Settling Newborn Babies

0 to 3 Months

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WELCOME HOME BABY

Coming home with a new baby can be very overwhelming but very exciting!!

This is a whole new world you have entered into and from now on you are somebody's mummy and/or daddy.

Babies are wonderful! The feelings of love, nurturing and doing everything that is best for your baby is a feeling like no other. It is also exhausting and life-changing. This brings you to the question

"How do I settle my newborn?"

ENVIRONMENT

Create an environment that is similar to the womb for the first three months (4th Trimester) after birth whilst your baby is getting used to his/her new environment.

FEEDING

Every 2 - 3 hours in the first two to three weeks/every 3 - 4 hours from three weeks to three months onwards. Some babies will start to have longer stretches at night from about 6 weeks but this varies from baby to baby.

SWADDLING

This helps your baby to settle, feel secure, and stops the Morro reflex (startle reflex) from waking your baby.

WHITE NOISE

Shushing or whirring sounds are like the sounds like were used in the womb. This calms babies nervous system and also drowns out external loud noises.

MOTION/ROCKING/PATTING

These all soothe newborn babies, as they are not used to being still. By rocking/shushing and patting your baby (can also use a swing) you are relaxing your baby into a sleepy state.

SUCKING

This also soothes babies, so if your baby has fed and they still want to suck to help settle, then use a dummy (this will preserve your nipples in the first few months if you are breastfeeding and give you relief if you are bottle-feeding).

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If your baby is not settling, you can also try a warm bath, dim lights and gently humming or singing your baby to sleep. Gently rock baby in your arms on his/her side rhythmically patting their bottom gently. If baby needs to nap in your arms or on you, that's ok, as long as you are awake. When placing baby back into cot/bassinet, always make sure they are placed on their back for sleep. Keep stimulation to a minimum in the first few weeks.

Remember your baby won't have much awake time in the first few weeks of life, so try feed, change nappy, burp, and cuddle within an hour.