Newborn Questions - McKinney,TX

I have a new baby, 3 1/2 months now. She is my second. My first was a great sleeper anywhere and through the night and I always wondered how those moms could sleep with their kids. But my newborn was so different and if it meant her sleeping in my arms so we could both sleep, than so be it!!! She now sleeps in her little elevated bassinet, which we love, but I say whatever works for you is not wrong!

As for the sleeping thing..I suggest reading all the questions from moms who are desperately needing to get their child out of their bed and into their own before you decide to continue co-sleeping. I'd nip it in the bud now before he's old enough to understand what's going on because then it will be twice as hard. He's not too young to go into his own crib, swaddled up tight with some white noise like a humidifier. Since he's aready gotten a taste of sleeping with mommy it will take some time to transition him, but like I said, it's going to get a whole lot harder as time goes on. Congratulations and best of luck!

1. I am of the belief (especially since this is my last one) that you cannot over hold a baby. He needs what he needs and it is usually his momma! I slept on the couch for the first two months with my third. First he slept with me on the couch, then he would sleep for three or four hours in his swing with me on the couch. Never his crib. For whatever the reason (the crib to big, too cold, wanted mom) he didn't sleep in his crib until he was sleeping through the night (eight hours) at 12 weeks. My first one slept in his pack n play bassinet, and my second one slept in the crib from day one. EVERY KID IS DIFFERENT! I don't care what anyone says. With you in bed, without you, in a swing, in his crib, whatever, find what WORKS FOR YOU and stick with it!

2. Again, every kid is different. My second ate every four hours on the dot throughout the day....come 7 pm and he nursed for five or ten minutes every hour. He slept 12 hours at 8 weeks. Use weight gain and wet (not dirty per se...my current baby only poos every 5-7 days, has since birth and is a 15lbs). My third eats every 2.5 hours for 10 mins on each side. My first, I pumped and bottle fed (preemie) every two to three hours and he didn't sleep at night for six months. Feed on demand. I promise, it gets better

3. Newborn rash is normal but it always freaked me out, especially the one single blister that made it always look like a bug/spider bite. I can't tell you the number of times I have tore the crib apart looking for the offending critter only to have the blister gone five minutes later. But, as yours said, my pedi said it was normal. Still, at almost five months, he gets it....and now it is combined with a little bit of heat rash (darn that 118 heat index!).

Your doing fine. Enjoy your little one while you can!!!!!!

Congrats on your little angel.
1. Its okay for your baby to sleep with you, he's spent the last few months hearing your heartbeat, sound of your voice etc. closeness and warmth is what he needs right now; he'll sleep in his crib later. Later you can always place him the crib for naps swaddled in a warm blanket with a small rolled blanket or towel next to him.

2. I breastfed for a year. In the beginning eat breast 5 to 10 minutes per our lactation consultant. Your hospital should have one for you to ask for free. As she got older she nursed longer. Yes, every 2 hours in the first few months. When they don't drink as much or you get tired of sore chest, express the milk for them to drink from bottles this way your mate can share in the experience. - Lansinoh gel for sore,cracked nips and gel pads to soothe the pain. Later when stopping breastfeed - frozen lettuce in bra to help sooth sore swollen breasts and tylenol process takes a few days to a week if you don't express.

3. Rash - if doesn't go away, our pedi recommended Cetaphil (over-the-counter) wash and lotion; it helped when the rash never went away for our little one.

Congrats again. Your doing a great job. Sleep when your little one sleeps. We moms are here for you...when in doubt always ask your pediatrician too.

There is a book your pediatrician should give you for free called, "Your Baby's First Year". It's a publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics and was a Godsend to me with my first baby.

Don't be afraid to call your pediatrician's office and ask these questions as well. While this can be a great community to get information, few of us are medically trained, so we're just giving our opinions which may or may not be appropriate.

I had one child that was a snacker. He wouldn't nurse more than 5-10 minutes. The other was efficient but took longer and liked to use the nipple as a pacifier. It's really dependent on the baby and how they prefer to nurse. Your baby will tell you when they need to nurse. Setting a schedule at this age is really difficult and is much more about your comfort and your desire for a schedule vs. theirs.

