When Does Taking Care Of A Newborn Get Easier? - MedicineNet

Milestones that make parenting your newborn easier

As your newborn passes through the milestones of learning to self-soothe, outgrowing colic, and sleeping through the night, parenting your newborn will get easier.

Caring for a newborn isn't easy, but this challenging stage will not last long. Take a deep breath and look for these milestones in your newborn's near future. With each milestone, parenting your newborn will become easier.

Every baby is unique, but there are certain milestones you can look forward to that will make parenting your newborn easier.

Sleeping through the night. One of the reasons caring for a newborn is so challenging is that you, as a caregiver, are likely to be very tired. You're getting up several times in the night to soothe your crying baby. Fortunately, most babies start sleeping through the night by about 2-3 months of age.

Sleeping through the night means sleeping about 6 hours without waking. Some babies take longer to reach this milestone, but rest assured they too will eventually sleep through the night. Caring for a newborn gets much easier once you can get several hours of uninterrupted sleep.

You learn what works for your baby. There is no universal parenting trick for soothing a newborn. Some babies are soothed when a parent sings to them, while other babies are very sensitive to sounds and might require complete silence to calm down. As you learn what works well for your baby, caring for your newborn will get easier.

Self-regulation and self-soothing skills develop. Self-regulation is the ability to control your own behavior and emotions. This is an important skill for your baby to learn. As it develops, it'll make your job as a parent a little easier. When you comfort your baby, such as by rocking or swaddling, your baby is learning how to comfort themselves as well.

Your patience and hard work will pay off. After the three-month mark, your baby will be better able to self-regulate and self-soothe.

Colic resolves. As many as one in four newborns have colic. Colic is when a baby cries for a long time without any clear reason. Many newborns experience colic in the first 6 weeks of life, and this can be very stressful for parents. The good news is that colic usually resolves itself by 3-4 months of age. If your baby's doctor confirms colic is the reason behind your newborn's endless crying, hang in there and know it'll get better in a matter of weeks.

Breastfeeding gets easier. Most new mothers who choose to breastfeed face challenges getting started. Struggling with breastfeeding can be very stressful for mothers and newborns alike. Don't give up. Contact a lactation consultant if you need extra help or support. Breastfeeding gets easier with practice and experience, and the benefits are well worth the effort.