Safe sleep from day one
Always place your baby on their back to sleep, on a firm, flat surface. The sleep space should be clear — no pillows, bumpers, loose blankets, or toys. Room-sharing (but not bed-sharing) is recommended by the AAP for at least the first 6 months.
Umbilical cord care
Keep the cord stump dry and exposed to air. Sponge-bath only until it falls off (typically 1–3 weeks). Contact your provider if the area around the stump looks red, swollen, or has a bad smell.
What your newborn can do
Newborns arrive with more built-in ability than they might seem to have. Your baby can recognize your voice from inside the womb and will turn toward it. They can see faces at close range (20–30 cm) and are drawn to high-contrast patterns.
Reflexes are strong in the first week: the rooting reflex helps babies find the breast or bottle, the sucking reflex sustains feeding, and the Moro reflex (startle) makes your baby's arms fling outward in response to a sudden movement or sound.
- Recognizes your voice and may calm to it
- Rooting and sucking reflexes active
- Sees best at 20–30 cm (face distance)
- Sleeps 14–17 hours per day in short stretches
Feeding in week 1
Newborns feed frequently — typically 8–12 times per 24 hours. Whether you're breastfeeding, formula feeding, or combination feeding, feeding on demand (when your baby shows hunger cues) is the usual guidance in the early weeks.
If breastfeeding, your milk will transition from colostrum to mature milk around days 3–5. Your baby's stomach is small — about the size of a marble in the first days — so small, frequent feeds are normal and expected.
- Feed 8–12 times per 24 hours
- Watch for hunger cues: rooting, sucking hands, fussing
- If breastfeeding, expect milk to come in days 3–5
- Consult a lactation consultant early if feeding is painful or difficult
Diapering and output
In the first few days, your baby will pass meconium — a dark, tar-like substance that was stored in the intestines before birth. By day 3–4, stools transition to a greenish and then yellow color as milk feeding is established.
Wet diapers are one of the best signs that your baby is getting enough to eat. Most providers want to see at least 6–8 wet diapers per day by day 4–5.
Tips for this stage
Skin-to-skin time is calming for both of you
Holding your newborn skin-to-skin regulates their temperature, heart rate, and breathing. It also supports milk supply and bonding. Even 20–30 minutes after feeds can make a difference.
Sleep in shifts
Newborns don't sleep through the night — most wake every 2–3 hours. Taking turns with a partner, or sleeping when the baby sleeps during the day, helps prevent dangerous levels of exhaustion.
Ask for help early
If feeding feels painful, your baby isn't gaining weight, or something doesn't feel right, reach out to your pediatrician or a lactation consultant early. Problems caught early are much easier to address.