Know About Your Baby’s First Few Weeks

It is an exciting experience to bring a baby, a new life from the hospital, but this act is also followed by certain surprises of handling the new life. Knowing what to expect of the baby in the first few weeks would soon help you, your spouse and the baby to bind together as a family.

Most new parents may worry how they can bond with the baby as bonding with the baby is one of the greatest joys of parenting; this does not happen immediately as the baby and you would take your own time recovering after childbirth, with the newborn taking time to get used to the new world around him/her.

Spending time on a skin-skin contact that is best done by holding the infant close to your chest while feeding or simply for cuddling would help. This could be followed by some baby talk as cooing, babbling, singing and talking to your newborn; most newborns love hearing their parent’s voice. It would also help to look into the baby’s eyes and smile; he/she will soon mimic your expressions.

Most newborns sleep for as much as 16 hours; most newborns sleep for 2 hours each time, with the baby sleeping for 6 hours in the night by the time he/she is 6 months.

Do not give your baby attention immediately if he/she fuses at night; wait for a minute or two to see if he/she goes off to sleep. It would help to be quiet during night feedings or diaper changes to not wake him/her. Next newborns would sleep better at night if you keep him/her active with playing during the day.

It is best for mothers to know that it is enough to give the baby a bath 3 times a week in the initial stages as excess bathing could dry out the skin. You could wipe the baby clean with a sponge or wash cloth.

Mothers need not be worried about the times a baby nurses or takes in a bottle; it is enough if the baby spends 10 to 15 minutes at each breast or drinks 2-3 ounces of milk. The baby is having enough if he/she has 6 or more wet diapers and 2 or more dirty diapers every 24 hours. It is also best to understand that a newborn loses a little weight in the first week which he/she starts to gain in the second week.

It is also best to know that umbilical cord stump and skin around should be clean and dry till it shrivels and falls off. It is best to give sponge baths to take care that water does not submerge the cord. Also the diaper should be folded below the cord to keep urine from soaking it. The doctor should be consulted in case of infection when there is pain, redness, foul smell or yellow liquid in the umbilical cord area.

It is lastly very important to put the baby to sleep on his/her back in a place that is free of pillows, crib bumpers, toys, or soft bedding like a blanket to minimize the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Ensure the baby has its immunization shots in time and you follow the doctor’s instructions. Never overdress your baby to avoid overheating and make sure you sleep in the same room and not the same bed of the baby. 

Lastly if you still have concerns, consult the doctor.