Parent Pal Guide
Childcare & basic needs

The everyday basics, without the panic

The handful of things new parents look up most often in the first months — sleep, feeding, diapers, bathing and soothing.

Safe sleep

  • Always on the back, on a firm flat mattress, in their own sleep space.
  • Nothing else in the crib: no pillows, loose blankets, bumpers or soft toys.
  • Room-share (same room, separate surface) for the first 6 months if you can.
  • Keep the room cool — one layer more than you'd wear is plenty.

Feeding, roughly

  • Newborns feed 8–12 times a day, day and night. Feed on cues, not the clock.
  • Breastfed babies often feed every 1.5–3 hours; formula every 2–4 hours.
  • Typical bottle volumes: 60–90ml at 1 month, 120–180ml by 4 months.
  • Solids usually start around 6 months, once baby sits with support and shows interest.

Diapers & output

  • After day 5: about 6+ wet diapers a day is the simplest 'enough milk' signal.
  • Stools shift from black meconium to green-brown to yellow/seedy in the first week.
  • Change front-to-back, pat dry, and use a barrier cream at the first hint of redness.
  • Air time on a towel for a few minutes helps stubborn nappy rash.

Bathing & skin

  • 2–3 baths a week is plenty; top-and-tail wash on other days.
  • Water at about 37°C, 5–10cm deep, and never leave baby unattended.
  • Sponge baths only until the umbilical stump falls off (usually 1–3 weeks).
  • Fragrance-free wash and a thick unscented moisturiser for dry patches.

Holding & handling

  • Support the head and neck for the first few months — one hand behind the head.
  • Tummy time from day one while awake and watched: start at 1–2 minutes, build up.
  • Never shake a baby. If you're overwhelmed, put them down safely and step away.
  • Car seat rear-facing, harness snug, chest clip at armpit level.

Soothing that usually works

  • Skin-to-skin, swaddle (arms in, hips loose), and slow rocking.
  • White noise at conversation volume, roughly an arm's length away.
  • Side/stomach hold in your arms, plus a sucking option (breast, finger, pacifier).
  • Give each technique a full 2 minutes before switching — babies need time to settle.

General information only — not medical advice. Figures are typical ranges; your pediatrician's guidance for your baby always wins.