For their first night, dress your newborn in lightweight, breathable layers like a onesie or vest, plus a swaddle or a safe sleep sack, adjusting based on the room's temperature to keep them comfortably warm (not hot), using natural fibers like cotton or muslin and ensuring nothing covers their face. A good rule of thumb is to dress them as you would dress yourself for that room, and always avoid hats for sleep as babies regulate heat through their heads.
Keep nightwear and bedclothes to a minimum. A vest or just a nappy is fine on the warmest nights. If your baby kicks or pushes off the covers during the night, just leave their nappy on and have a single, well-secured sheet.
The "5-3-3" baby sleep method is a sleep training strategy where a baby sleeps for 5 hours, stays awake for 3 hours, then sleeps for another 3 hours, often used around 4-6 months to encourage independent sleep by reducing nighttime feeds and establishing routine, but it requires strict adherence and consulting a pediatrician, as it might be too rigid for some babies or caregivers.
The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a cot or Moses basket. Make sure there are no toys or anything else that could cover their mouth or nose, or make them too hot. For this reason we advise against using cot bumpers, pillows and loose bedding. The mattress should be firm, flat and waterproof.
The 2-hour rule for babies means they shouldn't stay in a car seat (or travel system seat) for more than two hours at a time, whether in or out of the car, because the semi-upright position can strain their developing spine and restrict their breathing, increasing the risk of low oxygen levels, especially for newborns and preemies. For long journeys, parents should take breaks every two hours to take the baby out, allow them to lie flat for a while, stretch, and feed, ensuring they get proper head/neck support and circulation.
The 40-day rule after birth, often called confinement or "The Golden Month," is a widespread cultural tradition emphasizing a mother's deep rest, healing, and bonding with her newborn, with family often handling chores and visitors, promoting physical recovery (like stopping bleeding) and mental well-being, rooted in ancient practices from Asia, Latin America, and religious traditions like Judaism and Christianity. Key aspects involve nourishing the mother, sheltering her from stress, and focusing solely on resting and bonding, a stark contrast to Western pressures to "bounce back" quickly.
The hardest week with a newborn is often considered the first six weeks, especially weeks 2-3, due to extreme sleep deprivation, constant feeding demands, learning baby's cues, postpartum recovery, and a peak in inconsolable crying (the "witching hour"), making parents feel overwhelmed as they adjust to a new, exhausting routine. While the first week is tough, the challenges often intensify as the baby becomes more alert but still fussy, with major developmental hurdles like cluster feeding and increased fussiness peaking around 6-8 weeks.
In a warm room, a short-sleeve onesie or even just a diaper with a lightweight muslin swaddle is usually enough. Skip hats, socks, or mittens. These trap heat and aren't recommended for sleep, especially in the summer.
The 3-2-1 sleep rule is a simple wind-down routine: stop eating and drinking alcohol 3 hours before bed, stop working/mentally stimulating activities 2 hours before, and turn off screens (phones, TVs) 1 hour before sleep, helping you transition to rest by reducing stimulants and preparing your mind and body. It's often part of a larger 10-3-2-1-0 rule, which also adds no caffeine 10 hours prior and no hitting snooze (0) in the morning.
Feeding Baby At Two Weeks Old
Feedings should occur every 2-3 hours and hopefully every 4-5 during the night. Feeding should take about 30 minutes. If bottle feeding, a ballpark amount is 3-4 ounces.
TEN MINUTE RULE
If the baby cries for 10 minutes straight (a break is considered 10 seconds of them not crying), then you go in and reassure them (WITHOUT PICKING THEM UP!) that everything is okay, he's safe, and you're going to be there when he wakes up.
Yes, the Navy SEAL sleep trick (an 8-minute power nap with elevated legs) is a real technique for quick rest, popularized by former SEAL Jocko Willink, that helps improve alertness and reduce fatigue, though its effectiveness depends on individual relaxation skills and it's not a substitute for full nighttime sleep. The method involves lying down, elevating your feet above your heart (on a chair or couch), relaxing facial muscles, dropping shoulders, and clearing your mind for about 8-10 minutes to promote relaxation and blood flow, preventing grogginess.
For babies 5 months and older, aim to follow the 80/20 rule. That means, 80% of the time we try to have naps at home in an “ideal” sleep environment, and 20% of the time we can be flexible with naps outside of the crib or on-the-go.
It can be confusing to determine the difference between Newborn and 0-3 month clothes, but typically Newborn sizes cover babies in the 5-8 pound range while the 0-3 month sizes fit 8-12 pound children.
Signs your baby is cold at night include being cold to the touch, having pale or blotchy skin, shivering, and sleeping in a tucked-in position. They may also wake up often or have difficulty falling asleep; be restless, fussy, or clingy; or experience shallow breathing.
Babies can comfortably wear footie pajamas when the room temperature is below 74°F (23°C). That's because footie pajamas provide full-body warmth, covering arms, legs, and tiny toes. In cooler rooms (around 68°F–70°F), footie pajamas made of cotton or fleece are often the perfect balance between cozy and breathable.
Dressing baby safely for sleep includes not using hats, headbands, bibs, teething necklaces, clothing with strings, or hoods, as these items increase the risk of sleep-related death due to suffocation, strangulation, and overheating. Dressing baby for sleep also includes not using blankets.
It is essential to dress your baby appropriately underneath the sleepsack or swaddle, depending on the room temperature. Use lightweight, breathable clothing, such as a onesie or a light cotton sleeper, in warm weather. In colder temperatures, opt for a warmer sleeper or footed pajamas.
The 5-3-3 rule is a loose guideline for structuring a baby's sleep schedule: 5 hours of wake time before the first nap, 3 hours of wake time before the second nap, and 3 hours before bedtime.
The newborn 5-5-5 rule is a postpartum guideline for new mothers to focus on healing and bonding in the first 15 days home, dividing rest into 5 days in bed, followed by 5 days on the bed, and then 5 days near the bed, encouraging minimal chores, visitors, and activity to prioritize recovery from childbirth and establishing the new family unit, drawing on traditional postpartum rest practices.
The first hour after birth, the “Golden Hour”, when a healthy baby is calmly placed skin-to-skin on the mother's chest, not only facilitates a smooth transition from the womb to the outside world, stabilising the baby physiologically, but also offers a unique opportunity for the mother and baby to connect emotionally ( ...
As a general rule, baby should not be in their car seat for more than two hours at a time in or out of the car.
You may shower, bathe or wash your hair at any time after the birth of your baby. During your first six weeks, avoid strenuous work. You may choose to limit visits with family and friends during the first two weeks, as it may cause undue fatigue for you and could also be detrimental to your baby's health.
Parents should try to limit the number of visitors their babies come in close contact with overall. Consider having extended family and friends wait two to three months until your baby's immune system is stronger to plan their visits.