Quick Tips for Newborn Care
What Goes In...
Breastfeeding
 Most breastfed newborns nurse on demand
about every 2 to 3 hours (8 to 12 feedings in a
24-hour). The range can be 1 to 4 hours.
Newborns are sleepy and may need to be
awakened to feed. Cluster feeds are common.
 The length of a feeding varies, so feed until
your newborn is content. You know your baby is
getting milk when (s)he is content for 1-2 hours
between feedings, and you hear swallowing
(quiet sighs).
 Colostrum is a newborn’s first food. Mature
milk will come in between days 2 & 4.
 Proper position and latch is essential for
successful breastfeeding. It takes practice.
 Some newborns take one breast and others
take both at a feeding.
 As all newborns are unique, discuss the
introduction of a pacifier or bottle with your
pediatrician or lactation specialist.
 All breastfed babies should be given a Vitamin
D supplement every day. TriViSol™ is available
without a prescription.
 Do not heat breast milk in the microwave.
 Breastfed babies do not need extra water.
 Never give honey or corn syrup in the first
year of life.
Bottle Feeding
 Use an iron- fortified infant formula and
always review the preparation instructions.
 Generally, using fresh tap water is safe for
your baby. Check if you are on a well.
 Feed your newborn 1 to 3 ounces every 3 to 4
hours. This amount will increase as your baby
grows.
 An average feeding takes 15 minutes.
 Never prop a bottle and always make sure the
formula fills the nipple.
...Must Come Out
 A newborn’s first stool is thick, black, and
tar-like. It may take a few days for the stool to
transition to normal stools.
 In the first week of life, expect to have the
number of wet and soiled diapers as they are in
days of age - 3 days old 3 wet diapers and 3
soiled diapers in that 24 hour period.
 After the first week, a well-hydrated baby
should have 6 to 8 wet diapers each day.
 Breast-fed babies have small, frequent,
yellow stools with a pasty, watery, or seedy
consistency. True constipation is rare.
 Bottle-fed babies have soft, brown, green, or
yellow stools - a few per day to a few per week.
If stools are soft, this is normal.
Good Night, Sleep Tight
 Sleep is vital to to growth & development.
 Newborns are active sleepers - they suck,
coo, cry, stretch, smile, and dream.
 Most newborns sleep 16-18 hours a day in 1 to
3 hours intervals. Your baby is too young to cry
himself to sleep.
 To help establish day and night sleep habits,
keep daytime active with everyday sounds,
conversation, and play. Keep night awakenings
quiet with dim lights and no TV/music.
 The only recommended sleep position for
babies is on their back.
 Babies should be placed in a crib or bassinet
with a firm mattress that fits snugly against the
sides.
 Put nothing in the crib but the baby - no soft
bedding, bumper pads, blankets, toys, or sleep
position wedges. The sheet should fit tightly
around the mattress.
 Crib slats should be no more than 2-3/8
inches apart.
 Always keep the side rail raised.
if it is not time to eat yet. Dim the lights, play
soft music, rock gently. If these measures do
not help, call your doctor.
Watch Me Grow (By 4 weeks of age)
 Raises head slightly and moves it from side to
side when lying on tummy
 Startles easily
 Automatically holds a finger
 Makes jerky, quivery arm & leg movements
 Bring hands near face and keep hands in tight
fists
 Blinks in response to bright lights
 Focuses on your face when held closely
 Follows a slow moving object with eyes
 Prefers human faces over other shapes
 Hears very well, quiets to sound or parents
voices
 Calms when swaddled or rocked
Common Concerns for Parents
Constipation
Newborns often make dramatic facial
expressions, pass gas, strain and draw up their
legs when passing stools. Your baby may not
have a stool every day. As long as stools are
soft, this is not constipation.
Congestion/Sneezing
Babies often sneeze or sound congested. This is
not usually a cold. If congestion is mild,
intermittent, and not interfering with feedings
and your baby seems comfortable, you do not
need to do anything at all.
Jaundice
Newborn babies commonly have jaundice, a
yellow discoloration of the eyes and skin, in the
first week of life. Often a bilirubin test is done
in the hospital or office to determine the level
of elevation. If it is elevated, a repeat test may
be needed or phototherapy treatment may be
started. Let your doctor know if your baby is
getting more yellow.
Crying
Babies cry for many reasons; wet, hungry, in
pain, sick, sleepy, over-stimulated, too hot or
too cold, or just wanting to be held. Over time
you will learn what they mean. To calm your
baby: snuggle or swaddle your baby. Sing or talk
to your baby. Feed your baby or offer a pacifier
Skin Care
 Newborns often have peeling skin. Lotions are
not needed but you may use an unscented one.
They may also have intermittently mottled
appearing skin with blue hands and feet. This is
normal.
 Until the umbilical cord falls off, sponge
bathe your baby as needed using a small
amount of unscented cleanser & shampoo. After
the umbilical cord falls off, bathe your baby in
a shallow tub every 2-3 days.
 When cleaning a girl’s diaper area, wipe front
to back and in all the skin folds.
 For uncircumcised boys, no special care is
needed. Do not try to retract the foreskin.
 For circumcised boys, follow the instructions
given to you by your doctor.
 Thoroughly clean the diaper area with diaper
wipes or use warm water and a soft cloth if
your baby has sensitive skin.
 If you see redness in the diaper area, stop
using wipes and switch to water. Always let the
diaper area air dry for a few minutes before
putting on a new diaper. You can use Vaseline
or zinc oxide ointment if needed.
 Many newborns are born with long nails. Using
safety clippers, trim them gently while your
baby is asleep in your lap.
Other Parenting Pearls
 Signs of illness in a newborn include rectal
temperature over 100.4°F or under 97°F,
vomiting, diarrhea, refusing several feedings in
a row.
 Use smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
 Protect your baby from sun exposure.
 You cannot spoil your baby at this age;hold,
talk and sing to your baby.
 Never shake or spank your baby.
 Do not smoke – even smoking outdoors and
away from your baby still exposes him to the
toxic chemicals found in smoke.
 Always use a rear-facing infant car seat and
place it in the back seat.
 Take an infant CPR class.
 Set your hot water heater to 120°F.
 Never leave your baby unattended on a bed,