New-parent survival cheat sheets

Colic, cradle cap & hygiene

Gas and crying have many possible causes. Try pauses during feeds, gentle burping, and checking latch or bottle flow. Do not routinely remove foods from a breastfeeding parent’s diet or switch formula without discussing persistent symptoms with a clinician. Repeated choking, poor feeding, vomiting, blood in stool, or poor weight gain needs assessment.

Colic refers to prolonged crying in an otherwise healthy baby; a percentage of babies is not its diagnostic definition. Ask your pediatrician to assess persistent or unusual crying. For cradle cap, gently wash with baby shampoo and loosen flakes with a soft brush. Ask a clinician before using medicated or herbal products; skip the source’s licorice/calendula mixture.

Hiccups are common. Seek advice if they interfere with feeding or sleep. Keep diapers, wipes, rash cream, burp cloths, spare clothes, and a bag for soiled items in your diaper bag.

Babyproofing Checklist

Anchor furniture

Cover outlets

Install gates

Lock cabinets

Move cords

Lower crib mattress

Secure medicines

Test smoke alarms

Remove Small Items

SURVIVEBABY. COM

Bath Time Checklist

Bath 2–3 times/week

Water around 100°F

Never leave baby alone

Gather supplies first

Moisturize if skin becomes dry

Use Approved Baby Products

When to get medical help

For a baby 3 months or younger, a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher requires immediate medical advice, even if they seem well. For older babies, contact your pediatrician about fever and concerning symptoms. Severe breathing trouble, blue or gray lips, a seizure, or inability to wake requires emergency care; call 911 in the US.

Contact your pediatrician promptly for poor feeding, persistent vomiting, bloody stools, dehydration, or unusually inconsolable crying. Ask about development when a skill is missing, hearing or vision concerns appear, or a previously learned skill is lost. Don’t wait for the next routine visit if worried.

Medicine Checklist

Before giving medicine:

Know baby's weight
Use dosing syringe
Check expiration date
Ask pediatrician if unsure

Never give:

Honey under 1 year Adult medication Aspirin

Hospital essentials

Use the following hospital-bag checklists for the birthing parent, baby, and support person. Confirm your hospital’s supplies and policies; pack documents, comfortable clothes, toiletries, medications, chargers, and a correctly installed rear-facing car seat.

Mom’s Hospital Bag Checklist

I mportant Documents:

Toiletries:

Toothbrush & toothpaste
Hairbrush
Hair ties
Shampoo & conditioner
Face wash
Deodorant
Lip balm
Lotion
Glasses/contact supplies

Photo ID
Insurance card
Birth plan (if you have one)
Hospital paperwork
Pediatrician contact information

Comfortable Clothing:

Labor gown (optional)
Comfortable robe
Nursing bras
Loose pajamas
Going-home outfit
Warm socks
Slip-on shoes or sandals

Paperwork:

Photo ID
Insurance card
Hospital registration
Birth plan
Emergency contacts
Pediatrician information
Medication list

Recovery Items

Nipple cream
Nursing pads
Peri bottle (if preferred)
High-waisted underwear
Snacks
Water bottle with straw

*Pack two weeks early!*

Electronics:

Phone
Phone charger (extra-long cord recommended)
Smartwatch charger
Portable battery pack
Charging cables

Baby’s Hospital Bag Checklist

Clothing:

2–3 newborn outfits
2–3 0–3 month outfits
Going-home outfit
Hat
Socks
Mittens (optional) Comfort:

Swaddle blanket
Receiving blanket
Pacifier (if you plan to use one) Feeding:

Bottles (if your hospital requests them)
Formula (only if instructed) Weather:

Lightweight blanket (warm weather)
Warm blanket (cold weather)

Partner’s Hospital Bag Checklist

Comfort:

Change of clothes
Pajamas
Comfortable shoes
Hoodie or sweater
Pillow
Blanket Toiletries:

Toothbrush
Deodorant
Medications Food:

Water bottle
Healthy snacks
Cash or credit card

Entertainment:

Book
Tablet
Headphones Electronics:

Car Seat Checklist

Installed correctly
Base secured
Harness adjusted
Infant insert installed (if applicable)
Practice buckling your baby before delivery

*Turns out even firefighters know the scariest part of parenthood is figuring out the car seat! Check in your area for child car seat safety checkups.*

Before You Leave Checklist

Install the infant car seat.
Finish hospital pre-registration.
Pack your bag by 36 weeks.
Fill the car with gas.
Arrange pet or childcare if needed.
Save your healthcare provider's phone number.
Double-check that chargers, wallets, and keys are packed.