Baby rashes can stick around for a while because they have different sources. In some cases, it's pregnancy hormones exiting their body. In others, it could be a sensitivity to no longer being in the womb and getting adjusted to their new environment, etc. Aquaphor goes a long way and is completely safe for newborn skin.

Good luck - trust your instincts!

1.The sleeping will mellow out. I would nurse my son and then let him fall asleep on the breast. Then I would swaddle him really cozy and put him in his bassinet with a rolled up blanket behind him and one in front supporting his tummy, kind of having him on his side. I would just always keep the front blanket totally clear of his mouth. Swaddling helped soooooooo much at that age. You can get little pre-made swaddlers at Wal-Mart etc, or just use receiving blankets, I am sure you can even look at a demonstration or You Tube or something if you are unsure how to get a good swaddle going:) They will start to break free eventually, but it usually helps alot. You can even swaddle, hold and rock and then lay him down asleep, the swaddling should prevent him from waking. Of course at his age, if he cries, get him bc he is so little. It does take a few weeks for them to get the whole night and day thing straightened out. Mine both took about 7 weeks or so before they were sleeping for large chunks of the night. If you are swaddling, maybe a swing for night sleep would help, I have heard some people do that, but it has never worked for me.
2.He should be breastfeeding about 8-12 times per day and pretty much on demand. Somewhere between 2-3 hours from the time you started the last feeding. You start him on the breast you finished with at the previous feeding. At that age, I would let him eat as long as he wants but try to keep him on for at least ten minutes. You don't have to worry about him overeating though, if he stays on longer than that, it's just fine. If he falls asleep and you can't rouse him to nurse on the other side, just start on that side for the next feeding. If you are concerned you can chart his wet diapers and soiled diapers and call in to your dr to make sure they are plentiful enough.
3. Baby rash can take a little time to go away, but it will go away. Both mine had it and somewhere in there it just cleared up. It looks angry and uncomfortable, but they don't notice it. If you are concerned just take him to the dr and get it checked out or look up pics online and see if the normal baby acne is like what is on your baby's face. My second did have a little rash and the dr had me put Neosporin creme on and it went away, so get him checked if you feel you need to.
Don't hesitate to post more questions if you need to, even moms with more than one forget and have tons of questions each time:) Congrats on your new little one!!

First are you swaddleing him snug in the bassinet or crib? Next until he gains his birth weight back, he needs to nurse every 2 hours even at night. You have to set an alarm, but I wouldn't nurse any more often than that. I would not worry about him sleeping by you, but it will get to be a bad habit that is hard to stop after a few weeks. A swing sometimes helps, even at night so he will sleep and not be by you or smell you all night long. Also on their side with a baby bolster or on his back for a few weeks.

1- The napping vs sleeping thing, my 1st son did that, I found out that the bassinette I had him in was too solid he did not get enough cross breeze, therefore he got overheated. Also try cuddling with his blanket for a little bit so you’re scent is on it. Also my daughter liked to be held until she was sleeping and woke up as soon as she was not so I swaddled her nice and tight and then set her in bed with the positioner pillows around her so she felt held, she just out grew it on her own and now refuses to be held when she is trying to fall asleep (she is 13 months)

2. Breastfeeding- You should nurse whenever the baby is hungry. The baby will go thru times where they "cluster feed" and that is when they nurse every 30 min. this is to get your supply up for a growth spurt. The body is a wonderful machine and as long as you let the baby put the demand on your body you will make what he needs. (Supply & Demand) I have had 3 kids and breast fed them for 12 months each so my lactation place has gotten to know me well, and wants me to get my lactation license, so if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

UPDATE:

Ok let me get more detailed
1. The baby should nurse on each breast for 5-10 min
2. Feed the baby when the baby is hungry, Look for the routing sign (every 2 hours from when you started nursing last, and start feeding the baby on the breast you left off on. Get a rubberband and put it on the wrist of the hand for the side the baby left off on.

the baby has acne because your hormones are still in his system it should go away in 6 wks. I didnt breast feed but some babies eat more often than normal because they are taking less at a time. my son was formula fed and I was told to feed him 2 ounces every 3-4 hrs. well he had a different idea and ate 1 ounce every 2 hrs, and at one years old he still eats small meals every two hrs. I dont have any advice on the sleeping issue. all I can tell your is I always thought the first two weeks were the hardest when it came to sleeping at night.

