A mother’s work is certainly never done. From the moment your child is born to the moment that they can head off to college, you will have a long list of responsibilities to take care of. But there is no more important time that the first year of life – both for you and for baby.

When you bring home your new baby, you might be feeling overwhelmed. Can you do it? Can you take care of this little child? Can you make sure that they are safe and sound? Before you even consider these questions, you need to realize one thing: you’re not necessarily going to know everything that you’ll need to know. Motherhood isn’t something that you can really learn until it is thrust into your arms. You will make mistakes and you will make poor decisions, but in the end, you are learning just as your baby is. Have a sense of humor and someone that you can call to make it all the easier.

First things first, this baby needs to be fed. You have a number of options in this decision. Some mothers prefer to breast feed their babies with the thought that this is the most natural process and one that comes easily to mom. But this doesn’t always work out for the mom. Some mothers can have troubles getting their child to latch onto the breast or problems with producing enough milk. You will learn about breast feeding in the hospital, but if you have problems, you can be given formulas or a breast pump to expedite the process. Have some patience at this point. You will find something that works for you and baby.

Most babies will need to be fed every few hours around the clock for the first few months. They are growing rapidly and need all of the nutrition that they can get in order to fuel this process. This is where the horror stories of midnight feedings and burpings come from. Babies just need to extra attention in the beginning months. You will feed the baby and then gently rest them on your should to help burp them to release the extra air that might have gotten into their stomachs – this makes baby uncomfortable and prone to crying.

Because of all this feeding, baby will need to be changed regularly. You can opt for washable diapers or disposable diapers, depending on your preference. The diapers will need to be changed every few hours as well to keep baby comfortable and free of the dreaded diaper rash. In the hospital, have the nurse go over the process with you so that you get all of your questions answered. You need to remove the dirty diaper, wipe their private areas and then powder the areas and replace with a new diaper. You can also add diaper rash cream if you like.

To keep baby smelling nice and clean, you will also want to give your baby regular baths. These should be done in a small tub with lukewarm water and baby-safe soap. Gently rub their bodies while supporting their neck and body with your hand. The warm water soothes baby and can help to put them to sleep at the end of the day or before their nap time. Dry them off, replace their diaper, and dress them again.

Speaking of sleeping, you will find that your baby doesn’t seem to sleep for long periods of time. This is normal. Of course, if your child never sleeps, you’ll want to talk to your pediatrician to make sure that nothing else might be wrong. Babies will need to sleep for most of the day – and this is a good time for mom to catch up on her sleep as well.

But what about when things seem wrong? Every mother has times when she gets concerned about her baby’s health, so don’t feel that you’re alone. Feel free to call your mother or your friends for advice, though you also want to keep your pediatrician’s number close as well. Things like fevers, rashes, and continuous crying are all things that may require a doctor’s appointment, so be sure to call and speak with a nurse to see if your child needs attention.

The beginning is the hardest part of parenting because you’re still learning a lot about your baby, their moods, their temperament, and what they need. But in a short while, you’ll be handling your child like a pro – and you’ll get a few more smiles for your hard work.