Newborn Feeding

Breastfeeding

Feed every 2–3 hours
Feed on hunger cues
Allow baby to finish one before the other

Formula Feeding

Every 3–4 hours
Follow your pediatrician's guidance
Burp halfway through and after feeding

Hunger Cues

Rooting
Hands to mouth
Lip smacking
Stirring from sleep

*A crying baby is often a hungry baby—but crying is usually a late hunger cue*

Full Baby Signs

Relaxed hands
Releases nipple or bottle
Appears content
Falls asleep naturally

Example Feeding Schedules

1:00 AM Your baby wakes for nourishment. You move slowly, feeding and burping with minimal stimulation before returning them to rest. 4:00 AM Another overnight feeding. Gentle, quiet, and reassuring. Morning is approaching.

Example of a Breastfeeding Day

7:00 AM Your baby wakes and is unswaddled. You change their diaper and settle in to nurse. Offer one breast for as long as your baby is actively nursing; offer the other breast when ready, pause to burp, then switch sides and burp again. After feeding, hold your baby close and allow them to rest. 9:30 AM Repeat the same familiar routine. Unsaddle, diaper change, nurse on both sides, burp well, then offer comfort and rest. 12:00 PM Another full feeding cycle. This repetition helps your baby feel secure and nourished. 2:30 PM The same gentle rhythm continues. Wake, feed, burp, and rest. 5:00 PM Late afternoon feedings often feel important. Your baby may linger longer at the breast or seek more comfort. Follow their lead. 7:30 PM Evening feedings begin to cluster. Keep the routine calm and unhurried as your baby prepares for nighttime. 10:00 PM A quiet nighttime feeding. Lights stay dim. Voices stay soft. This feed helps set the tone for sleep.

Example of a Bottle Feeding Day

7:00 AM Unswaddle your baby and change their diaper. Offer the bottle, pausing to burp after small amounts and again at the end. Hold your baby upright for a few minutes before rest. 10:00 AM Another bottle feeding. Follow the same calm routine and allow your baby time to settle afterward. 1:00 PM Midday feeding. Your baby may be more alert and engaged during this feed. 4:00 PM Late afternoon bottle feeding. This feeding often supports evening calm. 7:00 PM Evening feeding. Move slowly and keep the environment peaceful as nighttime approaches.

There is no single right way to

feed your baby. What matters is

that your baby is nourished and

that feeding feels responsive and

connected.

Intro to Solids

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding or formula for the first 6 months. Before introducing solids, confirm these markers:

Ability to sit with minimal assistance. Maintains steady, upright head control. Extinction of the tongue-thrust reflex (no longer pushing food out). Reaching for objects and bringing them to the mouth. Turning the head away to signal fullness or lack of interest.

Starting solids: practical tips

Around six months, offer varied textures your baby can safely manage. Include iron-rich choices such as meat, beans, or iron-fortified cereal; there is no required vegetables-before-fruit order. Introduce new foods individually so reactions are easier to identify. Discuss early allergen introduction with your pediatrician, especially with severe eczema or egg allergy.

Offer a cup for practice and small sips of water; breast milk or infant formula remains the main drink before 12 months. Do not replace milk feeds with water or force a fixed daily volume. Let your baby decide whether and how much to eat.

Sample Solids Schedule

Predictability and structure are paramount in fostering an infant's sense of security and healthy eating behaviors.

7:00 AM: Wake up and morning liquid feed (breast milk or formula).

8:30 AM: Breakfast with solid foods, followed by interactive play and tummy time.

