🌿 The Ultimate Newborn Mini-Guide: First 6 Weeks

Welcoming a newborn is exciting, overwhelming, and full of questions, especially in those first few weeks. From feeding and sleep to pumping and diaper tracking, it can feel like you’re juggling a million things at once. To help you navigate this time, here’s a comprehensive first 6-week guide for both breastfeeding and formula-feeding parents.

Tracking Your Baby

Keeping track of feeds, diapers, and sleep is crucial in the early weeks. Apps like Medela, Baby+, or Huckleberry make logging simple and help pediatricians ensure your baby is eating enough.

Essentials:

• Vitamin D3 drops: Needed daily for breastfed babies

• Diapers: Expect 12–15 per day initially

  
  

Sleep & Wake Windows

Newborns sleep a lot, but often in very short stretches. Following wake windows helps prevent overtiredness and supports better naps and overnight sleep.

Age	Wake Window	Total Sleep
0–2 weeks	30–60 min	16–20 hrs/day
2–4 weeks	45–75 min	15–18 hrs/day
4–6 weeks	60–90 min	14–17 hrs/day

Tips:

• Day naps: 20–120 minutes

• Night sleep: 2–4 hour stretches, gradually lengthening

  
  

Cluster Feeding: What to Expect

Many babies want to feed every 30–90 minutes for several hours at a time, often in the evening. This is perfectly normal and happens for both breastfed and formula-fed babies, especially during growth spurts (~days 7–10, weeks 3 & 6).

• Breastfeeding: Helps increase milk supply

• Formula: Baby may prefer smaller, more frequent feeds

  
  

Understanding and Soothing Colic

Colic is a common and often stressful experience, peaking between 2 and 6 weeks. While frustrating, it’s not harmful and usually improves by 3–4 months.

Signs Your Baby May Have Colic:

• Crying for 3+ hours/day, more than 3 days/week, for at least 3 weeks

• Sudden start and stop of crying with no clear cause

• Clenched fists, tensed belly, or legs drawn up

• Fussiness after feeds or difficulty calming down

Feeding and Colic Tips:

Breastfeeding:

• Watch your diet (dairy, caffeine, spicy foods)

• Ensure proper latch to reduce swallowed air

• Burp halfway through and after feeds

Formula Feeding:

• Paced feeding: Feed slowly in small amounts, pausing frequently to reduce swallowed air and gas

• Try hypoallergenic or lactose-free formulas cautiously (pediatrician guidance)

• Feed in a slightly upright position

Cluster Feeding & Colic:

• Evening cluster feeds often coincide with colic episodes

• Stay hydrated and nourished if breastfeeding

• Gentle soothing: swaddling, rocking, or white noise

• Take breaks or let a partner help to avoid exhaustion

General Soothing Tips:

• Swaddle and use gentle motion like rocking or slow stroller walks

• Soft white noise or a warm bath can be calming

• Tummy massage or a pacifier may help relieve fussiness

• Keep a log of feeds, sleep, and crying to identify patterns

  
  

Breastfeeding & Pumping

Nursing:

• Nurse 8–12 times per day in the first 6 weeks

• Baby saliva can signal your body to make more milk — even short latching sessions help

Pumping Schedule (Optional or Exclusively Pumping):

• 8 pumping sessions per 24 hours, including 1 power pump session to mimic cluster feeding

Sample Pump Schedule:

Time	Pumping
6 AM	Morning pump after first feed
9 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM, 6 PM	Pump
8 PM	Power pump (20 min pump → 10 min rest → 10 min pump → 10 min rest → 10 min pump)
11 PM, 3 AM	Pump

Tips:

• Warm compresses and hands-on breast massage help with letdown

• Track ounces pumped

• Night sessions are key — prolactin is highest overnight

  
  

Formula Feeding Guide

Rule of Thumb: ~2.5 oz per pound of body weight per day (max ~32 oz)

