This is the moment you've dreamed about and waited for. You've planned for this day and have curated a special place in your home for this little one. It’s FINALLY time to bring home, baby! Umm, YAY! This is more than a celebration; this special moment will be in your memories forever. So, what do those first few moments at home look like? And what can you do to prepare?
The Basics When Bringing Home Baby
In those first few days at home, you will learn the basics of caring for your baby. It can feel a bit overwhelming walking into your home with a new little being that you've created without an instruction manual! No worries, Moms on Call's got you covered! Take a look at our Basic Videos linked below for those first special moments at home!
Moms on Call Basic Videos
- Baby Basics: Swaddling
- Baby Basics: Proper Nail Clipping
- Baby Basics: Nasal Suctioning
- Baby Basics: Soothing
- Baby Basics: Burping Techniques
- Baby Basics: Rectal Temperature
- Baby Basics: Ideal Sleep Environment
- We recommend a dual-firmness crib mattress like the Sleep & Grow Crib Mattress. It features extra-firm support that infants need on one side and less firmness on the other side to provide the comfort that toddlers prefer so that it will grow with your baby and their nursery!
- Baby Basics: Bathing
- Baby Basics: Diapering
Now we've mastered the basics and are settling into the day-to-day routine. But what does the day-to-day look like for those first two weeks?
In the Moms on Call Books, Online Courses, and Scheduler App 2.0, you can find our typical day schedules for two weeks to four years!
Here is a quick breakdown of what the day-to-day routine looks like during the first 2 weeks before we progress into schedules.
- Feed on demand every 2-3 hours
- From the start of one feeding to the start of the next!
- We are feeding for 30-45 minutes ‘from start to finish.’ Including burping (for both breast and bottle-fed babies).
- Try and spend about 2-3 minutes burping (do it ¾ of the way through the feeding and at the end).
- Keeping baby awake for feedings can be the most challenging part!
- Scratch the bottoms of their feet.
- Undress them down to the diaper.
- You can also wipe their heads with a cool washcloth to help them stay awake for the feeding.
- Extend tons of grace – you are both just getting the hang of this!
- Those first two weeks are a transition period for the entire family.
- You've got this!
- Then if baby is healthy and gaining weight, we can adjust to the 2-4 Week Typical Day Schedule found in the Moms on Call Resources.
- Babies with GI reflux are considered “healthy” as long as they are gaining weight
In those first few weeks, we are keeping track of wet/dirty diapers, feeds, and, well, just about everything! The brand new Moms on Call Scheduler 2.0 app is the perfect tool for busy parents ready to calm the chaos and create predictable routines that actually work!
Based on decades of pediatric health and development experience, we’ve designed a solution that allows parents to implement Moms on Call’s Typical Day schedules while easily tracking naps, nighttime sleep, feedings, and diaper changes without stress.
What's Next When Bringing Home Baby?
- Consistency is key!
- Having a few key markers in the day creates familiarity for our little ones.
- Stick to the schedule as much as life allows!
- Set realistic expectations!
- Especially for those daytime naps!
- Extend tons of grace!
- This journey is new, and there will be bumps in the road; that is completely normal!
