Some New Born Questions..

[Jakabella]

Howdy All,

Been a bit AWOL of late just getting into a routine with Bella.
I hope eveyone had a wonderful X-mas and New year!

I have a few questions about my bub..They maybe silly so bear with me!

1. How much sleep should Bella be getting? She feeds evey 3 hours and can have 20 mins to and hour of awake time during the feed or she canfall straight back to sleep - she has periods of awake time during the day and at night but if you are holding her she will go to sleep - I am worried that she is sleeping to much? Is that possible??

2. Bella had a cold - not to bad but she has a snuffly nose. I got some fess little noses so I ues the drops and the use the aspirator to suck out the gunk - it works well but then she will get snuffly again and I worried that she cant breath properly. Is there any think else I can do for her??

3. What should I do with her during the day? When she is awake I give her time in her bouncer chair, give her kick time on the floor under her play mat so she can look at the hanging toys and I also cuddle her ( lots of cuddle with mum and dad!!) and sit her up so she can look around - I have also been reading her books - is there anything else I should be doing?? I amd starting to giver her tummy time as well now she is 1 month - what does your new born do??

4. I have noticed over the last week that Bella is now blowing bubbles and has some saliva - I read in a book that bubs dont get saliva till 3 months!?! So is she just diing this early or is she not well / something wrong??

PHEW! Sorry its so long and I will apreciate all the info I can get!!

Thanks for reading!
Kate xox

[KimmyF]

this has to be quick as DS just waking up will pop in later and answer some ?s for you, hopefully someone else jumps in soon to be back soon i hope

[Indadhanu]

Up until about 10 weeks Jazz slept constantly, like she'd be awake maybe 4 hours total out of the whole day!and I worried as well! Don't worry, its normal, and you'll be wishing she slept more in another few months

I can't help with the cold I'm sorry, but I hope her snuffles go away soon.

As for doing stuff, sounds like you're going great. Just play, give her lots of time to move (nappy free time is good too), talk to her... everything you're already doing! Theres no 'prescribed' thing to do.

As for the bubbles, its like anything, every baby is different. SOme are born with teeth, some don't get them until 12 months. It could also be because she has a cold. Unless she seems to be overwhelmed with saliva, I wouldn't worry. Maybe mention it to your CHN for some reassurance?

You're doing GREAT hun

[Pandora]

1. How much sleep should Bella be getting? She feeds evey 3 hours and can have 20 mins to and hour of awake time during the feed or she canfall straight back to sleep - she has periods of awake time during the day and at night but if you are holding her she will go to sleep - I am worried that she is sleeping to much? Is that possible??

DS slept a lot in the early months. He fell asleep after most feeds ands slept for 3-4+ hours each time. Night time longer. Theonly real awake time he had was int he afternoon/evening when he was fussy, or on the days where he had a bad day - but on average I reckon he slept 15-18 hours out of 24.

2. Bella had a cold - not to bad but she has a snuffly nose. I got some fess little noses so I ues the drops and the use the aspirator to suck out the gunk - it works well but then she will get snuffly again and I worried that she cant breath properly. Is there any think else I can do for her??

Your could get a humidifier from the chemist and use that in her room at night when she is sleeping. They cost anywhere from $50 to buy new, some are more.

3. What should I do with her during the day? When she is awake I give her time in her bouncer chair, give her kick time on the floor under her play mat so she can look at the hanging toys and I also cuddle her ( lots of cuddle with mum and dad!!) and sit her up so she can look around - I have also been reading her books - is there anything else I should be doing?? I amd starting to giver her tummy time as well now she is 1 month - what does your new born do??

my newborn is 3 now, lol but that sounds about right. I used to put him on his tummy at each nappy change - hae hated tummy time so a quick burst a few times a day worked better for us.
I also read to him from the beginning.

not sure about number 4 sorry.

[Jakabella]

Thanks ladies!
Its just great to get other ppls experiances as to what their new borns did!
You think that you will stop worrying once they are born huh - wrong!

Kimmy - thanks hun - I know the feeling!!

Leash - thanks hun - Jazz is just georgous!!

RayRay - thanks for your input - im glad to know im on the right track!

[hj1981]

Kafer_Girl - sounds like u are doing a fantastic job and being a great mum exspecailly on number 3 - alot of ppl don't do much with their newborns but u are doing great - ur bub is definalty loved!
as for sleep they are suppose to sleep most of the time -but each baby is different!
i cant help u with the cold question as we havent had to worry about that yet!
and for the saliva question - i have been told that a lot of saliva and excess bubble blowing can be a sign of reflux - but i think u would know by now if u had a reflux baby!

Keep up the great work!

[ktgirl]

It sounds like you are doing a great job. The sleep sounds fine. I think new born they should probably only be up for about an hour then back down for some sleep (however every baby is different)

As far as the cold goes, we had the same thing happen with the twins when they were a few week old. we just kept using the fess little nose thing as you have been doing but did get a humidifier as well for while they slept. we just got a vicks one from the chemist.

BTW- Bella is just beautiful!!

[[M]umma[M]ia]

1. Sleep varies from baby to baby. If you want a guide to how much she should be sleeping, check out the Karitane website, there is a guide there.

2. I found the drops made Mia's nose worse. I just kept suctioning her and letting it dry up. Try raising where she is sleeping at the head a little to help the mucous drain out while she is sleeping.

3. It is hard to work out what to do with them. Mia likes different thinkgs but if shes doing one thing for more than 5-10 mins she cracks it. So its a merry go round in this house when shes awake. Just keep doing what u are doing.

4. Mia has been blowing bubbles since 4 weeks too... and dont worry, it gets worse and more drool happens and more and more bubbles. I wouldnt be worried about it at all (well my MCHN said not to be).

ide be happy to answer anything else... and if you want add me to your msn hdavies4@hotmail.com

mwah!!

[Ellibam]

put a drop of ebm in her nostrils (one at a time) that will clear up the snuffles really quickly

[KimmyF]

hi kg it has taken me all day to get back here!
With the sleeping my DS slept a lot only had maybe twenty to thirty really awake moments for a little while as he got older the longer that time became.
My DS was a snuffly bub and the MCHN said all babies are a bit snuffly to some degree so we just elevated the bed head a bit to help it drain etc.
You are doing a great job playing with your bub, keep doing the tummy time thing it helps protect head shape etc and makes them stronger, sounds like you are doing everything right.
Cant help with the saliva thing maybe its a symptom of the cold??? Cos the mucous has no where else to go IYKWIM?
Hope this helps you out but remember you are doing a great job apparantly doubting yourself comes with the territory when your a mum LOLxxxx

[Jakabella]

Thanks everyone for your wonderful responses!!
I feel so much more at ease! Im so lucky to have so many lovely and kind ladies at my finger tips!!
Kate xox

[beckoes]

Sounds like you doing great and Bella is gorgeous!!

Im probably just repeating whats already been said but DD used to sleep about the same at that age, she would have a bit more awake time in the afternoon then sleep solid from 3pm till about 8pm!! i was worried for a bit but she soon settled in to a normal pattern!

As for the blocked nose, i cant help there!

But as the other ladies have said there is no set things to do with bub...sounds like your doing fine. My mum gave me a book which helped me...its called Baby Fun by Anne Knecht-Boyer. dont know where you would find it. it helped me mainly when i had run out of ideas on what to do, its basically little games you can play which help teach developmental skills.

hope her cold clears up soon!!