Baby|Newborn Baby Care Basics: What to Know When You Leave the Hospital
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.
Credit...Aart-jan Venema
Supported by
SKIP ADVERTIsem*nT
By Melinda Wenner Moyer
This guide was originally published on May 6, 2019 in NYT Parenting.
Life with a newborn can be magical — and also overwhelming, exhausting and terrifying. I still remember the day I brought my son home from the hospital and thought: How do I care for this tiny, needy creature? Where is his owner’s manual? But hard as being a new parent can be, you’re probably going to do fine. “Babies are a lot stronger than parents may give them credit for,” said Dr. Jennifer Shu, M.D., an Atlanta-based pediatrician and co-author of “Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality.” (I remember our week-old son rolling off a couch once and thinking we had broken him. He was fine.) Over time, too, parents learn to detect and understand their baby’s needs, desires and schedules. Caring for a newborn — a baby under 28 days old — is not easy, but it does become more manageable, especially with the right advice on hand. For this newborn guide, I spoke with three pediatricians and a certified pediatric sleep consultant, collecting tips on what parents should pay attention to, what kinds of schedules they should follow, what they should do and what they don’t need to worry about.
What to Do
- Whether you’re breastfeeding or using formula, feed your baby frequently.
- Sleep when your baby sleeps — and start a bedtime routine.
- Bathe your baby safely, but not too frequently.
- When your baby is awake, bond with her, calm her and do tummy time.
- Ask for support.
Whether you’re breastfeeding or using formula, feed your baby frequently.
If a mom is breastfeeding — the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends doing so for at least six months — her body will usually start producing breast milk within three days of birth. Before that, her breasts will produce a thick, yellow nutrient-filled liquid called colostrum.
At first, a nursing mother might have to work to ensure that her baby correctly latches, or fastens onto her breast, in order to eat. If you’re having trouble establishing a good latch or getting your baby to eat, talk to a certified lactation consultant; most hospitals and birthing centers have at least one on staff. You can also find a private lactation consultant via the United States Lactation Consultant Association.
[How to breastfeed during the first two weeks of life]
No matter whether you’re breastfeeding or formula feeding, newborns should be fed every one to three hours, so that they eat eight to 12 times in 24 hours. (If you’re using formula, feed one to two ounces at a time. The C.D.C. has information on how to choose, prepare and store formula.) Frequent meals help newborns regain weight that they may have lost after birth. As your baby grows, she will gradually be able to eat more at each feeding and eat fewer times each day and night.
Advertisem*nt
SKIP ADVERTIsem*nT
