The early weeks with your baby are exciting, but you may feel anxious as you get used to taking care of him or her. You need to learn all about how to look after your baby, what is normal and what may be a sign that something is wrong.

But the most important thing to do in the first few weeks you spend with your new baby is to learn to enjoy him or her. Spending time with your baby is the best way to help them learn and feel safe and loved.

Enjoying your baby

So far we have only talked about the things that have to be done to keep your baby warm, fed and safe. In the first weeks those things can grow to fill all the available time, but of course they’re only a tiny part of what it means to be a parent.

Talking to your baby is very important. If you and your family speak another language, do use it to speak to your baby. It can give your child a head start in areas such as learning other languages, and help them to enjoy another culture.

Every second that your baby is awake, he or she is learning from you. Learning about what it feels like to be touched gently, about the sound of your voice and your very special smell, about what the world is like and whether it is a safe place to be and, above all, what it feels like to love and be loved.

Caring for you

Once you are home your midwife will come and visit you until they decide you and your baby are well enough to be officially discharged from their care. From then on, your main medical contact will be with your GP and health visitor. The health visitor will make contact with you fairly soon after you have been discharged by the midwife.

As well as getting to know your baby, you will also be trying to deal with his or her sleep patterns and feeding habits, all of which can be exhausting and stressful for you and your partner.

For more help and advice on how to wash your baby, change nappies and cope with crying please visit:

• NHS Choices - Your baby's first weeks