I never BF my babies so cannot help with that question , but I am sure you will get lot's of useful advice. For the sleeping , if you don't want to start co-sleeping (I never did either) , then I would not start it. Have you tried swaddling him? Most babies like to be swaddled and it really does help them to sleep. You are right with the CIO aswell , he is too young to be left to cry/scream , a little crying while you take a shower/get dressed is one thing , but to leave them crying thinking they will eventually fall asleep just won't work at this age. I am not sure what kind of rash you mean? Is this on the face or body? Sorry would need some more info to answer than part.

Hope you get some useful info

You've gotten very good answers so far! My son didn't breastfeed for any longer than 5-10 minutes, about every 2 hours, but some days it was every hour and some days it was longer. Whatever your baby does is normal. Yes, the rash will go away. And do whatever you have to so that the baby sleeps and you sleep too :-) When he's a little older he'll be ready to sleep in a crib. Right now I'd swaddle him at night and for naps, it does help them sleep. Good luck and congrats!!

Sorry if this is repetitious of what others posted but I didn't read your other repsonses.

1. Try tightly swaddling your son. We used The Miracle Blanket and it worked wonders!!! Co-sleeping is fine if you're up for the hard battle of breaking the habit once he's older. Also, newborns tend to get their days and nights mixed up, so they sleep a lot during the day and then have hard time sleeping at night.

2. BF--every child's appetite is different. My 1st had severe reflux and would nurse every 2-3 hours. My other 2 kiddos could go longer between feeds but ate faster at each feeding. I'd say as long as your son is gaining weight, which you'll find out at his 2 week check-up, keep doing what works best for the 2 of you. But try not to let him use you/your breasts as a pacifier. Sticking to a schedule worked for me, but some moms swear by "on-demand" feeding. You'll soon find out what's better for you and your baby.

3. And yes, the dreaded newborn rash. It's normal and should go away on it's own.

Best of luck and enjoy your precious bundle! You can never love/hold/spoil him too much!!!!!

1. that was my DD so I cant help you out w/ that bc we never figured it out. she is 20 mo and we co-sleep. she will nap in her toddler bed, but not at night. we are actually working on it this week and we did enjoy the books: no cry sleep solution and also the sleep lady (the last has a nice website for quick tips)
2. I was told, and feel it is very right, to feed on demand. NOT a schedule. babies will not over eat, they eat when they need it, they eat when they are hungry so that is when you should feed them (UNLESS your baby has jaundice that will make them sleepy and they might sleep through a feeding if they have jaundice it is recom. that you wake them to feed them every 2-3 hours otherwise feed on demand) you can always call the LLL hotline, join a LLL group or talk to a LAC (if you need info on how to find any of the above please message me) I have been nursing for 20 mo now and we have hit many ups and downs so you might want a support system
2. not sure what rash you are talking about so sorry, but if the dr said it is normal and it is not itchy, bothering, or requiring lotions then I guess it will just pass and tehy will be fine.
congrats! and keep asking questions, taking advise w/ a grain of salt of course, the only way you will learn is if you ask! xo

1. Sleeping - If you are okay with co-sleeping, go for it. But, if you want to be a little more free, one of the things that you can and should do is to continue to swaddle him very tightly in his baby blanket for sleep. I did this with my son and he would wiggle it loose sometimes, but if I re-wrapped him pretty tightly, he was okay. However, I ended up co-sleeping with my daughter for the first 5 months or so - it was just easier for me to also be able to get more sleep that way.

2. My personal opinion is that you should breast feed on demand. I followed the doctor's instructions with my son and limited it to every 3 hours and my son and I were both miserable. I wanted to cry it was so miserable - because I knew he was HUNGRY. I fed on demand with my daughter and was so much happier. Honestly, it was every 1 to 1.5 hours for at least 10 minutes on each side. I think you need to just figure out what works for you and you only need to be concerned if your son is not gaining weight. Do you have a 2 week follow up appointment? They will check his weight. If you are concerned in the meantime, talk to a breast feeding consultant. When I talked to one with my son, they weighed my son between feedings to make sure he was getting enough in.

3. Acne - I don't know the answer to this, but I know Eucerin lotion helps. It is normal to have the baby acne.

Good luck!
L.

