According to the World Health Organization Newborn care is very essential for parents, especially first-time parents should be aware of the facts about sleep patterns, peeing, and poop timing. feeding times, play times, different types of crybaby, and techniques to keep the baby away from germs for a healthier upbringing.

Welcoming a newborn into your life is an incredible journey filled with love, joy, and a fair share of challenges. As a new parent, you’re embarking on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from overwhelming excitement to moments of uncertainty. But fear not, because I’m here to guide you through this exhilarating adventure of parenthood.

Baby Cry

1. A child cries because they are communicating. As a baby, newborn babies cannot express their needs pain, or desires in words. However, they cry to get parents and caretakers’ attention quickly! Don’t think of every single cry as a good or bad thing. It is often just their little way of telling you they need food, a diaper change, or a warmer onesie. 
2. A child will cry to relieve stress. Being a parent of a newborn isn’t easy, but neither is being a newborn! Sometimes a baby will get stressed or frustrated and they just need to cry it out. Just as crying can help an adult get through something emotionally, so can crying help an infant.
3. An infant will cry if they are overstimulated. If the TV gets too loud or there are too many voices talking in a crowded room (holiday party!) then they can get overstimulated and thus start crying. The best thing you can do in this situation is to take them to a calmer, quieter, and perhaps darker room and gently soothe them. They should be good to go in no time! Or, they may just fall asleep which is good too. 
4. A child will cry if they sense a change in routine. If a parent changes a pattern that a baby has expected for many many months, that child will let the parents know they disapprove of the change and this generally happens via crying. Sometimes for short periods others a bit longer.

Different types of Cry

Understanding different types of cries can help you respond more effectively to your baby’s needs. For instance:

• Hunger Cry: Typically rhythmic and repetitive, growing louder and more intense.
• Pain Cry: Sudden and high-pitched, often accompanied by holding their breath.
• Tired Cry: Whiny and fussy, usually occurring after being awake for a while.
• Discomfort Cry: Sounds like grunting or fussing, indicating a need for a diaper change or a more comfortable position.
• Overstimulated Cry: Often a combination of fussiness and brief bursts of crying, signaling a need for a quieter environment.

Baby’s Sleep

Newborns sleep a lot, but not always when you want them to. Understanding their sleep patterns can help you create a more restful environment.

Active Sleep (AKA The Nocturnal Jump Scare)

Newborns typically go through two separate nocturnal sleep phases: quiet sleep (or passive sleep) and active sleep. The active sleep phase can be compared to the very active (at least in the eye area) type of sleep that adults get (when they are actually getting several hours of uninterrupted sleep) called REM sleep.

One fascinating thing that happens when adults and older children sleep is that their skeletal muscles are actually paralyzed temporarily during the night. This allows the mind to dream intense dreams without risking harm to the body by having you move and flail all night long every night. Now, this skeletal muscle paralyzation does not regularly occur until we are around 1 year old or so. That means that when a baby enters their active or REM cycle, they may flail about or even cry briefly or make sounds. It may seem like they are waking, but they are definitely still asleep.

Pee and Poop timing

Pay Attention To Frequency, Especially After The First Poop

It may seem that you are changing diapers about every hour of the day, but it is important to pay close attention to how often your child is pooping and what the poops look like as you change their diapers. Typically, before you are sent home from the hospital, the nurses and doctors like to ensure that your child has had their first bowel movement, called a tar poop or meconium poop.

This first movement should be expected within the first 24 to 48 hours after birth and it can be quite surprising if you are not expecting it. It can be black and tarry-like and doesn’t look like a normal baby or newborn poop at all. That is because it is the meconium or remnants of the amniotic fluid they have swallowed while in utero. This is perfectly normal and is to be expected! 

After the meconium poop has passed, now it’s time to start clocking the frequency of your child’s poops to make sure everything is working as intended. If your child is being breastfed, then they will typically poop more often than if they were bottle-fed. 

• Some babies will poop after every feeding when breastfeeding.
• Formula-fed babies will poop typically between 1 and 4 times daily. 
• After 4 to 6 weeks of age, your child’s poop schedule will start to slow down as their digestive system matures.

Is It Ok For Babies To Poop Every 3+ Days?

100% NO, NO, NO! First of all, how do you feel if you haven’t had a bowel movement for three or four days? 

Feed Times

Feeding your newborn is one of the most critical aspects of their care. Here are some tips to ensure your baby is getting the nutrition they need:

• Breastfeeding: Newborns typically eat every 2-3 hours. Watch for hunger cues like rooting, sucking on hands, or lip-smacking.
• Bottle Feeding: If you’re bottle feeding, your baby might eat slightly less frequently, about every 3-4 hours. Ensure the formula is prepared correctly and at the right temperature.
• Growth Spurts: Be prepared for increased feeding during growth spurts, which commonly occur around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months of age.

Play Times

Engaging with your newborn during playtime is essential for their development. Here are some ways to make playtime beneficial:

• Tummy Time: This helps strengthen your baby’s neck and shoulder muscles. Aim for short periods of tummy time multiple times a day.
• Sensory Play: Use toys with different textures, sounds, and colors to stimulate your baby’s senses.
• Interaction: Talk, sing, and read to your baby. Your voice is comforting and helps with their cognitive development.

Away from Germs

Keeping your newborn away from germs is crucial for their health. Here are some strategies:

• Hand Hygiene: Always wash your hands before handling your baby, especially after changing diapers or preparing food.
• Limit Visitors: In the early weeks, limit the number of visitors and ensure they are not sick.
• Clean Environment: Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that your baby frequently touches.
• Outings: Avoid crowded places and keep your baby away from people who are sick.

Conclusion

Remember, each cry is just a baby puzzle to solve, and sleepless nights are badges of honor in the parenting hall of fame. Your baby might not come with an instruction manual, but they do come with a heart full of love. Embrace the chaos, laugh at the absurd moments, and enjoy the journey. You’ve got this, brave parents! Keep calm, cuddle on, and remember: the baby doesn’t know you’re making it up as you go along.