New Day Pediatrics
419 -30th Street
Oakland, CA 94609
www.newdaypediatrics.com
Phone: (510) 465-4445
Fax:
(510) 208-0437
Commonly asked questions about newborns:
1. Why do they make choking sounds all night? There are many hypotheses, but
no proven facts. What is certain is that they do make incredible and sometimes
very loud noises, which can alarm even the calmest parents. This phenomenon is
very common and usually nothing to worry about.
Red Flag: If the noises are accompanied by a blue color around the mouth or your baby
going limp (it can happen very rarely) let the staff on call know immediately or call 911
if breathing has stopped for more than ten seconds (slow count of ten).
2. How much should my baby sleep? Newborns can sleep a total of 16-20 hours a
day, but physiologically their sleep needs to be interrupted so they can feed; that’s
why you can feel so exhausted despite the bountiful amount of sleep you might be
getting with them. As a general rule, it is best to leave a sleeping infant alone.
Red Flag: If a baby is sleeping for long stretches (6-8 hours) more than once during a
24 hour period or if they are feeding less than 8 times a day let the on call staff know.
3. How much should my baby feed? Generally breastfed infants feed more
frequently than bottlefed infants. One to two hours after birth infants and moms
are usually in an alert state, and are conducive to a first trial of breastfeeding. The
next 24 to 48 hours infants usually are less interested, so don’t be upset if your
baby doesn’t want to feed as much. If your baby is less than 37 weeks of
gestation the hospital staff will keep a very close eye to make sure that his/her
blood sugar does not fall below a safe limit, but term babies are usually O.K. with
this transitional period. A general rule of thumb for breastfeeding is 10-20
minutes on each breast every 1 ½ hours-4 hours as your baby demands. Again, I
would not wake a sleeping baby if he/she is sleeping for 6 hours straight, if the
rest of the day feeding has been frequent. Bottle-fed infants usually feed every 2
½ hours-4 hours.
4. If I am undecided, should I breastfeed or bottlefeed? Breastfeeding is many
times better for you and your infant. There are very rare contraindications to
breastfeeding, and we would be happy to discuss your options on an individual
basis.
5. How many layers should my baby wear? A good rule of thumb is to dress your
infant one layer more than you would wear to stay comfortable. Because their
surface to volume ratio is higher than ours, they have proportionally more heat
loss. If there isn’t much hair on your baby’s scalp, a cap should be worn to
minimize heat loss (hospitals usually provide you with one).
New Day Pediatrics
419 -30th Street
Oakland, CA 94609
www.newdaypediatrics.com
Phone: (510) 465-4445
Fax:
(510) 208-0437
6. What should I do with a crying baby? After birth, infants tend to cry at an
increasing rate with peak crying occurring about 6-8 weeks of age. Experts
hypothesize that this phenomenon may help with bonding, energy release or lung
development. Interestingly, in cultures where babies are wrapped around an adult
during the day peak crying is less. If your baby is well-fed, clean (no dirty
diaper), comfortable temperature-wise and does not have a fever you can try
talking to him/her slowly while holding him/her in front of you and establishing
eye to eye contact. Gentle rocking, music and a car ride have been recommended
by others. It is also invaluable to have a helper close by with whom you can take
turns doing the above. Infants should never be shaken, because it can cause
irreversible brain damage and death. Also, an anxious holder can make an infant
cry more. So it would be O.K. and sometimes even recommended to put a crying
child down in his/her crib, close the door and time on the clock five minutes
before going back to him/her, while getting a chance to relax. Many times, your
baby will be smiling or calm after you return to him/her.
7. What to do with colic? Colic is a more extreme case of a normal phenomenon.
Most infants’ gastrointestinal systems takes 2-3 months to mature and they are
very sensitive to the possible cramps which may be associated. Some
breastfeeding mothers are able to identify a single food source to eliminate from
their diet to cut back on their infants’ “gas,” but most of the time this approach is
not recommended, because it can lead to the mother’s malnutrition. Some parents
will “swear by” a colic remedy, but actual studies have not been able to
demonstrate any real effect. The possible interventions are to be in a calm
environment when feeding him/her and to try to burp your infant well after each
feeding.
8. Which are the most telling signs that my baby needs medical attention?
Rectal temperature higher than 100.3 F or 38.0 C during the first three months of
life, poor feeding and/or a vesicular or postular (pus containing) rash.
9. How can I keep my baby healthy, as much as possible? Breastfeeding is the
most important way you can keep your infant healthy. Also, exercise good
handwashing for yourself and all guests who want to hold him/her. It is a good
practice to give the visitors a receiving blanket to put on their shoulders to keep
their street clothes away from your infant’s face. If a visitor is sick, he or she
should not be holding your infant. Also, as tempting as it is, avoid kissing your
infant on the eyes, nose and mouth; there are many other places he or she can be
kissed. Sometimes it is difficult to adhere to these precautions, especially by
interested brothers and sisters who are figuring out the nature of the newcomer.
Please remember that these are general guidelines and each infant can act in their own
special way. Do not hesitate to call us with any questions, because we know that the first
two months can be a particularly trying period.