The First Weeks with a Newborn
An overview of feeding, sleep and crying in the first weeks.
Ask Cradle about thisTLDRThe short version, if you only have a minute
- Newborns feed often (8-12 times a day if breastfed) and diapers are the best sign they're getting enough.
- They sleep 14-17 hours a day in short stretches; follow safe sleep every time. Crying often peaks at 6-8 weeks.
- Under 3 months, a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher means call right away. Baby blues past 2 weeks need a doctor.
Feeding
- Newborns typically feed often - roughly every 2-3 hours for breastfed babies (8-12 times in 24 hours), a bit less often for formula-fed babies. Feeding on cue is the usual advice.
- Wet and dirty diapers are one of the best signs a newborn is getting enough; the pediatrician will check weight at early visits.
Sleep
- Newborns sleep a lot (often 14-17 hours a day) in short stretches, day and night. Long stretches come later and on very different timelines for different babies.
- Safe sleep matters every time - see the safe-sleep card.
Crying
- Crying often peaks around 6-8 weeks. Check the basics (hunger, diaper, temperature, burping), then try holding, rocking, white noise, a walk.
- If you feel you might lose control, put the baby down safely in the crib and step away for a few minutes. Never shake a baby.
When to check in
Call the pediatrician right away if: - A baby under 3 months has a rectal temperature of 100.4 °F (38 °C) or higher. - There's trouble breathing, bluish lips, or unusual floppiness or unresponsiveness (call 911). - There are fewer wet diapers than expected, poor feeding, or yellow skin that is spreading or worsening.
Caring for the parent
Baby blues (tearfulness, mood swings) in the first two weeks are common. Symptoms that last longer or are severe - hopelessness, anxiety, not being able to sleep even when the baby does, thoughts of harm - are postpartum depression or anxiety, which is common and treatable. Tell a doctor or midwife, and see the warning-signs card for hotlines.
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Grounded in: the What to Expect series (*What to Expect the First Year*) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidance, with the respectful-care lens of Janet Lansbury. General information; the pediatrician knows the actual baby.
General information, not medical advice. If something feels wrong, trust that and call your pediatrician or provider. See Sources.
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