How Often Do You Need To Change Babys Diaper
Your newborn will pass meconium for their first few days of life. This is a black, sticky, tarlike substance.
How often youll need to change their diaper varies depending on whether or not youre breastfeeding or formula-feeding them.
Breastfed babies will typically have several bowel movements per day. Formula-fed babies will have fewer.
Either way, youll want to change your babys diaper every two to three hours.
If the diaper is just wet with urine, you dont need to change it right away and wake up your sleeping baby. However, change baby immediately following any bowel movements to avoid irritation.
You can tell its time to change your babys diaper as soon as you can smell or feel that theyve had a bowel movement.
To determine if the diaper is wet, put one hand on the diaper to feel if its damp. Alternatively, some diapers change color when theyre wet.
- emergency information, including your babys doctor, nearest emergency room, and poison control number
You can also find a premade kit online that contains most of these items.
When To Start Preparing For Your Babys Arrival
Often, expecting parents fall into one of two camps they either jump in and start preparing as soon as they get pregnant , or they think, 9 months is a long time and put off preparations for their future self to handle. As with most things, preparation for a new baby is usually best started somewhere in the middle. Dont put your future self in a tough spot, we hear theyre a good person and they dont deserve that. But, waiting to do major preparations until after the first trimester can be a good idea to ensure all is well with the pregnancy.
There are a few things that are a good idea to start early, which well cover next:
How To Set Up A Baby Nursery
From decorating and buying the furniture, to putting in those cosy final touches, setting up a nursery in your home is one of the most special parts of preparing for your newborn coming home, giving them their own little space in your home.
Its best to get started well before your due date, before it gets too difficult to paint, which means planning and purchasing everything well in advance. Here are our top tips for setting up your home nursery:
- Choose a room thats close to yours. For the first six months, its recommended that your baby sleeps in your bedroom. But once they move into their own room, those middle of the night wakeups mean being close to them makes life a little easier.
- Start decorating a month or two before baby arrives. You dont want to leave it until youre too far along in your pregnancy to move things around or paint. Begin creating your nursery early on and get help from friends and family to make it a special time for everyone.
- Use calming colours. Soft greys, creams and neutral colours tend to work best in a nursery, with most baby furniture and clothes blending in seamlessly. Discuss colours with your partner first to find a scheme you both like.
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What A Newborn Baby Needs
If babies could talk, they would probably tell us that they have very simple needs. They need to be loved, to be fed, and kept warm and safe.
There are a lot of items you can buy for a new baby. This can be overwhelming for new parents. When you come home with your newborn, you will not need too much. Plan in advance to have some essential items ready.
Our Comprehensive Preparing For Baby Checklist
There is A LOT of stuff you need to do to prepare for a baby. Youll probably forget something, and things will still be ok.
But, checklists are quite handy when it comes to remembering, and accomplishing, a long list of things.
Thats why we created our comprehensive preparing for a baby checklist as a downloadable, fridge-ready PDF. You can get it, 100% free, plus 3 other bonus checklists from Fathercraft when you join our email list . Just enter your email here:
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What The Birth Center Provides
Youve probably read over a bunch of packing lists that seem beyond comprehensive. You dont need to bring everything and the kitchen sink. In fact, even if you dont pack a thing, your hospital likely has your basic needs covered. That should be a load off your shoulders literally!
All facilities are different, though, so if you have any questions, be sure to call to ask before you arrive. You may even want to schedule a hospital tour during your pregnancy to learn more about what you can expect during your stay.
For mom, birth centers generally provide:
- prescription and non-prescription medications, if needed
And before you think of what to pack, you should know that hospitals suggest not packing expensive items, like:
- wedding rings and other jewelry
- laptops and tablets
Basically, avoid bringing anything that youd miss if you accidentally lost it. We promise, your items will be far from your mind when you hold your little one for the very first time!
Bedding And Sleep Needs
Whatever bed you choose for your newborn , it is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics that your baby sleep in the same room with you for the first 6-12 months of life. In addition, bumpers, blankets, pillows, and soft toys are no longer recommended in baby beds. Talk about going minimalistic!
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Be Prepared With Petit Early Learning Journey
We believe building partnerships with families supports a childs health and wellbeing. Children flourish when surrounded by people who care deeply about them.
