First Weeks Home Planner

What the planner gives you

Most newborn “schedules” you will find online are clock-based routines. In the first two weeks, babies set the pace: they feed often, day and night, and sleep in short stretches. What families can plan is who covers which part of the night and how the sleep space is set up. That is what this planner prints:

• Feeding and night-care schedules: notes on feeding in the first weeks and two loose example schedules, one for two adults sharing the night and one with an overnight postpartum doula.
• The AAP’s first-week reference for breastfed newborns, dated to your baby’s days 1 to 7.
• A safe sleep checklist quoted from the AAP’s current guidance.
• Who to call, with boxes for a name, a phone number and a website link.

Feeding and sharing the night

The planner prints these notes and two example schedules. Adult A is the nursing parent.

• Please remember that during the first couple of months you are feeding your baby frequently and when they are hungry. This will not be at exact times. This will be when your baby wakes to eat.
• The exception: The first couple of weeks you should be feeding your baby every 2 to 2.5 hours and you MAY need to wake your baby to feed. newborns are very sleepy BUT they need to eat often. They may not wake independently to eat.
• The nursing parent will need to feed the baby about every 2 hours to 2.5 hours even if your partner or postpartum doula is caring for your baby.
• Let your support person change your baby’s diaper, and settle your little one down; you should focus only on feeding during the part of the night when you need to rest more.
• Please remember if mom had a Ceserean birth Adult B will need to be more hands on and cover all tasks overnight until mom is feeling better and more healed.

What changes in the first week

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ parent site, HealthyChildren.org, describes what a well-fed breastfed newborn’s diapers usually look like day by day: one or two blackish, tarry stools on days 1 and 2; at least two greenish-to-yellow stools on days 3 and 4; and by days 5 to 7, six or more wet diapers a day and at least three to four yellow, loose stools. It also says to nurse at least 8 to 12 times every 24 hours.

The planner prints these descriptions against your actual dates so you know which day is which. They are the source’s descriptions, not targets. If you plan to use formula, the planner leaves these figures out and asks you to check with your pediatrician instead.

Safe sleep from the first night

The checklist repeats the AAP’s safe sleep recommendations, updated September 2026: baby on their back for every sleep, a firm, flat surface with a fitted sheet only, room-sharing for the first year without bed-sharing, moving a baby who falls asleep in a car seat, swing or carrier to a firm sleep surface, and not letting the baby get overheated. Set the sleep space up before the birth and print the list for anyone who helps with nights.

When to call your provider

Call your pediatrician whenever you are worried; you do not need a reason from a chart. The AAP recommends a first checkup no more than 48 hours after you leave the hospital. Keep the after-hours number on the printed page.