Bringing your newborn baby home for the first time can bring up a lot of emotions. You may feel excited to bring them home but anxious about having to do everything on your own.
Christopher Wakid, MD, a pediatrician at OSF HealthCare, shared tips on your baby’s first few days of life.
What does a newborn need?
Every newborn is different, but understanding their basic needs can help you feel more prepared to care for your baby.
“Newborns don’t follow a predictable schedule,” Dr. Wakid said. “Every baby is different, and what’s normal for one newborn may not be normal for another. Your baby’s eating, sleeping and bowel habits can change from day to day.”
Newborns need a few consistent things to stay healthy and comfortable: sleep, breast milk or formula, hygiene and play.
Sleep
The most important thing when it comes to your baby’s sleep is keeping them safe. Your baby should sleep in a bed of their own, not in a car seat or swing and not in bed with you. Their bed should be completely empty except for a crib sheet.
“Keep your baby’s room quiet, dark and temperature controlled. Their room should be around 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit,” Dr. Wakid said.
Babies usually sleep around 16 hours a day.
It will take time for your baby to establish a regular sleeping routine. For the first three or four months, it’s normal for babies to get their days and nights mixed up. This can mean some babies sleep all day and are awake a lot through the night.
Many new parents find lack of sleep to be one of the hardest parts of caring for a newborn. While this uncertain schedule can be exhausting, frequent waking is normal during the first few months and is an important part of making sure your baby gets the nourishment they need.
For at least the first four months of life, babies need to wake up at least once during the night to eat. As your baby grows, their sleep patterns will gradually change, and they will begin sleeping for longer stretches at night.
If you think your baby isn’t sleeping as well as they should, your child’s pediatrician can help you find strategies that may help your baby sleep through the night.
How to Swaddle a Baby
“Swaddling is not a requirement, but many babies find it soothing,” Dr. Wakid said.
Babies don’t have control of their arms and legs. So, sometimes they stay awake or get fussy just because their arms are moving when they don’t want them to.
Here’s how to swaddle a newborn:
- Lay a square swaddling blanket out flat and angled in a diamond shape. Fold down the top point.
- Lay baby in the blanket with their head on the folded part and their feet at the opposite point.
- Fold one side of the blanket in over their belly and tuck underneath their back.
- Fold the other side of the blanket over the top of the tucked side and underneath their back.
- Fold up the bottom point over their legs and tuck into the folds of the swaddle.
Be careful not to swaddle your baby too tightly. If it seems like they don’t like being swaddled, don’t force them to stay swaddled.
Questions about your newborn?
Babies who can roll over should not be swaddled as they need access to their arms to sleep safely.
Eating
One of the first things you’ll learn after your baby arrives is that feeding looks a little different for every family. Whether you choose to feed your baby breast milk, formula or a combination, the goal is the same: making sure your baby is growing and well nourished.
A lactation specialist can provide guidance on which method may work best for you and your baby.
It can also be helpful to learn how much and how often to feed your baby so you can feel confident, no matter which feeding journey you choose.
How to Burp a Newborn
“Babies don’t always burp,” Dr. Wakid said.
If you think your baby needs to burp or you want to keep cuddling with your baby after they’ve eaten, Dr. Garcia shared a few ways you can burp a newborn.
“The one that I’ve found is most effective is to rest your baby’s head on your shoulder and gently rub or pat their back,” Dr. Wakid said. “You can also try laying baby across your lap on their tummy and gently rubbing or patting their back.”
Sometimes babies spit up, and that’s normal.
“Keeping your baby upright after feeding encourages any of that gas to get out of their tummy,” Dr. Wakid said.
Hygiene
Bathing
Bathing your baby two or three times a week helps to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs), diaper rash and cradle cap.
For the first six weeks, you can give your baby sponge baths. After their umbilical stump falls off, you can start using a plastic infant tub.
Diapering
Keeping your baby’s diaper area clean and dry can help keep their skin comfortable. You can use baby wipes or a damp cloth to gently clean their diaper area during every diaper change.
You don’t want your baby to sit in a dirty or wet diaper for very long. Frequent diaper changes can help prevent moisture and irritation, although diaper rash is common and can happen even with regular care.
“We recommend some air drying every day. Clean everything in their diaper area and let your baby air dry for a few minutes before putting a clean diaper on,” Dr. Wakid said.
Try not to over-wipe your baby. Baby wipes often contain alcohol, which can dry out your baby’s skin.
“Wipe them from front to back, especially for girl babies, to prevent UTIs,” Dr. Wakid said.