I have not read all your responses but your baby is one week........he is trying to figure it out as much as you are. Do not let him cry for an extended period of time. He only has one way to tell you he needs something. It is difficult to even think of a schedule at this age....it will come though. As he approaches three months you will see a pattern in his routine, like sleep, eat, play, sleep, etc. At six months you will probably be able to put times to the routine. I love "Happiest Baby on the Block" by Dr. Karp. The DVD is quick and demonstrates how to engage the babies natural calming reflexes. Hang in there...it is tough but so worth it. If you need help, ask someone for a hand.

Hi, Congratulations! My son would not sleep, at night, anywhere except with us also. I tried everything and everywhere. He would of course sleep if he was in bed with my husband and I. So... that's what we did. I never intended on co-sleeping and I know all of the dangers that can go along with it but it is what worked best for us. Everyone got sleep and a good nights rest. I also breastfed so it was very convenient to just roll over and nurse. I am pregnant with my 2nd and plan on doing the same thing. I moved my son to his bed around 4 months and we did not have a problem with the transition. As far as nursing, I know there are people that follow strict schedules. I am a stay at home mom so I just nursed on demand. If he wanted to eat, I let him. Normally when they are full, they will fall asleep while nursing or sometimes just stop sucking and drift to sleep or become uninterested. I think mine usually lasted about 10- 15 min on each side and sometimes only one side would get done. Good luck! I'm sure everything you are doing is fine. Remember, you know best...it is YOUR baby.

A.,

Congratulations on your new little one! The reason you have heard so many different things about breastfeeding is that every baby is different. If you are able to feed on-demand, your baby will eventually fall into a pattern. The time he takes to feed usually depends on the time of day and if he just needs some cuddle/mommy time.
Whether your baby sleeps in your bed or the bassinet/crib is completely up to you. I, personally, prefer to co-sleep with my babies. My son did up to 1 year and my daughter who just turned one is now being transitioned to her crib. I love the closeness that it created with both my kids and they are both very cuddly!
The baby acne can last up to a month. No worries with that. He'll be just fine.
These are normal questions from a new mom and I just have to say, I'm sure that you and your new little man are doing wonderfully. Remember you are now a team. Go with your innate mommy-instincts and he'll flourish right before your eyes. God Bless.

1. Someone already mentioned swaddling if you haven't tried it yet, see how it works. My daughter only liked to sleep on her side so I used blankets to prop her up. Laying her on her back didn't work. So try different positions and see if that helps.

2. Talk to your baby's pediatrician on the length of feeding. My pediatrician said that 15-20mins is enough any time after that is just comfort for the baby. (but kudos on breastfeeding!) Because the more the baby drinks and sucks the more you will produce so if your baby is going to be nursing for an hour those are going to be very full and very sore breasts!

3. Just like the hole in their head it will take time. I wouldn't worry about it. and don't pick them!

Congratulations!!!
My daughter turned 1 week also this week!
She is our second and I am also breastfeeding, to me it sounds like you are nursing pretty much like you should, as for the sleeping thing, we have had a little difficulty getting her to sleep in her bassinet, so I put her in a baby glider that rocks her and she will sleep really sound for as long as I let her. Again Congrats!!

Congratulations! Your son is only a week old. He wants and needs to be held close. Swaddeling may help, but if not and nothing works but sleeping with him, then do it , but safely. Newborns should never be allowed to cry longer than it takes you to get to him. It is dangerous for him and he is learning to trust that you will be there for him whenever he needs you. I don't know about the breastfeeding. My children were formula fed or I pumped. You can use a little Cetaphil on the rash on his face. It is very safe and does help, but time will take care of it. Just keep it clean and don't be tempted to pick at it at all. It is so hard to know what to do with your first, but everyone learns pretty quickly and you will, too. Again, congratulations on your new baby!

Congratulations on the new baby boy! (:

Don't listen to the "experts" on how long you should be feeding. He knows when he's hungry, and he'll stop when he's full. I have a cousin who would not nurse her son except every 2 hours but you have to realize that your breastmilk is also their water. They aren't always hungry but they do get thirsty. You're his mother, no one else is. You know what's best for your child, even when other's think they're "helping" it may not be so helpful. Just do what YOU think is right. I fed my daughter when she was hungry. And pretty soon you'll learn his "hungry cry" so it'll be alot easier.

My daughter wouldn't sleep anywhere but right beside me. She still sleeps with us most nights, she's 2. We're trying to get her in her own bed, but it's slow coming.

