This information is for general guidance only.

It does not replace advice from your midwife, health visitor or GP. Read more about our approach.

Newborn baby care: your guide to the first days and weeks

Those first days and weeks with a newborn are overwhelming, magical and exhausting in equal measure. Every new parent wonders whether they are doing it right. The truth is there is no one right way. This guide covers what to expect, what is normal, and when to seek help. It pairs with our dedicated breastfeeding your newborn guide, a full your postnatal recovery page, and a compassionate guide to postnatal depression and baby blues.

Your community midwife will visit you at home for up to 10 days after birth (and up to 28 days if you need more support). Your health visitor takes over from day 10 and will offer several visits in the first weeks. Do not hesitate to contact them if you are worried about anything.

NHS newborn checks

Within first hour

Skin-to-skin and vitamin K

Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth (unless medical care is needed) supports bonding, warmth and the first feed. Vitamin K is offered to prevent VKDB (vitamin K deficiency bleeding), a rare but serious bleeding disorder. A single injection is the most reliable method; oral drops are an alternative but need 3 doses.

Within 72 hours

Newborn physical examination (NIPE)

A full top-to-toe check by a doctor, midwife or nurse practitioner. Covers eyes (for cataracts and glaucoma), heart (for murmurs), hips (for developmental dysplasia) and testicles if applicable. Femoral pulses are checked as an indicator of heart conditions. You will be told the results and given a written record.

Day 5-8

Newborn blood spot test (heel prick)

A small blood sample taken from your baby's heel. Screens for 9 rare but treatable conditions including PKU (phenylketonuria), congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease. Results take about 6 to 8 weeks. You will be contacted promptly if anything needs follow-up.

Within first days

Newborn hearing screening

Offered before leaving hospital or at home. Two methods: AOAE (earphones placed in the ear canal) and AABR (electrodes on the head). Both are quick and painless. Around 1 in 1,000 babies has significant hearing loss, and early detection dramatically improves outcomes.

Your baby's appearance

Most newborns do not look like the babies on nappy packets. All of the following are completely normal.

Vernix

A white, waxy coating on the skin. It is a natural moisturiser. Leave it on and let it absorb naturally.

Moulding

The head may look cone-shaped from passing through the birth canal. It rounds out within days.

Lanugo

Soft downy hair on the body, especially the back and shoulders. Fades over the following weeks.

Swollen genitals

Caused by maternal hormones, normal in all babies. Baby girls may have vaginal discharge or a little bleeding.

Jaundice

Yellow tinge to skin and eyes, often appearing on day 2 or 3. Usually mild and resolves in 10 to 14 days. Jaundice in the first 24 hours or severe jaundice needs urgent assessment.

Spots and rashes

Very common in the first weeks and usually harmless. Report if accompanied by fever, poor feeding or irritability.

Fontanelles

Two soft spots on the skull (a larger diamond at the front, smaller at the back). Tough membrane protects the brain. Safe to touch gently.

Feeding your baby

Breastfeeding

  • NHS recommendation: exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months if possible.
  • First feed: aim within the first hour, ideally during skin-to-skin.
  • Colostrum (thick, yellowish early milk) is packed with antibodies.
  • Transitional milk comes in around days 3-5; breasts may feel engorged.
  • Feeding well signs: 8-12 feeds in 24 hours, increasing wet and dirty nappies by day 4-5, baby content after feeds, weight gain from day 5.
  • Challenges: sore nipples (check the latch), engorgement (frequent feeds, warm compress), mastitis (red, hard breast and fever) — contact your midwife urgently.
  • National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212 (24/7).

Formula feeding

  • Formula feeding is a valid, safe choice. Babies thrive when fed correctly.
  • Use a first infant formula designed for newborns.
  • Follow preparation instructions exactly. Do not add extra powder or dilute.
  • Sterilise all bottles and teats until your baby is 12 months.
  • Make up feeds fresh each time, or store safely in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
  • Hold your baby close while feeding, and switch sides to encourage eye contact both ways.

Combination feeding, using both breast and formula, is also common and completely acceptable. For much more detail on positioning, latch, common problems and UK support, see our full breastfeeding guide.

