Last Updated on January 16, 2026 by Lila Sjöberg
Nobody prepares you for the first week home. In the hospital, nurses check on you constantly, meals appear on trays, and someone else handles the paperwork. (If you haven’t delivered yet, see our hospital bag packing guide.) Then suddenly you’re home, the door closes behind you, and it’s just you and this tiny human who needs everything from you. I remember standing in my living room, baby in arms, thinking — now what?
Key Takeaways
The first week is about survival, not perfection. Sleep when baby sleeps isn’t a cliché — it’s a survival strategy. Accept every offer of help, lower your standards for everything except baby care, and remember that this intense period is temporary. You’re not failing; you’re learning.
The Short Answer: Survive the first week by sleeping whenever possible, accepting all help offered, keeping baby fed and safe, and letting everything else slide. This isn’t forever — it’s just right now.
Here’s what actually helped me get through those first bewildering days at home.
The Sleep Situation
You’ve heard “sleep when the baby sleeps” so many times it probably makes you want to scream. But here’s the thing — it’s repeated because it’s true. Newborns sleep in short bursts around the clock, which means your sleep will come in short bursts too. Fighting this reality only makes you more exhausted.
When baby goes down, you go down. Not to fold laundry or answer emails or scroll your phone. Actually close your eyes. Even if you don’t fall asleep, resting helps. Your body just did something monumental and needs recovery time.
Night feeds feel endless, but they won’t last forever. If you have a partner, take shifts — one person handles feeds from 8 PM to 2 AM while the other sleeps, then switch. Even a four-hour stretch of uninterrupted sleep feels miraculous in those early days.
Your sleep environment matters too. Our sleep and comfort essentials can help create a setup that makes those brief sleep windows count.
Feeding Around the Clock
Newborns eat constantly — every two to three hours, sometimes more. This is normal, even though it feels relentless. Their tiny stomachs empty quickly, and frequent feeding establishes your milk supply if you’re breastfeeding.
Set up a feeding station with everything you need within reach: water for you, snacks, phone charger, burp cloths, nipple cream if nursing. You’ll spend hours in that spot, so make it comfortable. A good chair, a supportive pillow, and dim lighting for night feeds make a real difference.
If breastfeeding is challenging — and it often is in the first week — reach out for help early. Most hospitals have lactation consultants, and many offer follow-up support. Struggles with latch, pain, or supply concerns are common and usually solvable with the right guidance. Our breastfeeding essentials guide covers what helps most.
Formula feeding parents, you’re doing great too. Fed is fed. Our feeding essentials guide covers gear that makes both approaches easier.
Accepting Help (Really Accepting It)
When people offer to help, say yes. Not “maybe” or “we’ll see” — actually yes. And then let them help in ways that are genuinely useful.
Useful help looks like someone bringing a meal you don’t have to cook, doing a load of laundry, holding baby while you shower, walking the dog, or running to the pharmacy. Less useful is someone who wants to hold baby while you make them coffee and entertain them.
Be specific when people ask what you need. “Could you bring dinner Thursday?” is better than “I don’t know, whatever.” People want to help; they just need direction.
If help isn’t available, simplify everything. Paper plates mean no dishes. Grocery delivery saves a trip. The house can be messy. Nothing matters this week except keeping baby alive and yourself functioning.
Your Recovery Matters Too
While you’re focused on this new baby, your body is healing from birth. This is true whether you delivered vaginally or had a cesarean. Postpartum recovery takes time, and ignoring your own needs will catch up with you.
Stay on top of pain medication if you need it. Drink enormous amounts of water, especially if breastfeeding. Eat whenever you can — this isn’t the week for dieting or meal planning, just calorie intake. Our postpartum recovery essentials covers what genuinely helps healing.
Watch for warning signs that need medical attention: heavy bleeding that soaks a pad in an hour, fever, severe headache, chest pain, or thoughts of harming yourself or baby. The “baby blues” — weepiness and mood swings — are normal in the first two weeks. Persistent depression or anxiety that interferes with functioning warrants a call to your provider.
What Can Wait
Almost everything can wait. The thank-you notes, the birth announcements, the nursery organization, the baby book. All of it can happen later or not at all.
Visitors can wait too, if you’re not up for them. It’s okay to say “we’re not ready for guests yet” even to family. The first week is for bonding and surviving, not entertaining.
Your relationship might feel strained. You and your partner are both exhausted and adjusting to massive change. Be patient with each other. Don’t make any big decisions or have important conversations this week — everyone’s too tired to think clearly.
Social media comparisons will only make you feel worse. Other people’s curated newborn photos don’t show the crying, the mess, the overwhelm. Stay off Instagram if it’s making you feel inadequate. Some just can’t because they’re thinking they won’t exist anymore, what a pity, frankly! 🙄
Finding Small Moments
Amidst the exhaustion, there are moments of pure magic. That newborn smell. The tiny fingers wrapped around yours. The weight of baby sleeping on your chest. Try to notice these moments even when you’re running on empty.
Fresh air helps everyone. Even a few minutes on the porch or a slow walk around the block can shift your mood. Sunlight helps regulate both your hormones and baby’s developing circadian rhythm.
Take photos, even when you feel like a mess, and honestly, you’ll be a mess! You’ll want to remember this time, somehow, once the fog lifts. The unflattering, exhausted, real photos become precious later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal to feel overwhelmed or regretful?
Completely normal. Many new parents experience moments of “what have I done” alongside the joy. The adjustment is massive, and ambivalent feelings don’t make you a bad parent. If these feelings persist or intensify after two weeks, talk to your healthcare provider about postpartum depression.
How do I know if baby is eating enough?
Count diapers. By day five, baby should have at least six wet diapers and three to four dirty diapers daily. Weight checks at pediatrician visits confirm adequate intake. If baby seems lethargic, isn’t producing wet diapers, or can’t be roused to feed, call your doctor.
When should I call the pediatrician?
Call for fever over 100.4°F (37.7°C) in a newborn, difficulty breathing, persistent vomiting, signs of dehydration, yellow skin worsening after day three, or anything that worries you. Pediatricians expect first-week calls — don’t hesitate because you feel like you’re overreacting.
When does it get easier?
Most parents find weeks two through four slightly easier as they learn baby’s cues and establish some rhythm. Around six weeks, many babies become more alert and interactive, which helps. By three months, most families feel they’ve found their footing. It does get easier, even when it doesn’t feel that way.
What if I don’t feel bonded to my baby?
Bonding doesn’t always happen instantly. The overwhelming love you expected might take days or weeks to develop, especially through exhaustion and recovery. Keep caring for baby, and the connection typically grows. If you’re feeling detached or resentful persistently, talk to your provider — these feelings are addressable with support.
You’re in the hardest part right now. The first week is a blur of feeding, changing, and trying to sleep. It won’t always be like this.
Soon you’ll find a rhythm, baby will be more predictable, and you’ll wonder how those early days went so fast.
For now, just get through today. Then tomorrow. That’s enough.
Lila.
