1st Firsts

There's nothing more beautiful and calming than to watch your baby sleep. During the early weeks your baby devotes much of the day and night to sleep.

Your baby can wake at night for many reasons and the cause is often age related and very individual. Night – day rhythms are not established until your baby is about three months old.

No one is an instant expert at nappy changing - don’t worry there is plenty of opportunity to practice. Your baby may lie still, wiggle, kick and scream or do all three. The most important thing is to take note of the amount of wet and dirty nappies.

Your newborn’s skull is thin and flexible making it easy to mould. It can be common for newborns to have an unusual shaped head and this usually goes back to a normal shape about six weeks after birth.

Getting enough sleep during the day and night is vital for your baby’s optimal growth and development. Here are some tips to help your baby at sleep times.

Arriving home with a newborn and no midwife standing by to help or encourage you can be daunting. You may find you can’t take your eyes off your newborn and burst into tears for no good reason. Your breasts leak and you can’t sleep despite being exhausted. Don’t worry it’s all normal.

Your baby will love a nice warm bath and if not, be patient – it won’t take long and they will and won’t want to get out! Water is warm and soothing and bathing offers a lovely opportunity for close interaction between you and your baby.Here are ten tips to make the bathing experience enjoyable and effective:

Sleep is individual and is dependent on physical activity, general health and wellbeing and environmental factors. Therefore the required amount of sleep may vary from baby to baby and sleep to sleep. Be guided by your baby’s tired signs and behaviour.