Education and care happens all day long at our centres and it is integrated into our curriculum, routines, rituals and rhythms. When our educators share positive bonds with families and their children it develops trust and communication.
To learn more about preparing for your newborns learning and care and the value we place on our family partnerships, we invite you to visit your nearest centre.
If You Are Using A Crib:
- Approved crib and crib mattress
- 3 waterproof mattress covers
- 4 light blankets that fit in the crib
- 4 fitted cribsheets
- 3 waterproof pads to place under baby
- Light comforter
- Approved infant safety seat for car
- Stroller that reclines so newborn can lie flat
- Nail clippers or scissors
- Bulb syringe for suctioning mucous
- Baby thermometer
- Eye dropper or medicine spoon
- Medication in case of fever
- Rocking chair for feeding and swaddling
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Take A Childbirth Class
Whether youâre a first-time parent or a seasoned pro, itâs a good idea to take a childbirth class. Taking a class can support you with preparing for labor physically and emotionallyâlearn about breathing techniques, pain relief strategies, and how your body prepares for labor with practice contractions, known as Braxton Hicks.
Further, childbirth classes can help you understand what to anticipate in labor, how your healthcare provider will support you, and what happens after delivery, so take advantage of this resource!
Make And Freeze Meals
Getting ready for a baby can include preparing for those first few weeks as new parents when youâd rather not worry about shopping and cooking. One helpful strategy is making and freezing some meals for you and your family. Having a few options that you can simply stick in the oven or microwave can make a world of difference.
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What Are Some General Things That Need To Get Done Before The Baby Arrives
There are a few more general things that need to be done to prepare for a newborn that dont really fit into a specific category but are still very important. Below is a list of a few general things you need to do to prepare for your new baby:
1. Install car seat
Its generally recommended that you install your new babys car seat anytime between 35 and 37 weeks. I say the earlier, the better. This is because some car seats are very confusing to install and you dont want to be trying to figure it out after you go into labor or in the hospital parking lot. Install the car seat when you are not in a hurry, not stressed, and really have time to learn how it works and do it correctly.
2. Find a pediatrician
Most of the time you are required to take your newborn to their pediatrician a day or two after you are discharged from the hospital. Make sure your newborns insurance is all ready and youve already picked out your pediatrician. I had to change my daughters insurance after she was born, which required me to change her pediatrician multiple times. I really wished I would have planned better and she could have been with the same pediatrician the whole time.
3. Take an infant CPR class
4. Pack your hospital bags
5. Decide how youll share the news of the babys arrival with family and friends
6. Prepare for visitors
Pack Your Hospital Bag
Although this is a relatively easy task, donât put it off until the last minute! Only 5 percent of babies are actually born on their due date, so packing your hospital bag in advance may very well save the day! We have a handy hospital bag checklist you can use to make sure you donât forget the essentials.
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What To Include In Your Bag For You
While youll have the basics provided by the hospital, having familiar items from home can make you feel so much more at ease.
Before you pack, you may want to call your hospital to make sure they dont have any rules regarding what you wear. Some, for example, may prefer or require you to wear the hospital-issued gown during the actual birth itself.
While this list looks quite long, it should all mostly fit into a single overnight bag.
If you know youre having a cesarean delivery, also consider these items:
- Support underwear. Bringing some C-section recovery underwear can be nice because its high-waisted and offers light compression. Alternatively, you may want some fold-over underwear that sits under your incision.
- Compression wrap. You may also bring something like the Belly Bandit for added postpartum belly support. Ask your doctor for guidelines, including when you can start wearing a wrap like this.
- Loose clothing. You may be more comfortable wearing clothing items, like nightgowns versus pants, that dont rub against your incision.
- Special snacks. Beat post-surgery constipation with snacks that contain plenty of fiber, like an apple or instant oatmeal with dried fruit.
Your little one will be covered with most supplies for their time in the hospital. In fact, some delivery units may even require for safety measures that babies wear hospital-branded onesies until youre discharged.
Try packing babys items in the diaper bag you plan on using once theyre born.
How To Introduce Baby To Siblings
Older children may be excited to meet their new sibling. Or they may be angry or resentful about the new baby.
