Baby care in the first week: a practical day-by-day guide

Newborn · Care · Reviewed 20 June 2026 · All articles

The first week with a newborn is unlike anything else. There is wonder, exhaustion, tenderness, and at times real uncertainty about whether you are doing the right thing. Most of what your baby needs in this window is straightforward: warmth, milk, clean nappies, and closeness. But knowing what to expect each day, and what to watch for, can take a great deal of anxiety out of those early hours and nights.

This guide walks through the first seven days day by day, then covers the practical routines that matter most: cord care, bathing, feeding, nappy changes, skin-to-skin time, and the signs that tell you things are going well or that it is time to call your midwife.

What to expect, day by day

Newborns do not behave the same way on day one as they do on day five. Understanding the natural arc of the first week helps you respond calmly rather than worry unnecessarily.

Day 1: alert, then sleepy

Many babies are remarkably alert in the first hour or two after birth. This is a good window for early skin-to-skin and a first feed, whether breastfed or formula-fed. After this initial alertness, most newborns become very sleepy and may be difficult to rouse for feeds. This is normal. Continue offering feeds every 2 to 3 hours, even if your baby seems uninterested. In these early hours, the important milk is colostrum: the thick, yellowish first milk that is packed with antibodies and exactly what a brand-new gut needs.

Day 2: deeper sleepiness, colostrum continues

The second day is often the sleepiest of the first week. Your baby is recovering from the effort of birth and adjusting to life outside the womb. Colostrum remains the sole food source, and although the volumes are small, they are precisely matched to your newborn's tiny stomach capacity. If breastfeeding, keep offering at each feeding cue, even when your baby falls asleep at the breast quickly. If formula-feeding, your midwife will advise on volumes appropriate for the first days.

Days 2 to 3: weight loss is normal

All newborns lose weight in the first few days, and this is not a sign that anything is wrong. The loss is mainly fluid, and up to 10 percent of birth weight is considered within the normal range. Your midwife will weigh your baby and monitor this. If weight loss exceeds 10 percent, additional support with feeding may be offered, but most babies fall well within the expected range.

Days 3 to 5: milk comes in, baby becomes more demanding

Around days 3 to 5, breastfeeding parents typically notice their milk supply increasing. Breasts may feel full, firm, or tender. This is called the milk coming in, and it marks the transition from colostrum to mature milk. As the milk supply grows, babies often become more wakeful and demanding. Frequent feeding at this stage is normal, and it is not a sign that you do not have enough milk. It is how supply and demand is established. Formula-fed babies may also become more settled as volumes can be increased slightly in line with their midwife's guidance.

Days 5 to 7: weight begins to recover

By the end of the first week, most babies have turned the corner on weight and are beginning to regain. Feeding has usually become more established, nappy output is increasing, and your baby may be showing more settled periods between feeds. Full return to birth weight typically happens by 10 to 14 days, so there is no expectation that this is complete by day 7. Your midwife will continue to monitor weight at home visits during this period.

Umbilical cord care

The umbilical cord stump is the small remnant left after the cord is clamped and cut at birth. It needs minimal intervention: the most important thing is to keep it clean and dry so it can shrink and fall off naturally.

Keep it dry. Avoid getting the stump wet during washing. Moisture slows the drying process and increases infection risk.
Fold the nappy down. Fold the front waistband of the nappy below the level of the stump at every change. This prevents urine contact and allows air to circulate.
No submersion. Until the stump has fallen off and the area has fully healed, keep your baby out of immersion baths. Top-and-tail washes are the right approach during this period.
Do not pull it off. The stump will detach on its own timeline, usually between 1 and 3 weeks after birth. Pulling or picking at it can cause bleeding and introduce infection.
Watch for signs of infection. Some redness directly at the base of the stump is normal as it separates. Spreading redness onto the surrounding skin, swelling, warmth, yellow or green discharge, or an unpleasant smell are all reasons to contact your midwife promptly.

Bathing your newborn

There is no need to rush a full bath. In the first week - and until the cord stump has fallen off - top-and-tail washing is the recommended approach. A full immersion bath is perfectly fine once the cord has detached and the navel area has healed.

Top and tail: how to do it

Top and tail means washing the key areas without submerging your baby in water. You need a bowl of warm water (test it with your elbow - it should feel comfortably warm, not hot), cotton wool or a soft cloth, and a clean towel. Work from the cleanest areas to the dirtiest: start with the eyes (wipe from inner to outer corner, using a fresh piece of cotton wool for each eye), then the face, neck folds, hands, and armpits. Finish with the nappy area, front to back.

Moving to a full bath

Once the cord stump has gone and any raw area at the navel has closed over, you can introduce a full bath. Fill the bath to about 8 to 10 cm. Water temperature should be around 37 to 38 degrees Celsius - use a bath thermometer or test with your elbow, which is more sensitive than your wrist. Lower your baby in gently, supporting the head and neck throughout. Never leave a baby unattended in water, even for a moment. There is no need for soap or bubble bath in the early weeks; plain water is sufficient and gentler on new skin.

Nappy changes: what to expect

In the first week, nappy output is one of the clearest signs that feeding is going well. The pattern changes significantly from day to day.

