A crying infant at three in the morning while the changing table isn’t set up yet is the kind of situation that turns the first days at home into an obstacle course. Welcoming a baby from birth isn’t just about ticking off a shopping list: it’s about anticipating daily routines, adapting your living space, and knowing the new possibilities available to parents to stay present with their child.
Birth Leave 2026: Extra Time to Support the Infant
Since July 1, 2026, a new birth leave allows each parent to take one to two additional months after maternity or paternity leave. Compensation reaches 70% of the salary in the first month, then 60% in the second, within the limits of the Social Security monthly ceiling.
This leave is available to private sector employees, public agents, self-employed individuals, same-sex couples, and adoptive parents. The only condition: having exhausted legal leave and ceasing all paid activity during the period.
It can be taken all at once or split into two one-month periods within the nine months following birth. Both parents can benefit from it simultaneously or alternately. Practically, this means that continuous parental presence at home can be organized for several months without interruption. To prepare the necessary equipment during this extended period, you can explore the Bébés Avenue website, which gathers suitable materials for the first months.
Setting Up the Baby’s Room: Crib, Temperature, and Sleeping Safety
The crib remains a crucial aspect not to overlook. A compliant cradle or a crib with bars is sufficient for the first months. Avoid bed bumpers, cushions, duvets, and stuffed animals in the sleeping area: a firm mattress and a sleep sack suitable for the season cover the essentials.
The temperature of the room plays a direct role in sleep quality. Aim for a cool room rather than an overheated one. Feedback on this point varies depending on housing, but keeping the room ventilated and avoiding multiple layers of clothing under the sleep sack remains a reliable basis.
For nighttime sleeping in the first weeks, placing the crib in the parents’ room facilitates nighttime feedings or bottle feedings. It increases responsiveness, and the infant falls asleep faster after feeding.
Checklist for Sleeping Before Leaving the Maternity Ward
- A compliant crib with a mattress of the right size (no space between the mattress and the edges of the crib)
- Two to three sleep sacks of different weights to adapt to temperature variations
- Cotton fitted sheets, without a pillow or blanket in the crib
- A soft light nightlight for nighttime care without turning on the ceiling light
Infant Care: Practical Steps for the First Days
Returning from maternity concentrates several daily cares that one quickly learns to chain together. Diaper changes, bathing, and umbilical cord care form the basic trio.
For diaper changes, ensure a comfortable stock of diapers and an accessible water source. A stable changing table, placed against a wall (never under an open window), with all necessities within reach, avoids risky back-and-forth trips with a baby on top.
Bathing doesn’t need to be daily in the first weeks. Two to three times a week is sufficient, with cleaning of the face, folds, and bottom on other days. Use a moisturizing soap or a gentle cleansing product, unscented.
Umbilical Cord Care
The cord dries and falls off naturally within the first two weeks. Keep it clean and dry. If the area becomes red, oozes, or emits an odor, it’s a reason for a quick consultation. Aside from these signs, simply clean around the cord with a compress and water, without harsh disinfectants.
Clothing and Equipment: Buy What’s Useful Without Accumulating
A newborn grows quickly. Buying a mountain of newborn-sized bodysuits often results in leaving half of them in the drawer. Opt for clothes that open easily (snap buttons, zippers) in soft cotton, and plan for larger sizes.
- Six to eight bodysuits and as many pajamas in newborn and one-month sizes, in natural fabrics
- Hats and socks for outings, even in temperate weather
- A reliable bath thermometer and a body thermometer
- A physiological baby carrier or a wrap to keep hands free
It’s better to complete as you go rather than stock up in advance. Needs change from week to week, and some purchases (bouncer, high chair) are only useful several weeks after birth.
Health and Support: PMI, Medical Visits, and Parenting Assistance
Medical follow-up for the infant begins as soon as you leave the maternity ward. The first visit to the doctor or pediatrician occurs in the days following the return home. It allows for checking weight gain, the condition of the cord, and the establishment of feeding.
PMI (Maternal and Child Protection) services offer free home visits. A midwife or childcare nurse can come to support breastfeeding, check healing, and answer questions from the first days. Recent Senate recommendations emphasize strengthening these home interventions from the first months of life to support families in their new daily lives.
Don’t hesitate to request these services: they exist precisely for the weeks when everything seems new and fatigue blurs your bearings. A call to the maternity ward or the local PMI is enough to initiate support.
The first months with a baby are better organized when you have prepared the sleeping arrangements, anticipated basic care, and identified medical support around you. The new birth leave now provides a concrete lever for both parents to experience this period without haste.