The baby ance has a lot to do with your breastmilk. The hormones in your body are being produced to him through your milk. It won't last long because your hormones will settle down.

Congrats on your new baby! He needs his mama right now. Cosleeping at night will continue to help establish your milk supply. It may also help you get more sleep since you can latch him on while laying down. He was in your belly for 9 months. It's easier for him to adjust to being out in this big, wide world when you are right there. I breastfed on demand. Let him nurse until he is satisfied. If you listen to his cues, you won't have to worry about the numbers.

Congrats again! This will be one of the best times of your life.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

1) Babies sense you, so they want to be near you. You are doing the right thing by trying him nap anywhere. As he grows, weaning him of co sleeping will get easier. Just keep at it.

2) As long as he needs to. When he's done, he will latch off. Again, watch for his cue.

3) Totally normal. Wash his face with water daily and make sure he's not too hot (sweating). It will go away.

Best wishes Momma!!

Congratulations on the birth of your baby!!! It can be so overwhelming those first weeks!

All three of my kids got fussy at night. I discovered that they were cluster feeders. They seemed to latch on and eat and eat and eat and eat some more in the evening and then zonked out. They also loved being swaddled tightly. So I would swaddle them and rock them until they fell into a deep sleep, and then I would be able to lay them down in the bassinet. But if they weren't in a deep sleep, they would start stirring and would wake up and want to eat some more. It got SO frustrating sometimes, and there were times when baby was crying and I was crying, because I just didn't know what to do. So I just changed the diaper again, offered the breast, swaddled and rocked until they fell asleep. There were times they did sleep on my chest on the couch or next to me on the bed because it was the only place they would fall asleep. Once they got older, I was able to nurse them while lying down in the bed and that really worked well for us. I learned I just needed to be flexible and change my expectations and realize that what worked last night may not work tonight and to learn their cues and do what worked best for us, regardless of what friends and family IRL and online were saying. Follow your mama instincts and you'll do great!

A book that helped me out was called "Heading Home with Your Baby: From Birth to Reality". I actually have two copies and also live in McKinney and would be happy to give you one if you'd like it! Feel free to message me here if you are interested!

http://www.amazon.com/Heading-Home-Your-Newborn-Reality/d...

Another book that helped me is called "The Happiest Baby on the Block".

With breastfeeding, I learned to follow the baby' cues, since no baby is alike. All three of my kids have been so different with eating. My daughter took her sweet time eating and sometimes it would be 30 min. or longer, and then turned into a monkey nurser when she was a year old and constantly wiggled while nursing. My first son was a down to business eater. He would eat for about ten minutes on each side, but he would eat more frequently... every two hours or so... sometimes more often and sometimes it would stretch out to three hours, but it was like he was snacking. My third son is six weeks old, and he's eating every three hours. From the get-go, he would go longer stretches in-between feedings. But he eats really well on both sides and he's actually my chunkiest baby. So I've been learning to again just let go of expectations and offer them the breast when they are fussy and feed them on demand.

The La Leche League is a great resource and I found it so helpful to be able to email or contact them with my questions as we went through the different stages of breastfeeding. They meet on the third Thursday of the month. Here is the link to the info!

http://www.lllusa.org/web/McKinneyTX.html

The baby acne can take anywhere from a few weeks to three months to go away. All three of my babies have had it for different lengths of time. My littlest guy still has it at six weeks old. I was concerned and brought it up at his appointment yesterday, and the ped said that since he's gaining so much weight and is a big guy, it'll take longer for the hormones to clear out of his system. It's the mama's hormones making their way out of their bodies, and it is normal. My ped said that the best thing is to leave it alone and just wipe with water every day and it'll clear up on it's own.

You are going to find that there are so many different opinions and you'll get tons of different advice and it'll be overwhelming to know what is the right decision. But again... follow your instinct! You are his mama and you will know what is best for your little guy!

And again, Congratulations!!

