Today we want to share ways to ensure your newborn is comfortable and happy. Are you expecting a newborn soon? To start with, congratulations! Having a baby is one of the most exciting things to happen to anyone in life. They will completely change your life for the better. You’ll create many wonderful memories and enjoy every second of them hitting different milestones – from rolling over for the first time, babbling, trying food, and so much more.
If you are feeling stress along with the excitement, that is completely normal as well. Having a baby will completely flip your life upside down, and even though this is for the better, you will have several moments where you feel stressed and overwhelmed. This is why it’s important to do as much research into newborns and to be as prepared as possible. The more prepared you are, the less stress you will hopefully feel.
When it comes to ensuring your newborn is comfortable and happy, there are so many different things to consider (this is why people write books about this subject matter). You want to make sure you spend enough time with them, dedicate some time to going outside with them to explore and look after any hygiene things that crop up, such as cradle cap or eczema. Making sure they get enough sleep, and you do for that matter, is very important – many parents turn to coffee to help when tiredness kicks in (coffee machines with coffee pods are super helpful).
To help you with keeping your newborn comfortable and happy, we have put the following guide together on ways to ensure your newborn is comfortable and happy.
Allow them to rest and sleep
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Just like we need our sleep, and if we don’t get enough, we feel grumpy; the same can be said for a newborn. Newborns need around 12 to 16 hours of sleep each day, and if they aren’t getting this, this can affect how comfortable and happy they are. Each day, try to track how much sleep your newborn is getting with the aim of achieving 12 to 16 hours. Some parents find it useful to have a sleep routine where between those hours, you aim to get your little one to have a nap – this is particularly more useful when they get a tiny bit older, around 3 months onwards. If a routine doesn’t work straight away, remember not to feel disheartened and to keep at it.
Spend time outside the house
When having a baby, it will be no surprise to hear it can be extremely tiring. Due to the tiredness, it can be tempting to spend a lot of time inside your own home and not leave it. Although this is completely fine, and you have to do what is best for you, spending time outside the house could be very beneficial to both you and the baby. Getting outside allows you to exercise a little, breathe in some fresh air and socialise with other people whilst on your walk. Your newborn will enjoy experiencing completely new surroundings, taking in the new smells, colours and seeing new people as well. This can be really helpful for their overall development.
Changing their nappy
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Let’s face it, changing a newborn’s nappy isn’t the most exciting thing to do (especially when they have gone for a number 2), but it has to be done. Many nappy brands will say their nappies can keep them dry for 12 hours etc. Yes, this is true; however, it’s still good practice to change them more regularly. The more regularly you change their nappy, the less likely they are to have rashes pop up on their bottom or private parts. If rashes occur, this can cause a lot of uncomfort, causing sleepless nights and pain, which is not nice for them. As a guide, newborns should go between 10 to 12 times a day.
Keep your baby at the right temperature
The temperature of your baby is very important, especially as a newborn. Up until a certain age, babies struggle to regulate their temperature, meaning you need to support them with this. Too cold or too hot, and it can be very uncomfortable for them as well as dangerous if too extreme in either area. A good rule is to keep a temperature gauge in the room that your baby is sleeping in. This way, you can keep an eye on the temperature and will know if it’s too hot or too cold and then adjust the room accordingly. If you are planning on buying a baby camera, you may find that the camera is able to tell you the temperature of the room through the app or its portable monitor.
Recognise the early signs when your baby is hungry
When having a newborn, it is likely that you will be feeding them around 7 to 8 times a day. The longer you leave them without a feed, the more grumpy and distressed they can get. This is why it’s important you try to recognise the early signs when your baby is hungry. Granted, this isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but the more you practise it, the better you will get at spotting their feeding cues. Cues to look out for include opening and closing their mouth a lot, fists moving to their mouth, sucking their hands more often, and them looking for the breast.
Ensuring your newborn’s comfort and happiness involves various aspects, from cozy blankets to gentle cuddles, and choosing the right baby milk formula that suits their needs and nourishes them adequately.
Bathing your baby
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Bathing your baby is an important part of their development as well as keeping them comfortable and happy. Bathing your baby helps to reduce their stress levels, helping them stay calm. It also helps them relax, be ready for bedtime, as well as ensuring they have a good hygiene level. It is advised you aim to bathe your baby around 2 to 3 times a week, although an extra bath wouldn’t do any harm if they enjoy it. The more they get used to the water, the less stressed they will be when it comes to swimming as they get older.
Ensure your home is baby proof
One of the most important things to do around your home before your baby is born is to baby-proof it. At first, they will not be able to get around, so you can be less strict on things; however, once moving, this is when a lot of changes may need to be made. Ensure that any ornaments are out of reach as well as the corners of furniture are covered so they can’t bump their head. A simple tip to see what the baby sees and could potentially grab is to go on your hands and knees and look around. This way, you can see any hidden object under the sofa or other places that you may not be able to see at eye level.
Tips for soothing a crying baby
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Babies will cry, it’s inevitable, but it is very natural for them to cry – it’s their way of communication, after all. When crying, there are a number of things to consider in order to comfort and soothe them. Some of these include: Have they been fed recently? Are they tired? Have they been over-stimulated? Are they coming down with an illness? Are they simply trying to get your attention and want you to comfort them? By going through each one and checking, you will be able to narrow down the reason why they may be crying. The more you get to understand your newborn, the easier it will be to soothe them as you will be able to quickly understand why they may be crying through the cues they are giving you. If you are really struggling to stop them crying, it may be worth considering using a dummy, as these can be great comforters. Different companies produce different types of dummies, so make sure you do your research before buying one. It may be that you want to keep the dummy within the ecosystem of the products you are using.
The above eight tips are a selection that we think can really help ensure your newborn is comfortable and happy. With some more research, you may find there are plenty of other things that you can do to also support your baby (this is why research is so important). Try to apply a couple of the tips and see how your baby reacts to them. If happy and positive, you can always try to apply a few of the other tips that you didn’t try. The more time you spend with your newborn, the more you will get to know them and know what works for them and which does not.
What tips do you have for ensuring a newborn is comfortable and happy? Which of the above tips did you find most useful? Are there any tips that you think we should be adding to the list which currently aren’t included? If there is anything you would like to share that will benefit our readers, please let us know in the comment box below. We would love to hear from you.
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