What Do Newborn Babies Need?

A newborn baby needs more than diapers and formula. Providing comfort, warmth and love to a newborn is as important as keeping him clean and fed.

    • Find out about newborn baby needs

    Basics

    • Parents or caregivers of a newborn need a supply of clothes, blankets, diapers, wipes, rash ointment, bath wash, infant bathtub, crib or bassinet, thermometer, rubbing alcohol, nasal aspirator, infant fever reducer and a car seat. Bottle-fed babies require formula, bottles, nipples and bottle brushes.

    Sustenance

    • Breastfeeding newborns should eat 8 to 12 times a day. Formula-fed newborns generally eat every 2 to 4 hours, consuming up to 3 oz. for each feeding.

    Clothing

    • A newborn's head, hands and feet should not feel too hot or too cold. Parents can dress their baby as they would themselves, plus an extra layer.

    Comfort

    • A swaddled newborn

      Newborns find comfort when swaddled in a receiving blanket, but likewise need to be monitored so they do not become too hot.

    Touch

    • Debra Moore, Ph.D., emphasizes the importance of touch for newborns. Without human touch, newborns lose weight, become ill or even die. (See References 3)

    Considerations

    • A pediatrician may recommend other needs for newborns, especially if they are premature.

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