How to Survive Your First Night Home with Your Newborn

Congratulations on having a wonderful baby! You had a couple days in the hospital to get some helpful tips and spend some time healing, but today is the day to go home. You are feeling pretty confident and are excited about having your newborn home with you. Everything gets packed up, you get the baby into the car, and off you go. Hopefully, things will go smoothly! Halfway home you realize you have no idea what to expect!

The first night with your newborn is going to be special and overwhelming. All babies are different and unique, but for the most part, baby behavior is somewhat similar. When babies are first born, they are used to being in the womb full of warmth, soft sounds, and lots of darkness. This new environment is a lot to process for a newborn! Everything is bright, full of sound, and interesting smells. The only way your newborn has to respond to this is by crying.

Your fist night home with your newborn might be full of surprises. It is a good idea to prepare yourself for the worst - this way if things go well, you will be relieved, satisfied, and hopefully rested! There are many things happening before you have your baby, but take some time to prepare for when you come home with your newborn! This will help make the transition easier for everyone involved!

Find a space just for your newborn designated for sleep. Have the crib, co-sleeper, or basinet ready for bedtime. When you have a specific space for your newborn to sleep, it helps with your nighttime routine and allows your baby to understand that this space is for sleeping! It might take awhile before your newborn figures this out, but continue using your designated sleep spot so you don't confuse your newborn.

Talk with your partner about your nighttime routine. Make sure to decide who will wake up to soothe your newborn or be in charge of feedings. If you are planning on breastfeeding, make sure to have your partner be on call when your newborn wakes other than feeding times. As a new breastfeeding mother, your sleep is important! Don't try to do it all alone!

If you are breastfeeding, your first night home with your baby might be a sleepless night. Prepare yourself for this! You are already in pain from having a baby, probably already sleep deprived, and potentially getting a little frustrated with a crying newborn. Realize you might have a couple more challenging nights to come, but it will all work out for the best! Have a comfortable spot set up for yourself to breastfeed. This way you will know where to head with your baby in the middle of the night.

If you birthed vaginally, you will still be bleeding and when breastfeeding, expect to bleed a little more. Take care for yourself during this time also! Your doctor will prescribe medication for the pain, but don't forget to stay hydrated during the night when breastfeeding. If your milk hasn't come in yet, make sure to give your baby enough time to feed. Expect to spend up to 45 minutes each feeding. If your milk has come in, make sure to feed on demand to alleviate engorged breasts. If you are bottle-feeding, make sure your bottle warmer works and is ready to use. It's a great idea to time how long it takes to warm so you are prepared to keep your newborn distracted while waiting.

Purchase a baby swaddler or learn how to swaddle a baby before giving birth! This is an important part of helping your newborn have a successful first night. Your baby is used to being all cozy inside you and the best way to replicate this feeling is by swaddling your baby. The nurses at the hospital will show you how to swaddle, but it's really a good idea to have a baby swaddler at home, or have mastered the art of swaddling before your first night with baby. Your practice will be rewarded!

Decide if you are going to use a pacifier. If you are planning on it, have a few ready for the first night. Also, make sure to have diapers and wipes ready to go. Make sure you are comfortable changing a diaper in the dark; otherwise have a low light on so you can navigate without problems. You don't want the light to be too bright so your newborn doesn't think it is daytime. Newborns have a hard time distinguishing between night and day for the first couple weeks - light is their only clue. If you want to help promote a good night's sleep with your newborn, it's a good idea to keep things as dark as possible at night.

Remember that your newborn is going to cry. If you find yourself getting frustrated or upset by all the crying, let your partner take over. Don't feel bad if you are tired and overwhelmed! This is a new experience and everyone is getting used to it! With a little practice, everything will start going very smoothly. Stay consistent and don't give up! Your diligence will pay off and in no time, your newborn will be sleeping well, you will have a nighttime schedule, and everyone will be a lot more comfortable.

Hopefully your first night home with your newborn will be a successful one! By taking the time to prepare yourself prior to coming home with your new baby, there is less chance of frustration and challenges. Enjoy your first night and try to get some sleep!