Age	Amount per Feed	Feeds per Day
0–2 weeks	0.5–2 oz	every 2–3 hrs
2–4 weeks	2–3 oz	every 3–4 hrs
1–2 months	3–4 oz	6–8x/day
2–4 months	4–6 oz	5–6x/day
4–6 months	6–8 oz	4–5x/day

Tips:

• Hold the bottle horizontally, let baby actively suck to prevent overfeeding

• Cluster feeding may still occur — completely normal

  
  

Diaper Tracking

Day	Wet	Poop
1	1	1 meconium
2	2	2
3	3	2–3
4–5	4–6	3+ yellow
6+	6–8	2–5+

Tracking helps ensure your baby is eating enough and staying hydrated

Daily Sample Schedule

Weeks 0–2

Time	Activity	Notes
6:00 AM	Wake + Feed	Breastfeed or formula (~0.5–2 oz)
6:30 AM	Diaper change
6:45–8:00 AM	Nap	30–60 min wake window
8:00 AM	Feed	Burp halfway, paced feeding if formula
8:30–9:00 AM	Short awake time	Gentle tummy time
9:00–11:00 AM	Nap	20–120 min
11:00 AM	Feed	Cluster feeding may start
11:30 AM	Diaper change
11:45 AM–1:00 PM	Nap
1:00 PM	Feed
1:30–2:30 PM	Nap
3:00 PM	Feed	Cluster feeding may begin
3:30 PM	Diaper
3:45–5:00 PM	Nap
5:00 PM	Feed	Start evening cluster feed
5:30–8:00 PM	Cluster feeds	Feed every 30–90 min, soothe with swaddle/white noise
8:00 PM	Bath/quiet time	Bath every other day is enough. Use soap only as necessary, focusing on diaper area, face, and creases. Avoid excess lotion, less is more.
8:30 PM	Last feed
9:00 PM–6:00 AM	Overnight	Feed every 2–3 hrs

Weeks 2–4

• Wake windows: 45–75 min, naps slightly longer

• Total sleep: 15–18 hrs/day

• Evening cluster feeds still common

Weeks 4–6

• Wake windows: 60–90 min

• Total sleep: 14–17 hrs/day

• Night stretches may lengthen to 4–5 hrs

• Include short catnaps and bedtime routine

  
  

Daily Rhythm (Simplified Flow)

Morning: Wake → Feed → Diaper → Short awake → Nap

Midday: Feed → Diaper → Tummy time/awake → Nap → Feed

Afternoon/Evening: Feed → Diaper → Awake → Nap → Cluster feeds (evening) → Bath/quiet → Feed → Diaper → Bed

Overnight: Feed every 2–4 hours depending on age and sleep stretch

Tips to Keep in Mind:

• Use paced feeding to reduce colic, even during cluster feeds

• Burp your baby halfway and after feeds

• Track sleep, feeds, and diapers for patterns

• Evening cluster feeding is normal and temporary

• Tummy time can be added safely during awake windows

  
  

Soothing Your Newborn: The 5 S’s

1. Swaddle

2. Rock / sway

3. White noise

4. Pacifier (if using)

5. Check diaper / feeding

   
   

Emergency Red Flags

Call your pediatrician immediately if:

• Baby: Fever >100.4°F, refusing feeds, lethargy, no wet diapers in 8 hrs

• Mom: Heavy bleeding, fever, severe pain, or feeling unable to cope

  
  

Mom’s Reminders

• Be gentle with yourself — you’re healing and learning

• Accept help from family/friends

• Sleep when baby sleeps if you can

• Take photos and videos, the days are long, but the weeks fly by!

This guide covers the first 6 weeks comprehensively, from feeding schedules and cluster feeding, to sleep, wake windows, pumping, and diaper tracking. Keep a copy handy, use apps to track feeds and diapers, and remember: every baby is unique. Trust your instincts, and reach out to your pediatrician when in doubt.