The first few days of baby care are crucial to building a =strong foundation for your child. Newborns need the love and nurturing that only parents can provide.
but they also require special considerations. New babies will often cry more than usual in the first few days after birth, so it is essential to comfort them.
Newborns also have sensitive digestive systems, so you should not change their diet too quickly or feed them foods that might cause constipation or diarrhea. This blog post provides a list of what new parents can expect during these early days with their newborn!
Feeding and sleeping patterns
Most babies sleep for less than 4 hours at a time then they wake to feed. Most newborns will sleep for about 16 hours every 24 hours.
Newborns will need to provide every few hours, and they may sleep through feeding or two. Some newborns will do better with a schedule of eating simultaneously during the day that is as close to their natural circadian rhythm as possible.
Bathing
Bathing your baby can be an absolute pleasure, even if it can be nerve-racking at first. Cleaning your baby in the evening can help calm your baby and settle them.
But you don’t need to bathe your baby every day if you don’t want to. A bath every few days is enough. Just make sure their nappy area is kept clean and dry. You’ll soon find what you and your baby prefer.
Your baby will have part of the umbilical cord still attached. Please keep it clean and dry, and allow it to heal naturally.
If you haven’t bathed a baby before, Raising Children Network has some handy illustrations to guide you.
Hearing and blood tests
You will be offered some tests for your baby in the first week. You’ll be asked for permission before these tests are done. Your baby will have a non-invasive hearing screening test and a heel prick blood test — the neonatal screening test (NST).
Weighing, measuring, and baby health check
Your baby will be examined and weighed by maternity staff soon after birth and a few days later. This is to make sure that your baby is healthy and has not lost too much weight.
Typically babies lose some weight during the first few days, then start to regain the weight. They should be back to their birth weight within about two weeks.
The first few days of baby care are crucial to building a solid foundation for your child. Newborns need the love and nurturing that only parents can provide, but they also require special considerations.
New babies will often cry more than usual in the first few days after birth, so it is important to comfort them.
Newborns also have sensitive digestive systems, so you should not change their diet too quickly or feed them foods that might cause constipation or diarrhea.
This blog post provides a list of what new parents can expect during these early days with their newborn!
Infant Health Record
All babies in Australia are issued with an Infant Health Record at birth. Each state has a different colored cover of the Infant Health Record. E.g., ‘Blue book’ in NSW, ‘Green book’ in Victoria. This will be your baby’s primary health record until they start school.
Feeding and sleeping patterns: Newborn babies sleep for about 16 hours every 24 hours. Newborns will need to feed every few hours, and they may sleep through feeding or two. Some newborns do better with eating simultaneously during the day that is as close to their natural circadian rhythm.
Vaccinations
The first dose of your baby’s hepatitis B vaccinations will be offered to you in the hospital. The hepatitis B vaccination is an injection in the baby’s thigh.
Your local child health nurse will help you schedule the next round of vaccinations — due at six weeks to 2 months of age.
What’s in a nappy?
Your baby’s poo changes quite a bit in the first week. Monitoring these changes is one way to see whether your baby is healthy and well-nourished.
Baby’s poo gradually changes from black and sticky on the day of birth to mustard yellow when your breast milk comes in on days 3 to 5.
Newborns will do better with a schedule of eating simultaneously during the day that is as close to their natural circadian rhythm as possible.
Bathing your baby can be an absolute pleasure, even if it can be nerve-racking at first. Cleaning your baby in the evening can help calm your baby and settle them.
But you don’t need to wash your baby every day if you don’t want to! A bath every few days is enough; make sure their nappy area is kept clean and dry; you’ll soon find what you and your baby prefer.
Your Newborn will have part of the umbilical cord still attached: keep it clean and dry, allowing it to heal naturally.
Newborns need the love and nurturing that only parents can provide, but they also require special considerations.
New babies will often cry more than usual in the first few days after birth, so it is important to comfort them. Newborns also have sensitive digestive systems, so you should not change their diet too quickly or feed them foods that might cause constipation or diarrhea.
What to prepare to take your baby home
To take your baby home, you will usually need some nappies, a set of clothes (a singlet, a grow-suit, and perhaps a warm hat), a warm wrap, and an infant restraint for the car.
Ask your hospital for a list of the things for your baby in the hospital and for going home.
Young babies do not need very many belongings. Mainly, they want to be fed, kept warm, have their nappy changed, and spend lots of time with you.
A simple cot or bassinet set up safely, nappies, six changes of clothes, and some wraps are a great start.
Listen to Dianne Zalitis, midwife and Clinical Lead at Pregnancy, Birth, and Baby, talk about what to expect when bringing your baby home on the Babyology podcast.
Conclusion:
This post has been about Newborn Baby: What to Expect in the First few days. New parents need to understand how their baby’s health will change during these first days and weeks of life so they can best care for them!
Newborn babies sleep for about 16 hours every 24 hours. Newborns will need to feed every few hours, and they may sleep through feeding or two.
Some newborns do better with eating simultaneously during the day that is as close to their natural circadian rhythm as others.
Newborn babies also have sensitive digestive systems, which means that you should not change their diet too quickly or feed them foods that might cause constipation or diarrhea.
Bathing your baby can be an absolute pleasure, even if it can be nerve-racking at first. Newborns also have part of the umbilical cord still attached: keep it clean and dry, allowing it to heal naturally.
New parents need to understand how their baby’s health will change during these first few days so they can best care for them!
