How to Care for Your Newborn: A Comprehensive Guide for New Parents

Highlights

• The first few days of your baby’s life are very exciting, and they can also be tiring.
• Every baby is different — they often don’t follow schedules in the first couple of months.
• Your baby’s poo changes quite a bit in the first week.
• You will be given a personal health record to track your baby’s growth and development.

In This Article

• First Days with Your Newborn
• Preparing to Bring Baby Home
• Establishing a Flexible Routine
• Safe Sleep Practices
• What’s in a Nappy
• Umbilical Cord Care
• Bathing Your Newborn
• Hearing and Blood Tests
• Vaccinations and Injections
• Maintaining Your Baby’s Health Record
• Regular Health Checks for Your Baby
• Tools and Assistance

First Days with Your Newborn

The first few days of your baby’s life are very exciting and they can also be tiring. A lot happens during this time.

In the first few days, you and your baby will be getting to know each other. You’ll start noticing their feeding cues (when they’re hungry) and their tired signs (when they’re sleepy). You’ll also learn how to keep them dry, fed, and clean.

Healthcare professionals at the hospital or at home will ensure that your baby is healthy and offer any necessary vaccinations.

Preparing to Bring Baby Home

Before bringing your baby home, it’s helpful to make a list of the essentials you’ll need.

Newborns don’t need many things. Mostly, they need:

• feeding
• warmth
• diaper changes
• a lot of time with you

A simple crib or bassinet set up safely will be enough. You won’t need too many clothes in the first few weeks, just enough for a week and some wraps. Depending on the season, you might also need:

• vests
• cardigans
• wool hats
• sun hats

Be sure to have diapers on hand as well.

To bring your baby home from the hospital, you will need a car seat.

Establishing a Flexible Routine

Every baby is different. You shouldn’t set strict schedules in the first couple of months. It’s better to follow a flexible cycle of “feed, play, sleep.”

Your newborn will need 8 to 14 feeds or more every 24 hours, including overnight feeds.

Most babies also sleep a lot — up to 14 to 17 hours in every 24 hours, but this might be for 2 to 4 hours at a time. In the first few weeks, your baby won’t distinguish between day and night.

It’s also important to play with your newborn to help with their development. You may want to:

• take them for a walk
• sing a song or nursery rhyme
• show them toys or a book

Safe Sleep Practices

Make sure you always put your baby to sleep:

• on their back
• with their head and face uncovered
• in a crib next to your bed for at least their first 6 to 12 months

Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It’s also important to avoid exposing your baby to cigarette or vape smoke.

What’s in a Nappy

Your baby’s stool changes quite a bit in the first week. Monitoring these changes is one way to check if your baby is healthy and well-nourished.

Baby’s stool gradually changes from black and sticky on the day of birth to mustard yellow. Formula-fed babies usually have more yellow and formed stools.

Changing your baby’s nappy every time they’ve done a wee or poo will help prevent nappy rash.

Umbilical Cord Care

Keep your baby’s umbilical cord stump clean and dry.

You only need to wash around the umbilical cord if it’s dirty with urine or stool. You can wash it with clean water and gently pat it dry with a towel.

When the cord stump falls off, you can dispose of it.

Bathing Your Newborn

Bathing your baby can be a real pleasure, even if it’s a bit nerve-racking at first. Choose a time when your baby is awake and happy.

Make sure you have everything ready before you start. You will need:

• a flannel or washcloth
• a clean nappy
• clean clothes

You don’t need to bathe your baby every day unless you prefer to do so.

Never leave your baby alone in the bath, even for one second.

Hearing and Blood Tests

You will be offered a few tests for your baby, usually when they are between 48 and 72 hours old. Your baby will receive a heel prick blood test, called newborn bloodspot screening.

This test involves pricking your baby’s heel to collect a small amount of blood. The blood is tested for:

• congenital hypothyroidism
• cystic fibrosis
• amino acid disorders, such as phenylketonuria (PKU)
• fatty acid oxidation disorders
• other metabolic disorders

If the results are normal, you won’t be contacted. More than 9 out of 10 babies have normal results.

