Expecting Your First Baby? You’re Not Alone.
Utah Valley Pediatrics is here to answer your questions, ease your worries, and help you to feel confident caring for your newborn—before and after the baby arrives.
Schedule an office tour and receive a free car seat cover.
Preparing Your Home for Your Baby
Let’s start with the essentials:
Focus on the basics: a safe place to sleep, diapers, wipes, a few outfits, and feeding supplies. Everything else can come later.
Not yet. Focus on cleanliness, smoke detectors, safe sleep spaces, and keeping pets managed.
In a crib or bassinet, on their back, and in the same room as you for six months. Sharing a bed is not safe for newborns, even for short periods.
Have more questions?
Preparing for the Hospital (and What Comes After)
A little preparation goes a long way as you get ready for labor and delivery. Preparing ahead of time helps eliminate the stress of last-minute fire drills.
Let us help you with mom’s hospital checklist:
Bring comfortable clothes, toiletries, phone chargers, your favorite snacks, and anything that helps you relax. The hospital provides most baby essentials.
Yes—bring a simple outfit for going home. Hospitals typically provide everything your baby needs during your stay, so one easy outfit is usually enough.
Yes—your baby will need a rear-facing infant car seat that’s properly installed before leaving the hospital. Be sure to install your car seat in advance—you don’t want to worry about it after your delivery.
Schedule an office tour and receive a free car seat cover.
Bringing Baby Home
The first days at home with your newborn can feel exciting, emotional, and exhausting—all at once. That’s completely normal.
Here are some common questions about what to expect when you get home from the hospital:
No—and that’s okay. Newborns typically wake up to eat every 2–3 hours for the first 6–8 weeks.
Yes. Hormones, sleep deprivation, and a huge life change can all play a role. Feeling emotional, uncertain, or overwhelmed is very common, and it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
Focus on feeding your baby regularly, resting when you can, and accepting help.
Call your pediatrician if your newborn displays any of the following symptoms:
-A fever or feels unusually cold
-Trouble feeding or very few wet diapers
-Fast or labored breathing
-Extreme sleepiness or difficulty waking
-Yellowing of the skin or eyes
-Persistent vomiting or diarrhea
Have more questions?
Life with a Newborn
Life with your new child will introduce big changes, both expected and unexpected. Preparing emotionally is just as important as preparing physically.
Here are some things to expect—and how to prepare for the early weeks of motherhood:
Your days will revolve around your baby’s needs—frequent feedings, short sleep stretches, and lots of hands-on care. Even though routines may feel unpredictable at first, it’s all completely normal.
You don’t need to do everything. Focusing on a few basics—like easy meals, a diaper-changing area, and a cozy feeding spot—can help you feel more prepared when your baby arrives.
Anytime you’re unsure or concerned. Whether it’s a feeding question, sleep concern, or something that just doesn’t feel right, your pediatrician is there to help. No question is too small—especially in those early weeks.
Download our free Newborn Guide
Common Newborn Care Questions
From those sleepless nights to your baby’s very first bath, becoming a mom comes with a lot of “Is this normal?” moments. Our pediatricians help first-time moms understand what to expect and what truly matters.
Newborns sleep a lot—usually 14–17 hours a day, in short stretches. Waking often is normal.
Most newborns eat every 2–3 hours. Feeding on demand helps your baby grow and thrive. Call your pediatrician if your baby isn’t feeding well.
Some newborns poop after every feeding, while others may only poop once a day—or even less often. What matters most is that stools are soft and your baby seems comfortable. Call your pediatrician if stools are very hard, watery for several days, or bloody.
- Call your pediatrician right away. Fevers in newborns should always be checked.
You can go outside right away. Fresh air is great—just dress your baby for the weather and avoid crowds at first.
Keep the area clean and dry, change diapers often, and use a barrier cream. If it doesn’t improve, we’re here to help.
Have more questions?
Supporting Safe, Informed Decisions
We understand that deciding how to protect your baby can feel overwhelming, especially with so much conflicting information on social media and online. At Utah Valley Pediatrics, our recommendations are guided by decades of robust scientific research and the collective experience of pediatricians who care for children every day.
The evidence is clear: Childhood vaccinations are one of the safest and most effective ways to protect infants and children from serious, preventable diseases. Our role is to provide clear, honest information, answer your questions, and help you make informed decisions with confidence.
We respect every family’s perspective and believe the best decisions are made through open, thoughtful conversations—together.