You sound like you are doing great. They say you can not spoil a baby for a yr. He will be fine in your bed for now. I had the bassinette by the bed and once asleep put them there. Every 2-3 hrs nursing is normal. You can buy a baby scale and weigh him to see how much he is drinking and gaining.Right now he is on demand when he cries it is tellin you he needs soomething. You and only you can decide when to stop nursing,. As long as yiou do the more he is getting immune to a lot of allergies. I nursed for about 6-7 mos then just got tired of it. Take Care Good Luck to Mommyhood and the best joy of the world. It is hard to realize how much you fall in love with them God Bless G. W

1 week is still young to cry it out or any other sleep techniques in my opinion. Just let him sleep where he will and whatever works for you. You might try laying a t-shirt of yours under him in the crib so he can smell you to get him used to sleeping in there. Mine all slept in a bassinet in my room until they were 3-4 months old, then we did the crib. I always used the crib or pack and play for naps so they could get used to it and by around 3 months they were usually sleeping naps and nights in the crib.

As for breastfeeding, mine usually did 20-30 minutes (10-15 minutes per side) every few hours. Just watch for signs of hungar. In a new born, it will probably be every 2-3 hours, then as he gets bigger, every 3-4 hours.

Don't know about the acne.

Do what is right for you and your baby. If you want to co-sleep, do it. But it will be hard to break later on, maybe. WeI kept all of my babies in bed with us and only the first was hard to break, but by 18 months she was out. My other two decided on their own at 6 and 4 months that they were done. I BF on demand. If they wanted to nurse, I did. If they wanted to BF for comfort, I did. If they were done, they were done. Your baby and you can figure that one out. And I'm not sure what kind of rash you're talking about...just do what feels right and you won't messup - you are the mommy and you know best :).

Wow- lots of answers already. Just wanted to say- Welcome to motherhood! It is an awesome, exhausting, crazy ride!
I will tell you what I did with mine(I have 5- the youngest is 6 month) I had c-sections with 4 of them(long story- but not my first choice) so it was easier for me for the 1st month to have my baby sleep on my chest while I slept in a recliner. I had my babies sleep in bed with me after that for a little while(about 4 months of age) then I moved them to a bassinet that was next to my bed. This takes adjusting for both mom and baby- no matter what age you do it. I would get baby to sleep then transfer baby to bassinet- this is often repeated through the night as baby wakes up to eat or cry or needed to be changed(after the first baby, I only changed messy diapers at night- wet ones can wait until morning) This will take a while because baby will wake up a lot during the night for quite a while. My 6 month old sleeps form 8pm-7am- HOWEVER- she still wakes up at 12am, 4am and 6am.
Just keep at it- you don't have to ignore the crying until it becomes screams- I find it easier to sooth baby sooner rather than later.
as for breastfeeding-All of mine only nursed for 10 minuets on one side, but it was every 2-3 hours and I felt like a cow sometimes! The every 2-3 hours is only for the first couple of months- as your baby grows(hopefully) the time in between will become longer(ie: i nurse my daughter when she wakes up- then she get cereal, again before her nap in the morning, right before lunch, then she gets some fruit, before she goes down for afternoon nap, snack, nurse her again before dinner if dinner is going to be later than 5 and then right before I put her to bed- man that seem like a lot! but she is always hungry!)
Anyway- the best thing to go by for me has been to feed baby when baby is hungry- but I'm okay with not being on a strict schedule.
As for the baby acne- yes, it's normal and it will come and go. I don't know if there is a certain age that it will disappear- but it should fade in the next couple of weeks.
One more thing, it's okay to put your baby in the bassinet if he is screaming and go outside to breath! Take a couple of deep breaths, calm down and realize how wonderful your little one is even though he might be driving you nuts! then go back inside, pick him up again and just say I love you to your little miracle.
That has always helped me!
~C.

Congratulations! Have you considered a co-sleeper? It's a basisnet w/ one side missing and it fits snugly to your side of the bed. Perfect for nighttime nursing and contact w/ baby. You can often find them on Craigslist for a steal. I never let my baby cry-it-out. The other mom mentioned swaddling baby -- yes!!! This simulates the tightness of the womb, which baby misses.

Nurse on demand, whenever baby is hungry. Sometimes this will be really frequently when they are going through a growth spurt, sometimes it will be every two hours. No nursing schedules! On demand.

Good luck!!

1. Try swaddling the baby, he might be more comfortable alone if he's swaddled tightly. Try a swaddling blanket with velcro- LOVE them! But, don't feel bad if he'll only sleep with you, that's very normal for little ones. And remember, you can't spoil a baby :)

2. You breastfeed on demand, which for me was usually every 2 hours or so for as long as the baby wanted to eat. If it's 20-30 minutes, that's fine. If it's an hour, that's fine too.

