Having a newborn is an exciting time filled with joy and anticipation. After spending nine months eagerly awaiting your baby’s arrival, they are finally here! Rooming-in with your baby around the clock after birth helps you build a strong bond and quickly learn how to care for their needs. By knowing what to expect, you can enjoy this special time more fully and feel confident in your new role. With love, patience, and helpful resources, you’ll create a warm and nurturing space for both you and your little one.

Benefits of Rooming-in

Improved Breastfeeding

  • Continuous skin-to-skin contact and keeping your baby close day and night help you get to know your baby and provide more opportunities for breastfeeding. This is considered one of the best practices for supporting early breastfeeding success.

  • Breastfeeding for at least the first two months reduces your baby's risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by 50%.

  • Many studies show that rooming-in is associated with higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge and follow-up visits.

Better Sleep

  • When parents can respond quickly to their baby’s needs, everyone—new mothers, babies, and partners—all get better rest.

Help & Support

  • Families receive around-the-clock assistance from nursing staff and lactation consultants.

  • Education and hands-on support are provided to help you care for your newborn confidently.

  • Rooming-in supports the entire family unit by involving partners, other family members, and older siblings.

What to Expect When Rooming-in

Skin-to-Skin & Bonding

Almost all hospitals support “The Golden Hour”, the time immediately following your baby’s birth, when all non-urgent procedures are delayed until after their first feeding. This closeness helps your baby maintain a steady heart rate, stable body temperature, and lower levels of stress hormones for both of you. Staying close to your baby through ongoing skin-to-skin contact and rooming-in fosters emotional attachment and helps you learn your baby’s cues. This is one of the best ways to strengthen your connection from the very start.

Sleeping & Eating Patterns

Full-term healthy newborns sleep around 16 to 18 hours a day, often in short bursts as they wake frequently to feed. Expect at least 8-12 feedings per day. Babies sleep a lot, but will wake for feeding and connection. This is completely normal.

Crying

Crying is your baby’s main way of communicating. Babies cry for many reasons—or sometimes for no apparent reason at all! Paying attention to how your baby cries and responding promptly is one of the best ways to understand their needs and provide comfort and connection.

Tips for Rooming-in

Rooming-in can feel new at first, but it’s a supportive way to get to know your newborn and settle into your own rhythm together. This section will guide you through what to expect and how to make your hospital stay calm, comfortable, and confidence-building.

Create a Comfortable Environment

  • Feel free to bring snacks or a cooler from home. Not all hospitals provide meals for partners, so relying on the cafeteria isn’t always convenient.

  • It’s okay to bring your favorite pillow or blanket too. 

  • Have all the essentials (diapers, wipes, clothing) close by. This is especially helpful for middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes.

  • Keep the room quiet, dimly lit, and at a comfortable temperature so everyone can get as much rest as possible. 

  • Communicate with your nurse when you are planning to nap or when you wake in the middle of the night, so any necessary tests or procedures can be coordinated while you are still awake, minimizing sleep interruptions.  

  • Some hospitals offer “Do Not Disturb” signs or have “Quiet Hours” so moms can rest.

Feedings & Daily Rhythm

  • Hold your baby skin-to-skin as often as you can, especially in the early days. This helps regulate their temperature and supports frequent breastfeeding.

  • Follow your baby’s natural rhythms for feeding and sleeping. Newborns typically feed every 1.5 to 3 hours. While this may seem frequent, it's vital for establishing a healthy and abundant milk supply.

  • Responding to your baby's early feeding cues helps latching go more smoothly. Crying is a late hunger cue and can make latching more challenging, so try to feed before your baby reaches that stage.

  • Newborns are often sleepy. Changing their diaper between breasts is a gentle way to wake them if they need encouragement to stay alert and feed more effectively.

  • Track feeding times and diaper counts to share with your nurse and pediatrician. This provides reassurance that your baby is getting enough breast milk.

Support Your Well-Being

  • Rest, eat well, and take care of yourself when your baby sleeps.

  • Ask for help from healthcare providers whenever needed.

  • Invite trusted family or friends to assist during skin-to-skin time, diaper changes, and caring for your baby while you sleep.

  • Consider joining a local or online breastfeeding support group for encouragement and advice. Lactation consultants can provide invaluable support in overcoming breastfeeding challenges and help you achieve your breastfeeding goals.

What if I or my Partner Need a Break?

While 24/7 rooming-in is now a standard of care at most United States hospitals, there can absolutely be exceptions made due to medical necessity, including maternal exhaustion. Your hospital staff will support you and care for your baby in the hospital nursery until you are well enough to resume full-time rooming-in. 

How Long Should Rooming-in Continue?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends rooming-in continue for at least the first six months of your baby's life, but encourage as long as one year. This is in line with their Safe Sleep Guidelines to promote infant safety, successful breastfeeding, and reduce SIDS risk. While in the hospital, you can learn more about how to improve your quality of sleep while breastfeeding or reach out to a Lactation Consultant for tools to support your needs once you are home.

You have been your baby's home for months, and that continues as you hold them close after birth. Understanding what to expect can help you feel more at ease and able to enjoy these early days and weeks. You’ll soon find a rhythm that feels right for both of you. As you begin this journey together, rooming-in offers a gentle way to connect, learn your baby’s cues, and grow confident in caring for them.

Disclaimer: Our classes and accompanying materials are intended for general education purposes and should not replace medical advice. For personalized recommendations, please consult your healthcare provider and/or lactation consultant.