Safe sleep (reducing the risk of SIDS)

NHS and Lullaby Trust guidelines for safe sleep:

  • Always place baby on their BACK to sleep (not side or front)
  • Baby sleeps in their own sleep space (Moses basket, cot or crib), in your room for the first 6 months
  • Firm, flat mattress with no soft bedding, pillows, bumpers or soft toys in the sleep space
  • Room temperature 16 to 20°C; use a sleeping bag rather than loose blankets
  • Do not smoke near the baby or in the home
  • Do not bed-share if you or your partner has consumed alcohol, taken sedative medication or drugs, or is very tired

Full, up-to-date information: Lullaby Trust (lullabytrust.org.uk). Always follow current NHS guidance.

Umbilical cord care

The cord stump dries and falls off naturally within 7 to 14 days.

  • Keep it clean and dry.
  • Fold the nappy down so it is not covered.
  • Clean with plain water if needed, and dry thoroughly.
  • Do not pull or pick at the cord stump — let it fall off on its own.

Contact your midwife if the stump bleeds, has pus or a foul smell, or if redness is spreading into the surrounding skin.

Your baby's nappies

First 1-2 days: meconium (dark green-black, tarry). This is the first bowel movement. Normal and expected.

Days 2-3: transitional stool (greenish brown).

Day 3-4 onwards: breastfed babies produce yellow, mustard-like watery stool. Formula-fed babies produce firmer, pale yellow-brown stool.

Nappy count guide (a key sign of good feeding)

  • Day 1: 1+ wet, 1+ dirty
  • Day 2: 2+ wet, 2+ dirty
  • Day 3: 3+ wet, 3+ dirty
  • Day 4: 4+ wet, 4+ dirty (at least)
  • Day 5 onwards: 6+ wet nappies per day, with regular dirty nappies

Contact your midwife if your baby's output is significantly lower than this.

Related guides and tools

Your postnatal recovery→ Mental health after birth→ Week-by-week pregnancy development→ Planning for birth→

A note from our team

This guide reflects NHS UK, Lullaby Trust and UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative guidance. Your midwife, health visitor and GP are your best sources of personalised advice in the early weeks. Read more about us.

Frequently asked questions

How often should a newborn feed?
Breastfed newborns typically feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, which feels like all the time in the first few weeks. Feeds are often cluster-fed in the evenings. Formula-fed babies feed less frequently (every 3 to 4 hours) because formula is digested more slowly. Either way, feed on demand rather than on a strict schedule.
How much should a newborn sleep?
Newborns sleep around 14 to 17 hours in every 24, but in short stretches of 2 to 4 hours. They have no sense of day and night at first, and waking frequently through the night is completely normal. Day and night rhythms start to emerge from around 8 to 12 weeks.
When does the umbilical cord fall off?
The cord stump usually dries and falls off within 7 to 14 days of birth. Keep it clean and dry. Fold the nappy down so it is not covered, and clean with plain water if needed. Do not pull or pick at the stump. Contact your midwife if it bleeds, has pus, smells foul, or if the surrounding skin is red and spreading.
How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk?
Key signs are: at least 6 wet nappies in 24 hours from day 5 onwards, regular dirty nappies, contentment after feeds, and weight gain from around day 5 (after an initial small loss in the first few days). Your baby should be alert and have good skin colour and muscle tone. Your midwife and health visitor will weigh your baby regularly in the first weeks.
What is normal newborn poo?
The first 1 to 2 days: meconium, which is dark green-black and tarry. Days 2 to 3: transitional stool, greenish brown. From day 3 to 4: breastfed babies produce mustard-yellow, watery stool with little seed-like bits. Formula-fed babies produce firmer, pale yellow-brown stool. All of this is normal. Blood, chalky white or very black stool after the first days should be reported to your midwife or GP.
When should I call 999 for my newborn?
Call 999 or go to A&E if your newborn has difficulty breathing or fast or noisy breathing, a temperature of 38°C or above (under 3 months), a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass, unusual floppiness or unresponsiveness, blue lips, a high-pitched or unusual cry, or seizures. Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, it is always better to seek urgent help.
Is the heel prick test painful?
It causes brief discomfort but is quickly over. A small lancet is used to make a tiny prick on your baby's heel and a few drops of blood are collected on a card. Breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, or giving a small amount of sugar water (sucrose) all help reduce the discomfort. The information it provides about rare serious conditions is very important.