Things to Consider Before Having Baby

Newborns seem to sleep, eat, cry and brush normally. But as you and your baby get to know each other and bond over your first few days together, your day will also include cuddling and playing. All babies are different – their eating and sleeping habits are constantly changing and may take time to adjust to.

You may want your daily activities to match what your newborn is doing. Alternatively, you can start by creating a very simple routine. Either way, your baby and you will begin to settle into a daily routine of sleeping, feeding and playing.

Sleep

Newborns spend most of their time sleeping between feeds. Each sleep period lasts about 2 to 3 hours. However, your baby may start to move after 40 minutes and you will need your help to get back to sleep. They can sleep 16 hours in 24 hours. Your baby will not know the difference between daytime and nighttime sleep and will probably wake up 2-3 times a night to feed. When your baby is one month old, he can start sleeping longer at night, and from 3 to 6 months he can sleep for 4 to 5 hours at a time.

Because a newborn's sleep patterns are constantly changing, it's a good idea to take it slow and stay flexible in the first few months.

feed

Whether you decide to breastfeed or bottle feed, your baby will need about 6 to 8 feedings in 24 hours, for a total of about 2 to 5 hours a day. Breast milk is easily digested, so if you are breastfeeding, you can feed your baby up to 12 times a day. At certain times, your baby may eat more often, which is called group feeding. They can sleep longer after group feeding.

If you want to calculate the time between feeds, you must count the time from the start of the last feed, not from the end.

In addition to giving your baby the basic nutrition it needs to grow, feeding your newborn is a great way to get some cuddle time.

Hear Dianne Zalitis, midwife, discuss what to expect when you bring your baby home on the Babyology podcast. hug and play

Making time to cuddle and play with your baby as part of your daily activities is important for their growth and development. The key is to interact with your newborn rather than giving him games and toys. Game ideas include:

eye contact, smiling and speaking

sing nursery rhymes

take your child for a walk

read or tell them a story

make faces

blown raspberries

Other game ideas include:

give your child different things to look at and feel when talking to them

give your baby supervised good time every day

make sounds

massage your baby

For some children, play can be just cuddling or being quiet and kicking the blanket. Some may only want to play for 10 minutes at a time, others want longer. It is best to pay attention to your child's behavior; if they seem angry or restless, they may be afraid, tired, or agitated. If so, try a quieter activity later. Alternatively, you can tell by their behavior that they are tired and need to sleep.

Cry

Sometimes it seems like your baby is crying all the time! This is normal and the way a newborn communicates with you.

About 1 in 10 babies cry more than 3 hours a day. You may find that your newborn cries more in the afternoon or early evening than at other times. If your baby is crying, check to see if he is hungry, tired or uncomfortable. They may need a feed, a nap, a clean diaper, or your baby may be too hot or cold. They may be scared, need a hug, excited or too tired.

As you get to know your baby better, you will begin to recognize different types of crying and what they mean. Responding to your baby's cries is an important part of trust and bonding. Another activities

Changing diapers and washing your baby regularly is also part of your daily routine.

What routines can I start with my newborn?

Helps keep newborns flexible. However, you can decide to start doing simple things with your baby in the same order when it comes to sleeping, eating and playing:

when your baby wakes up from sleep, feed them

change your baby in the middle or at the end of a feeding

hugging, talking and playing

let your baby sleep

At night, you may prefer to skip playtime and try to get them back to sleep.

Sources:

Tresillian (Settling), Raising Children Network (Newborn Sleep Routines), Raising Children Network (Bonding & Attachment: Newborn), Tresillian (Daily Activities; 0-3 months), Raising Children Network (Newborn: Behavior), Raising Children Network (Newborn ) ): sleep), Australian Breastfeeding Association (Should I wake my baby to feed?), Raising Babies Network (Babies: crying), Raising Babies Network (Playing with newborns)