The first week with your baby can feel both incredibly quiet and completely overwhelming at the same time.
Life suddenly becomes measured in feeds, naps, nappy changes, cuddles and moments of wondering whether everything is normal. One hour may feel slow and tender, while the next disappears in a blur of exhaustion and emotion.
This is a period of enormous adjustment - not only for your baby, but for you too. Your baby is learning how to live outside the womb for the very first time: breathing independently, feeding, regulating temperature, adjusting to light and sound, and finding comfort in closeness and connection. And while your baby learns the world, you are slowly learning your baby. That process takes time.
Track your baby's exact age in days, weeks and months with the baby age calculator. Week 1 is followed by 2 weeks old.
At one week old, most babies spend the majority of their time sleeping, feeding or being held. Wake windows are usually short, and many newborns drift in and out of sleep throughout the day and night.
Some babies are very sleepy during the first days after birth, while others seem surprisingly alert. Both can be completely normal.
Your baby may wake frequently for feeds, cry when uncomfortable or overstimulated, prefer being held close, startle suddenly during sleep, make grunting or squeaking noises, and have brief quiet periods where they study your face carefully.
Newborn behaviour can feel unpredictable at first. There is rarely a clear routine during week one, and many babies feed in clusters - wanting to nurse or bottle-feed repeatedly within a short period of time. This does not mean you are doing something wrong. Frequent feeding and closeness are biologically normal during the newborn stage.
Even though your baby still seems tiny and sleepy, an extraordinary amount of development is already happening. Your baby's brain is rapidly processing new sensations, sounds, smells, touch and experiences. Every cuddle, feed, conversation and moment of eye contact helps build the foundation for future emotional security and development.
At this stage, your baby's movements are mostly reflexive rather than controlled. You may notice jerky arm and leg movements, sudden stretching, clenched fists, startle reflexes during sleep and strong sucking instincts.
Your baby's neck muscles are still very weak, so full head support is needed whenever you hold or carry them. Many newborns also curl naturally into positions that resemble how they rested inside the womb.
Your baby can already recognise familiar voices - especially the voices they heard often during pregnancy. Vision is still blurry, but babies can usually focus best on faces and objects around 20–30 cm away, which happens to be roughly the distance between your face and your baby during feeding.
Newborns are naturally drawn to faces, gentle voices, warmth, skin-to-skin contact and familiar smells. Your presence is deeply regulating to your baby's nervous system.
Several newborn reflexes are especially noticeable during the first week. When your baby's cheek is touched, they may turn towards the touch looking for the breast or bottle - this is the rooting reflex. The sucking reflex helps babies feed and soothe themselves. A sudden sound or movement may cause your baby to throw out their arms and legs briefly before curling back inward, known as the Moro or startle reflex. Your baby may also tightly hold your finger when it is placed in their palm - the grasp reflex. These reflexes are healthy signs that your baby's nervous system is adapting normally.
Feeding often becomes the centre of life during the first week. Newborn stomachs are extremely small, which means babies need to feed frequently - often every 2–3 hours, including overnight.
Some babies want to feed even more often during cluster feeding, especially in the evenings. Common hunger cues include rooting, bringing hands to the mouth, sucking motions, restlessness and increased alertness. Crying is usually a late hunger cue - offering a feed before your baby becomes very upset often makes feeding easier.
Whether breastfeeding, formula feeding or combination feeding, many parents need time to feel confident. Both babies and parents are learning together. Wet and dirty nappies are often one of the clearest signs that feeding is going well.
In the first week, it is also normal for babies to lose some weight after birth before gradually regaining it over the following days and weeks. Your midwife, health visitor or paediatrician will monitor this as part of routine newborn checks. For more guidance on the early days of breastfeeding, see the breastfeeding page.
Newborns typically sleep around 14–17 hours in a 24-hour period, but sleep happens in short stretches rather than long blocks. Many babies still confuse day and night, and waking frequently to feed is completely expected. At this stage, sleep patterns are driven mostly by hunger and biological need rather than routine.
Safe sleep is important from the very first night. Always place your baby on their back to sleep, on a firm, flat sleep surface, with the space free from pillows, loose blankets, soft toys and anything that could cover the face. Keep the sleep environment smoke-free and avoid overheating.
Many newborns prefer sleeping close to a caregiver, which is why contact naps are so common during these early days. If you feel yourself falling asleep while holding your baby, place them in their own safe sleep space before you sleep.
The first week after birth is not only about caring for a baby - it is also about caring for recovering parents. Everything is new. Emotions can feel intense and constantly changing. Some moments may feel deeply joyful, while others feel exhausting, emotional or uncertain. This is a major life transition.
Bonding does not always happen instantly or dramatically. For many parents, attachment grows gradually through everyday caregiving - feeding, holding, comforting and simply spending time together.
Skin-to-skin contact can help regulate your baby's temperature, breathing and heart rate while also supporting bonding and emotional connection. Your baby does not need constant stimulation or perfect routines right now. They mainly need closeness, warmth, nourishment and responsive care.
Most changes in the first week are part of normal adjustment, but always seek advice if you are concerned. Contact your midwife, health visitor, paediatrician, GP or local urgent service if your baby develops a fever, has difficulty breathing, refuses feeds repeatedly, has very few wet nappies, seems unusually difficult to wake, appears very floppy or weak, develops worsening jaundice, or shows signs of dehydration.
Parents often notice when something feels off, even before they can explain why. Trusting your instincts and seeking support early is always appropriate. In young babies, concerns can change quickly.
The first week with a baby is rarely polished or predictable. There may be tears, uncertainty, unfinished meals and long nights. There may also be moments you will remember forever - tiny fingers wrapped around yours, sleepy cuddles and the quiet realisation that this little person already knows your voice.
You do not need to have everything figured out. Your baby is not expecting perfection. They are simply looking for comfort, safety, nourishment and love - again and again, one day at a time.
Many 1 week old babies feed every 2-3 hours, including overnight, and some feed more often during cluster-feeding periods. Wet nappies or diapers, stool changes, alertness and weight checks help show whether feeding is going well.
A 1 week old baby may sleep around 14-17 hours in 24 hours, usually in short stretches. Frequent waking for feeding and comfort is expected, and most babies do not yet know the difference between day and night.
Some weight loss after birth is common in the first days. Your midwife, health visitor, paediatrician or doctor will monitor the amount of weight loss and make sure your baby starts gaining again appropriately.
Most 1 week old babies mainly sleep, feed, cry, startle, root for feeds, grasp reflexively and have brief quiet moments when they look at faces or respond to familiar voices. Wakeful periods are usually short.
Seek advice promptly if your baby has a fever, breathing difficulty, refuses feeds repeatedly, has very few wet nappies or diapers, is unusually hard to wake, seems floppy or weak, has worsening jaundice or shows signs of dehydration.
