Newborn

What the newborn weeks really look like
Newborns sleep a lot, feed often and wake around the clock. Expect eight to twelve feeds in 24 hours, plenty of wet and dirty nappies, and sleep that comes in short stretches rather than long nights. None of this means you are doing anything wrong. It is simply how small babies are built.
In Singapore, these weeks also overlap with confinement for many families. Whether you have a confinement nanny, a grandparent helping out or you are managing on your own, it helps to agree early on the basics everyone will follow, especially around sleep and bathing, where traditional habits and current medical advice sometimes differ.
It also helps to sort out the admin early. Registering the birth, applying for Baby Bonus and opening a Child Development Account are all done through LifeSG, and our Baby Bonus guide explains what is changing when the new Child Support Package takes over from April 2027.
Newborn care: getting set up and staying on top of health checks
Our newborn care section covers the practical side. Start with the newborn checklist for Singapore, which lists what you actually need for the first three months, with realistic SGD budget ranges and a note on what to skip in our climate.
Jaundice is one of the most common reasons newborns are reviewed after going home. Most babies in Singapore have a jaundice check between days 3 and 5, either at the hospital or a polyclinic. Our guide to newborn jaundice in Singapore explains how bilirubin is checked, when phototherapy is needed and which signs mean you should see a doctor the same day.
Baby sleep: safe first, then sustainable
The baby sleep section starts with safety. Read the safe sleep guide for the ABCs: alone, on the back, in a clear cot. It also covers room-sharing, swaddling, and how to use fans and aircon sensibly in Singapore’s heat.
Many local homes grew up with baby pillows and bolsters, so we look at that tradition carefully in are baby pillows and bolsters safe? For what to expect night by night, the newborn sleep schedule has a sleep-by-age table and gentle sample routines.
Bath time and skin care in a humid climate
Singapore’s heat and humidity make baby skin issues very common. Our bath and skin care section walks you through how to bathe a newborn, including umbilical cord care and water temperature, and helps you tell apart heat rash, eczema, cradle cap and baby acne in our baby eczema and heat rash guide.
When to get help
Trust your instincts. Call 995 or go straight to the Children’s Emergency at KKH or NUH if your baby has difficulty breathing, turns blue or grey, is floppy or hard to wake, or has a seizure. See a doctor promptly if a baby under three months has a temperature of 38°C or higher, is feeding poorly, has far fewer wet nappies than usual, or has jaundice that is spreading or not settling.
For everyday questions, your polyclinic nurse, paediatrician and the HealthHub website are good first stops. Look after yourself too: our postpartum section covers recovery and emotional wellbeing for mums.
Where to go next
As your baby grows past the newborn stage, head to our baby section for feeding, milestones and health, including the Singapore vaccination schedule. If you are shopping for gear, our nursery and sleep picks focus on products that meet current safety guidance.