Bringing a Newborn Home: Parenting Tips for the First Months of Life

Are you about to become a parent? Make the transition smoother for you and your baby by looking through these suggestions for taking a newborn home.

One of life’s most exciting—yet overwhelming—experiences is bringing a newborn home. Both the baby and the parents must adjust to a completely new lifestyle during this period of adjustment, which calls for endurance and trial-and-error.

The most frequent parenting worries will be addressed by these professional pointers, allowing you to confidently start the next phase of your family’s existence.

Prepare Ahead of Time

Make sure to get a few things ready before you go to the hospital. Find a designated safe place for your baby to sleep and purchase plenty of diapers, wipes, and onesies. You and your partner should stock up on frozen meals or request help with meal preparation from relatives and friends. Once your baby is born, you most likely won’t have the time to prepare meals for yourself.

Before your child is born, you should also build a relationship with your pediatrician. Attend a prenatal appointment to meet the doctor, get to know the staff, and determine whether your parenting preferences line up with those of the clinic.

Sleeping

Although every baby is unique, young infants typically sleep for anywhere between 20 and three hours at a time. Your infant may sleep up to 16 hours per day during the first month.

Because they are accustomed to resting during the daytime when their mother moves around, and remaining awake at night when she is motionless, many newborns initially mistake day and night, much like “jet lag.”

Although adjusting to the outside world can take some time, there are certain things you can do to support your kid. Keep your shades drawn, your lights on, and provide plenty of noise and stimulation during the day. Dim the lights, be calm, and refrain from playing after dark.

Crying

Even though they may sleep for up to 16 of the 24 hours, most newborns cry between two and four hours every day. To fully comprehend the significance of each cry, it takes time and trial and error. Keep a tight eye on your baby’s routine and record their meals, naps, and diaper changes on paper or with an app. After that, you can utilize the method of exclusion to determine what your kid requires.

Keep in mind that your baby may be upset in addition to the common causes of crying, such as hunger, fatigue, or a full diaper, if they are overstimulated, uncomfortable, or too hot or cold.

Feeding 

Breastfeeding

For the first six months of life, breast milk is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. After that, as the infant is introduced to purees, you can start to nurse less frequently.

This can occasionally be difficult for both the mother and the child, and that’s okay. It can just be a matter of speaking with a lactation consultant or utilising the 24-hour Breastfeeding Hotline and other services offered by Valleywide Health. If this doesn’t work, formula is a fantastic backup option that can be used as a supplement or the exclusive source of sustenance for your infant.

Bottle-Feeding 

Wait until your baby’s feeding schedule is established before introducing a bottle if you wish to occasionally offer your breastfeeding baby a bottle. You can introduce the bottle right away if you are pumping or using formula.

Attempt to feed your kid eight to twelve times each day, or every two to three hours from the start of one feeding to the next, regardless of the approach you decide on.

Introducing Foods

Most infants can begin eating pureed foods between the ages of four and six months. Fruit and vegetable purees, as well as baby oatmeal, are soft and easily absorbed.

During the first several months of feeding, make sure to visit your doctor frequently. They can be a great help when it comes to bottle feeding, nursing, and introducing new foods to your kid.

Diapers

How frequently should your infant poop, then? Based on how many wet diapers your baby is producing, you can tell if they are receiving enough nutrition. You should plan on having at least five to six wet diapers per day during the first few weeks, or even better, one after each feeding. This number will drastically decline between six weeks and three months. However, there is no need to be concerned as long as they have a wet diaper at least once a week.

Rashes

Many babies are prone to rashes because of all those diapers. Check your baby’s diaper every couple of hours, and change it as soon as you see any signs of dampness to prevent this. Additionally, you can protect their skin and let it heal in between changes by applying lotions and ointments.

Bathing

Babies often don’t get particularly dirty, save from spit-ups and blowouts, which can be messy. Your infant shouldn’t get daily baths. Instead, give them a mild bath every two to three days with a soft sponge or washcloth. Until the umbilical chord slips off, make sure to keep the region dry.

Bonding

Since you are your child’s primary source of attention during these early years of life, you’ll probably discover that bonding with your child comes naturally. Here are a few simple strategies to strengthen your bond with your infant.

• Give them skin-to-skin touch by holding them close to your body.

• A baby should be able to hear your heartbeat.

• Speak with them. Even though they can’t understand you, they enjoy hearing your voice.

Holding them near to your body will allow you to touch their flesh.

Your heartbeat should be audible to a newborn.

Talk to them. Despite the fact that they are unable to understand you, they like hearing your voice.

Weight

Because they have a little more weight to get through the first few days, newborns are expected to lose weight soon after birth. Your baby’s weight should be regularly monitored by your doctor, but after about two weeks, it should recover to its birth weight. Then, during the first few months, they will gain about one ounce every day.

Pediatrician Visits

Your newborn should visit a pediatrician at the following times after birth:

• 24 hours following birth

• daily in the hospital till released

• 3 to 5 days following discharge

• 2 weeks after delivery

• one month following birth

• two times a year (up to 18 months)

What To Expect 

You can anticipate that your pediatrician will weigh the infant, inquire about feeding and diaper changes, and assess how your family is adjusting to the lifestyle change during visits. By tapping your baby’s heel, the doctor will take blood 24 hours after birth and again at the next examination so they can check for 29 metabolic and genetic problems. The test results will be returned to you within a month.

Other Common Questions

Jaundice 

When your infant has jaundice, their blood has an increased level of bilirubin, which causes their skin to appear yellow. In the first one to three weeks, this is quite typical. However, consult your doctor right away if the yellow hue worsens or lasts for more than a month.

Umbilical cords

Although they can separate up to one month after birth, umbilical cords typically do so within two weeks. When bathing with a sponge or washcloth, keep the umbilical cord dry and avoid using alcohol swabs to clean the vicinity.

Swaddling

Your infant is accustomed to being in cramped areas. Your infant can be soothed, put to sleep, and have their startle reflex reduced by swaddling. Simply make sure the wrap is not overly tight around your baby’s lower torso, as this could lead to leg and hip issues.

Milestones

Your newborn won’t accomplish much in the first month other than eat, sleep, and wet their diaper. After that, they will start interacting with you by grinning and looking in your direction. Around the two-month point, your baby should begin to chuckle.

Baby-proofing

Before you know it, your small newborn will be crawling and standing. Get down on your knees and consider things from a baby’s point of view to baby-proof your home. Make sure to conceal all little items. Choking hazards include anything that fits through a toilet paper tube. Additionally, store your medicines, cleaning products, and chemicals in a high, out-of-reach location or lock them away.

Never be afraid to ask your pediatrician questions as you get used to being a parent. They are always available to help you navigate parenthood’s numerous ups and downs.