Caring for Your Newborn

Feeding your baby

Breastfeeding is encouraged, though combination or formula feeding are also welcome options. Watch for feeding cues such as rooting, hand-to-mouth movements, or sucking motions.

Most babies feed 8–12 times in 24 hours (every 2–4 hours). If your baby has not fed for 4 hours, gently wake them for a feed.

If you would like support with feeding, please speak with your midwife, we are always here to help.

Safe sleeping

Always place your baby to sleep on their back, with their feet at the foot of the cot, crib, moses basket, or pram, with their face and head uncovered.

• Ideal room temperature: 16–20 °C
• A babygrow, vest and one blanket are sufficient
• Do not use pillows or duvets

Nappies

Your baby should have at least one wet and one dirty nappy within the first day of life. If not, inform the midwives.

• Day 2: at least 2 wet nappies
• Day 3 onwards: at least 3-4 wet nappies per day
• Poo will be black or green (meconium) for the first few days, then change to yellow
• Get your baby checked if they have not had a poo for 5 days
• Check that stools are soft, not pale in colour, and there is no blood

Weight loss

Babies can lose up to 10% of their birth weight in the first week of life and usually regain it by day 10-14. If your baby loses more than 10%, a blood test may be needed.

Umbilical Cord Care

• The stump will fall off by itself at about 5-15 days after birth
• Wash your hands before and after touching the cord
• Clean around the base with cotton wool and cooled boiled water if needed
• Keep it dry and fold the nappy down, away from the stump
• Inspect with every nappy change, please contact your midwife if there is redness or discharge

Sticky Eyes

Babies’ tear ducts are not fully developed yet. Wipe each eye with cotton wool soaked in cooled boiled water, wiping from nose to ear. Use a fresh piece of cotton wool for each wipe. Contact your GP if this does not resolve within the first week.

Mucous and Snuffling

Babies often appear snuffly due to a build-up of mucous and milk, they cannot blow their own noses. This is usually normal and does not always mean a cold or allergy

Vitamin K and Vitamin D

Vitamin K is offered to all newborns at birth to help prevent haemorrhagic disease of the newborn, a rare but serious bleeding disorder.

If you are breastfeeding or combination feeding (mostly breast milk), give your baby 5 micrograms of Vitamin D daily. This can be mixed into their milk. Babies having 300 ml or more of formula per day will already receive the recommended amount. Vitamin D drops are available over the counter at pharmacies.

Crying

Your baby may cry because they are hungry, have a dirty nappy, wind, reflux, or for other reasons.

Ask your midwife or look at our resources below for advice on how to soothe your baby.

Tummy time

• Start as a newborn at home: 1–3 minutes at a time, up to 3 sessions a day
• Increase to 15–30 minutes at 2 months of age

Soothers / Dummies

• Advised to start after breastfeeding has been established (at 1 month of age)
• May help prevent cot death
• Can affect jaw and teeth development if used long-term
• Can lead to more respiratory infections
• Advised to remove between ages 1–4 years

Baby baths

Ask your midwife for guidance on bathing your baby safely before you go home.