As new parents, you will probably have endless questions about everything. From breastfeeding to washing and bathing your newborn. The first thing that you should know that babies do not come with an instruction manual and the first questions that you might have are probably about their behavior or the baby’s appearance. To make some things easier for you, here is a guide on what you need to know about caring for your new baby during the early weeks.

Breastfeeding your new baby

During the first weeks, it will seem like you are doing nothing but feeding your baby. However, over time you and your baby will get into a pattern, and the amount of milk produced will settle. One thing that you should know is that you should feed your baby as often as they want, this is particularly good if you are a stay at home mum. You will be able to do the so-called “baby-led” feeding, and it will allow your baby to decide when they had enough.

Washing and bathing your new baby

You do not need to wash or bathe your baby in the first few days at home. You might prefer to wash their face, hand, neck, and bottoms carefully, instead of giving them a full body wash. This is often referred to as topping and tailing. Choose a time when your baby is awake and calm, also make sure the room is warm. You will need to get everything ready before starting the bath. The things you might need is a bowl of warm water, a towel, cotton wool, a fresh nappy, and if needed, clean clothes.

How to change your baby’s nappy

Babies will need frequent nappy changes, especially if their skin is sensitive. Some babies have sensitive skin, hence they will need to be changed as soon as they wet themselves, if not, their skin might become sore and red. One thing to keep in mind is that all babies need changing as soon as they wet themselves. This will prevents rashes, as well as sore and red skin.

Helping your baby to sleep

It is quite normal that new babies only sleep two or three hours at a time, and it is most likely that they will not sleep during the whole night. One of the reasons for this is that babies are not yet aware of day and night like adults. Babies grow quickly during the first couple of months and as all of us are aware, they have small stomachs. This means that you will need to feed them little and frequently. As your baby grows, they will need less night and day feeds, and they will sleep longer during the night.

Babies cannot see very far

For the first weeks of his or her life, your child will only be able to focus on objects that are 20-30 centimeters in front of them. This will improve the bonding between you and your child, as it is just the exact distance between your face and your babies face when you feed them.

Conclusion

While it is one of the most difficult things you will do in your life, the crash course of being a new parent is a wonderful time. It will pass quickly, and you will have more time to sleep and feel more like yourself. Keep in mind that you will not have the first few weeks with your baby ever again, so relax and try to enjoy it somehow.