9:00 AM: Morning nap.

11:00 AM: Mid-morning liquid feed.

12:30 PM: Lunch including solid foods.

1:00 PM: Mid-day nap.

3:00 PM: Afternoon liquid feed.

5:30 PM: Dinner solids followed by a calm evening wind-down.

6:45 PM: Bath time, gentle massage, and nighttime music.

7:00 PM: Final evening feed and consistent bedtime. Sticking to these specific intervals helps the infant associate different times of day with specific physiological needs, fostering long-term self- regulation.

Restricted Solids

Prohibited Substances (Under 12 Months)

Honey:

Strictly prohibited due to infant botulism risks.

Fruit Juice:

Not recommended; eating whole fruit is preferred for fiber and to avoid excessive sugar.

Cow’s Milk:

The digestive system is not ready for cow's milk as a beverage until 12 months.

Plant-Based Milks:

Most alternatives (almond, oat, etc.) lack essential protein and minerals. After 12 months, ask your pediatrician about unsweetened fortified soy beverage or other suitable alternatives. Plant drinks never replace infant formula before 12 months.

Nutritional habits formed now are

foundational; the flavors and habits

introduced in the first year shape taste

preferences for a lifetime.

Newborn Sleep ABCs

Safe Sleep ABCs

Alone
Back
Crib

Ideal Sleep Space

Firm mattress Fitted sheet only No blankets No pillows No stuffed animals Room temperature 68–72°F

Normal Sleep

14–17 hours/day Wake every 2–3 hours Day and night are often mixed up

*Safe sleep is the best sleep.*

Sleep patterns

Newborn sleep is variable and comes in frequent short stretches. From 4–12 months, the broad sleep range is commonly 12–16 hours per 24 hours including naps; from 1–2 years, 11–14 hours. These ranges do not prescribe a nap count or diagnose a problem.

Babies vary in nap number and timing. Respond to tired and hunger cues. Persistent sleep concerns, noisy breathing, or poor growth deserve medical advice.

Changing sleep & reassurance

Sleep varies widely. Night waking and needing comfort are normal; routines do not guarantee longer sleep. Respond to hunger, illness, and distress. Settling in the crib is an optional practice, not a test. Place your baby on their back on a firm, flat approved infant sleep surface with only a fitted sheet. Room-share on a separate surface for at least six months. Stop swaddling at attempts to roll and never use weighted sleep products.

“Sleep regression” describes changes parents notice, not a fixed diagnosis or an inevitable event at a particular age. Hunger, illness, routines, and developmental changes can all affect sleep. There is no universal 2–6-week recovery promise. Formal sleep-training methods are optional and should be considered in light of age, feeding, health, and family preferences; they are not newborn-care instructions.

Wake windows

The source lists rough awake-time examples: newborn 30–45 minutes; one month 45–60; two and three months 60–90. These are observations, not evidence-based deadlines or a schedule to enforce.

Watch your baby rather than the clock: yawning, looking away, fussiness, or losing interest can be cues to slow down. Feed whenever hunger cues appear, even during a planned sleep period. Nap counts vary.

Gentle sleep tips

Yawning, staring, looking away, and fussiness may signal tiredness. Offer a calm wind-down and comfortable temperature without overheating. A dream feed is optional, not a required 10 PM protocol; never feed a baby who cannot safely wake and coordinate swallowing.

Sleep changes across the first year

Around four months, sleep cycles and settling may change. At later ages, new movement, separation, illness, or a changed routine may affect sleep. These are possibilities, not a calendar that every baby follows.

Why Is My Baby Crying?

Start here.

Hungry
Wet diaper
Needs burping
Gas
Too hot
Too cold
Overtired
Wants to be held
Overstimulated
Sick

If you've checked everything...

Sometimes babies simply need comfort.

Gas & burping

Hold your baby securely and offer gentle burping during natural pauses. Some babies do not burp after every feed. Seek care for ongoing pain, poor intake, or recurrent coughing or choking.

