Your newborn has changed your world and often resembles what can only be described as a scrunched up old man.
This is normal. Your baby will stretch out and become less ‘scrunched’ as they get used to being outside of the womb.
This is why swaddling is so comforting for most babies as it mimics the snugness of the womb.
Your newborn is ruled by feeding and sleeping and therefore needs a routine, lots of love and attention, physical affection and their needs met. Feeding will generally be every 2-3 hours and is the most important thing to newborn.
Sleep comes a close second. A newborn will sleep 16-17 hours in a 24 hour day but the make up of that may vary greatly.
Sleep can be quite intermittent. Although at the end of the first month they should have fallen into a semi regular feeding and sleeping pattern.
A newborn has three phases: sleepiness, quiet alertness and active alertness. It is important not to overstimulate as they are getting used to the extra stimulation of just being outside the womb.
Up to around 3 months their movements are largely uncontrolled but the jerky movements may becoming less.
During their first few weeks/months they are relying on reflex movements which are ingrained in them and they use them for their everyday survival.
Your baby’s primitive reflexes, such as sucking and chewing on his hands, remain dominant.
A newborn will express themselves the only way they know how….by crying.
By the time they have reached 1 month they should be able to do such things as turn their head towards sounds and light, from side to side or watch faces of those who are talking to them or feeding or playing with them. They will show pleasure by smiling, etc.
A baby needs to have tummy time to promote strength in their neck muscles and helps to encourage essential skills and movements that they will need to learn such as rolling, crawling, sitting and the hand-eye co-ordination skills.
Tummy time is recommended to be transitioned in from an early age. The length of time slowly increased over time until by the time they reach 3 months they are actively playing on their tummy during the day.