Your baby arrives with built-in programs. Touch a cheek and the head turns toward your finger, then the mouth starts to suck: that is the rooting reflex, and it is how a days-old baby finds food. A loud sound or a sudden movement can set off the Moro reflex, where the arms fly out and pull back in with a brief cry. [1]
Hearing is mature at birth, and your baby already prefers the human voice over other sounds. Vision is blurrier: a newborn sees best within about 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 centimeters), which is roughly the distance from your arms to your face during a feed. [1]
Some things that look alarming are standard newborn equipment. Periodic breathing, where breathing pauses and then starts again, is normal at this age. [1]
Crying is not a verdict on your parenting. It is your baby's main way of communicating needs, and responding to it builds trust rather than bad habits. [9] When the crying keeps going after a feed and a clean diaper, the NHS suggests things like holding your baby close, gentle rocking, or a warm bath. One rule has no exceptions: never shake your baby, no matter how exhausted you are. Shaking moves the head violently and can cause brain damage. If you feel yourself reaching a limit, put the baby down somewhere safe and take a few minutes. [10]
One small housekeeping job this month: the umbilical cord stump. It should dry out and fall off by the time your baby is 5 to 15 days old. Keep it clean with gauze and water only, and give sponge baths until it falls off on its own. Do not pull it, even when it hangs by a thread. [11]
Newborns sleep about 16 to 17 hours per day, but often only 1 or 2 hours at a time. Babies do not develop regular sleep cycles until about 4 months of age. So the fragmented nights of weeks 1 to 4 are not a schedule problem to solve. They are the biology of this month, and they change on their own. [2]
Where your baby sleeps matters more right now than how long. The safe setup fits in three letters, ABC: your baby sleeps Alone in their own sleep space, on their Back, in a Crib or bassinet. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the back position for every sleep, nap or night, because babies who sleep on their backs are much less likely to die suddenly and unexpectedly than babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides. [3]
The surface should be firm and flat, with no incline. Worried that a baby on their back might choke? The airway anatomy and the gag reflex prevent that. [3]
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Open the week calculatorBreast milk, formula, or a mix: the mechanics below apply either way, and the right choice is the one that keeps your baby fed and your family functioning. Watch your baby instead of the clock. Early hunger cues include bringing hands to the mouth and puckering or smacking the lips. Rooting the head toward the breast or bottle is another. A baby who turns away or relaxes the hands is telling you the meal is over. [4]
A breastfed newborn eats about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, and may want to eat as often as every 1 to 3 hours. Some babies feed every hour for a while, which is called cluster feeding, and it is common rather than a supply alarm. In the first weeks you may need to wake a sleepy baby to feed. [5]
A formula-fed newborn takes only about 1 to 2 ounces (30 to 60 ml) per feed in the first days, then gradually more, and typically settles into feeds about every 3 to 4 hours. Tiny stomach, small portions, frequent refills. [6]
One supplement question comes up this month: babies younger than 12 months need 400 IU of vitamin D each day, and the CDC notes that breastfed and partially breastfed babies get it as a daily drop. Ask your pediatrician which product to use. [7]
Now, the scale. It is normal for babies to lose some weight in the first few days after birth. Your baby will be weighed during the first 2 weeks to make sure the weight is coming back, and most babies are at or above their birthweight by 3 weeks. [8]
Most of what newborns do, including grunting and marathon evening crying, is normal. A short list of signs is not, and at this age you call early rather than wait.
A temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher in a baby younger than 3 months: call your doctor right away, at any hour. This is an emergency at this age, not something to watch overnight. [13]
A baby who looks very ill, is unusually drowsy and hard to wake, or has breathing difficulty: call your doctor right away. If your baby is struggling to breathe or you cannot wake them, call 911. [13]
Jaundice that is getting worse: the skin turns more yellow, or the yellow color reaches the abdomen or the legs. Jaundice starts at the face and spreads downward as bilirubin rises, so yellow legs mean call today. [12]
Signs of dehydration: fewer than six wet diapers per day, or no tears when crying. A sunken soft spot on the head is another sign. [14]
Redness or swelling of the skin around the cord stump, or fluid draining from it: call your doctor. Tenderness of that skin counts too. Stump infections are rare but can spread quickly. [11]
A baby who has not returned to birthweight by 3 weeks: ask for a weight check and feeding support rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit. [8]
Leelalu is education, not medical care. Nothing here is a diagnosis. For anything on this list, or any symptom that worries you, contact your provider. If it feels like an emergency, call 911.
The fog lifts sooner than it feels like it will. By 2 months, the CDC milestone checklist expects a baby who smiles when you talk to them, calms down when spoken to or picked up, makes sounds other than crying, and holds the head up during tummy time. That first social smile tends to arrive right around the time the sleep deprivation peaks, which is either cruel or perfect timing. [15]
The 2-month mark also brings a checkup, so jot down questions as they come up at night. Bring the diaper counts and feeding notes if you have them. Your observations are data your pediatrician can actually use.
Newborns sleep about 16 to 17 hours per day, but often only 1 or 2 hours at a time. Regular sleep cycles do not develop until about 4 months of age, so a fragmented pattern in weeks 1 to 4 is expected, not a problem to fix. [2]
A breastfed newborn eats about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, sometimes as often as every hour during cluster feeds. A formula-fed newborn takes about 1 to 2 ounces per feed in the first days and settles into feeds about every 3 to 4 hours. Watch your baby's cues rather than the clock. [5] [6]
Yes. It is normal for babies to lose some weight in the first few days after birth. Your baby will be weighed during the first 2 weeks to check the trend, and most babies are at or above their birthweight by 3 weeks. [8]
LEELALU is education, not medicine. This page cannot diagnose or treat anything, and it never replaces your clinician. For anything on the "call your doctor" list, or anything that worries you, contact your provider. Found an error? Write to hello@leelalu.com and a person will read it. Our method: Editorial Standards.