Parenting Your Newborn

Hello new mom or dad! How are you adjusting to having a new member of your family? Whether this is your first baby or your fifth, bringing a new member of the household home means changes!

One of those changes can come in the form of noise – specifically, crying. Crying tends to ramp up from two to six weeks of age and decrease greatly after three months. This is normal.

Frustration with a crying baby is the number one trigger for the shaking and abuse of infants. Remember, if you are distressed, place your baby down in a safe place and walk away to get refreshed and gain a new perspective. How much crying is normal?

Feeling of being overwhelmed are common, but if the feeling that you can’t cope doesn’t go away in a few weeks, we encourage you to talk with your doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife. Check out the resources on this page and don’t be afraid to reach out for help from family, friends or one of the free services below. Little-known fact: dads can get postpartum depression too.

Your newborn checklist: getting your bearings

Here are some of the health priorities to squeeze in during the first month.

✓ If you have any concern that your baby is not feeding well, call your physician, midwife or the Client and Community Support Team at 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006. Find local breastfeeding support as soon as possible.

✓ Use safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Put your baby to sleep on his back, in a non-smoking environment that doesn’t contain any loose bedding or clothing.

✓ Spend time skin-to-skin (this goes for dads and partners too!). Key times include right after birth (until after baby’s first feed) and before any painful medical procedure (e.g., having blood drawn or getting a needle).

✓ Study those little nose scrunches and yawns. As baby’s facial expressions and gestures change, respond to them. (The same goes for cries and tears!).

✓ Sign up to receive Nipissing developmental checklists by email. They highlight any areas of growth or development that you might want to speak to your baby’s healthcare provider about. The earlier we identify challenges, the better chance we can help children meet their full potential.

✓ For information and videos about infant car seat safety, visit the Ontario Ministry of Transportation website. To search for a car seat clinic near you, visit the Government of Canada website.

Guides and resources

  • Feelings After Birth is a support group for mothers of infants and toddlers up to age 2 who are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, helpless or irritable/angry with family members

Your local and Public Health supports

Looking forward? Read ahead to 1-3 months >