{"id":104369,"date":"2021-06-16T16:09:27","date_gmt":"2021-06-16T20:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.oviahealth.com\/?post_type=article&p=104369"},"modified":"2025-01-08T13:06:43","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T18:06:43","slug":"baby-care-in-the-first-week-the-not-so-basics","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/104369\/baby-care-in-the-first-week-the-not-so-basics\/","title":{"rendered":"Baby care in the first week: the (not so) basics"},"content":{"rendered":"

During your first week home with Baby<\/span>, you may feel like you\u2019ve entered a brave new world, and indeed you have. Suddenly, your days will revolve around this adorable and new tiny creature that – surprise! – you are responsible for caring for. So, just what will this care involve?<\/p>\n

The good news is that baby care at this stage comes down to basic needs and small joys – feeding, diaper changes, cleaning, soothing, and helping your little one get to sleep.<\/p>\n

So, just what should you know about the basics of newborn baby care before the big day?<\/p>\n

Feeding<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

In the first week, it may seem like Baby<\/span>\u00a0is behaving like they’re<\/span> at an all-you-can-eat buffet, as they\u2019ll<\/span> likely be feeding every one to three hours or about an average of 8 times in 24 hours. K<\/span>eep in mind that babies who are nursing may eat more frequently because breastmilk is digested quickly, which may also mean more frequent poops! And formula fed babies may eventually go a little longer between feedings because formula moves through the digestive tract a bit more slowly. Some healthcare providers will recommend that if Baby<\/span> sleeps for stretches beyond 3-4 hours, you wake them up to feed. If this happens to be what Baby<\/span> does, check with their healthcare provider to see what they recommend, which may depend greatly on how they feed overall and gain\u00a0weight.<\/p>\n

And as you adjust to Baby<\/span>\u2019s feeding needs, it can be helpful to keep an eye (and ear) out for early signs of hunger – things like restlessness, stirring, sucking motions, lip movements, bringing their<\/span> hands to their<\/span> mouth, or, if Baby<\/span>\u2019s neck is strong enough, rooting around or bobbing their<\/span> head.<\/p>\n

Soon enough, you may even recognize exactly the sort of cry your little one makes when hungry! This can help you start to feed Baby<\/span> before they get<\/span> so hungry that they\u2019re frantic, making it harder for them<\/span> to latch well<\/span><\/a> or settle down to\u00a0eat enough to feel <\/span>satisfied<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Whether nursing, <\/span><\/a>bottle-feeding<\/span><\/a>, or a combo<\/span><\/a> you’ll want to hold Baby<\/span>\u00a0comfortably as they eat<\/span>, adjusting your position during the feeding\u00a0if\u00a0necessary. And after Baby is done, think about the burp<\/a>! You may even want to burp them when they take a little break between breasts if nursing<\/span> or when halfway through a bottle. On the other hand, some babies are upset by the jiggling and repositioning of burping. <\/span>Every baby is different, and you\u2019ll soon learn what works best for your little one.<\/p>\n

Diaper changes<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Since your little one will eat so often, and their<\/span> stomach will be so tiny, prepare yourself for many diaper changes. When it\u2019s that time, use gentle wipes to clean Baby<\/span>\u2019s diaper area, always wipe from front to back, and use a barrier cream if needed. N<\/span>ot only will it help soothe Baby<\/span>\u2019s skin, but it will also help make poop cleanup that much easier because the ointment can help to keep poop from sticking to the skin. All of this can help stave off diaper rash<\/span><\/a>. These are sensitive parts, so treat them with care.<\/p>\n

When Baby<\/span> is brand new, a good guideline for how often they should<\/span> be peeing and pooping is one that corresponds to their<\/span> age. In the first few days, they should<\/span> have one wet diaper for each day they<\/span> are<\/span> old\u00a0\u2014\u00a0meaning one wet diaper on day one, two wet diapers on day two, three wet diapers on day three and so on.<\/p>\n

At around day 5-6, expectations level off. <\/span>You can expect a minimum of 6 heavy <\/span>wet diapers every 24 hours. The pee should appear pale yellow on the diaper. Fewer wet diapers than expected, or urine that is rusty or orange colored, can be a sign of dehydration, so it\u2019s important to get support if you notice numbers below your targets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The similar schedule exists for poop. Expect one dirty diaper for each day of Baby<\/span>\u2019s life, up until day 5 or 6. At this point, a minimum of two poops in 24 hours, <\/span>although some <\/span>newborns might poop more often\u00a0\u2014\u00a0some even poop every time they nurse!<\/p>\n

And beyond number, there\u2019s a whole lot more to keep an eye on when it comes to newborn poop<\/span><\/a>. You\u2019ll notice in the first few days that your little one\u2019s poop will be a dark, sticky, tar-like substance. This is because Baby<\/span> will still be passing the meconium that coated their<\/span> intestines in utero. Soon this will make way for a whole new variety of poo. And breastmilk and formula not only make a difference in poop frequency but also poop consistency.<\/p>\n

After the meconium is cleared out, <\/span>breastfed babies will have poop that is fairly loose and soft, with a curdled or seedy quality from the milk solids, and which can range in color from bright yellow to somewhat greenish. It generally has a mild odor, some people describe it as yogurt-like. <\/span>Formula fed babies may have poop that is thicker and more solid in texture, and it may range from yellow to brown in color. The odor is much more noticeable in most cases!<\/span><\/p>\n

If Baby<\/span> isn’t peeing or pooping as frequently, or if their<\/span> poop is red, white, gray or black (after the meconium passes), then you should be in touch with their healthcare provider. This could mean they are not<\/span>\u00a0eating as much as they should<\/span> be or indicate signs of infection, jaundice, or bleeding.<\/p>\n

Body care<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

When it comes to caring for Baby<\/span>\u2019s body beyond diaper changes, there are a few things to focus on:<\/p>\n