What Every First Time Parent Should Know
New parents are bombarded with information about their little bundle of joy. Our goal is to be a trusted partner to parents everywhere, and first time parents are no exception. Here are a few things we think every new parent should know.
Always remember, Back to Sleep
Babies should sleep on their backs.
Place baby’s head in alternating directions in the crib every night.
Tummy to Play
Start Tummy Time as soon as baby comes home from the hospital.
The best moves to begin with are tummy-to-tummy or tummy-to-chest. Watch for examples of Tummy Time positions here.
You can also use this time as an opportunity for skin-to-skin contact.
Check out our Tummy Time abilities to make sure baby is on the right track.
Baby Massage
Baby massage is a great way to bond with your newborn
Can help baby’s senses develop
Can boost new parent confidence
Learn more about Massage+ 30, 10, 5, an intervention based on 40+ years of research
Ask the Experts
Nurses can provide great tips on how to do the basics
Doctors help with more specialized questions specific to your child
Lactation consultants are on hand at many hospitals to help with feeding
There are no bad questions—so ask away!
Reach Out
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Don’t hesitate to ask your pediatrician questions
Reach out to family and friends that you trust
There will be hard days, so build your support network from the start
Feeding Baby
Your baby will be hungry!
Newborns will nurse or take the bottle every 2-3 hours on average
Formula-fed newborns lose about 5% of their body weight and breastfed newborns lose about 7-10% of their body weight during the first few days.
Most babies should be back to their birth weight by their two week well-baby visit.
Pay attention to your baby’s feeding habits.
Learn more about feeding milestones.
Communicate with Baby
Crying may mean they are upset, tired or hungry
You’ll be able to identify these various types of cries over time and how to comfort them
Talk to your baby throughout the day to help baby feel safe and promote bonding
Learn more about how they communicate.