Your baby will also be offered a hearing screening test. Hearing loss may not be immediately noticeable in newborns, but it can affect speech and language development. You will be given the results as soon as the test is complete.

You’ll be asked for permission before these tests are conducted.

Vaccinations and Injections

Your baby will be offered the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine while you’re in the hospital. Hepatitis B can lead to chronic liver problems and liver cancer.

The hepatitis B vaccine is given as an injection into your baby’s thigh.

Your local child health nurse will help you schedule your baby’s next round of vaccinations, which are usually due at 2 months of age.

Your baby will also be offered a vitamin K injection at the same time.

Maintaining Your Baby’s Health Record

Every baby is given a personal health record at birth. This record tracks your baby’s:

• health
• illnesses
• injuries
• growth and development

It contains valuable health information that you and your child will need throughout their life.

You can also set up a health record for your baby when you register them for any national health programs or services.

Regular Health Checks for Your Baby

Your baby’s first health check usually happens at birth. They will then be checked again between 1 and 4 weeks, with follow-up checks at:

• 6 to 8 weeks
• 6 months
• 12 months

At these appointments, your doctor or child health nurse will monitor your baby’s growth, including:

• height
• weight
• head circumference

These measurements will be recorded in your baby’s health record.

Tools and Assistance

As a new parent, there are many tools and resources available to assist you through your parenting journey. Some key tools include:

• Breastfeeding Support: There are many helplines and breastfeeding counselors who can offer advice if you’re facing challenges with breastfeeding or want to learn more about it.
• Parenting Apps: Several apps can help track your baby’s feeding, sleeping, and growth patterns. These tools help you stay organized and monitor your baby’s development.
• Sleep Training Resources: For new parents struggling with sleep routines, there are online courses, books, and even professional sleep consultants who can guide you through the process.
• Health and Development Tracking: Keeping track of your baby’s milestones and health checks is essential. Some health tracking apps can assist you in monitoring your baby’s physical and emotional development.
• Mental Health Support: Parenting can be challenging, and it’s important to prioritize your mental health. Many counseling services offer support for new parents, including strategies to manage stress, anxiety, or post-natal depression.
• Support Groups: Joining parenting support groups, either online or in person, can provide community support, advice, and friendship from others who are going through similar experiences.

These resources and tools can help ease the transition to parenthood and offer you guidance every step of the way.

Need more information?

Newborn clothes & dressing a newborn | Raising Children NetworkHow many clothes does a newborn need? And what newborn clothes are best? Get answers to these questions and more in our guide to dressing a newborn.Read more on raisingchildren.net.au websiteNewborns behaviour | Raising Children NetworkNewborn behaviour baffling you? Here’s all you need on newborns behaviour with articles, videos and resources on crying, colic and more.Read more on raisingchildren.net.au websiteDressing a newbornWhen dressing your newborn, there are a few things to consider, like which clothes to use, how to dress them and making sure the change table is safe.Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby websiteNewborn bloodspot screening – myDr.com.auNewborn screening tests can detect rare but serious genetic or metabolic disorders in newborn babies.Read more on MyDoctor websiteNewborn Routine & Schedules | TresillianTresillian’s free advice for newborn routines including newborn sleep routines, newborn feeding schedules and newborn awake windows.Read more on Tresillian websiteNewborn Crying Videos and Top Tips | TresillianCheck out Tresillian’s newborn crying videos with top tips on newborn and 2 month baby crying and symptoms of colic.Read more on Tresillian websiteNewborn Care – Rahma HealthCaring for a newborn is both rewarding and challenging.Read more on Rahma Health websiteNewborns development | Raising Children NetworkWant to track newborns development? Here’s all you need on newborn development with articles, videos and resources on growth, relationships and more.Read more on raisingchildren.net.au websiteWind, burping & newborn babies in pictures | Raising Children NetworkNewborns might have wind from swallowing air when crying or feeding. Burping can help newborns get rid of wind. See how to burp your newborn – in pictures.Read more on raisingchildren.net.au websiteIs my newborn safe? – myDr.com.auDr Norman Swan explains the risks of COVID-19 to your newborn.Read more on MyDoctor website