What to look for

Day 1 to 2: Expect meconium - the thick, dark green or black tar-like substance that has accumulated in the gut before birth. This is normal and not a cause for concern. One or two wet nappies in the first 24 hours is typical.
Day 3 to 4: Stools should start to lighten from black-green toward a greenish-brown or yellow as colostrum transitions to milk. Wet nappies should increase: aim for at least three to four wet nappies per day by day 3.
Day 5 onwards: Stools for breastfed babies typically become loose and yellow, sometimes described as seedy or mustard-like. Formula-fed stools are often paler and more formed. By day 5, you should be seeing at least five to six wet nappies per day and at least two to three dirty nappies, though some breastfed babies pass stool with every feed.

Fewer wet nappies than expected, no dirty nappies for more than a day or two in the first week, or stools that remain dark and tarry beyond day 3 are all worth mentioning to your midwife at the next visit or sooner if you are concerned.

How often to change

Change nappies whenever they are wet or soiled. In the first week this is likely to be 8 to 12 times per day, roughly in line with feeding frequency. Always clean from front to back to reduce infection risk, especially for girls. Barrier cream at each change helps protect against nappy rash.

Skin-to-skin time

Skin-to-skin contact, where your bare baby is held against your bare chest, is one of the most beneficial things you can offer in the first days and weeks. The benefits are well documented and wide-ranging.

What skin-to-skin does

Regulates temperature. Your body acts as a natural thermostat, warming or cooling your baby as needed. Newborns are not yet efficient at regulating their own temperature, and skin-to-skin is highly effective at maintaining warmth in the first hours.
Supports breastfeeding. Close physical contact stimulates feeding instincts in both parent and baby. Babies held skin-to-skin often show clear feeding cues and latch more readily. It also supports milk production by triggering the release of oxytocin and prolactin.
Calms and soothes. The sound of your heartbeat, your warmth, and your scent are all familiar to your newborn from life inside the womb. Skin-to-skin contact reduces stress hormones in both baby and parent.
Supports bonding. The closeness and eye contact during skin-to-skin help build the attachment relationship that underpins your baby's emotional development.
Stabilises breathing and heart rate. Research consistently shows that preterm and full-term babies held skin-to-skin show more stable heart and breathing patterns compared to babies who spend more time in cots.

Both birth parents and partners can offer skin-to-skin. There is no ceiling on how much is beneficial in the first days. Any time your baby is awake or fussy and you have a free arm, skin-to-skin is a good option.

Signs things are going well - and when to call your midwife

It is reassuring to know what progress looks like in the first week, and equally important to know which signs should prompt you to pick up the phone.

Signs that things are on track

Nappy output is increasing as described above: more wet nappies each day, stools lightening and becoming more frequent.
Your baby wakes for feeds or can be roused without great difficulty at least every 3 to 4 hours.
Feeding feels established enough that your baby is swallowing during feeds: you can hear or see gulping, especially once the milk has come in.
Weight loss stays within 10 percent of birth weight, and by day 5 your midwife notes the trend is beginning to reverse.
Your baby settles between feeds, even if briefly, and has alert periods during the day.
Skin colour is a healthy pink or appropriate tone for your baby's ethnicity when warm and fed.

When to contact your midwife or seek help

Weight loss greater than 10 percent of birth weight, or weight that continues to fall after day 4 to 5.
Your baby is very difficult to rouse for feeds, feeds for less than a few minutes, or refuses to feed.
Fewer wet nappies than expected, or dark concentrated urine in the nappy (may appear as orange or pink crystals - this is urate crystals from concentrated urine and warrants a check).
Jaundice that appears in the first 24 hours, or jaundice that spreads below the chest or involves the palms and soles of the feet.
Signs of infection at the cord stump: spreading redness, swelling, warmth, or smell.
A temperature above 38 degrees Celsius or below 36 degrees Celsius.
Rapid or laboured breathing, or grunting with each breath.
Skin that looks mottled, pale, or bluish - particularly around the lips.
Your own instinct that something is not right. You know your baby. If something feels off, call.

Your midwife will typically visit at home on day 1 to 2 and again around day 3 to 5. If anything concerns you between visits, do not wait. Midwives expect calls and questions in the first week, and there is no such thing as too trivial a concern when your baby is days old.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I feed my newborn in the first week?

In the first week, newborns typically need 8 to 12 feeds in 24 hours, which works out roughly every 2 to 3 hours. Breastfed babies may feed more frequently than formula-fed babies because breast milk digests faster. Follow your baby's hunger cues: rooting, sucking on hands, and turning the head are early signs of hunger. Crying is a late hunger cue.

How do I care for the umbilical cord stump?

Keep the cord stump clean and dry. Fold the front of the nappy down below the stump to allow air to reach it and prevent urine contact. Avoid submerging the stump in bath water. Do not try to pull it off. The stump will dry, shrink, and fall off naturally within 1 to 3 weeks. Contact your midwife if the surrounding skin becomes red or swollen, or if the stump smells unpleasant.

How much weight loss is normal in the first week?

It is normal for newborns to lose up to 10 percent of their birth weight in the first few days. This weight loss is mainly fluid. Most babies begin to regain weight from around day 4 or 5 as milk supply increases and feeding becomes more established. Babies typically return to their birth weight by 10 to 14 days. If weight loss exceeds 10 percent, or regain is slow, contact your midwife.

When can I give my newborn a full bath?

Until the umbilical cord stump has fallen off and the area has healed, it is best to give top-and-tail washes rather than a full immersion bath. Top and tail means washing the face, neck, hands, and nappy area with warm water and cotton wool. A full bath is fine once the cord has dropped off, usually 1 to 3 weeks after birth. Use water at around 37 to 38 degrees, test with your elbow, and support the head throughout.

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