What Should New Parents Know Before Bringing Their Babies Home?

Planning to return home

• Dressing Baby: Choosing the baby's first outfit is very exciting. There are several cute alternatives available, but for the fundamentals of a going-home wardrobe, all you really need is a onesie or footie, a cap, and socks if the baby's feet are visible. "Keep it practical and comfortable," advises Dr Vibhu Kawatra, Pediatric- Pulmonologist & Allergy Specialist, Rainbow Hospital. Parents often overdress their newborns. Typically, newborns need one extra layer of clothing than adults. If it's chilly outside, pack a blanket to wrap over your infant in the car seat but don't buckle the baby in bulky winter clothing. Bulky clothes might flatten down in the case of a collision, allowing the infant to fall beneath the harness.

• Getting home: Prepare for your baby's first car ride by reviewing car seat safety. The seat should be rear-facing and securely installed in the back seat. Ensure the straps are tight and the chest clip is aligned with the baby's armpits.

• Choosing a paediatrician: There's one more thing you should do before leaving the hospital: choose a paediatrician for your baby. The baby's first doctor's visit is normally scheduled within two to three days after delivery, so interview candidates and make your decision before the baby comes. "Most paediatricians will do a free meet-and-greet," Vibhu claims. Consider attending several consultations before deciding on a doctor, ensuring that your ideologies and personalities align for the benefit of your family and the pregnancy.

Knowing the basics

• Sleeping: You've undoubtedly prepared yourself for your baby's incessant nightly wakings, but when you first get home from the hospital, you'll have a little sleepyhead on your hands. Newborns usually sleep a lot in the first few weeks. They may sleep up to 20 to 22 hours a day. Make sure your newborn has a safe sleeping environment, such as a cot or bassinet that is devoid of toys, blankets, pillows and cushioned bumpers. Only your youngster and a securely fitting sheet should be in the bed.

• Eating: One of the most common worries among new parents is how much their babies should eat. Keep in mind, that babies have very small stomachs, so they have to feed frequently. If you are breastfeeding, the advice is to feed your baby on demand, which means anytime they get hungry and ask for food. Experts estimate that this happens eight to twelve times every day. If you're bottle-feeding your infant with expressed breast milk or formula, experts recommend providing them with 50 to 100 ml every two to four hours.

• Peeing and pooping: Aside from the weigh-ins at the paediatrician's office, the easiest method to determine whether your infant is eating enough is to tally the number of wet and dirty nappies they produce each day. The amount of wet nappies a newborn should have in the first week of life correlates to how old they are, so a baby should have one wet diaper on the first day, two on the second day, three on the third day, and so on. After day six, you can expect six to eight wet nappies within 24 hours. Dirty nappies are counted significantly differently: experts recommend that breastfed newborns have at least one stool per day for the first three days, followed by three to four stools per day after that. Formula-fed newborns may defecate less regularly, sometimes not even once per day. You'll also become more aware of the colour and texture of your baby's excrement.

• Crying: Indeed, newborn babies cry a lot. Newborns are extraordinary because of their ability to communicate so successfully utilising lots of nonverbal emotions and signals, and crying is one of the most effective ways your baby can communicate.

• Care for the umbilical cord: When you return home from the hospital, the baby's umbilical cord stump will still be healing. The best way to care for it is to leave it alone. Ensure it stays dry and gets plenty of air.

FAQs on What Should New Parents Know Before Bringing Their Babies Home?

1. When to call the doctor?
   Coming home with a baby may be daunting, and first-time parents may not always understand what is typical and what is not. If your infant exhibits any of the following symptoms, contact their doctor.
   
   • Yellow eyes or skin may indicate jaundice
   • Eating badly or refusing to eat
   • A fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or above
   • Repeated vomiting
   • Unusual or severe rash
   • Frequent bowel motions with mucus or a bad smell
   • Crying excessively without a recognised reason
2. What to do when your baby has crossed eyes?
   First-time parents may see their baby's eyes are crossed, which may be surprising. Don't stress out—it's quite natural. Newborns do not concentrate well at first, and their distant vision is restricted to 6 to 8 inches which is why their eyes may seem crossed at times.