Your newborn is like a friend you’ve been talking to on the phone for months, but are meeting in person for the first time! Here are some tips to help you get to know each other and strengthen your bond.
Your newborn is like a friend you’ve been talking to on the phone for months, but are meeting in person for the first time! Here are some tips to help you get to know each other and strengthen your bond.
Your baby will probably not sleep through the night. It takes babies 4-6 weeks before they start sleeping for 4 to 5 hours at a time. Don’t get discouraged if your baby is still not sleeping through the night after a couple of months. Just remember…
Babies change very quickly. Your newborn will go through many stages of development in their first 12 months of life. While they may not be sleeping through the night right now, they will soon be sleeping longer. Keep this in mind after a few sleepless nights — this stage will not last forever!
Chest/Breastfeeding takes time to learn. While chest/breastfeeding is a natural process, it takes time for both mom and baby to learn how. Again, be patient with yourself and your baby. Get help from a lactation consultant, WIC peer counselor or friends and family members with experience.
Chest/Breastfeeding may be different for every baby. If this isn’t your first baby, you may find that you are having new challenges with nursing. Realize that every baby is different, and while you are more experienced, your new baby still needs time to learn how to feed. Having new challenges does not mean you should give up!
It takes time to get to know your baby. Crying is the only way your newborn has to tell you if they are hungry, tired or needs a diaper change. Soon you will learn your baby’s cues and that different cries mean different things.
An outing with your baby is a good idea. Getting out of the house and into fresh air for a walk around the block will lift your mood. Babies love to nap in their strollers, and you may soon find that your walks are one of the best parts of your day. Just be sure that your baby is dressed warmly, including a hat, for cold days, or is well-covered from the sun on warm days.
Your baby will let you know when they are full and done eating. When you are feeding your baby, you may worry if they are eating enough…or too much. A baby won’t overeat unless they are encouraged to and will turn their head away from the nipple when they are full. Look for this cue when feeding your baby, and you won’t have to worry about overfeeding.
Your baby may not have “baby smooth” skin. When babies are first born, they tend to have dry, flaky skin. This is normal and there’s no need to worry. If you choose to use lotion, make sure it is fragrance-free. The dry skin should be gone within a few weeks.
They may not smile back at you for several weeks. Remember, it takes time for babies to develop and mature. Your baby will start to smile back at you around 8 weeks. In the meantime, know that your baby does love you!
Life will return to a new “normal”! When you have a baby, your body changes, your schedule changes and you have to adjust your life in many ways. At first, these changes can be overwhelming. Be patient with yourself, and your new baby. You’ll soon fall into a new “normal”, where you feel more settled in your new lifestyle with your new baby!
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