Newborn Care

Caring for a newborn can feel surprisingly unfamiliar, even when you have spent months preparing for your baby. Feeding, nappies, sleep, crying, bathing and simply working out what your baby needs can fill most of the day.

The basics of newborn care are simpler than they sometimes appear. Your baby needs regular feeding, clean nappies, warmth without overheating, a safer place to sleep, gentle hygiene, comfort and attention to signs that they may be unwell. You do not need to establish a perfect routine straight away.

In the early days, getting to know your baby is enough. Some things will become familiar quickly. Others may take time, and your midwife, health visitor and GP are there for the questions that cannot be answered by instinct alone.

Feeding your newborn

Feeding can take up a large part of life with a newborn, and it is common for parents to have questions about whether their baby is feeding enough or feeding normally.

How feeding looks will depend partly on whether your baby is breastfed, formula fed or combination fed. Rather than relying on a rigid schedule from social media or another family’s experience, follow the feeding advice you have been given by your maternity team and pay attention to your own baby’s feeding cues and wellbeing.

If you are breastfeeding and are finding it painful, difficult or worrying, ask for support. A midwife or health visitor can observe a feed and help you access further breastfeeding support if needed.

If you are bottle feeding, follow NHS guidance for preparing feeds safely and the manufacturer’s instructions for the formula you use. Feeding equipment needs to be cleaned and sterilised appropriately.

Whatever feeding method you use, speak to a healthcare professional if your baby is not feeding normally, you are worried about how much they are taking, or feeding has become difficult.

There is no prize for struggling quietly. Feeding support is a normal part of newborn care.

Changing your baby’s nappy

Nappy changes quickly become one of the most familiar parts of caring for a newborn.

NHS guidance recommends changing a newborn’s nappy whenever they have done a wee or poo. Keeping the area clean and changing wet or soiled nappies helps protect the skin from nappy rash.

Have everything you need within reach before you start, particularly if you are using a raised changing surface. A basic changing setup might include:

clean nappies
cotton wool or suitable wipes
a changing mat or towel
spare clothes
barrier cream if needed
somewhere appropriate to dispose of the dirty nappy

If you use a changing table, stay with your baby at all times. A changing mat on the floor is another simple option.

You will also gradually become familiar with what is normal in your baby’s nappies. If you notice a significant change and are concerned, particularly alongside changes in feeding or behaviour, ask your midwife, health visitor or GP for advice.

Washing and bathing your newborn

Newborns do not need a bath every day.

The NHS suggests that you can wash your baby’s face, neck, hands and bottom instead, sometimes called topping and tailing. This can be particularly useful in the early days when a full bath feels like more than either of you needs.

Before washing or bathing your baby, gather everything first. Babies should never be left alone in a bath, even briefly.

The NHS recommends making sure the room is warm and checking that bath water is warm rather than hot. Support your baby’s head and shoulders securely and keep their head clear of the water.

Your baby’s umbilical cord does not require complicated cleaning. NHS guidance says you only need to wash around it if it becomes dirty with urine or poo, using fresh cotton wool and warm water, then gently patting the area dry.

Newborn skin can be delicate. You do not need to create an elaborate skincare routine unless you have been advised otherwise.

Safer sleep for a newborn

Newborn sleep can be unpredictable. Some babies sleep for longer stretches while others wake frequently, and sleep patterns can change as they grow.

The important part is making every sleep as safe as possible rather than expecting your newborn to follow a particular routine.

NHS safer sleep guidance says that the safest place for a baby to sleep during the first six months is in a cot or Moses basket, lying on their back, in the same room as you.

The mattress should be firm, flat and waterproof. Keep the sleep space clear of toys and anything that could cover your baby’s mouth or nose or cause overheating. The NHS advises against pillows, cot bumpers and loose bedding.

If your baby falls asleep while being cuddled or fed, remember that it is safest to put them back into their own sleep space before you go to sleep.

Exhaustion can make safer sleep decisions harder. If you are finding nights particularly difficult, ask a partner, family member or trusted friend for practical help where possible, and read current NHS safer sleep guidance rather than relying on tips shared online.

Crying and soothing your baby

Crying is one of the ways your newborn communicates.

