Welcoming your newborn baby also brings many questions and a heightened sense of responsibility. However, taking care of essentials such as a feeding routine, safe sleep, hygiene, and monitoring growth helps lay the foundation for a healthy start. Let's understand that.
Newborn assessment is important for evaluating a baby’s physical, neurological, and developmental health.
A baby’s birth weight is an important indicator of their overall health. Some babies may have a low birth weight but proper care can help their healthy growth and development.
| Classification | Weight |
|---|---|
| Normal birth weight | 2.5–4.0 kg (5.5–8.8 lbs) |
| Low birth weight baby (LBW) | Less than 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) |
| Very low birth weight (VLBW) | Less than 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) |
| Extremely low birth weight | Less than 1.0 kg (2.2 lbs) |
Apgar is a quick evaluation of a newborn right after birth to determine their health and need for immediate care. Let's understand it in detail.
What is it?
Apgar stands for the five criteria for newborn assessment: Appearance (skin colour), Pulse (heart rate), Grimace (reflexes), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiration (breathing effort). The score, ranging from 0 to 10, is represented on an Apgar score chart.
Apgar score
Key aspects of a newborn's physical assessment include checking their temperature and bilirubin levels and examining the fontanelles.
It evaluates the baby's brain and nervous system health through reflexes like sucking and grasping. Muscle tone, head control, and responsiveness to stimuli are also observed.
It may occur due to high bilirubin levels caused by an immature liver, infections, or blood type incompatibilities. Treatment often involves phototherapy and frequent feeding.
Proper feeding does more than just support growth and development in babies. It also helps the baby bond with parents, especially the mother. Let's have a look.
Newborn feeding schedule
Newborns feed every 2-3 hours which is about 8-12 times daily. You can also feed on demand by watching for hunger cues like rooting or sucking. The goal is consistent weight gain.
Baby’s routine
Try building a daily schedule for your baby's feeding, napping, and bath times.
Newborn care
Give your baby a warm bath to help relax their bowels.
Vaccine shots
Try distracting your baby with a toy, song or breastfeeding during their vaccine shot.
Portion size
When your baby starts eating, feed small portions and encourage them to chew their food.
Develop immunity
Discuss routine care & immunisations with your pediatrician to build your baby’s immunity
Feeding your baby can sometimes come with challenges, but understanding the underlying problem can help you out. Baby feeding problems may include:
The best position to feed a newborn is one where both you and your baby are comfortable. Common feeding positions for a newborn baby include:
Sleep is a fundamental part of your baby’s life as it supports their growth and development. Make sure you provide them with a safe and comfortable sleep environment.
Sleep is a fundamental part of your baby’s life. It is vital to their growth and development. You may find their newborn sleep patterns to be highly unpredictable initially. Make sure you provide them with a safe and comfortable sleep environment to promote healthy sleep. Remember, every baby is unique, and it takes time to settle into a routine.
Newborns take time to adjust to life outside the womb. Here’s what you need to know about their newborn sleep cycle and habits:
Understanding your newborn's sleep hours and habits can help you get some much-needed sleep as well.
If your baby isn’t sleeping as much as expected, it may be due to hunger, a wet diaper, or even overstimulation from the day. Don't worry, it'll stabilise over time.
Your baby’s first few weeks will be filled with exciting accomplishments. Tracking these milestones helps you celebrate their growth and understand their needs.
Some of the important milestones in the newborn stage include:
Postnatal care is essential for your recovery and your baby’s health. It includes monitoring physical and emotional health, establishing a feeding routine, and promoting bonding.
A balanced postnatal diet is crucial for your recovery, milk production and replenishing nutrients lost during childbirth. A good postnatal diet should include iron-rich foods, calcium, proteins, and healthy fats. These nutrients can be found in foods such as spinach, lentils, eggs, nuts, and dairy products.
Gentle postnatal exercises promote healing, make you stronger, and help boost your mood. Useful exercises include light walking, pelvic floor exercises like Kegels and gentle stretches. After six weeks, yoga or low-impact aerobics can be introduced with medical approval. This will help you regain physical fitness and energy levels safely.
FAQs
Newborns should be fed every 2–3 hours, or whenever they show hunger cues like rooting or sucking on their hands. This ensures proper nutrition and hydration.
Swaddle your baby in a light blanket, use gentle rocking motions, or play white noise to mimic the womb environment. These techniques often help calm a crying baby.
Your baby is getting enough milk if they wet 6–8 diapers daily and show consistent weight gain. A content baby after feeding is another good sign.
Check your baby’s temperature using a thermometer. A temperature above 99.5°F (37.5°C) indicates a fever. You should consult your paediatrician if it persists.
Newborns typically need 14–17 hours of sleep daily, broken into short naps. This helps support their rapid growth and development.
