When you have a new baby, there are a lot of things going on at the same time. It can be overwhelming as there are so many things coming at you from a range of different directions. The thing about this is that it’s not going to slow down, so you are going to need to adapt to this way of life as quickly as you can. However, there are some things that nobody tells you when you have a new baby, things that could be really helpful when you are in the thick of it. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that nobody told you about caring for a new baby. Keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.
They Don’t Do Much, But It’s Draining
Newborns don’t really do much, but they are still extremely draining. They sleep, eat, poop, scream and sometimes make cute little noises. This is all they do, and yet it’s going to be one of the most tiring things that you are ever going to experience. They are up every two or three hours, never leaving that much time for sleep. Every time you think about sleep, you are going to be reminded of all the different things that you are going to need to do such as the dishes, the washing, and so on. But, all of this can wait because the most important thing that you are going to need to do at this time is sleep.
Sleep might feel as though it’s few and far between because it likely will be, but we promise that it’s going to be worth it. Even when you’re feeling drained and like there’s no possible way you’re going to make it through, you will.
You Don’t Need A Routine Straight Away
Another thing that nobody tells you is that getting a newborn in a routine is not really possible, and it’s not necessary. For the first month or two you have to adapt your lifestyle to fit in with the way that they want to do things. They are going to sleep when they want to sleep and eat when they want to eat. If you are bottle feeding, then you may be able to get them on more of a regular feeding schedule as they should be eating every two hours or so to ensure that you’re not overfeeding them. However, when it comes to sleep, you’ve just got to go with the flow for now.
You hear a lot of people talking about schedule and routine like it’s the be-all and end-all of parenthood, but it isn’t. You can be a good parent without your kid having a routine right away. Of course, routine is important as they get older because it helps them settle better, but right now it’s just a case of doing whatever needs to be done at any given time.
Their Skin Will Peel
Their skin will peel as it is reacting to the air. There are a number of things that can cause peeling skin in newborn babies, but none of them are threatening. You will find that all babies have skin peeling at some point, and it can be at a range of different degrees. Some babies will only get it on their hands and feet, whereas others are going to get it all over. But, it’s not cause to panic so you don’t need to get worked up about it. All you need to do is look up treating peeling newborn skin online and it will tell you what to do. Really, as long as you keep bathing them and get their skin used to the different sensations of the world, this will go away sooner rather than later.
Newborn skin is extremely sensitive, and that is something that you are going to have to keep in mind as much as you can. If for any reason you are really worried about the skin, then do speak to your doctor so that they can reassure you and check out the baby.
The Doctor Is There For You
Speaking of the doctor, they are there to help you. If you have concerns, or if you think that there is something wrong with your baby you don’t need to sit at home and worry about yourself, you can get in touch with a medical professional. They will want to see your baby check everything out as they are so young. Too many new mothers feel as though they are overreacting, but the general rule of thumb for this is that it’s better safe than sorry. The last thing that you need is to not want to bother anyone and it turns out that it was something that needed to be checked out.
Get in touch with your doctor’s office, tell the receptionist the problem and they will be able to sort out something for you. It’s always better to have your mind put at ease, rather than having to panic every single time you see or experience something that your baby is doing.
Colic Can Be Helped
There are things that can help colic, don’t let anyone tell you that there isn’t. Colic is going to be one of the most difficult parts of newborn time if your baby ends up exhibiting signs of this. It’s not easy to deal with, and it can feel as though it’s never going to end but we promise you that it is. Colic is generally explained as unexplained, excessive crying but most experts agree that it is likely caused by trapped wind. As such, you need to burp your child thoroughly once they have had their milk to get it all up. If this doesn’t always work, then there are some medicines that you can try.
We understand that some people may be skeptical about this, but it’s worth a try if your baby is in this much distress. Colic is difficult to go through and trust us when we say that it is one of the most challenging parts. It’s hard to watch, but it will get better, we promise. You just have to wait it out and eventually, you will find that one day it just completely stops.
They Don’t Need To Bathe All The Time
The final thing that nobody tells you is that they don’t need to bathe all the time. Newborns and babies don’t need to bathe as regularly as we do seeing as they don’t sweat and they don’t do much to get dirty. Of course, they still need to be bathed, but you don’t need to get caught up thinking that this has got to be done every single day. This doesn’t come until they are a little older.
Even having said this though, if you are trying to implement a bedtime routine at some point, a bath can be a helpful aid. If you bathe them in the nighttime before bed, they will start to recognize this as part of their bedtime routine, which makes going to bed easier. Younger babies might not do this, but when they get a little older, they will start to like the familiarity. Just take your time and find out what works for you, and we promise that things will start to get easier soon.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that nobody told you about caring for a new baby. It’s a tough time for everyone, but there are also pieces of information that a lot of people don’t give you that would be extremely helpful. Hopefully, though, you now know what some of them are, and you will find coping with some of the more difficult times just a little bit easier. We wish you the very best of luck, and hope that you don’t spend too much time struggling with the new one!
