Whether you breastfeed, bottle feed, express or do a bit of everything, your baby being fed and loved is what matters. Watch for early hunger cues — rooting, sucking on hands, smacking lips — and try to catch them before the cry.
Six or more wet nappies in 24 hours from around day 5 is often a useful sign feeds are landing. Cluster feeding (more frequent feeds, often in the evening) is normal and is not usually a sign of low supply.
If feeding hurts past the first few seconds of latch, if you have cracked or bleeding nipples, or if baby is sleepy at the breast, speak to a midwife, health visitor or lactation consultant. Open the Baby Help Hub for our Feeding Support Basics guide.
Some babies bring up wind quickly. Others need more time. If baby seems squirmy, pulls their knees up, or arches after a feed, a couple of minutes of upright winding often helps.
Try over the shoulder, sitting on your lap, or across your lap tummy-down — different positions move air differently. If nothing has come up after two minutes, it is okay to stop. A content baby does not always need to burp.
More on this in our how to wind a baby guide.
Newborns sleep around 14–17 hours a day, but in short stretches, day and night. Day-night confusion in the first 4–6 weeks is common. Longer night stretches often begin to appear over the first few months.
Always place baby on their back for sleep, on a firm, flat, clear surface, in a room around 16–20°C. Room-sharing for the first 6 months is the current safer-sleep guidance.
For more, see our newborn sleep tips page and the Baby Sleep Survival guide in the Help Hub.
Babies cry for many reasons — hunger, wind, tiredness, overstimulation, needing comfort, or discomfort. A simple checklist often helps: feed, nappy, wind, temperature, overstimulation, and finally just closeness.
Try one thing at a time and give it around two minutes before moving on. If you ever feel close to losing control, it is safe to place baby on their back in their cot and step away for a moment to breathe. Never shake a baby.
See the fussy baby help page for the full step-by-step.
Short, helpful visits beat long stressed ones. It is okay to ask people to wash their hands, skip kisses on the baby, bring a meal instead of a present, or come another day.
A simple line goes a long way: “We'd love to see you. Could we keep it to 30–45 minutes?”
The first few weeks are physically and emotionally demanding. Eat protein, drink water, and accept any help that is offered. Day 3–5 tears are common as your hormones shift — that does not mean something is wrong.
If you feel persistently low, anxious, unable to enjoy baby, disconnected, or you are having thoughts of harm, please reach out to your GP, midwife, health visitor or NHS 111 today. You are not alone, and perinatal mental health support is effective.
- Fever (37.5°C or higher in babies under 3 months; 38°C at any age)
- Difficulty breathing, laboured breathing, or blue lips
- A non-blanching rash (does not fade when pressed with a clear glass)
- Repeated or projectile vomiting, green or bloody vomit
- Refusing feeds for several hours or fewer wet nappies than expected
- Unusual drowsiness, floppiness, or a baby who is hard to wake
- You feel something is not right — trust your instincts
Frequently asked questions
What are the most useful new mum tips for the first few weeks?
Aim for the basics: feed on demand, sleep when you can (even short stretches), keep a water bottle and snacks within reach, accept practical help with meals and laundry, and stick to the back-to-sleep, firm-flat-clear-cot safe sleep guidance. Almost everything else can wait.
Is it normal to feel overwhelmed as a new mum?
Yes. Many new mums describe the early weeks as the hardest of their lives. Tearfulness around day 3–5 is common (often called the baby blues). Persistent low mood, intense anxiety, or thoughts of harm are different and worth a conversation with your GP, midwife or health visitor today — they are common and treatable.
How often should a newborn feed?
Most newborns feed 8–12 times in 24 hours. Cluster feeding in the evening is common and is usually not a sign of low supply. After day 5, six or more wet nappies in 24 hours is often a useful sign baby is getting enough.
When should I worry about my baby?
Contact a healthcare professional if baby has a fever (37.5°C or higher under 3 months; 38°C at any age), difficulty breathing, a non-blanching rash, repeated or green vomit, unusual drowsiness, fewer wet nappies than expected, or if something simply doesn't feel right. Trust your instincts.
What is the Calm Mum app?
Calm Mum is a practical digital guide for the first year with a new baby. It includes a Today page with daily insights, a Baby Help Hub for fussy babies, winding, teething, sleep and feeding, a Feed Tracker, and a Looking After You section for mum. It is educational support, not medical advice.
A calmer first year, one day at a time
Calm Mum is the practical, no-jargon guide for the first year with a new baby. Start free in under a minute — no card needed.
Calm Mum is educational support, not medical advice. It does not replace your GP, midwife, health visitor or emergency services. If you are worried about your baby's health, seek advice from a healthcare professional.