Week 1 With Your Newborn
What to expect — and how to feel confident through it all
Congratulations — your baby is here! Week 1 is one of the most tender, overwhelming, and magical chapters of new parenthood. If you’re feeling unsure about what’s “normal,” you’re in the right place. This guide walks you through what to expect in your newborn’s very first week — sleep, feeding, diapers, and all the little behaviors that might leave you wondering. Spoiler: almost everything is normal!
Sleep in Week 1
How much will my newborn sleep?
In the first week, newborns sleep a lot — typically between 16 and 18 hours out of every 24. Most babies sleep in cycles of 2 to 4 hours, wake to feed, and drift back to sleep. This pattern repeats around the clock, day and night.
Why does my baby sleep all day but wake all night?
Your newborn’s internal clock (circadian rhythm) hasn’t developed yet — it takes several weeks to begin forming. Day and night feel the same to your baby. Gentle exposure to natural daylight during the day and dim, quiet environments at night can start nudging that rhythm in the right direction.
Where should my baby sleep?
Safe sleep guidelines recommend a firm, flat sleep surface — a bassinet or crib — in the same room as the parents, with no loose bedding, pillows, or bumpers. Contact naps and motion sleep are completely fine in week 1; whenever possible, gently transitioning baby to their sleep surface is a good habit to build from the start.
💡 Quick Tip: Keep nighttime interactions calm and low-stimulation. Dim the lights, speak softly, and resist the urge to engage and play — this helps your baby begin to learn that night is for sleeping.
Feeding in Week 1
How often should I feed my newborn?
Newborns need to feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours — roughly every 2 to 3 hours. Feeding on demand — whenever baby shows hunger cues — is the most responsive approach during this stage.
What are hunger cues to watch for?
Early hunger cues include: rooting (turning head side to side, mouth searching), sucking on hands or lips, fussiness or restlessness, and crying (a late hunger cue — try to catch it before this point!).
How long should nursing sessions last?
Sessions can range from 10 to 45 minutes — both shorter and longer sessions can be perfectly normal. Babies are learning to latch and nurse efficiently, and you’re both still establishing the rhythm together.
What if I’m supplementing with expressed milk or formula?
Supplementing is completely normal in week 1. A typical bottle feed for a week-1 newborn is about 1 to 2 ounces per session. Always follow your baby’s cues and your pediatrician’s guidance.
💡 Quick Tip: Never wake a sleeping baby to feed… except in week 1! Until birth weight is regained (usually by day 10–14), most providers recommend waking baby to feed every 3 hours during the day if they haven’t stirred on their own.
Diaper Changes in Week 1
How many diapers per day is normal?
Diapers are one of the most reliable windows into your newborn’s health. Here’s what to expect day by day:
What does normal newborn poop look like?
In the first 24–48 hours, expect dark, tar-like meconium. By day 3–4, stools transition to a greenish-brown. By the end of week 1, breastfed babies typically have yellow, seedy, mustard-like stools, while formula-fed babies tend toward tan or yellow. All of these variations are completely normal.
💡 Quick Tip: Keep a small dot of diaper cream on hand from day one — the meconium is very sticky and can irritate sensitive newborn skin. A thin barrier layer at every change makes a big difference.
Normal Newborn Behaviors in Week 1
Week 1 newborns can be full of surprising behaviors! Here’s a rundown of what’s completely normal and what it means:
Sleeping constantly
Totally normal! Newborns need enormous amounts of sleep to support rapid brain and body growth. Don’t worry about your baby sleeping “too much” in week 1.
Sneezing, hiccupping & grunting
Newborns sneeze frequently to clear nasal passages — not a sign of illness. Hiccups are very common after feeds. Grunting while sleeping or having a bowel movement is normal as their digestive system figures things out.
Crying
Crying is your newborn’s primary communication tool. In week 1, it’s most often related to hunger, discomfort, or the need for closeness. You cannot spoil a newborn — responding promptly builds trust and security.
Startle reflex (Moro reflex)
Your baby suddenly throwing their arms out and pulling them back in is the Moro reflex — a normal neurological response. A snug swaddle can help muffle it and support longer sleep.
Spitting up
Small amounts of spit-up after feeds are very common. The valve between the stomach and esophagus is still maturing. Keep baby upright for 15–20 minutes after feeds and burp well mid-feed and after.
Looking around and closing eyes quickly
Newborns can only see about 8–12 inches in front of them. They tire quickly from visual stimulation, so shutting their eyes is healthy self-regulation — not boredom!
Feeling warm or cool to the touch
Newborns can’t yet regulate their own body temperature. Dress them in one more layer than you’re wearing, and keep room temperature between 68–72°F.
A Note from the TLNC Team
Every baby is beautifully unique, and week 1 looks a little different for every family. The patterns described here are general guides — not rules to measure yourself against. Each week, our team sends you a personalized care report based on your baby’s specific Baby Connect data — so you can see exactly how your baby is doing against these general milestones.
From all of us at Tender Luv Nu-Born Care — you are doing an incredible job. Week 1 is hard. It’s also magical. Lean into both, ask for help when you need it, and know that we are right here alongside you.
With warmth,
Roxanne Stinson & The Tender Luv Nu-Born Care Team