'Typical' day with a newborn

[OzGirlNat]

I've never looked after a baby before, let alone been responsible for a new born full time so I really don't know what to expect (apart from lots of crying, feeding and dirty nappies).

I appreciate there is no such thing as a typical day, but am curious to know what you all do/did in a day for the first couple of months. I imagine it's totally full on and keeping the house clean and tidy probably goes out of the window, as does showering or sleeping etc but I don't know if I'm just expecting it to be worse than it actually is, or if I'm being realistic.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Esoames]

When they are tiny they are very very demanding and it seems like its one long continuous cycle of feed, burp, bottom, bed. For the first few weeks Isla fed 10-12 times a day (demand fed breastfeeding) and had up to 8 nappies. She napped every few hours, i think the longest she stayed awake was an hour! All we did for the first three weeks is cuddle her. We didn't do anything and it was great.

For me it gets more demanding when they are older and they need more stimulation. Isla is nearly ten months old and needs constant stimulation. I love her to bits but shes hard work! at least as a new newborn I could put her down and she would enjoy lying on her back wacking her toys. She follows me everywhere which is cute but i can't get anything done!

I keep saying to Denis (my husband) I wish we'd had twins! Then they could amuse each other. Not that I don't enjoy playing with her, but i can't even get a drink or a snack without her whinging lol

emma xx

 

[Roo3]

At the moment, my life pretty much revolves around feeding, changing nappies, burping and cuddling. Occasionally get some time to get jobs done whilst Jake sleeps but he tends to cat nap so I just get to start a job when he starts crying or fussing for attention.

 

[riotfox]

Lucas usually wakes up in the morning at 6am. It's then change nappy, feed, play and nap. This goes in 3 hourly cycles throughout the day. I try to go for a walk every afternoon to get some fresh air. I also go to baby massage on a Wed afternoon and aim to go swimming once a week one morning as well. We then start his bath at 7pm. After the bath he has a massage, a bottle and then he sleeps through till 6am usually. It was 2 night feeds at first and then that reduced to 1 and now none! It was very demanding at first but now I have got used to when he feeds so I am prepared and we are a lot more organised. xx

 

[Constantstar]

Luckily is a wierd way Owen being in scbu has put in him in a routine . He is now at 4 and a half weeks and in getting him in 5 hourly feeds ( I'm quite strict if he wakes and cries il play with him etc and keep him busy so we keep to 5 hours as I think routine Is important so early on) I always change his nappy before a feed, every feed so he knows the routine. xx


---
-

 

[rainbow dancer]

my hubby was away for the first 8 weeks after lucy was born and it was really hard as ive never had much to do with kids lets alone babies!!, i remember the constant need for nappy change feed burp etc etc, it was hard work but so worth it. i was lucky if i managed a shower and dinner somenights but to be honest i didnt mind lol!! as for housework dont worry bout it, and rest when baby does, inever did and wished i had. good luck its so amazing xx

 

[xxbeckyxx]

I think I might be an odd one out here as I found it a lot easier than I thought I would! Yes it was hard work, and it never stopped, and there were nights when Lizzie would be awake from 10pm to 4am, but I still think it's harder now than when she was tiny!
She used to sleep a lot in her moses basket or play under her baby gym (we got a musical one with lights etc, kept her amused for ages!) so I could get loads done! When she was newborn I didn't like being in the shower while she was asleep in case I couldn't hear her so I used to strap her in her car seat and bring her in the bathroom with me.

I get less done around the house now because Lizzie always wants to be doing something or going somewhere or looking at interesting things, her toys only distract her for minutes at a time lol.

However hard you find it though, it's totally worth it

 

[isobel84]

For us it was boobie, poo, boobie, poo, change of clothes, sleep, boobie, change of clothes for sick, cuddle, poo, boobie, poo.. u get the idea.. it took me a good 3 weeks before I felt I was actuLly alive xx

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk

 

[isobel84]

We changed about 10-15 nappies a day first 3-4 weeks x

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk

 

[Roo3]

It's been easier than I thought it would be too. I was expecting sleepless nights and non stop crying but Jake has been quite contented so far and although we're not as lucky as Riotfox with the sleeping, Jake does let me get about 7 hours sleep a night with one or rarely 2 feeds a night.