Stool colors

Yellow, green, brown, and orange can occur in healthy babies, depending on feeding and foods. Black meconium is expected in the earliest days; black stools after that transition, white or very pale stools, or blood-red stools need prompt medical advice.

A color chart cannot diagnose illness. Contact the pediatrician for bloody stool, persistent vomiting, poor feeding, or fever.

Newborn diaper output

Wet diapers generally increase over the first days: about one on day one, two on day two, and three on day three. By about day five, many well-fed newborns have six or more wet diapers per day. Ask your pediatrician about the expected pattern for your baby.

Stool color and frequency change with age and feeding. Yellow, soft, seedy stools are common in breastfed babies. Diaper counts alone do not prove adequate intake: feeding assessment and weight checks matter. Call for fewer wet diapers, poor feeding, unusual sleepiness, or dehydration concerns.

Milestones at a glance

0–3 months: early social smiles, tracking faces, lifting the head during tummy time, and sounds beyond crying. 3–6 months: more reaching, laughter, head control, and rolling. 6–9 months: sitting skills, sound play, and transferring objects. 9–12 months: pulling to stand, cruising, gestures, and early meaningful words may emerge.

These broad descriptions are not deadlines. Crawling styles vary, and some children skip hands-and-knees crawling. Use the CDC’s age-specific checklists and ask about concerns or skill loss.

Milestones Support Actions

Respond warmly to coos.

Make frequent eye contact.

Use expressive facial cues to link words to feelings.

Provide daily tummy time to build neck/shoulder strength.

Change baby’s position to encourage head turning.

Use colorful rattles or mirrors to encourage tracking; get close (within 8-12 inches) to engage vision.

Milestones Tips

As infants approach their first birthday, they transition from stationary play to active "cruising" and walking. This phase is not just about movement; it is about the integration of motor planning and cognitive intent.

8-12 Months

Language Acquisition: Experimenting with new words ("mama," "dada") and responding to simple instructions.

Motor Skills: Pulling up to stand, "cruising" along furniture, and eventually taking independent steps.

Cognitive Shifts: A surge in curiosity often leads to nap refusal, as the infant’s desire for exploration outweighs their perceived need for sleep.

Eliminate Movement Restrictions: Minimize the use of bouncers, baby chairs, or walkers. Provide supervised floor play; avoid wheeled infant walkers, and limit time in restrictive seats.

Offer supervised cup practice as your child is ready. Open or straw cups are useful options, but cup type should not be presented as a speech-development treatment. Before 12 months, breast milk or infant formula remains the main drink; small sips of water may accompany solids from about six months.

Floor Time: Maximize "floor time" in a baby-proofed environment to allow for the natural progression of crawling and climbing.

Developmental Warning Signs

Vision/Hearing:

Persistent lack of eye contact or failure to track faces. Eyes turned in or out most of the time. Failure to respond to loud noises or make cooing sounds by 4 months.

Movement:

Not lifting the head or gaining head control by 4 months. Keeping hands in a persistent fist most of the time. Regression or loss of previously acquired skills.

Printable daily tracker

Use a blank log to record what you observe: time, feeding, diaper, sleep, and notes. Records can support a conversation with your care team but cannot rule out illness or establish adequate intake.

Time	Feeding	Diaper	Sleep	Notes

Babysitter information sheet

Prepare emergency contacts; your address; pediatrician details; allergies; clinician-provided medication instructions and last reported administration; feeding instructions; nap routine; comfort strategies; and last feeding, diaper, and sleep.

Use a fresh, confirmed handoff. Do not rely on an incomplete or stale log to decide whether to give medication. Never put a real child’s details into a public resource page.

Emergency contacts: ____________________________________

Address: ____________________________________

Pediatrician: ____________________________________

Allergies: ____________________________________

Medication instructions: ____________________________________

Last confirmed administration: ____________________________________

Feeding instructions: ____________________________________

Nap routine: ____________________________________

Last feeding / diaper / sleep: ____________________________________

Sources & further reading

These authoritative resources support the safety updates and provide further guidance. They are not endorsements of this guide.

Source guide: SBCheatsheets.pdf. Original documents have not been modified.

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