Answering Common Questions New Parents Might Ask

A new baby is a wonderful addition to any family. But in some cases, it can be a harbinger of stress, confusion, and a lot of questions. This is a massive responsibility, and it’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed when you bring your new baby home, even if you’ve done everything you can to prepare yourself.

The good news is that you can find answers to some of your more pressing questions.

How Much Do Newborns Sleep?

Newborn babies do about four things. They sleep, eat, poop, and cry. Their whole purpose right now is to grow, and we do our best growing while we’re asleep. So newborns sleep a lot, which is good for stressed and tired parents.

You can expect your child to sleep between 12 to 16 hours per 24 hour day, but bear in mind that every baby is different. Your baby might sleep a bit more or less than others. Newborns also sleep in short bursts, between 20 and 50 minutes at a time. They will usually wake up to feed, and then go back to sleep.

As they get older, they will sleep for longer periods without needing to feed and you can hopefully have a chance to catch up on some real sleep. 

What is Cradle Cap?

You might notice some strange oily, flaky patches on the skin on your baby’s scalp. This is called cradle cap, and the good news is that it’s rarely something to worry about. 

If you’re asking “what is cradle cap and how long does it last?”, don’t worry. It’s a very common skin condition, and about 10% of babies will have it. It doesn’t hurt and your baby probably won’t notice it.

Babies will eventually outgrow cradle cap on their own within a year, but you can treat it to get rid of it more quickly.