3.Try some desitin on the diaper rash. Not desitin creamy, but the old school thick desitin. That works better, has more zinc in it. It will go away though. Just be sure you're keeping his diaper as dry as you can, change it often.

You're doing well! Keep up the good work!

1. For the first week or so my kids had the same problem. We discovered that they both slept best in the swing, right beside our bed, for the first month or so. After that they transitioned well to the bassinett, then crib, though they did need to learn to cry it out at first. They are both outstanding sleepers today!

2. I think the 20-30 minutes is perfect for you. Every child is different and I don't think there is one perfect answer. My son would nurse for up to an hour, only because he would fall asleep there and just enjoy the sucking. My daughter would nurse for 10 minutes and was full and ready for action. As long as your child is gaining weight well then I am sure you have nothing to worry about :o)

3. Rashes will come and go, especially in the heat.

I have a 7wk old son who also likes to be held a lot. The first month he only wanted to sleep next to me or in my arms. I ended up letting him. We both needed the rest...you end up doing what you need to do... By about 5 weeks I was able to move him to a pack-n-play in our room. He was starting to go longer stretches without eating too. By 6 weeks he was sleeping 8-9 hrs at a stretch...and in his own bed!!

He is doing so well at night now, that I am still pretty much nursing on demand. 20-30 mins sounds like a normal amount of time for your little one to be nursing. He will let you know when he is done. He is so little still, that I would suggest you continue to nurse on demand. Breastmilk is very easily and quickly digested, so he could get hungry every hour or so. Yes, it feels like you are constantly nursing...but it gets better quickly. In no time he'll go for longer and longer stretches. Sometimes my 7 week old can go for 2-3 hours without eating....othertimes he wants to nurse every hour for a while. An important thing to remember...if they get enough calories during the day, they are more likely to be able to go without eating as frequently at night. Keep him happy and fed during the day and he should give you some easier nights.

As for the rash...is it infant acne? My son had that, as well. It lasted from about 1 week to 6 weeks. He actually still gets heat rash often (he has pretty light, sensative skin), but it goes away at night when he cools off. The infant acne finally seems to be gone though and there is no sign that it was ever there. :o)

Good luck! It is sometimes exhausting, but worth all the work! :o)

I'm breastfeeding also and we nursed for no longer than 30 minutes. My nurse told me that after 30 minutes they burn more calories than they are taking in. On average she nurses for about 15-20 she is now 13 weeks
He is to little to cry it out. At this point he needs you. I felt like some days I never put her down. But give it time, try swaddling. Sometimes she startled her self and would wake up.

First, Congratulations!!!

1. We had my son in a bassinet next to our bed. I could never get him to sleep on his back, so I did what they did at the hospital and put him on his side. It seemed to work wonders. I bought a sleep positioner at Babies R us for $12 so he wouldn't roll on his belly. It seemed to fix the problem. However, if it doesn't work for you, give it time. Babies need to be held like crazy when they are this little. You aren't going to spoil them by holding them all the time or sleeping with them. Just make sure you don't keep it up bast 3-4 months, unless you plan on doing it for a long time.

2. I nursed my son for 1 year. He wanted to eat every 3 hours like clockwork. Let him decide how much he needs and how often. Its only been a week for you, but as time goes on you will see, your boobs will know when it is time. They will fill up and you will need to nurse. Your son will make them produce more or less milk as his needs change. And every baby is different, so just go with what he wants.

3. I think it depends, but as long as the Dr thinks he is ok, don't worry about it. Just keep his skin clean and use gentle mild soaps and lotions. Aveno is really great.

1. Do not listen to people who are anti-co-sleeping... I co-slept with my daughter and she transitioned easily into her own bed at one year (a mattress on the floor of her nursery). I wouldn't trade that year of sleep and cuddling for anything, and as an added bonus, she slept through the night at 8 weeks.
Even if you do believe in crying-it-out at some point, you shouldn't do it at all until he is 6 months or older. If you are worried about him being in the bed, you could try a snugglenest (which can lay in the bed with you, but protects the baby from you rolling over) or an Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper, which is like a bassinet that attaches to the bed so you can snuggle him but easily roll away once he is asleep.

