Newborn - 3 months

Your baby will sleep most of the time, for the near future. There will be brief interludes of eating, pooping and peeing, but sleeping and growing are its main activities. Babies should sleep on alternating sides, their backs supported by a rolled blanket. Not on their backs or stomachs, or with blankets, pillows or stuffed animals nearby, because their necks aren’t sufficiently developed to move their heads away from breathing impediments. And for the same reasons, infants should NEVER sleep in the same bed with mom and dad. As much as this seems natural, it is extremely dangerous. If Mom is nursing, you can help by bringing the baby to her and returning it to  bed after feeding. Keep it in your room, if you feel more secure, but you will hear it, even down the hall. You understand the concept. Just help as much as you can.Wash your hands before and after handling baby. You may have been grocery shopping and pushing the cart, shaking hands, petting the dog or handling a phone. Who knows where unwanted germs gather. Get into the hand washing habit.

Crying is alarming to new parents. Newborns generally cry for three reasons . . .