

   • Keep information technology clean. Clean it with patently water and dry information technology with a clean and absorbent material. Brand sure to wash your hands before you handle information technology. Stick to giving your baby sponge baths until it falls off.
   • Keep it dry. Don't give your babe a total bath until the stump falls off. Expose it to air so the base dries out, keeping the front of your baby'due south diaper folded downwards so information technology is uncovered.^[6]
   • Resist the urge to pull information technology off. Let the stump fall off at its own pace.^[7]

3. 3

   Acquire to soothe a crying newborn. If your baby is upset, it's non always piece of cake to observe the reason right away, through at that place are a few tricks yous can try. Check for a wet diaper. Try feeding them. If that doesn't piece of work, try adding a layer of habiliment if it's common cold out or removing a layer if it's hot. Sometimes, your baby just wants to be held, or is experiencing as well much stimulation. Equally y'all become to know your newborn, y'all'll get meliorate at finding what's wrong.^[8]

   • Your baby besides may merely need to be burped.
   • Rocking them gently and singing or bustling a lullaby to them volition help. Give them a pacifier if that doesn't work. They might merely exist tired and so lay them downwardly. Sometimes, babies just cry and you have to let them until they fall comatose.

4. four

   Interact with your newborn. You tin can't play with the child just yet, but they do go bored similar we do. Effort taking them for a walk to the park once a day, talking to them, putting pictures in the room where they spend almost of their time, listening to music, or taking them in the automobile. Remember that your baby is only a babe and is not gear up for crude play; do not roughhouse or shake your baby and be as gentle as possible instead.

   • In the starting time, the most of import matter you tin can exercise is to bond with your infant. This means you should stroke your babe, cradle your baby, give the babe some peel-to-skin contact, or even consider giving your baby an babe massage.^[9]
   • Babies love vocal sounds, and information technology'due south never too early to start talking, blathering, singing, or cooing with your baby. Play some music for the baby while you're bonding, or play with toys that make noise, such as rattles or mobiles.
   • Some babies are more than sensitive to touch and light than others, so if your baby doesn't seem to exist responding well to your attempts at bonding, then you can have it easier with the noise and lights until your infant gets used to it.

5. 5

   Take your newborn to the doctor regularly. Your babe will pay frequent visits to the doctor during its beginning year, for scheduled check-ups and shots. Many first newborn visits occur just one-iii days afterward you lot and your baby are discharged from the hospital. Subsequently that, each doctor'southward program will vary slightly, just you should by and large accept your newborn to the medico at to the lowest degree two weeks to a calendar month after nascence, later the 2d calendar month, and then every other month or so. ^[10] Information technology's important to schedule regular visits with your baby to make sure that your infant is growing commonly and receiving the necessary care.^[11]

   • It'due south also important to pay a visit to your doctor in instance you notice anything abnormal; fifty-fifty if yous're not certain that what is happening is abnormal, you should always phone call the md'due south part to bank check.
   • Some symptoms yous should look out for include:
     • Dehydration: less than three wet diapers per twenty-four hours, excessive sleepiness, dry out oral cavity
     • Bowel movement problems: no movement during the first 2 days, white fungus in stool, flecks or streaks of blood-red in the stool, overly high or low temperature
     • Respiratory issues: grunting, flaring of nostrils, fast or noisy breathing, breast retractions
     • Umbilical cord stump problems: pus, odor, or bleeding from stump
     • Jaundice: yellow color in the chest, body, or eyes
     • Prolonged crying: crying for over 30 minutes
     • Other illness: persistent coughing, diarrhea, paleness, forceful vomiting for more than two consecutive feedings, fewer feedings than 6 per day

6. half dozen

   Gear up to accept your baby on car rides. You'll need to be prepared to take your baby on car rides earlier the baby is born since you'll need a way to get the infant home from the hospital. You'll need to get a car seat that is advisable for newborns and that fits all electric current safety guidelines and regulations.^[12] Though you lot may not need to spend a lot of time in the car with your newborn, some mothers notice that taking the babe for a ride can actually help put him or her to sleep.

   • You should likewise go an infant seat for your baby. These seats are there to aid your young infant sit upwards, not to help your baby exist secured in a automobile. In this kind of seat, the base of operations should have nonskid surfacing and should exist wider than the seat, and it should have a secure locking mechanism, along with washable textile. Never place your baby in the seat on an elevated surface that the babe tin can fall from.
   • As for kid safety seats, make sure the seat meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standard 213 and that it actually fits your child. Infants and toddles should sit down in a rear-facing seat until they are at least 2 years former.

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1. 1

   Get as much help equally y'all can. If you're raising a baby solo, then y'all volition need as much mental and emotional strength as possible. If you're lucky enough to take a spouse or a caring parent or parent-in-law, so it's important to arrange for some actress help to exist in that location when your baby is born. If yous tin can hire a nurse, slap-up, but if not, just run across if y'all tin get some extra help, preferably from people who know what they're doing.

   • Even if your babe spends most of his time sleeping, you volition be feeling a bit overwhelmed, and the more help y'all have, the more than confident yous'll experience most treatment your baby.

2. two

   Have a strong support organisation. You need a practiced support system for your family and you. It may exist a husband, boyfriend, or your own mom and dad. You lot demand someone always there for you and your child throughout their childhood. If you're trying to enhance your baby completely alone, y'all will exist likely to come across problem or to feel exhausted.

   • That being said, you should also found visiting hours and rules. Having too many friends and family members show up for unexpected visits to come across the infant can actually lead to more than stress.

