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Baby care guides for the first years
Crying, feeding, sleep hours, nappies, fever, check-ups and teething, in plain words, with the numbers checked against the NHS, the AAP, the CDC and the WHO.
Quick answers
The questions parents ask at 3 a.m.
How much sleep?
- 0 to 3 months
- 14 to 17 h, varies a lot
- 4 to 12 months
- 12 to 16 h
- 1 to 2 years
- 11 to 14 h
- 3 to 5 years
- 10 to 13 h
Totals in 24 hours, naps included.
Read the guide →How often to feed?
- Breastfed newborn
- 8 to 12 feeds a day
- Formula, first days
- about 30 to 60 ml (1 to 2 oz)
- Formula, by 1 month
- 90 to 120 ml (3 to 4 oz)
- Solids
- from around 6 months
Follow hunger cues, not the clock.
Read the guide →When is a fever urgent?
- Under 3 months
- 38°C (100.4°F) or more: get help now
- 3 to 6 months
- 38.3°C (101°F) AAP or 39°C (102.2°F) NHS: call a doctor
- Any age
- floppy, rash that won't fade, breathing trouble: emergency
If in doubt, call your doctor.
Read the guide →When are check-ups?
- US (AAP)
- first week, 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24, 30 months, 3 years
- UK (NHS)
- newborn exam, 6 to 8 weeks, 9 to 12 months, 2 to 2.5 years
Vaccine timing follows your country's schedule.
Read the guide →Educational content only, not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor or health visitor about your child. In an emergency call your local emergency number.
Crying and soothing
Why is my baby crying? Causes, colic and how to soothe them
Why babies cry, how much crying is normal, the 6 week peak, colic and the rule of threes, a soothing checklist, coping tips and red flags to act on.
Burping and spit-up: how to wind your baby and when to worry
How and when to burp your baby, 3 burping positions, spit-up vs vomiting, reflux tips, safe sleep with reflux and the red flags that need a doctor.
Your newborn's first weeks: a practical survival guide
What to expect in your newborn's first weeks: weight loss, feeding, cord care, bathing, jaundice, skin and nails, safe sleep, going out and baby blues.
Feeding and nappies
How much should a newborn eat? Breast milk and formula by age
How often newborns breastfeed, formula amounts by age in ml and oz, hunger and fullness cues, signs your baby is getting enough, and vitamin D advice.
Newborn poo and wet nappies: what is normal and what is not
How many wet and dirty nappies to expect day by day, what each poo colour means, constipation, diarrhoea, dehydration signs and nappy rash basics.
Starting solids, a simple guide for around 6 months
When to start solids, signs your baby is ready, first foods, iron-rich foods, allergens, choking hazards and the foods to avoid before 12 months.
Sleep
How much sleep does a baby need? Sleep hours by age, 0 to 5 years
How much sleep babies and toddlers need by age, typical naps, night waking, day and night confusion, a simple bedtime routine and sleep regressions.
Safe sleep basics for babies, what the AAP and NHS recommend
Safe sleep for babies, following AAP and NHS guidance. Back to sleep, a clear cot, room sharing, room temperature and when to stop swaddling.
Health and doctor visits
Baby check-up schedule: well-baby visits in the US and UK
When baby check-ups happen in the US and UK, from the first week to age 3, what happens at each visit, questions to bring and how vaccine schedules work.
Baby fever: when to call the doctor, by age
What counts as a fever in babies, how to take their temperature, when to call the doctor by age, emergency red flags, comfort care and medicine safety.
Baby teething: when it starts, signs and safe relief
When babies start teething, a tooth-by-tooth timeline, signs, safe relief, what the FDA warns against, brushing first teeth and the first dentist visit.
Growth and development
Tummy time: when to start, how long and what to do if baby hates it
When to start tummy time, how many minutes by age (AAP and WHO), easy positions, help for babies who hate it, the milestones it supports and safety rules.
Baby milestones in the first year, month by month
Baby milestones at 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months based on the CDC's 2022 checklists, what they mean, and when to talk to your doctor.
How much weight should a baby gain in the first year?
Typical baby weight gain month by month in the first year, with WHO median weights for boys and girls from birth to 12 months.
How to measure your baby at home (weight, length and head)
How to weigh your baby, measure their length and check head circumference at home, how accurate it really is, and why clinic numbers come first.
Are these baby care guides free?
Yes. Every guide on Baby Growth Club is free to read, with no sign-up. Some pages link to products on Amazon, which never changes the price you pay.
Where does the information come from?
Each guide is checked against official sources such as the NHS, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC and the WHO, listed in a Sources box at the end of the guide.
Is this medical advice?
No. The guides are educational. Your doctor, midwife, health visitor or paediatrician knows your baby and should always come first. In an emergency call your local emergency number.
Can I track feeds, sleep and nappies?
Yes. Baby Growth Tracker Pro is our iPhone app for logging feeds, sleep, nappies, growth and milestones, and it works offline.
