For first-time parents, the first days with your new baby are utterly terrifying, particularly if you don’t have much experience with little ones. Once you figure out diapers, the rest is mostly a piece of cake, although it’s important to keep an eye on a few major aspects of your newborn’s health. Here’s a look at ways to keep your brand new baby healthy and happy.
Diet and Weight
Newborns receive nutrition exclusively through breast milk or formula for the first four to six months of life. Some families don’t choose one type exclusively but fortify as necessary. Your infant will need to eat every 1.5 to 3 hours, including at night. Make sure to keep an eye on your newborn’s weight to ensure it’s increasing steadily. She may lose weight in the first few days but return to her birth weight within two weeks.
Illness
A newborn’s immune system is initially quite sensitive and not as efficient as an older child’s. Make sure the members of your household and anyone who will be caring for your baby are up to date on vaccines and washes their hands frequently. Minimize contact with large crowds and avoid sick people to limit illness.
If your newborn experiences a fever of more than 100.4 degrees, contact your pediatrician or head for the ER. Obviously, your baby can’t tell you he feels nauseous, but common signs of illness in a newborn include changes in eating habits, lethargy, irritability, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Dirty Diapers
Immediately following birth, a baby's stools are a dark colored meconium; regular bowel movements should begin three to four days after birth. After regular bowel movements begin, the frequency, consistency, and color vary slightly depending on the baby and whether you choose breastmilk or formula. Breastfed babies may poop as infrequently as once a week! Likewise, there may be very few wet diapers the first few days. Expect about six to eight wet diapers a day after that; urine should be a pale yellow.
Diaper Rash
Speaking of dirty diapers, newborns have sensitive tushies. Diaper rash is a form of contact dermatitis that develops when the wetness of the diaper is in contact with the skin for too long. The best treatment for diaper rash is an over-the-counter diaper rash cream -- make sure it says “treatment” not just “prevention.” If the rash does not clear up within a few days, consult with your pediatrician to rule out other causes and prevent further infection (such as candidiasis). To prevent diaper rash, use cream, an A&D ointment, and change diapers frequently.
Major Concerns
The dream, of course, is a perfectly healthy baby, but this isn’t always the case. Things to watch out for in particular include:
- Infantile jaundice: a yellowing of the skin that may be easily managed or may be indicative of an underlying condition
- Colic: inconsolable crying or screaming for hours above and beyond the normal infant woes
- SIDS: or sudden infant death syndrome is an idiopathic issue that results in infant fatality.
Most pediatricians recommend bringing your newborn in for a check-up within a few days of leaving the hospital. Bring any questions you may have whether they’re specifically about your child or just in general, and don’t hesitate to call the office before or after.
