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consejosAt the hospital they show you how to change a nappy and how to breastfeed or bottle-feed, but many questions come later, once you're home. We've gathered the most common first-month questions into five charts: how many nappies are normal, how much fits in their tummy, how much tummy time, how to dress them for sleep and how to tell they're hungry.
These are general guidelines. Every baby is different: if you have any doubts, ask your paediatrician or midwife.
1. Nappies per day
Counting nappies is one of the simplest ways to know they're feeding well in the first days.
| Age | Wet nappies | Dirty nappies |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 1 or more | 1 or more (meconium, black and sticky) |
| Day 2 | 2 or more | 1 or more, changing colour |
| Days 3–4 | 3–4 or more | 2 or more, from greenish to yellow |
| From day 5 | 6 or more, heavy and wet | 2 or more, yellow |
| From 6 weeks | 6 or more | Varies: breastfed babies may go several days without a dirty nappy |
Call your paediatrician if they have fewer wet nappies than expected, if their poo is very white or pale, or if you see blood.
2. The size of their tummy
A newborn's stomach is tiny and grows very fast. That's why they eat little and often, and it's normal for them to want feeding every 2–3 hours.
| Age | Approximate size | Capacity per feed |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | A cherry | 5–7 ml |
| Day 3 | A walnut | 22–27 ml |
| First week | An apricot | 45–60 ml |
| 1 month | An egg | 80–150 ml |
3. Tummy time
Placing your baby on their tummy, awake and with you beside them, strengthens the neck, back and arms and helps prevent a flat head. For sleep, always on their back.
| Age | How long |
|---|---|
| Newborn | 2–3 times a day, 3–5 minutes each time |
| 2 months | 15–30 minutes a day in total |
| 3 months | About 30 minutes a day in total |
| 4–6 months | Longer and longer, as they enjoy it |
| 6 months onwards | 60–90 minutes a day in total, until they crawl |
Do it on a firm surface (a blanket on the floor), with a toy or your face in front of them to encourage them to lift their head.
4. How to dress them for sleep by temperature
The ideal room temperature is between 16 and 20 °C. A room thermometer takes the guesswork out of it, and feeling the back of their neck or chest tells you if they're too warm (hands and feet are usually cooler).
| Room | Sleeping bag | Underneath |
|---|---|---|
| Below 16 °C | 2.5 tog | Long-sleeve bodysuit and pyjamas |
| 16–20 °C | 2.5 tog | Bodysuit and pyjamas |
| 21–23 °C | 1 tog | Bodysuit (and light pyjamas at 21 °C) |
| 24 °C or more | 0.5 tog | Short-sleeve bodysuit or just a nappy |
For sleep: no hats, loose blankets or pillows in the cot. We explain it in more detail in how to dress your baby for sleep, and here are our pyjamas and bodysuits.
5. Hunger cues
Crying is the last sign of hunger. If you learn to spot the early ones, feeds are calmer for both of you.
| When | What they do |
|---|---|
| Early cues: «I'm hungry» | Wakes and stirs, opens and closes their mouth, sucks lips or hands, turns their head looking for the breast |
| Mid cues: «I'm really hungry» | Stretches, moves more and more, brings a hand to their mouth, fusses or breathes faster |
| Late cues: «calm me, then feed me» | Cries, moves their head from side to side forcefully, goes red |
If they're already crying, calm them first: hold them, skin to skin, talking softly. Once they settle, they'll feed better.
Save these charts
Take a screenshot and keep it handy for the first few weeks. And if you're getting ready for their arrival, take a look at our first outfits: bodysuits, pyjamas and sets for the first months.
Sources: The Lullaby Trust (sleep temperature), IHAN – the Spanish Baby-Friendly Initiative (hunger cues), NHS (nappies) and Cleveland Clinic (tummy time).
