THE FIRST NIGHT AT HOME: HERE'S HOW TO MAKE THIS MOMENT UNIQUE AND SPECIAL

Nine long months have just passed and, after giving birth, it is almost hard to realise that your baby is finally in front of you. A concentration of love and joy enclosed in a tiny body that you are almost afraid to touch. The baby is there in front of you and, after the first moments of excitement, you are already looking forward to holding it in your arms at home, in the nursery that has been prepared for months. Then thoughts, doubts and questions start to surface, such as whether the baby will be OK at home, whether you are ready to look after it yourself and how you will make sure you give it everything it needs. No need for instruction booklets. Just take a deep breath and follow your instincts, which, by the way, are almost always right. 

The nursery is ready and the drawers are overflowing with nappies and baby clothes, but what does it take to have a perfect nursery ready for the arrival of your little one?

For months your baby was immersed in a place where tranquillity and silence were the main characters. It could only see soft light, hear muffled noises and enjoy the warmth that only the mother's body can provide, so once you bring your baby home, all you need to do is to organise things to recreate those moments as much as possible. The ideal environment is one that is quiet, where noises can be heard but are always filtered, with soft lighting and a mild temperature, as excessive heat or cold can be disturbing for the baby. The question of temperature can also influence the choice of covers, sheets and sleepsuits to put in the cot. Especially in the early days, and therefore also for the first night, it is a good idea to use a sleeping bag that gives a feeling of freedom but at the same time does not let the baby move around too much and get lost under the covers in the cot. This solution is also ideal for checking that the baby stays lying on its back, which is the most suitable and least dangerous position during sleep.

It is also often suggested to keep the cot close to the mother's bed. This is because babies wake up on average every three hours to eat, without taking into account the time needed for nappy changing. Having the cot nearby means you can breastfeed or bottle-feed and pick the baby up easily from your bed.

The secret is to be as organised as possible and to give each other time to understand one another. Suddenly finding yourself with an extra person in your daily life is not easy. The baby cries, tiredness sets in and you often think you have done something wrong, but you haven't! The baby uses crying as a means of communication, so you only need to understand what it wants to say with one type of cry rather than another. 

So now that the cot is set up, the environment is perfect, the atmosphere is perfect and everything you need is ready to go, you can finally enjoy your first night at home in peace. Moments such as the first night together will give you a chance to get to know each other better, enjoy a moment of intimacy and, above all, devote yourself completely to your child who needs their family and all the cuddles they can get. All that remains is to admire your little one with pride and enjoy every moment with him. 

Discover some Falcotto ideas for your child’s first wardrobe

• for girls
• for boys