1. My baby’s hands and feet are cold, is that normal?
A newborn’s circulation is still maturing and adjusting to independent life. Their circulation matures as they become older. Newborns tend to have cold hands and feet because their blood is being directed to their vital organs, where it is needed most of all. Their hands and feet, also called the extremities, are furthest away from their heart. The result of reduced blood flow can be feet and hands which are cool to touch and may look purple or bluish.
2. Why is my baby crying?
Babies cry for many reasons and it’s not always obvious why. Think of the basics first – are they hungry, tired, hot or cold, have a wet or dirty nappy or just need cuddling? Breastfed babies often calm when they’re fed and go to sleep as they’re sucking. A deep warm bath, tummy massage, rocking and cuddling are generally good soothing strategies. As long as your baby is feeding normally and doesn’t look sick, it’s reasonable to assume they’re crying for one of these reasons. However, if you’re concerned, have your baby checked by your GP to rule out any physical cause for their crying.
3. How will I know if I’m bonding with my baby?
Some parents feel an immediate connection with their baby, others take a little time. There’s no perfect window of time when bonding needs to happen. Likewise, there’s no one way in which bonding evolves – every parent will love their baby in their own unique and individual way. Babies are designed to help their parents fall in love with them and research has shown that bonding is not a one-sided process.
Follow your baby’s signals that they are trying to connect with you and spend time, lots of it, just sitting and holding your newborn. Smell them, look closely into their eyes and listen to their voice and the small noises they make. All of these are ways which your baby will seek connection with you. Try not to overthink what you are or aren’t feeling. Give yourself time and be patient. Sometimes love and feeling emotionally connected takes its own sweet time. If you’re worried, speak with your GP or maternity care provider and check Gidget Foundation who will all provide you with support.
4. How will I know if my baby is hungry?
Hunger cues are fairly consistent amongst babies of the same age. Crying, mouthing as if looking for the breast or teat and not calming, even with holding and soothing are classic signs of hunger. Some parents prefer to time their baby’s feeds and aim for feeds every three to four hours. Though most babies are able to give hunger cues or signs when they need to feed. As well as these cues, babies can give their own individual signs that they’re hungry.
Have your baby weighed regularly and check their percentile (growth) charts. Babies who are thriving follow the same growth line, also known as ‘tracking’, or move to a higher one. Also monitor your baby’s wet and dirty nappies. Around six or more pale, wet nappies over 24 hours is another sign of adequate milk intake.
5. Is my baby constipated?
Constipation refers to the consistency of poos, not the frequency. So, even if your baby is only pooing every few days but their poo is still soft and pasty, they’re not constipated. Dry, hard, pebbly poos are a sign of true constipation. The longer poos sit in the large bowel, the more water is absorbed by their body. Generally, more frequent feeds help to keep poos soft and for the gut to keep moving. For babies who are old enough to be eating solids, an increase in fibre with fruit and vegetables is often helpful. Sips of cooled boiled water from a cup between feeds also helps to manage and avoid constipation.
6. Why isn’t my baby sleeping?
Babies can resist sleep for many reasons. The best time to try and settle your baby will be when they are showing tired signs. All babies have a small ‘window’ of time when they are most likely to go to sleep. Missing this can lead to overtiredness and protests around settling. Hungry babies don’t settle well so make sure your baby is well fed and isn’t hungry. If your baby has always needed your help to settle e.g., feeding or rocking, they’re likely to look for the same support each time they go to sleep, and as they transition between their sleep cycles.
Think about your own responses to your baby’s settling and encourage them to build skills in self-soothing. This can take time and patience – speak with your child health nurse about settling strategies for your baby’s age and stage of development.
7. Should I wake my sleeping baby for feeds?
As a general rule, it’s not necessary to wake a sleeping baby for feeds. Babies have their own inbuilt awareness of when they are hungry and need to feed. However, some parents have been guided by their health care professional to wake their baby and feed them according to a schedule. This is more common for babies born prematurely, were small for gestational age or with other health concerns. If you are breastfeeding and your supply is low, you may want to wake your baby for feeds if they are sleeping for long periods of time.
8. Do I have enough breastmilk for my baby?
Your baby’s growth patterns, how they look and how they behave are the best ways to gauge your breast milk supply. Regular, effective sucking helps to maintain supply. If your baby is gaining weight and looks healthy and happy, they’re likely to be getting plenty of milk during feeds. Breastfed babies tend to gain weight in a different pattern to bottle fed babies. For the first few months they often gain a lot of weight and then slow down or plateau in their growth patterns.
Another way to assess your milk intake is to feel the weight of your breasts before you feed. Do they feel softer and less full after your baby feeds? Are you feeling a ‘let-down’ and does your baby’s sucking pattern change as your milk starts to flow? These are also signs of adequate milk supply.
8. Do I need to bath my baby every day?
In the early weeks of life, it’s not necessary to bath your baby daily. However, there’s no harm if you want to bath your baby each day as long as you’re using a mild, non-soap cleanser so their skin doesn’t dry out. Bathing is also a good option to calm an unsettled baby and help them to feel more comfortable. On very hot days, a bath is another way for a baby to cool down. A bath is also a lovely way to connect and communicate with a baby.
9. Why do I feel so exhausted?
In the early days of parenting, exhaustion is common. Recovering from pregnancy, labour and birth takes a toll on every new mother. Sleep deprivation also adds to feelings of exhaustion. It generally takes six weeks, sometimes longer, for women to recover from birth and for their baby to develop more regular sleep and wake cycles.
Sometimes there are physical reasons for feeling overwhelmingly tired such as low thyroid function or anaemia. Speak with your GP or maternity care provider if you’re struggling. A simple blood test helps to rule out physical causes for exhaustion. However, results can be influenced by unstable hormone levels which is why the general recommendation is to wait until six weeks postpartum to have any investigations done.
10. How should I dress my baby?
It’s important not to overdress your baby when the weather is hot, or underdress them if it’s cold. The general rule is to dress your baby as you are dressed yourself with the same number of layers + one. Loose, light clothing made from natural fibres is fine in hot weather. Layers in winter help to trap air so the baby is kept warm. Feel your baby’s skin on their back or their tummy – their skin should feel warm, not hot or cold. Remember, babies regulate their temperature through their face and head. Make sure you place your baby on their back to sleep and keep their head and face uncovered so they don’t overheat.
