The first week at home with a newborn is a blur of feeds, nappies, visitors and very little sleep. Many new parents worry that they have bought the wrong things or forgotten something important. In reality, a newborn needs surprisingly little: somewhere safe to sleep, food, warmth, clean nappies and lots of closeness. This guide separates the genuine essentials from the nice-to-haves and explains the health checks and warning signs worth knowing about in those early days.
A Safe Place to Sleep
Safe sleep is the single most important area to get right. The NHS advises placing your baby on their back to sleep, in a cot or Moses basket in the same room as you, for every sleep for at least the first six months. The mattress should be firm, flat and fit the cot well, without gaps around the edges.
- Place your baby in the “feet to foot” position, with their feet touching the bottom of the cot.
- Keep the cot clear: no pillows, duvets, cot bumpers, soft toys, pods or nests.
- Use a well-fitting baby sleeping bag or a thin blanket tucked in no higher than the shoulders.
- Keep the room at a comfortable temperature; the NHS suggests roughly 16 to 20°C.
- Never fall asleep with your baby on a sofa or in an armchair.
- Keep your baby’s environment smoke-free.
If you are considering sharing a bed with your baby, read up on safer co-sleeping guidance and talk to your midwife or health visitor first. Bed sharing should be avoided in certain situations, including if your baby was born prematurely or with a low birth weight, or if either parent smokes, has drunk alcohol or has taken drugs or medicines that cause drowsiness.
Feeding Supplies
Whether you breastfeed, formula feed or do a mixture of both, the first week is a learning period for you and your baby. Midwives, health visitors and infant feeding specialists are there to help, and asking for support early can make a big difference.
If you are breastfeeding
- Comfortable nursing bras and breast pads.
- Nipple cream, if your midwife recommends it.
- A supportive pillow or cushion for positioning.
- A large water bottle and easy snacks for long feeds.
- Contact details for local breastfeeding support.
If you are formula feeding
- First infant formula suitable from birth.
- Enough bottles and teats for a day of feeds.
- Sterilising equipment and a bottle brush.
- Clear instructions on preparing feeds safely, following the manufacturer’s guidance and your health visitor’s advice.
Newborns feed often, commonly every two to three hours or more frequently in the early days, including through the night. Responsive feeding, where you feed when your baby shows hunger cues such as rooting or sucking on their hands, is widely encouraged. Your midwife will check how feeding is going and whether your baby is gaining weight.
Nappies and Changing
Expect to change a lot of nappies. A simple setup is all you need: nappies in newborn size, cotton wool and water or gentle wipes, a changing mat and a barrier cream if your midwife suggests one. Changing your baby on the floor is the safest option if you do not have a changing table with raised sides.
Nappies are also a useful window into your baby’s health. In the first days, babies pass dark, sticky stools called meconium, which gradually change to yellower stools as feeding becomes established. The number of wet nappies usually increases over the first week. Your midwife will ask about nappies, so keeping a rough note can help. Contact your midwife or GP if your baby has very few wet nappies or if stools look pale or chalky.
Clothing and Warmth
- Six to eight vests or bodysuits.
- Six to eight sleepsuits.
- A couple of cardigans or light layers.
- A soft hat for outdoors in cool weather (not for sleeping indoors).
- Scratch mittens and socks.
- A snowsuit or warm outer layer if it is cold.
Babies can overheat as easily as they can get cold. A useful approach is to dress your baby in one more layer than you would find comfortable, and to check their temperature by feeling the back of their neck or chest rather than their hands or feet, which often feel cool.
Travel and Getting Around
If you travel by car, you will need a rear-facing car seat that suits your baby’s size and fits your car correctly. Practise fitting it before the birth. The NHS advises taking your baby out of the car seat as soon as you arrive at your destination rather than leaving them in it for long periods. A sling or a pram suitable from birth can also be useful for walks; make sure any sling keeps your baby’s face visible and their chin off their chest.
Bathing and Cord Care
You do not need to bathe your baby every day in the first week. Gentle “top and tailing” with cotton wool and warm water is often enough. Keep the umbilical cord stump clean and dry and let it fall off naturally, which usually happens within one to two weeks. Fold the nappy below the stump to let air reach it. Contact your midwife or GP if the area becomes red, swollen, smelly or starts to ooze.
Health Checks in the First Week
Several checks are offered to newborns in the first days. The exact schedule varies between countries and health services, but commonly includes:
- A physical examination shortly after birth and again within the first 72 hours, checking the eyes, heart, hips and, for boys, testicles.
- A hearing screening test, sometimes done before you leave hospital.
- The newborn blood spot test, often called the heel prick test, which screens for a number of rare but serious conditions. In the UK this is usually offered around day 5.
- Vitamin K, offered soon after birth to prevent a rare bleeding disorder.
- Visits or appointments with your midwife or your baby’s doctor to check weight, feeding and jaundice.
Ask your midwife or your baby’s doctor exactly what to expect where you live, and keep any records or health booklets you are given.
Jaundice: What to Watch For
Newborn jaundice, which causes yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, is common and usually harmless. According to the NHS, it is often most noticeable around three days after birth and typically clears within about two weeks. However, some cases need treatment. Contact your midwife or GP urgently if you think your baby has jaundice, if jaundice is not improving, or if your baby’s urine is dark yellow or their stools are pale. Jaundice in a baby less than 24 hours old needs urgent medical attention.
When to Get Urgent Help
Trust your instincts. Seek urgent medical help if your baby:
- Is very sleepy or difficult to wake, or is floppy.
- Is not feeding or has stopped having wet nappies.
- Has a high temperature or feels unusually cold.
- Has difficulty breathing, grunting or pauses in breathing.
- Has a bluish, grey or very pale colour.
- Has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it.
Your local emergency number or health helpline can advise you if you are unsure.
Looking After Yourself
The first week is about recovery for you too. Accept offers of help with meals, laundry and older siblings. Rest whenever you can, eat regularly and stay hydrated. It is common to feel tearful or emotional in the first days, often called the “baby blues”. If low mood, anxiety or feeling unable to cope lasts more than two weeks or feels overwhelming, talk to your midwife, health visitor or doctor.
Your First-Week Checklist
- Cot or Moses basket with a firm, flat mattress and nothing else in it.
- Feeding supplies for your chosen method, plus support contacts.
- Newborn nappies, wipes or cotton wool, and a changing mat.
- Vests, sleepsuits, layers, hats and mittens.
- A correctly fitted rear-facing car seat.
- A thermometer suitable for babies, and your health service’s phone numbers.
- A notebook or app to track feeds and nappies.
Sources
- NHS – Reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome
- NHS – Newborn jaundice
- NHS – Newborn blood spot (heel prick) test
Featured image: Martin Falbisoner / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0