Your Baby’s First Days at Home

Right after your baby is born, you’ll be surrounded by supportive people in the hospital. Nurses and lactation specialists will show you how to breastfeed, bring your baby to you at feeding time, and provide general support. But soon you’ll be on your own.

Before the rush to the hospital once labor begins, pack your car with supplies you’ll need after your baby comes home:

New parents are often unsure of what to do when they first arrive at home. This is completely normal. The key is to adjust to your baby’s schedule and to provide the following:

Many new parents think they’re doing something wrong if their baby starts crying. Not true—crying is your baby’s only way to communicate. Babies cry to express any of the following:

You can often figure out why your baby is crying by doing a bit of investigating. If holding and cooing to her doesn’t stop the crying, try feeding her or removing an itchy clothing tag. If all else fails, try bringing your baby to her crib to sleep. Keep in mind that babies do sometimes cry for no specific reason.

Colic is not an illness but simply a tendency toward crying and crankiness. It differs from regular crying only in that it can include screaming and may last for hours at a time. Colicky babies may also wave their arms, pass gas, and pull their knees to their chests. Colic usually occurs in babies ages 3–12 weeks. It’s uncertain what causes colic, but colic does no harm to the baby’s health and is not an indication of poor parenting. However, if your baby is colicky and you feel yourself getting angry about the constant crying, call a friend or your doctor for immediate help.