He has only ever cried when he wants feeding or picking up. Never for no reason and he doesn't even cry when he wants feeding at night, he just grumbles and kicks the foot of his crib!!

The thing I've found hardest is he doesn't like to be put down for long during the day so I don't manage to get much done round the house, but there's always a grandparent willing to take him off my hands so I can get the cleaning or ironing done!

However hard it is, and some days are harder than others, Jake just has to smile at me and I'll forgive him anything! One little smile makes all the hard work so worthwhile!

 

[JJ Mum]

I think your description of a newborn week pretty good actually. You will have good weeks and worse weeks but just try not to expect too much of yourself to start with, that's all. Some people put themselves under pressure to be imressive when it's not about that. Your Health visitor will be more impressed if when she comes round , your in your PJ's and the house is a mess - she will know the baby is cared for and youve not got depression and trying to hide it.

Baby will have nappy change, feed, poop (another nappy change) then sleep, that's it so get aquainted with your sofa for feeding, have your phone, water, laptop, fav books, magazines, tv controllers, music etc to hand and relax and enjoy your baby

 

[ippa]

Luckily is a wierd way Owen being in scbu has put in him in a routine . He is now at 4 and a half weeks and in getting him in 5 hourly feeds ( I'm quite strict if he wakes and cries il play with him etc and keep him busy so we keep to 5 hours as I think routine Is important so early on) I always change his nappy before a feed, every feed so he knows the routine. xx


---
-

Scbu put Matthew in a routine aswell! When he came out he was feeding every 4 hours, which over the next few weeks went to every 6, he has slept through the night since about 12 weeks.
But during the day, I found it so much easier when he was tiny, as he slept most of the day only really waking for feeds and nappy change!
Now he sleep about 3 hours during the day on and off and when he is awake he demands attention! But just as well I enjoy playing with him lol!
XxX


---
-

 

[FeeGee]

I did alot of sitting on the couch as I had had a c section which then split open!

From 5 days old I took her out for a walk everyday, I liked to make sure she got some fresh air daily ... I had a layflat buggy just for in the house so when she wasnt being cuddled I'd lay her in there and just keep an eye on her ... you dont have to do that much with a newborn and they arent going to go anywhere themselves, they dont need entertaining - as long as you have that bottle ready on time and you havnt got a baby with colic or anything then I think its a good time for yourself to relax as much as you can and dont worry about housework - as long as your baby has clean clothes, nappies and food youre doing grand! xxxx

 

[OzGirlNat]

Thanks so much for all your replies, they've been really really helpful. I feel a little bit more prepared now. As prepared as you can ever be anyway. I imagine it'll still be a shock to the system.

 

[titch]

But during the day, I found it so much easier when he was tiny, as he slept most of the day only really waking for feeds and nappy change

---
-

oh my goodness, this was so opposite from my expereince! He rarely slept properly and screamed and threw up all the time, he could projectile vomit so nothing was safe, Id feed, change nappy, and spend most of the time walking around with him on my chest patting his back and 'shushing' him, desperately hoping that any second hed do a massive burp and stop screaming, if I needed to clean up sick Id have to put him down in the pram and listen to him scream hysterically while I did it, same goes for showering, eating, pretty much everything. I thought that was pretty typical until I read this thread. My mumtold me he was a difficult baby but when its your first you have no idea whats 'normal' anyway. I did take him to A&E once cos I was sure he was dying at the very least the way he was screaming

 

[OzGirlNat]

Oh hun, poor you. That's sounds awful (but pretty much what I'm fearing). How old is your LO now?

 

[titch]

Hes 1 today

 

[DaisyPurple]

I'm still finding hard as my 9.5 year old is still very demanding, and needs constant attention, love him to bits though so I've just got used to it, but its sometimes such hard work, xx

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk

 

[OzGirlNat]

Hes 1 today

Awww! Happy Birthday! xx