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There is no other time like the moment when a 1-day-old newborn is born into a world of wonder, new beginnings, and love. Your baby is only a day old and is still getting used to life outside the womb. This time is the first time they are learning to breathe, eat, and move. At this age, you need a lot of skin-to-skin contact, gentle care, and quiet time together.
What Does My Newborn Look Like?
Your 1-day-old newborn baby will be a little different than what you expected. Many babies are born with puffy eyes, a slightly squished head (after a vaginal delivery), wrinkled or peeling skin. At first, their skin tone might be somewhat red or even a little bluish, and it should equal out within three days. You might also notice:
- Vernix: Vernix is the white, creamy coating that protects their skin in the womb.
- Lanugo: Soft, fine hair on the back or shoulders, called lanugo.
- Soft spots (fontanelles):Fontanelles are soft spots on the top of their head where skull bones have not yet fused.
These are all completely normal and a natural part of your baby's beautiful new arrival.
How Do Doctors and Other Medical Staff Check and Care for Newborns?
Immediately after birth, your newborn will be cared for by a team of doctors and nurses. However, these are important and routine checks to ensure your baby is healthy and adjusting well to the outside world.
- Apgar Score: Within 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth, the baby’s heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflexes, and skin color are measured using this quick test. It can help you decide if you need immediate medical help.
- Measurements: Your baby’s weight, length and head circumference are measured to set a baseline for their growth and development.
- Physical Exam: Your baby’s heart, lungs, abdomen, hips, skin and reflexes are checked (or) your baby gets a full head-to-toe check. It helps detect the very first sign of concern.
- Preventive Care: Your baby will receive antibiotic eye drops to prevent an eye infection, a vitamin K injection, and possibly the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.
- Screenings: A small blood sample is taken from the baby’s heel to test for rare but serious conditions. A painless hearing test is also performed.
- Ongoing Monitoring: Nurses will observe how well your baby is feeding, track their body temperature, and note wet and dirty diapers to ensure everything is functioning properly.
How Much Will My Baby Feed?
In the first 24 hours, your baby will eat very small amounts, and that is perfectly normal! They only have a tiny stomach (the size of a cherry) and can only take 5–7 mL (a teaspoon) of milk at a time.
Here’s what to expect:
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Breastfed babies: May feed every 1 to 3 hours, sometimes for comfort and sometimes for nutrition. Frequent nursing helps establish your milk supply. For moms who are recovering from birth and need more flexibility, a hands-free option like the Momcozy M5 Wearable Breast Pump can make it easier to pump comfortably while caring for your newborn. Don't miss out—Momcozy's Prime Day deals are the perfect time to grab the M5 at a great price. This all-in-one pump is designed to be ultra-quiet, lightweight, and gentle—offering a pain-free pumping experience while allowing you to stay close to your baby and move around freely.
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- Formula-fed babies: Usually, formula-fed babies have 5–15 mL (around 0.2–0.5 oz) per feeding every 2–3 hours.
Your baby may not look hungry for a while, but the longer the hours go on, the more he will feed. Feed on demand (when they show feeding cues like rooting, sucking motions or putting hands to their mouth)
How Much Will My Baby Sleep?
Your newborn will sleep a lot on the first day of life, averaging 16 to 18 hours per day, though not all at once. Newborns sleep for brief periods of one to three hours both during the day and at night.
Sleep schedules enable your baby's brain to grow while allowing them to wake up frequently enough to eat, keep warm, and interact with you. Frequent waking and general restlessness are common occurrences for a baby as they adjust to life outside the womb.
What Will My Newborn Do on the First Day?
Your newborn will spend the majority of their very first day sleeping, feeding and interacting with their new surroundings for just a short while. Newborns will spend much of their time resting, usually sleeping 16 to 18 hours a day in short stretches. While awake, your baby will have quiet alert periods where they open their eyes, look around the room and sometimes even focus on your face.
They’ll also display natural reflexes such as grasping your finger, rooting for the breast or bottle and turning their head to the touch. Your baby is adjusting to life outside the womb and learning to breathe steadily, stay warm and begin feeding. This big transition involves every little movement or sound, and your tranquil presence enables them to feel safe in their new world.
What Can My Baby See and Hear?
Because babies’ vision is still developing, they see best between 8 to 12 inches, which is the perfect distance to focus on your face when feeding or snuggling. High-contrast shapes, especially faces and eyes, capture their attention.
Your baby will be able to hear familiar voices (such as yours) and may be sensitive to loud or sudden sounds. Singing softly, making gentle noises and speaking softly will soothe your baby and make them feel safe and comfortable in their new surroundings.
How Often Will My Baby Cry?
Newborns cry often, sometimes for 1 to 3 hours or more a day, and it's normal. The baby’s first form of communication is crying. Babies cry to tell you they are hungry, uncomfortable, tired, or they simply want to be close to you. In the first few days, the baby might cry erratically as it gets accustomed to the new surroundings.
Eventually, you will learn what the different cries mean. If your baby is crying in general, then when you give them gentle comfort (such as feeding or changing a diaper), they will usually stop crying. Remember that crying is a normal and healthy part of your baby's development as they learn to communicate their emotions.
How to Deal with Baby’s Poos and Wees
In the first few days, your newborn will have frequent bowel movements and urination, and it won’t look like what you are expecting. Baby poos start as a sticky, dark greenish-black substance called meconium, which gradually becomes softer and yellowish brown as the baby starts to digest milk. To care for your baby’s diapers:
- To care for your baby’s diapers:
- To keep your baby dry and clean and possibly prevent diaper rash, change their diapers frequently.
- Wipe gently with fragrance-free wipes or warm water and a soft cloth.
- Clean from front to back when you clean to avoid getting infections (especially girls).
- Before you put a new diaper on the baby, keep the baby’s skin dry.
- Apply a barrier cream or ointment to the skin if it becomes red or irritated.
If you keep your baby happy and healthy, regular diaper changes and gentle care will make the baby happy and healthy.
FAQ
Visits from Friends and Family: Tips for New Parents
The first few days after having a baby can be exciting, overwhelming and a little bit scary and visiting a newborn can be too. Set clear boundaries to keep it safe and comfortable—limit the number of people coming at a time, ask all visitors to wash their hands before picking up the baby, and politely postpone a visit if anyone is under the weather. It’s okay to ask for help and prioritize family rest and bonding time.
What Is the Newborn 2-Hour Rule?
The ‘2-hour rule’ is a rule that you should feed your newborn at least every 2 hours in the first few weeks, especially the first day. If you’re breastfeeding, it also helps ensure your baby gets enough food and gains good weight and helps your milk supply build-up. Also important is feeding on demand, not just ‘by the clock.’
Is It Bad to Hold Your Newborn While They Sleep?
It’s not bad to hold your newborn while they sleep; it certainly is comforting for both baby and parent. Skin-to-skin contact helps your baby regulate its temperature, breathing and heart rate and helps to bond with you. Just make sure, when you do put your baby down, that you put them down on their back in a firm, flat crib or bassinet to decrease the risk of SIDS. Do not ever fall asleep with your baby on a couch or soft surface.
Conclusion
It is a special moment when you welcome your 1-day-old newborn, share your love with them, and experience new things together. Life outside the womb is new for your baby and requires tender care, frequent feeding and lots of rest. Knowing their early behaviors, medical checks, and how to comfort them makes you a more confident parent. Be patient and gentle during this delicate time—this is the beginning of a beautiful journey together.
