Welcome to the wonderful world of parenting!

How Much Sleep?
During the first week, your baby will sleep 14 to 18 hours a day, and then 12 to 16 hours a day for the rest of the month. All of this sleep is necessary for brain development. At around 6 to 8 weeks, he’ll start snoozing more during the night and less during the day. And although every baby is different, by 3 to 6 months, he’ll likely be sleeping through the night (at least 5 or 6 straight hours).

Resting Easy

Your baby’s schedule may seem like a free-for-all in the first few months, but here are some things you can do to help him catch his zzz’s:

·        Have him sleep in your bedroom, if possible. Keeping him close will make it easier to feed or soothe him. Many parents prefer a bassinet (rather than a crib) for the first few months because it’s smaller and can be moved from room to room. The snug confines may also feel more comforting to your baby.

·        Watch the temperature. Avoid putting the crib near a drafty window, but also be aware that a too-warm room can interrupt sleep. Set the room temperature in a range that’s comfortable for a lightly clothed adult (68° to 70°F).

·        Make some noise. Your baby spent the last nine months in the womb, which is a pretty loud place. So he may find it easier to sleep with some background noise instead of complete silence. The gentle buzz of a fan or a white noise machine should do the trick.

·        Teach him the difference between night and day. During night feedings and changings, keep the lights dim and stay quiet and calm (it’s no time for play!). This will help your baby learn that nighttime is meant for sleep.

·        Put him down drowsy. If you hold or rock him until he falls asleep and then put him to bed, he’ll have a tough time learning how to self-soothe. Instead, try putting your baby to bed when he’s sleepy but still awake so he can teach himself how to fall asleep on his own.

His Changing Sight

Your baby’s vision will develop quickly, improving every day until reaching maturity at about 6 to 8 months. Most of the work is taking place in his brain, which needs to develop the ability to process the information his eyes are taking in. Here’s what to expect from his budding sense of sight, and how you can help nurture it.

Birth At first, your little one can’t focus on anything farther than 8 to 15 inches away, which is about the distance between the two of you when you hold him. Instinctively, he’s fascinated by faces—especially yours!

What you can do Spend lots of face-to-face time with him so he can see you clearly (feeding time counts!). Be expressive, and make sure to smile a lot.

1 Month Your baby can see some color, but he has trouble distinguishing between different shades, so high-contrast patterns are most appealing.

What you can do Introduce toys with bold but simple contrasting patterns, like a black-and-white checkerboard design.

2 Month By his second month, your baby will learn how to work his eyes together. (Before this happens, you may notice his eyes wandering apart from each other or even crossing.)

What you can do Slowly move an object (like a rattle) from side to side in front of him so he can track it with his eyes. Or have him follow your gaze as you slowly move your head side to side.

3 Months As he learns to distinguish the difference between colors, he’ll prefer primary colors, like bright reds and blues.

What you can do Play with boldly-colored soft toys and books. He’ll also love gazing at his own reflection in a baby-safe mirror.

4 Months He can now see objects up to 12 feet away, and he’s starting to develop depth perception, which allows him to reach out and grasp small toys.

What you can do Hold items like rattles and teething rings in front of him so he can try to grab them. He may also start to reach for your hair, necklace, or (ouch!) earrings.

5 Months He’s getting very good at spotting small objects, and he may be starting to understand that an object is present even if he can only see a part of it.

What you can do Play peek-a-boo! He’ll love seeing your face pop out from behind a blanket.

6 Months and Beyond By about 6 to 8 months, your baby’s vision will reach 20/20. He can distinguish colors, focus on details, and track even rapid motion.

What you can do Offer him brightly colored toys with parts that he can grasp, bat at, or pull (to help develop eye-hand coordination), and take him for walks and point out various objects (“Look at that red bird in the tree!”).

·        Babies need an additional layer (one more layer than you do) to keep their tiny bodies warm. So buying a bunch of solid cotton bodysuits for under dresses, sweaters, pants, and pj’s makes sense. They’re inexpensive and so cozy that most babies live in them. Bodysuits also add a protective layer between clothing and diaper in the event of a leak.

·        Look for clothes that are easy to get on and off. Consider kimono-style shirts or other pieces that snap up the front so you can avoid pulling everything over baby’s head.

·        Instead of buying outfits, opt for mix-and-match separates. This way, if she gets one part of her outfit dirty, you can just change that piece and she’ll still look fabulous!

·        Don’t forget the most important accessory: a hat. Keep a cotton or knit one on a newborn to conserve body heat. As baby gets older, make sure she has at least one for summer (something with a brim) and one for winter (knit or made of fleece, ideally with coverings for her ears).

·        Footwear can be a bit tricky. Look for sock styles that stay put—pulling off her socks may soon become one of your baby’s favorite activities. Often, the thicker the material, the more challenging it is to get them to stay on. You might want to put soft shoes on her as well, to keep the socks on and her feet protected.

·        Wash all her clothes before she wears them. Use a mild detergent (like Baby Magic Mild Laundry Detergent) so you don’t run the risk of irritating her delicate skin. But don’t feel you have to wash her clothing separately from the rest of the family’s. As long as you’re using a mild detergent, you can put everything in together.

Outdoor Smarts

Are you wondering if your baby might feel a little chilly? Consider this: If you’re feeling cold, then your baby’s feeling colder. That’s because babies lose body heat much faster than adults. Here’s how to bundle your little one up before you head out:

·        Dress your child in thin, breathable layers. She might wear one or two t-shirts, a turtleneck, a sweater, and a coat to keep her torso warm, and thermal underwear and pants on the bottom. A good rule of thumb: Dress her in one more layer of clothing than you have on.

·        Try a blanket as an extra layer for a newborn—it’s often easier than dressing a very young baby in lots of clothes.

·        Add the right accessories: warm socks or booties, gloves or mittens, and a hat. Remember, your baby loses half of her body heat through her head. (And so do you!)

·        But be careful not to overbundle; babies overheat easily. Put her jacket on right before you leave the house, and take it off once you’re back indoors. If you’re traveling, make sure she doesn’t overheat in transit: Peel off her hat and coat once the car heats up.

Skin Savers

Old Man Winter can also leave baby’s sensitive skin irritated. (The cold air outdoors and the heated air indoors can strip her skin of its natural moisture.) Here’s how to keep her smooth and oh-so-soft:

·        Don’t go overboard with baths, which can leave her little body with chapped skin or dry patches. Limit tub time to ten minutes, every other day. Use warm water—not hot—and soap her up sparingly to prevent skin from drying out. Right after you towel her off, apply Baby Magic Calming Baby Lotion to lock in moisture. She’ll have soft skin and smell great too!

·        Prevent chapped skin. Getting wet (from playing with snow, for instance) can lead to chapped skin, so keep your baby’s hands, feet, and face as dry as possible. If her mittens or socks get wet, change her into a fresh pair as soon as you can.

·        Protect her from the sun. Even in the middle of winter, the sun’s rays can reach your baby, especially if they’re reflecting off the snow. If you can’t avoid the sun, apply a small amount of baby sunscreen to exposed areas, like her face.