3. 3

   Take care of yourself. Though it'southward important that you exist there to take care of your baby, this does not mean that yous should neglect caring for yourself. Brand sure to bathe regularly, maintain a salubrious nutrition, and to get as much sleep as you tin can. Yous and your spouse can piece of work out a system where both of you accept at least some time to take care of yourself. ^[13]

   • Try to create a postpartum plan before your baby is born. Include things like how you'll consume, when you'll slumber, whether y'all'll need aid from family or friends, and and then on.^[14]
   • While this probably won't exist the time for you to take up a new hobby or to start writing a memoir, y'all should brand sure to get some exercise, come across your friends at least a little fleck, and but to have some "me time" when you tin get it.
   • Don't think that you're being selfish by wanting a chip of time to yourself afterward your baby has merely been born. If you have even a petty chip of time to accept care of yourself, you'll be a ameliorate flagman for your baby.
   • Exist like shooting fish in a barrel on yourself. This is non the time to clean the whole business firm or lose 10 pounds.

4. 4

   Articulate your schedule. Anything can happen, specially during the first calendar month of your baby'due south life. Make certain you haven't made too many plans and that you're prepared to requite your babe the fourth dimension it needs. Eliminate your stress in accelerate by letting people know that you'll be very decorated with your baby, and don't force yourself to socialize too much or to make appearances with your infant unless that's something yous really want.

   • Though you lot should requite your baby the fourth dimension information technology needs, that doesn't mean you should exist holed upward in your firm with your baby. Get out of the firm as much equally you can -- it'll be better for you and your baby. ^[xv]

5. 5

   Go ready for the ride. Even if you lot feel that one day with your newborn baby is 100 hours long, you'll soon see that your infant will be over the newborn phase earlier y'all know it (people debate whether babies cease being newborns after 28 days or up to 3 months). So, be prepared for all of the emotions you will experience: intense joy at seeing your baby, a fright that you may not exist doing everything correct, a panic that you lot have lost your independence, an isolation from your childless friends. ^[sixteen]

   • All of these feelings are perfectly natural, and whatever hesitations or fears you lot have will fade to the background as you embark on a new life with your infant.

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Add together New Question

• Question

  What should I know nigh taking care of a newborn?

  

  Jami Yaeger is a Parenting Specialist, Doula, and the Owner of AustinBorn, an online community offering comprehensive and modern educational activity to growing families. With ten years of experience, Jami specializes in whole family support for pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting. Jami earned her BA in Theatre Performance from San Diego State University and earned her Certification as a Lactation Education Advisor from the University of California, San Diego. She is a Certified Infant and Child CPR Instructor, Birth and Postpartum Doula, and Childbirth Educator.

  

  Parenting Specialist

  Adept Answer

  

  Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

  One of the most of import things you tin do is to make sure you lot're taking care of yourself. Information technology can assist a lot to make a postpartum plan ahead of fourth dimension so when you get dwelling house with your new baby, you won't have to worry about how you lot're going to eat or sleep. You tin also decide alee of time whether y'all'll need assist from family unit, friends, a doula, or a nanny.

• Question

  How long should y'all let your newborn slumber without eating?

  

  Sarah Siebold is an International board certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Certified Lactation Educator Counselor (CLEC) based in Los Angeles, California. She runs her own lactation consulting practice called IMMA, where she specializes in emotional support, clinical care, and evidence-based breastfeeding practices. Her editorial work about new motherhood and breastfeeding has been featured in VoyageLA, The Tot, and Hello My Tribe. She completed her clinical lactation training in both private practise and outpatient settings through the University of California, San Diego. She likewise earned her Grand.A. in English and American Literature from New York University.

  

  International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

  Skillful Answer

  

  Back up wikiHow by unlocking this expert reply.

  Before they regain their birth weight, we want to wake a sleeping baby between every two and iii hours, unless they wake themselves, to make sure they get the minimum number of feeds. Don't ever permit your newborn who's all the same nether birth weight sleep for longer than a iii hour stretch.

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• Supervise your pets when they are around the child. This is for your baby's sake and for your pet's sake. Your pet could easily injure your baby, or your baby could be too rough and hurt your pet.

• Don't strength yourself to carry the baby while irritated when y'all're already feeling sleepy. You may injure the baby. Try having an aid from your families or friends around yous, and take a bit of sleep.

• Put a crib in your bed room so it will not get scared.

• Taking care of a human being is hard. But your parents did it for you. Take tips from them and your medico besides.

• If you accept a job make sure they requite y'all maternity leave, and enough time to spend with your baby, four months at least.

• Take pictures of them growing up.

• Have other people hold the baby so they get used to other people holding him/her.

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• Never feed your newborn "regular" nutrient. They have no teeth to chew it with, and their digestive system isn't prepared even so.

• Ever supervise your babe while giving them a bath. A baby tin can drown in less than an inch of h2o.

• Go to a doctor if the infant:

  • does not respond to sounds or sights
  • has a face that is paler or bluer than usual
  • does non urinate
  • does not consume
  • has a fever

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Things You'll Need

• Clothes for the baby
• Money
• Formula for the infant
• Car seat and car
• Stroller

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Commodity Summary X

To take care of a newborn, feed them breastmilk or formula every two-3 hours. Since you lot'll exist feeding them so frequently, plan on changing their diaper around 10 times a day. Also, make certain they're getting plenty of rest so they grow healthy and strong. Once your newborn's umbilical cord falls off, breast-stroke them with balmy soap 2-3 times a week to proceed them clean. When you hold your newborn, retrieve to always support their head and neck. For more tips, similar how to soothe a crying newborn, keep reading!

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