Basic Care for Your New Baby

Visitors & Crowds

During the first few weeks of your baby’s life, it’s important that he or she is not exposed to harmful germs, especially those that young children can have.

We encourage you to limit the number of people who handle your baby during this time so that his/her immune system has time to build up resistance to any infections.

Baby’s Weight

Newborns typically lose weight the first few days after birth. This should not concern you.

They will soon begin to gain weight and should be back to their birth weight by the time they are 10 days old. The general rule is that by six months, they should double their birth weight and by one year, triple it.

Umbilical Cord

While you are in the hospital, a nurse will go over instructions for caring for your baby’s umbilical cord.

Within one to four weeks, the cord should fall off by itself. It’s important that you don’t try to pull it off or cut it off prematurely.

Keep the diaper rolled below the cord until it falls off and the area heals. Until the cord falls off, you should only give your baby sponge baths. Read tips about bathing.

After the cord falls off, you may notice a little discharge, sometimes with a little blood. This is normal. However, if you notice continued oozing, a foul odor, surrounding redness or fever, you should have your child examined by a healthcare clinician.

Tummy Time

While you should not let your baby sleep on his/her tummy, it is a good idea to have supervised “tummy time” while baby is awake. Putting your baby on his tummy promotes good shoulder and muscle development and helps to avoid flat spots on the back of the head.

Visiting the Pediatrician

Your baby will need to see a doctor for routine immunizations and well visits. During these visits your baby’s weight and growth will be monitored to ensure proper development.

This is also the perfect time to discuss with the doctor any concerns you have about feeding, cord care, excessive crying, fevers and vomiting. If you are not sure what is normal behavior for your baby, call the doctor’s office. Most offices have a nurse that will consult with you over the phone.

Immunizations are shots or vaccinations that protect your child against diseases that can be prevented. Your child can begin receiving them as early as birth. Your baby’s doctor will provide you with a schedule of immunizations and a record of all shots given. It’s important that you keep your baby’s immunization record in a safe place, as your child will need it to enter school and even college.

Taking Baby’s Temperature

A thermometer is a must in any nursery, and your baby’s temperature will be important in determining if he/she needs medical treatment.

A baby’s temperature can be taken under the arm. Ear thermometers are not as accurate until your baby’s ears get bigger. Be sure and ask your healthcare clinician which method of temperature taking they would recommend.

Bowel Movements

As long as your baby is eating normally and doesn’t have any sign of illness, you need not worry about his/her bowel function. It’s normal for their stool to change in number, color and consistency from day to day.

Some babies may have as many as 6-8 a day, while your baby may only have one every other day. Also, breastfeeding babies will have different bowel movements than formula-fed babies. For breastfeeding babies, stool is usually more runny, mustard-yellow-colored and seedy in consistency. Formula-fed babies will have stools that are less runny and more tan in color. Both may have stools that are anywhere from green to gray to brown.

Your baby may grunt and turn red during bowel movements. This is normal and is not a sign of constipation. However, harder, pebble-like stools can be constipation. Diarrhea in babies is usually frequent and associated with excess water. If either continues for more than one day or you notice blood in the stool, contact a healthcare clinician.

Teething

All babies react differently to teething. Some have trouble eating and are very fussy. Others may just drool a lot. Topical creams and teething toys are helpful, but if irritability and crying persists, see your healthcare clinician.

Diaper Rash

Changing your baby’s diaper frequently, especially after he/she wets or has a bowel movement, is the best way to prevent diaper rash.

If there is a rash, wash your baby’s bottom with warm water and apply a diaper rash cream or petroleum jelly. If the rash gets worse and begins to bleed, see a doctor.

Skin Care

Because a baby’s skin is very sensitive, you may notice blotchiness, redness or rashes that are usually completely harmless. Some babies even get what is called “baby acne” that mimics the teenage kind and is caused by the mother’s hormones. Dry and peeling skin are also common, especially on baby’s hands, feet and scalp.

Lotions and creams are not recommended for dry skin because it slows down the shedding of dead skin. In fact, lotions and powders should be avoided the first two weeks. Check with a healthcare clinician to find out what products they would recommend.

Fingernails

Many new parents are scared to cut baby’s fingernails in fear they may hurt him/her. If you cut them while baby is sleeping, chances are he/she will not even notice.

You should not cut baby’s fingernails during the first two weeks. Instead, you can put little mitts over babies’ hands to prevent them from scratching themselves. After two weeks, use only a pair of baby scissors or baby clippers.

Circumcision

Circumcision of your son is a very personal decision for you that will most likely be based on religion, cultural factors, whether or not the father is circumcised, and/or hygiene issues.

The procedure involves removing the foreskin that surrounds the head of the penis. Your healthcare clinician will explain to you the different techniques for circumcision and care following the procedure, as well as will have you sign a consent form.

Your clinician will determine the best time to perform the circumcision on your baby whether it is during your hospital stay or a few days after you are discharged.

For the first few days, you will need to apply petroleum jelly to the circumcised area with each diaper change. The penis may appear red and have yellowish crusty spots. Do not try to wipe off the yellow areas. This is normal and is part of the healing process.

If you notice any excessive oozing, bleeding or swelling, contact your healthcare clinician. If you choose not to have your son circumcised, be sure and ask about proper care.

Jaundice

Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and eyes, is very common in newborns. It is caused by a chemical in the body called bilirubin and is not dangerous unless its level gets too high.

Bilirubin is produced by the liver, and although your baby was born with a fully developed liver, it takes time for it to function efficiently. The extra bilirubin in the liver is transferred to the blood and stored in the skin until the liver can break it down. Thus, the skin’s yellow appearance.

Jaundice may last up to one week and will usually clear up without any medical treatment. It is important that you pay close attention to your baby’s coloring and contact a doctor if the yellowing gets worse.

Your baby’s healthcare clinician should monitor your baby’s bilirubin level and make treatment recommendations. You may need to make several doctor or lab visits during this time, so that bilirubin levels can be monitored.

There are a variety of treatment options depending on the severity of the jaundice. Many babies are treated with phototherapy, also called a bililite that lowers the bilirubin buildup with exposure to a special fluorescent light.

Car Seats

You must have your infant in a car seat at all times when riding in the car. It’s not only about safety – it’s the law.

Make sure the seat you have says “dynamically or crash tested,” and that it meets the requirements of Federal Vehicle Safety Standard 213.

Car seats should be placed in the middle of the back seat and should face the rear until the baby weighs 20 pounds and is one year old. Never put a baby in a front seat where there is an airbag. It is also important to make sure your baby’s car seat is installed properly and that it is an appropriate seat for the weight of your child. Read more information on car seats