The first three months with a newborn are a blur — equal parts magical and overwhelming. Somewhere between the diaper changes, the 3 AM feeds, and the endless googling, most new parents find themselves asking the same handful of questions on repeat: Is this normal? Am I doing this right?

Here's the good news — almost everything that feels alarming in the newborn stage is completely normal. We've put together the five things every new parent should know in those first twelve weeks, so you can spend less time worrying and more time enjoying the tiny human who just joined your family.

1. Sleep Cycles: Why Your Baby Isn't "Sleeping Through the Night" Yet

If you feel like your baby is asleep one moment and wide awake the next, you're not imagining it. Newborns sleep a lot — 14 to 17 hours a day — but not in the long, continuous stretches adults are used to. Instead, that sleep comes in short 2 to 4 hour cycles, day and night.

This is also why so many newborns seem to have their days and nights flipped. Day-night confusion is completely normal in the early weeks — babies haven't developed their circadian rhythm yet. It usually starts sorting itself out by 8-12 weeks, with a little help from exposing your baby to natural light during the day and keeping night feeds calm, quiet, and dim.

Tip: A consistent, soft sleep environment — a breathable swaddle, a calm room, and gentle white noise — can help baby (and you) settle into these cycles a little easier.

2. Hiccups & Gas: More Normal Than You'd Think

Newborn hiccups can sound alarming the first time you hear them, but they're common and completely harmless — most babies grow out of frequent hiccups by the time they're a few months old.

Gas, on the other hand, is usually the real culprit behind newborn fussiness. A couple of things that genuinely help:

• Burp your baby mid-feed, not just at the end — this stops air from building up in the first place.
• Gentle bicycle-leg movements (slowly pedaling baby's legs while they lie on their back) can help release trapped gas and ease tummy discomfort.

A soft muslin burp cloth over your shoulder isn't just practical for spit-up — it also gives you a comfortable surface for those post-feed pats and gentle tummy rubs.

3. Cord Stump Care: Keep It Clean, Keep It Dry

The umbilical cord stump is one of the things new parents feel most nervous about — and honestly, there's not much to do except leave it alone.

• Keep the area clean and dry; it typically falls off on its own within 1 to 3 weeks.
• Fold the diaper down below the stump so it doesn't rub or trap moisture against it.
• Some mild jaundice is common in newborns during this period — keep an eye on it, and consult your pediatrician if it seems to worsen or your baby seems unusually sleepy or difficult to feed.

A soft, breathable diaper or nappy that sits low on the belly makes this so much easier to manage without constant readjusting.

4. Swaddling: Recreating the Comfort of the Womb

If there's one skill worth mastering early, it's swaddling. A good swaddle:

• Recreates the snug, secure feeling of the womb, which is deeply comforting for newborns.
• Reduces the startle (Moro) reflex — that sudden jerking motion that often wakes babies up mid-sleep.
• Should always keep the hips loose and legs free to move — swaddling too tightly around the hips can affect healthy hip development.

The fabric matters here more than people expect. Muslin is a favourite for a reason — it's breathable, soft on newborn skin, and gets softer with every wash, which matters when it's touching your baby for hours a day.

5. Feeding Cues: Learning Your Baby's Hunger Language

Newborns can't tell you they're hungry — but they do communicate it, if you know what to look for:

1. Rooting (turning their head and opening their mouth toward touch) is an early hunger cue.
2. Sucking on hands or fingers means they're getting hungry.
3. Lip-smacking or fidgeting signals it's time to feed soon — ideally before the crying starts.
4. Feeding 8–12 times in 24 hours is completely normal for newborns — it's not overfeeding, it's how tiny tummies work.
5. 6+ wet diapers a day is one of the best signs that your baby is feeding well.

Learning to catch the early cues (rooting and hand-sucking) rather than waiting for crying makes feeds calmer for both of you.

The First 3 Months Are a Learning Curve — For Both of You

There's no manual that comes with a newborn, but there is a pattern to the chaos. Sleep in short bursts, hiccups that pass on their own, a cord stump that heals itself, a snug swaddle, and feeding cues that get easier to read — these are the building blocks of the fourth trimester.

At Mulberro, our New Born Hampers and Muslin Cuddles collection are built around exactly these early realities — soft swaddles, breathable muslin essentials, and gentle everyday basics designed for a newborn's first few months. Because in this stage, comfort isn't a luxury, it's the whole point.

👉 Shop the New Born & Muslin Collection: https://mulberro.com/collections/muslin-cuddles