Some parents give siblings a small big brother or big sister gift from the new baby. You can also have a caregiver hold the new baby while you cuddle with your older child.
When youre home and recovered, you can let your older child pick a special spot where they want to take the new baby to celebrate their arrival. Or you can arrange a safe area for the sibling to hold the new baby, depending on the older childs age.
If baby will be sharing a room with their sibling or youre planning to move your older child from their crib to make room for baby, prep the older child well ahead of time.
Plan to transition an older child from their crib a few months before the arrival of baby so theyre less likely to feel like theyve been displaced for baby.
If baby is moving into their room, discuss this change with your child in a positive light. Consider letting them help decorate or set up babys area.
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What Is An Infant’s Normal Response To The Plantar Reflex
A healthy response to plantar reflex test looks like the extension of the big toe up towards the top of the foot as well as the fanning out of the other toes. This is also known as a positive response, which is perfectly normal until the age of 2. If there is no reflex, the response is considered neutral. After the age of 2, your childs toes should begin to curl down instead.
If your baby exhibits a weak response, absent response, or response in only one side of the body before the age of 2, it could indicate a health issue and will likely result in follow-up tests.
How To Change Babys Diaper
To change your newborns diaper, make sure you have all supplies on hand. Then, follow these steps:
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What Essentials Do You Need For Your Newborn
Having a few essential items on hand for the hospital and when you bring your newborn home will help ease the transition.
Make sure you remove these items from their packaging. Familiarize yourself with the instructions and assemble them, if necessary. This will ensure theyre ready to use as soon as you need them.
What You’ll Need For Labour And Birth
Get a few things ready at least 3 weeks before your due date.
For yourself, you’ll probably want to pack:
- your birth plan and hospital notes
- something loose and comfortable to wear during labour that does not restrict you from moving around or make you too hot
- 3 changes of loose, comfortable clothes
- 2 or 3 comfortable and supportive bras, including nursing bras if you’re planning to breastfeed remember, your breasts will be much larger than usual
- 2 packets of super-absorbent sanitary or maternity pads
- 5 or 6 pairs of knickers you may want to bring some disposable ones
- your washbag with a toothbrush, hairbrush, flannel, soap, lip balm, deodorant, hair ties and other toiletries
- things to help you pass the time and relax for example, books, magazines, music or podcasts
- a fan or water spray to cool you down
- front-opening or loose-fitting nighties or tops if you’re going to breastfeed
- dressing gown and slippers
- a TENS machine if you intend to use one
- any medicines you’re taking
For the baby, you might want to pack:
- bodysuits, vests and sleepsuits
- an outfit for going home in
- a hat, scratch mittens and socks or booties
- plenty of nappies
- a car seat for the trip home
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Read About Being A Father
One of the best things a soon-to-be father can do to prepare for a newborn is lots and lots of reading. This is especially important for first-time fathers because there is so much information they are clueless about when it comes to pregnancy and newborns. Here are some great book recommendations for new fathers: Dude, Youre Gonna Be a Dad!, Dads Pregnant Too, and Its a dad!
Baby Gear And Accessories
The world of baby gear and accessories is a beautiful thing. Its full of helpful, fun, exciting, genius inventions that lure you in and make you think you cant live without it all. Well, let me tell you, in those first newborn days, you can. There is only a hand full of baby gear items and accessories you really need for your newborn and I list them below.
20. Receiving Blankets
I received dozens of receiving blankets as gifts while I was pregnant. I didnt really know what I would use them for and debated just getting rid of some because there were so many and I didnt think I would need them. Well, to this day I still use them and they are by far my most used baby item. During those newborn days, I used them for everything and anything. As a blanket, spit-up cloth, diaper changing station, clean up towel, nursing cover, and so much more!
21. Pacifiers
I am including pacifiers as an item you need because I dont know how I wouldve survived without them in those early days. Now, not all babies take to pacifiers, so you may not need one after all if your baby doesnt like them. However, I still recommend having a few on hand. Because if your baby does end up liking them, they will be your best friend. We like the Natursutten brand the best.
22. Soft-Wrap Carrier
23. Bouncer or lounger
Optional: Baby Bath
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