Umbilical Cord Care
Your baby will have a small stump where their umbilical cord was cut and tied. It’s best to let the stump dry and fall off on its own, which usually happens within the first few weeks. In the meantime, you can keep your baby’s diaper folded down below the stump so it doesn’t rub against it.
There’s no need to pick at or pull on the stump. If it gets dirty, gently clean it with a washcloth and room-temperature water, then let it air dry.
Circumcision Care
If your newborn was circumcised, the area may be a little swollen or tender as it heals. Keep it clean and give it time to heal, following the care instructions you received from your baby’s provider.
You may need to apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to the area to keep it from sticking to their diaper. Change your baby’s diaper regularly and gently clean the area with warm water during diaper changes. There’s no need to scrub the area or use soaps, wipes or other products unless your baby’s provider recommends them.
A yellowish coating or small amount of redness around the tip of the penis can be part of normal healing. If you notice significant swelling, drainage, worsening redness, bleeding that doesn’t stop or problems with your baby’s urination, contact your baby’s provider.
Playing
For babies, play time is hard work. They gain muscle strength, coordination, problem-solving skills, social skills and many other important functions by playing.
You can spend time looking into your baby’s eyes, talking and singing to them, smiling, making faces and reading together. You don’t need to plan anything special; your baby will learn so much simply by listening to your voice and watching you.
If you don’t know what to say to your baby, try narrating everything that you’re doing as you’re doing it. Even though babies can’t talk, they pick up language and communication by listening to the people around them.
When to Start Tummy Time
You can begin tummy time as soon as you are home from the hospital with your newborn, as long as your baby is awake and you’re watching them closely. In the first few weeks, tummy time can be as simple as laying your baby on your chest or across your lap.
“Tummy time is the best gym,” Dr. Wakid said.
When your baby is one month old, you can lay them tummy down on a blanket on the floor. Start with short sessions, about three minutes at a time. When they start gaining strength, tummy time can last longer.
How to Keep Your Newborn Safe
Keeping your newborn safe is mostly about a few simple habits that become part of your everyday routine.
Car Seat Safety
Your baby should always ride in a rear-facing car seat that’s appropriate for their size and age. Before your baby’s first ride home, take some time to read the car seat instructions for your particular model and make sure the seat is installed correctly.
Keep your baby’s car seat in the back seat of your vehicle and use the harness each time you travel. The harness should fit snugly, with the chest clip positioned at armpit level.
Bath Safety
Your baby’s bath water should be slightly warmer than body temperature, not hot. You can turn down your water heater to no more than 120°F to avoid burns.
Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water, so keep the bath water shallow. Most importantly, never leave your baby unattended in the bath, even for a moment.
Preventing Falls and Injuries
As your baby becomes more active, you’ll gradually learn to anticipate their movements. For now, keep one hand on your baby whenever they’re on a changing table, bed or other elevated surface.
Never leave your baby unattended on a couch, bed or other place where they could roll or fall. Keeping everyday supplies within reach can make diaper changes and other routines easier and safer.
How to Care for Your Newborn’s Health
As you get to know your newborn, you’ll start to recognize their usual patterns and notice when something seems different.
Checking Your Newborn’s Temperature
It’s normal to have questions about whether your baby is too warm or too cold, especially when you’re still getting to know them. Babies can’t tell you when they’re uncomfortable, and don’t need to be bundled up as much as you might think.
A good rule of thumb is to dress your baby in about one more layer than you’re comfortable wearing.
If you’re concerned that your baby may be too warm or too cold, check their chest or back rather than their hands and feet, which can often feel cool even when your baby is comfortable.
If you need to check your newborn’s temperature, use a thermometer rather than relying on how warm their skin feels. If your newborn has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, call your baby’s pediatrician right away.
How to Soothe a Crying Baby
Crying is one of the main ways your newborn communicates, and it can take some time to figure out what your baby is trying to tell you. Your baby may be hungry, tired, uncomfortable or simply need to be held and comforted. Sometimes, though, you may not be able to find an obvious reason, and that’s OK.
“Babies cry for many reasons, and sometimes we may not be able to know the reason,” Dr. Wakid said.
As you get to know your baby’s routines and cues, it may become easier to figure out what they need when they cry. You can try simple soothing techniques such as holding your baby, gently rocking them, talking or singing to them or offering a feeding if they seem hungry.
Some babies cry more than others. If your baby seems especially difficult to soothe or is crying for long periods, talk with your pediatrician. They can help you understand what may be contributing to the crying and make sure your baby is doing well.
If you ever feel overwhelmed by your baby’s crying, it’s OK to put your baby safely in their crib and take a few minutes to regroup. Ask someone you trust to help if you need a break.
Last Updated: October 14, 2026