3. Breastfeed him whenever he wants. He will nurse often now, and it will help build your supply. As he grows he'll be able to breastfeed for longer stretches and wait longer periods of time inbetween nursing, but he'll still go through growth spurts where he'll need to nurse like crazy every once in a while.

4. Baby acne came in with my daughter about 2 weeks old, and was gone within another two weeks. Just leave it alone and it will go away quicker.

Good luck and beyond anything else, follow your instincts as a mom. :)

do you have a swing? you might try to let him sleep in a swing for a few weeks. It will remind him of the womb. SWADDLE!! buy a swaddle blanket like a kiddapotamous. it has velcro so he can't get out of it. You should feed on demand for the first two weeks. But for sure feed every 3 hours. sometimes it takes babies an hour to eat. after two weeks set up this scedule feeding every 3 to 4 hours. Feed, wake time, sleep, repeat. wake time can be as little as twenty minutes at first and will gradually get longer. Check out the book Babywise for a great step by step guide for feeding and sleeping in each stage of his life!

A great book to get (or check out from the library) is "Dr. Sears Baby Book".

First off congrats on your new bundle of joy.

Question 1, I would try a swaddler blanket for him. He is used to be in tight courters and doesnt know what to do. You can pick these up at Target or Babies R Us in a light weight cotton for under 20 bucks and they have different sizes to look closely. We also used a First Years Close and Secure Sleeper in our bed for the first month and this really helped me and my son, they arent cheap but can probably be found on Craigslist for cheaper. We just loved this.

Question 2, I can't answer sorry we bottle fed.

Question 3, that rash is probably craddle cap and it will go away with time. Just lightly brush his hair with a baby brush and scrub lightly with a super soft washer rag when you bathe him. Both of my boys had this, yes it doesnt look nice but it will go away in a few weeks.

Good Luck and just remember it is ok to put him down for a few minutes in a secure place and walk away if the screaming is getting to you. I had to do this and it really helped with my stress level and it helped me comfort my boys more.

First of all, congratulations!

1. Don't worry about where he sleeps at night for now. My son was the same way until about 3 months. Then he wanted to be in his crib and far away from everyone : ) Newborns need lots and lots of body contact time, and they're used to sleeping near you. You can't spoil a baby. I just tucked my son into the crook of my arm and slept that way (he was up all the time to eat anyway, so it was easier). Worry about sleep stuff around the 4 month mark, if he's still in your bed and you'd like to change it.

2. Breastfeed until he stops. Some women produce very efficiently, some babies are very efficient nursers. Both of my kids, once they got the hang of nursing, were done in about 20 minutes. Burp between breasts. If he's still hungry after the burp, try the other side. Make sure that he finishes on one side though, so he can get the hind milk, which is the best for him.

3. I don't remember. But probably a few weeks. I wouldn't worry about it until your doctor does.

Congrats again!

Congratulations on the birth of your son!

Being a first-time parent is quite a shocker, isn't it? Especially in those first few weeks because you're physically recovering from labor and big hormone shifts are underway. It's good to see you're reaching out to other moms for guidance.

1. Your baby has been tucked warm in your body for 9 months so no wonder he prefers to sleep in your arms. Are you swaddling him? Swaddling creates that warm, snug feeling he is used to and may help. And it has only been a week and the exterior environment is still a shock to him and can take some babies a little longer to adjust. And it may also be colic which typically rears its ugly head in the evenings. At one week he is too young for the swing so I don't recommend that, and I also don't recommend leaving such a young infant to "cry it out." The first few weeks can be very trying and tiring . . .

2. Every baby is different with breastfeeding and your baby will dictate what he needs. My oldest would only eat for about 10 minutes on each breast. I remember being so freaked because "people" said it should be more like 20 minutes each. But in the end that is what worked for her. And she usually ate every 2 - 2 1/2 hours. My middle child was ravenous and would scream her head off to be fed every 1 1/2 - 2 hours. My youngest is the one I refer to as "normal" -- she breastfed every 2 - 2 1/2 hours and would eat for about 15-20 minutes per breast.

3. My eldest had baby acne and it was around for months. But again, every baby is different (my other two children never had it). At his age you just leave it alone. He is just more sensitive to his exposure to external elements but once his body adjusts it will go away.