They may be hungry, tired, uncomfortable, too warm or cold, in need of a nappy change, or simply wanting to be held. Sometimes the reason is obvious. Sometimes it is not.

You may gradually start recognising patterns in your baby’s cries and behaviour, but there will still be times when you cannot work out exactly what they need.

Try the simple possibilities first. Check their nappy, consider whether they may be hungry, make sure they are comfortably dressed and offer closeness and reassurance.

If your baby’s crying is constant, sounds different from their usual cry, or comes with other signs that concern you, seek medical advice.

It is also important to recognise when you are becoming overwhelmed. If your baby is safe and you have someone who can take over for a while, accepting help can give you a chance to reset.

Never shake a baby.

Dressing your newborn comfortably

Newborn babies need help staying at a comfortable temperature, but more clothing is not always better.

The NHS advises taking care that babies do not become too hot or too cold. What your baby needs to wear will depend on the temperature and environment, so use current NHS guidance rather than a fixed clothing rule for every situation.

For everyday life, soft clothes that are easy to remove can make frequent nappy changes simpler. Sleepsuits and bodysuits are popular for exactly that reason.

You may also find that you change your baby’s clothes more often than expected because of milk, dribbles and nappy leaks. Keeping a spare outfit in your changing bag can save the day when you are away from home.

Caring for the umbilical cord

After birth, a small part of the umbilical cord remains attached to your baby’s tummy before eventually separating.

You do not need to repeatedly clean it if it is not dirty. NHS bathing guidance advises washing around the cord with fresh cotton wool and warm water if it becomes dirty with urine or poo, then gently patting it dry.

Follow any additional advice given by your midwife.

If you are concerned about the appearance of the cord or the surrounding skin, particularly if your baby also seems unwell, contact a healthcare professional rather than trying home treatments.

Getting to know what is normal for your baby

One of the most useful parts of newborn care is simply becoming familiar with your own baby.

You will gradually notice how they normally feed, sleep, cry, wake and respond to you. That knowledge matters because changes can sometimes be easier to recognise when you know your baby’s usual behaviour.

Try not to compare every detail with another newborn.

NHS guidance notes that babies vary in how much they sleep, for example. The same principle applies to many aspects of early life. Advice from another parent can be comforting, but their baby’s pattern does not automatically tell you what yours should be doing.

If something worries you, you do not have to wait until you are certain that something is wrong before asking for professional advice.

Looking after yourself while caring for a newborn

Newborn care is not only about the baby.

Broken sleep, feeding, physical recovery after birth and the constant responsibility of caring for another person can be exhausting. Basic things such as eating, drinking enough, showering and resting can suddenly require planning.

Keep expectations realistic.

If somebody offers useful help, give them something practical to do. They could bring a meal, wash dishes, pick up groceries, hold the baby while you shower or take care of an older child.

If you have a partner, share what can be shared. The exact arrangement will depend on feeding, work and your individual circumstances, but caring for the household should not quietly become the responsibility of the person who has just given birth.

You also do not need to keep your home visitor-ready.

A newborn does not care about laundry waiting to be folded. Your wellbeing matters more.

When to get professional advice

Newborn babies can become unwell, and it is not always easy to judge how serious something is. The NHS advises parents to trust their instincts if their baby’s appearance or behaviour is worrying.

Seek medical advice if your baby is not feeding normally and you are worried, has nappies that are noticeably drier than usual, is unusually difficult to wake, has breathing difficulties, has a very high or low temperature, has a cry that is different from normal or cannot be consoled, or shows another change that concerns you.

The NHS provides specific guidance about which symptoms require urgent assessment and when to call 999. Because the appropriate response depends on your baby’s symptoms and age, use current NHS guidance or speak directly to a healthcare professional rather than trying to diagnose the problem yourself.

During normal working hours, you can contact your GP surgery. NHS 111 can advise when you need urgent medical help, and 999 should be used for a life-threatening emergency.

Your midwife and health visitor are also valuable sources of support for everyday newborn care, feeding and questions about what you are seeing at home.

You do not need to wait until a concern feels serious enough to justify asking. If something about your newborn is worrying you, getting professional advice is appropriate.