Personal stories from readers.
A newborn needs many more hours of sleep than toddlers or older children. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that newborns get 17 hours of sleep each day for normal growth and brain development. On average, most newborns sleep a total of 18 to 20 hours daily, including short two to four hour naps. 12 to … Read more
When dressing your baby to be indoors, dress him the way you would like to be dressed. If your arms and legs are covered, cover your baby’s. When dressing your baby to go outside, he will usually be comfortable if he is wearing one more layer of clothing than you are. The important thing is … Read more
A newborn doesn’t need a bath every day. In fact, the World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics don’t recommend a first bath until the baby is over 24 hours old. Once your little one comes home, daily baths are still not necessary. Doing so may cause skin dryness or worsen sensitive skin. Although … Read more
Many babies have little or no appetite for the first few days. Your baby may suckle for a few minutes, then fall asleep, only to wake up crying as soon as you try to put him down. His appetite will pick up soon, but it may take several weeks for him to get into an … Read more
Spitting up It is normal for babies to spit up once in a while. Most of the time spitting up is caused by babies eating too fast and swallowing a lot of air that they don’t burp. Bottle-fed babies are more likely to spit up than breast-fed babies. To help keep the milk down, burp … Read more
As early as the first two days of life, newborns pass stool 2 to 7 times each day. Newborns wet 2 to 6 diapers for the first 2 days and 6 to 10 each day thereafter. Changing diapers is both an important and enjoyable part of caring for your newborn. A diaper change is the … Read more
Many parents worry when hearing their newborn baby cry. It is often difficult to determine if the baby is hungry, uncomfortable, or just wants to be held. The best way to handle your baby’s cries during the first few months is to respond quickly. Picking up your newborn to console her is an important part … Read more
Preventing Infection Any type of infection can be very serious for a newborn. For the first few weeks, your baby’s umbilical cord needs special care to keep it from getting infected. If your baby boy has been circumcised, his penis also needs to be protected from infection. Washing your hands every time you touch your … Read more
When you first see your baby don’t be surprised if she is somewhat messy looking—she will likely be bloody, wet and slippery. She may not have that peaceful angelic look you see in magazines, but she is screaming her head off. You may not get to check her over right away, but once most parents … Read more
A pediatrician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant will give your newborn a complete check-up and head-to-toe exam within the first 24 hours. Your newborn’s heart, reflexes, joints, hearing, and internal organs will be carefully examined. His umbilical cord is checked to make sure it is beginning to heal as it should. Your newborn’s reflexes Babies … Read more