Reviewed by The Mom Store editorial team, October 2026. See our editorial policy.
Most of what feels hardest in the first weeks with a newborn is normal: waking every couple of hours, feeding very often, bringing up milk, and crying that peaks in the evenings. Knowing what is expected, and which signs are not, makes it easier to cope and to know when to call your doctor.
Sleep
Newborns wake often mainly because they need to feed often. In the first few weeks, the NHS guide to the first few days of breastfeeding describes babies feeding at least 8 to 12 times every 24 hours, and in the first week perhaps every 1 to 3 hours. Long stretches of night sleep are not something to expect yet, so a strict schedule usually brings more stress than sleep. Sleep when the baby sleeps if you can, and share night duties with your partner or family where possible.
Where your baby sleeps matters more than how long. The NHS advice on reducing the risk of SIDS is to:
put your baby on their back to sleep, with their feet at the foot of the cot
use a firm, flat mattress and keep pillows, duvets, bumpers, loose blankets and soft toys out of the cot
keep the room at about 16 to 20°C and avoid overdressing; feel the chest or back of the neck to check
use lightweight sheets or a baby sleeping bag rather than heavy bedding
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Feeding
Feed your baby as often and for as long as they want, which the NHS calls responsive feeding. Try to feed at the early hunger cues: getting restless, sucking fists or fingers, murmuring, or turning the head and opening the mouth (rooting). A baby who is already crying is harder to settle at the breast or bottle.
Feeding this often is tiring, and it can make you doubt your milk supply. If you are worried about how feeding is going, your midwife, a lactation consultant or your paediatrician can watch a feed and check positioning and attachment.
Spit up
Bringing up a little milk during or after feeds is very common. The NHS page on reflux in babies says it usually starts before 8 weeks, gets better on its own by around 1 year, and does not need a doctor if your baby is happy, healthy and gaining weight. What helps:
hold your baby upright during feeds and for as long as you can afterwards
burp them regularly during feeds
keep them sleeping flat on their back, and do not raise the head of the cot
See your doctor if spit up is not improving, your baby is not gaining weight, or it starts after 6 months.
Crying
Crying is how a baby tells you something is wrong: hunger, a wet or dirty nappy, tiredness, wind, being too hot or cold, or simply wanting to be held. The NHS guide to soothing a crying baby notes that crying often peaks at around 2 weeks and eases by about 3 months, with afternoons and evenings usually the hardest.
Once you have checked the basics, things that calm many babies are:
a feed, or letting them suckle
holding them close, with gentle swaying, talking or singing
rocking in a pram, or a walk outside
gentle background noise or music
stroking their back
a warm bath, which settles some babies and upsets others
Long bouts of crying in an otherwise healthy baby under 5 months may be colic. Nobody knows exactly what causes it, and comforting your baby until it passes is often all you can do.
Hours of crying are hard on parents. If you feel overwhelmed, put your baby down safely in the cot, go to another room for a few minutes, and ask a family member to take over. Never shake a baby; shaking can cause brain damage.
When to call a doctor
Call your paediatrician the same day if your baby:
has a high temperature, or is not interested in feeding
has constant crying you cannot soothe, or a cry that sounds different from usual
vomits forcefully, brings up green or yellow fluid or blood, or refuses feeds
has a swollen or tender tummy, or blood in their poo
Get emergency help straight away if your baby has a fit, has blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue, is floppy or not responding, has difficulty breathing, keeps vomiting forcefully, has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass on it, or has had no wet nappy for 8 hours. These lists come from the NHS pages on soothing a crying baby and on reflux. If something feels wrong, trust that feeling and get your baby checked.
This article is general information and does not replace advice from your doctor.
