Your baby already has more skills and abilities than you think. Discover your unique little one.
Now that your baby is here, you’ll gradually get to know each other. Little by little, your newborn will also discover the world around them. Though they are still completely dependent on you, they have more skills and abilities than you might think.
Get to know their temperament
The best way to get to know your baby is to spend lots of time with them. You’ll figure out their temperament and how sensitive they are to touch, noise, and their visual environment. How a child wants to be carried, fed, comforted, entertained, and soothed is as unique as they are. With time, you’ll get to know what your baby likes and what bothers them.
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Sleep
Your newborn will spend most of their time either sleeping, feeding, or crying. Some babies sleep more often, waking up mainly to nurse, while others naturally spend most of their time awake. Many newborns sleep 18 hours a day, usually for 2 to 4 hours at a time (closer to 2 hours if they’re breastfed). It will take 8 to 10 weeks for your baby to begin distinguishing between day and night. Once they do, they’ll start to nurse more during the day and less at night.
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Feedings
It is recommended that you feed your baby “on demand,” meaning when your baby shows signs of hunger. It’s not necessary to limit the number or duration of feedings. Newborns usually feed more than 8 times in 24 hours.
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Crying
Crying is the only way your baby can express feelings such as hunger, pain, discomfort, fatigue, and boredom. The first three months is the stage when babies cry the most and when their crying is at its most intense.
Babies never cry to manipulate you. Consoling your baby every time they cry will not spoil them. When you respond quickly and calmly to their cries, they feel loved and safe, and this helps develop your attachment bond.
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Encourage your baby to discover their world
To help your baby learn about the world, give them toys and things to look at, such as mobiles and pictures, that meet safety standards. Play music, or give them a rattle to shake, or fabrics and soft toys to touch. Teach them how to hold teething rings, rattles, and cups.
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Taking care of baby
Newborn babies are unable to hold their heads up on their own. Always pick up your little one with care, making sure to support their head. The umbilical cord also needs careful treatment. Though it seems there are a thousand different things you need to remember, you’ll get the hang of it soon!
To learn more, consult the following resources:
| Research and copywriting: The Naître et grandir team
Updated: July 2019
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Photo: iStock.com/lemonadelucy