Have you just had a baby and are now full of doubts? Don’t panic – it’s quite normal for parents of newborn babies to feel like this. When you take them home you have to face the danger all alone, which is why in this article we have brought together some of the most frequently asked questions among first-time parents, and we’ll try and answer them to make your life a bit easier 🙂
- How often should we feed them?
As a general rule, we should feed newborn babies every three hours, but if you feed them “on demand” you will probably have to do so more often.
Many parents think that if a baby cries, he must be hungry, but there are many other reasons why he could be crying – he might be wet or something might be hurting him. Don’t forget that each child is different and always follow the doctor’s recommendations.
- How much weight should they put on each week?
This is another very common question for parents, especially first-time ones. They normally put on around 150 or 200 grams each week. Still, this depends on each child and the kind of feeding they are getting.
- How long should they sleep?
In the first months of life, babies spend most of their time asleep and as they grow, they sleep less and less. A newborn baby usually sleeps around 16 hours a day, which gradually comes down and when they are one year old, they will be sleeping 13 or 14 hours a day. Just like with everything else, it depends on the specific needs of each child.
- What can we do to avoid colic?
Colic is very common in newborn babies and many parents don’t know what to do to stop them crying. There is no definitive solution, but if we follow certain patterns it should help your baby.
First of all, make sure your baby is in the right position when feeding, so that he doesn’t swallow too much air. When you finish breastfeeding him, put him in a vertical position so he can get rid of the gases.
Massages and relaxing baths are also very useful to relieve the effects of colic.
- Is it normal for my baby’s hair to fall out?
Yes, this is absolutely normal and you shouldn’t worry about it. In the first 6 months of life, babies often lose their hair because of hormonal changes when they are born. If you notice that your baby has a bald patch, check to see if he always sleeps in the same position.
- What’s the matter with him? Why does he get breathless when he cries?
This is known as breathing or crying spasms and even though it looks alarming, the truth is it has no serious consequences for your baby. It is most common from 6 to 12 months old and should disappear when they are 2 years old.
If your baby has a breathing spasm, the most important thing is to stay calm: don’t shout at him and don’t shake him. Try to maintain a relaxed atmosphere or distract him with any other activity.
Have you found this entry useful? Do you have any other doubts about looking after newborn babies? Share them with our other readers.
