Newborn Care Guide

Your newborn is adjusting to life outside the womb. Here is what to expect:

• Your baby will sleep 16-17 hours per day in short stretches
• Expect 8-12 feedings per day (breastfed) or 6-8 feedings (formula-fed)
• Wet and dirty diapers increase each day — by day 5, expect 6+ wet diapers per day
• Weight loss of 7-10% in the first few days is normal; birth weight should be regained by 10-14 days
• Skin-to-skin contact helps regulate temperature, heart rate, and breathing
• It is normal to feel overwhelmed — accept help and rest when baby rests

Your baby is born with several automatic reflexes that gradually disappear as the brain matures:

• Rooting: Turns toward anything touching the cheek, searching for a nipple
• Sucking: Sucks anything placed in the mouth
• Moro (startle): Throws arms out when startled by noise or sudden movement
• Palmar grasp: Grips your finger tightly when placed in palm
• Stepping: Makes walking motions when held upright with feet touching a surface
• Babinski: Toes fan out when the sole of the foot is stroked

• The cord stump dries and falls off naturally within 1-3 weeks
• Keep the area clean and dry — fold the diaper below the stump
• Do not pull the stump off, even if it looks loose
• Sponge baths only until the stump falls off
• Call your doctor if: redness or swelling around the base, foul-smelling discharge, or bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure

Before leaving the hospital, your baby will undergo several important screenings:

• Blood spot test (heel prick): Screens for 30+ rare but treatable conditions including PKU, sickle cell disease, and hypothyroidism
• Hearing screening: Tests both ears for hearing loss — early detection is critical for language development
• Pulse oximetry: Measures oxygen levels to screen for critical congenital heart defects
• Bilirubin check: Screens for jaundice levels before discharge

• Sponge baths until the cord stump falls off and the area heals
• 2-3 baths per week is sufficient — daily baths can dry out skin
• Use warm (not hot) water — test with your elbow or wrist
• Never leave your baby unattended in or near water, even for a second
• Use fragrance-free, gentle soap sparingly
• Pat dry gently and apply fragrance-free moisturizer if skin is dry

Many normal newborn features can look concerning. These are typically harmless:

• Molding: Cone-shaped or asymmetric head from the birth canal — resolves within days
• Milia: Tiny white bumps on nose and cheeks — resolve on their own
• Newborn acne: Small red bumps appearing at 2-4 weeks — clears without treatment
• Peeling skin: Especially common in overdue babies — normal shedding
• Lanugo: Fine body hair, especially on back and shoulders — falls out naturally
• Stork bites: Pink flat birthmarks on eyelids, nose, or back of neck — most fade by age 2

In the first month, call your pediatrician if your baby:

• Has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
• Seems unusually sleepy or difficult to wake for feedings
• Refuses to feed or is not producing enough wet diapers
• Has yellow or green discharge from the umbilical cord
• Develops jaundice (yellow skin or eyes) after leaving the hospital
• Has difficulty breathing, grunting, or flaring nostrils
• Cries inconsolably for more than 3 hours

Complete guide: when to call the doctor →