Newborn Care Guide

✨ Feeding & Diapering

Feed on demand: Newborns eat every 2-3 hours (8-12 times/day). Wake your baby if needed in the early weeks until weight gain is established.

Normal weight loss: Up to 7-10% of birth weight in the first few days; regain by ~2 weeks.

Vitamin D: Breastfed or partially breastfed babies need 400 IU/day (e.g., Ddrops®, Enfamil D-Vi-Sol, Carlson® Baby Ddrops)

Wet diapers: Day 1 → 1 wet diaper, Day 2 → 2 wets, Day 3 → 3 wets, By day 5–7 → 6+ wets daily.

Stool changes: Days 1–3: Meconium (thick, black-green, tar-like). Days 3–4: Transitional stools become brown/green, then lighter. Breastfed babies: Mustard-yellow, loose or seedy, often several times a day. Formula-fed babies: Tan to yellow-brown, a bit firmer, usually 1-4 times a day. Normal range: Color can vary from yellow to green.

Diaper care: Apply diaper cream at every change for prevention- a thick layer “like frosting a cake.”

💡Parent Pro Tips:

• If nursing, use a Haakaa to catch let-down milk.
• Test one bottle of a few brands before buying full sets.
• Keep burp cloths and bibs handy in each feeding spot.

✨ Sleep & Environment

‍How Much Do Newborns Sleep?‍

Newborns sleep 16 hours or more per day, usually in stretches of 2-4 hours. Many babies won’t sleep through the night (6-8 hours straight) until around 3 months or later. Every baby develops their own patterns, so don’t worry if yours is different.‍

Safe Sleep Basics

• Always place your baby on their back in a firm, flat sleep space.
• No pillows, blankets, bumpers, sheepskins, or stuffed animals in the crib or bassinet.
• Change your baby’s head position each night (right, left, then right again) to help prevent flat spots.

‍Room Environment

• Ideal temperature: 68–72°F (20–22°C).
• Check your baby’s warmth at the belly or back of the neck, not hands or feet.

Overnight Hacks

• Use white noise and keep interactions calm and brief.
• Keep a dim, touch-activated night light handy for feeds/changes.
• Zipper sleepers make changes faster.
• Overnight or one-size-up diapers can reduce middle-of-the-night wake-ups.

‍Day/Night Confusion

This is common in the early weeks. Help your baby learn the difference by:

• Keeping daytime bright and active with talking and play.
• Keeping nighttime dim and quiet with minimal interaction.

✨ Comfort & Soothing

Swaddling: Helps babies feel secure and reduces startle reflex.

• Keep the blanket snug around arms, loose around hips and legs.
• Stop swaddling when the baby shows signs of rolling (~2 months).
• Some babies prefer one or both arms out-experiment to see what works best.

Pacifiers: Some babies are picky-try different types.

Babywearing: Use carriers or slings safely following the T.I.C.K.S. rule (Tight, In view, Close enough to kiss, Keep chin off chest, Supported back).

Soothing toolkit: White noise, motion (rocking/walking), gentle shushing, skin-to-skin contact.

• Steps for skin-to-skin contact:
  
  • Avoid perfumes, lotions, and cigarette smoke beforehand.
  • Sit comfortably in a quiet or dimly lit room.
  • Place your baby in just a diaper on your bare chest.
  • Talk softly, hum, sing, or read aloud—your baby may sleep during this time.‍‍

‍✨ Health & Safety

Call your provider immediately for: Fever ≥100.4°F (38°C) in babies under 3 months, breathing difficulty, blue lips/skin, poor feeding, unusual sleepiness, persistent vomiting (especially green/bloody), jaundice that worsens. 

Vaccines & visitors: Limit guests until ~2 months (after first vaccines). Ask visitors to stay home if sick. 

Caregivers: Keep vaccines (Tdap, flu, RSV if eligible) up to date. 

Hand hygiene: Wash hands before handling the baby. 

Bath safety: Never leave the baby unattended in water. 

Car seat: Always rear-facing in the back seat, properly installed. 

Smoke & vaping: Keep baby away from secondhand smoke and vaping exposure.

✨ Umbilical Cord Care

• The cord stump usually falls off by 1–2 weeks of age.
• Keep the area clean and dry - stick to sponge baths until it falls off.
• It’s normal to see a few drops of blood when the stump separates.
• Call your provider if:
  
  • The skin around the cord looks red or swollen
  • There is foul-smelling discharge or pus
  • Bleeding is more than a few drops‍

💡Parent Pro Tip: Fold the diaper down below the cord to keep it dry and prevent rubbing.

✨ Circumcision Care (if applicable)

• Healing usually takes 7–10 days.
• Apply petroleum jelly (Vaseline®) to the diaper or penis tip to keep it from sticking.
• Expect the area to look red or slightly yellow as it heals.
• Call your provider if:
  
  • There is heavy bleeding (more than a few drops)
  • The penis looks very swollen or red
  • Your baby has not urinated within 6–8 hours after the procedure
    

💡Parent Pro Tip: Loose-fitting diapers and gentle handling make healing easier for baby.

‍✨ Newborn Normals

• Newborns are noisy-grunts, snorts, wiggles are often normal..
• Irregular breathing patterns (pauses up to 10 sec) can be normal.
• Mild nasal congestion is typical-use saline drops if needed (avoid frequent suctioning).
• Crying often peaks around 5–6 weeks- this is normal and improves with time.
• Dry, flaky skin, baby acne, or peeling are common and usually resolve on their own.

‍✨ Support & Routines

Begin routines early: Consistency in feeding, diapering, and sleep helps your baby feel secure and creates comforting patterns.

Share the load: Team up with your partner or family-sharing care keeps your energy up and builds connection.

Ask for help: Reach out to your pediatrician, lactation consultant, or parent support groups whenever you need support.

Narrate the routine: Talk through everyday steps (diaper changes, dressing, feeding). It soothes your baby and supports early language skills.

Water and snacks: Keep them within reach at feeding stations-your nutrition fuels your care.

Postpartum check-ins: Schedule and attend visits for both you and your baby-your health matters too.

Tummy time: Begin once the cord stump falls off (1–2 minutes, 2–3 times daily, supervised).

Changing stations: Keep stocked in multiple rooms (pads, diapers, wipes, cream, extra onesies) to reduce stress.

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🌟 Remember: You are learning together. Every baby is unique, and it’s normal to have questions. The Poppins team is here to support you every step of the way. 🌟

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