What New Parents Should Know Before Leaving the Hospital (Baby Sleep, Feeding, When to Call Doctor, etc.) What New Parents Should Know Before Leaving the Hospital (Baby Sleep, Feeding, When to Call Doctor, etc.)

What New Parents Should Know Before Leaving the Hospital (Baby Sleep, Feeding, When to Call Doctor, etc.)

Marie Udell, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

This blog was written in paid partnership with Dr. Brown's.

If you're a first-time mom, it's completely normal to feel a little overwhelmed. There is so much to learn, but here's the good news: parenting isn't about knowing everything on day one. It's about asking questions and learning as you go.

At its core, newborn care comes down to three main things:

  • Feeding your baby
  • Providing a safe place to sleep
  • Knowing when to call your pediatrician

Let's break those down.

Feeding Your Baby

During your hospital stay, you may have noticed that your baby was very sleepy and needed to be woken up for feeding — this is completely normal in the first couple of days of life.

Once you bring your baby home, reality often sets in. Many newborns begin cluster feeding, meaning they want to eat every 45 minutes to one hour. While this can feel exhausting, it is normal and temporary. If you are breastfeeding, cluster feeding typically occurs 3-5 days postpartum and plays an important role in helping your milk supply come in and regulate itself. Breastfeeding is based on supply and demand, so the more your baby demands a feed, the more it tells your body to continue producing.

Trust your baby's cues and know that frequent feeding in the early days is expected and not necessarily a sign that something is wrong.

Safe Sleep

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), safe sleep recommendations include the following:

  • Always place your baby on their back for every sleep (during naps and nighttime).
  • Use a firm, flat mattress in a federal safety standard-approved crib, bassinet, or portable play yard.
  • Avoid soft surfaces such as couches, pillows, or adult beds, and avoid infant loungers.
  • Keep the sleep space empty — no blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, or crib bumpers.

For warmth, dress your baby in a wearable sleep sack or swaddle instead of using loose blankets. Loose blankets can end up covering their face and cause a suffocation risk.

Swaddling can be very helpful during the first 3-4 months of life. It soothes babies by reducing the moro reflex (also known as the startle reflex), which can cause sudden arm movements that wake them up. Room sharing (having your baby sleep in a crib or bassinet in your room next to your bed) is recommended for the first few months to better manage your baby's hunger cues and sleeping patterns. However, surface sharing is not recommended due to the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

When to Call Pediatrician

Knowing when to call your pediatrician can feel intimidating as a new parent. When in doubt, always reach out; your pediatrician would much rather reassure you with a quick conversation than have you worry at home. Here are some key situations to watch for in the newborn period.

Spit Up/Vomiting

In the first few days, you may notice your baby gagging or spitting up mucus. This often happens because babies swallow small amounts of amniotic fluid during birth. Keeping a bulb syringe nearby can help gently clear your baby’s nose and mouth — just be sure you know how to use it safely.

If your baby has bilious (green) or bloody spit-up or forceful/projectile vomiting, notify your nurse or pediatrician immediately.

Jaundice

Before getting discharged from the hospital, your baby’s bilirubin level is checked via a quick test. Elevated bilirubin can cause yellowing of the skin or eyes, known as jaundice. Slight jaundice is normal, but if bilirubin levels become too high, jaundice can be dangerous and may cause brain damage known as kernicterus.

Bilirubin levels typically peak around days 4-5 of life and then naturally decline. It is common for breastfed babies to have longer-lasting, mild facial jaundice that usually resolves. Before leaving the hospital, your providers will let you know if bilirubin levels need to be rechecked before your first pediatrician appointment.

Because bilirubin is excreted through stool and urine, tracking feedings and diaper output is especially important during the first week of life. Regardless, you should call your pediatrician if you notice:

  • Increasing yellowing of the skin or eyes
  • Excessive sleepiness or lethargy
  • Difficulty waking your baby for feedings

Diaper Output

Your baby's diaper output is an important indicator of hydration and feeding adequacy. In the first two days of life, you may only see one to two wet diapers in a 24-hour period. Once breast milk supply comes in, it's common for babies to have four to six wet diapers in a 24-hour period. Typically, parents are changing a diaper with each feeding (about every 2-3 hours). If your baby has fewer than three wet diapers in a 24-hour period, contact your pediatrician.

Fever

If your baby feels warm, check their temperature rectally, which is the most accurate method for newborns. Seek medical attention right away if your baby's temperature is 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Newborns have immature immune systems and are not yet vaccinated, which puts them at higher risk for serious infections such as meningitis. Babies under 3 months of age always require prompt medical evaluation for fever.

You don't need to know everything to be a great parent. Feed your baby, give them a safe place to sleep, and trust yourself to recognize when something doesn’t feel right. When in doubt, call your pediatrician. That's what they're there for.

You're learning, your baby is learning, and you're doing better than you think.

About the Author

Marie is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, mom of three, and the founder of Loving Littles LLC, a text-based support service designed to guide parents through the joys and challenges of their child’s early years. Currently pursuing her IBCLC certification, Marie is passionate about empowering parents with evidence-based knowledge, practical tips, and reassurance so they can confidently care for their babies. Through her work, she combines her clinical expertise with her personal experience as a parent to create a supportive, accessible resource for families navigating the first stages of childhood.

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