Newborn Care

Articles In This Section

• Frequently Asked Questions About Immunizations

  Immunizations have protected millions of children from potentially deadly diseases. Learn about immunizations and find out exactly what they do - and what they don't.

• Growth Charts

  Doctors use growth charts to figure out whether kids' height and weight measurements are "normal" and whether they're developing on track. Here are some facts about growth charts.

• Cradle Cap (Infantile Seborrheic Dermatitis)

  This harmless condition - the infant form of dandruff - causes rough, scaly patches on a baby's skin.

• Is My Baby Ready for Shoes?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• I Love My New Baby. So, Why Am I Sad?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• Booster Seat Safety

  Your tot's not a baby anymore! It's time for a big-kid booster seat. But how can you ensure that your child is still safe and secure in the car? Find out here.

• Car Seat Safety

  What's the right way to install an infant safety seat? Is your toddler ready for a convertible seat? Get the car seat know-how you need here.

• Stopping the Bottle

  Transitioning a baby from a bottle to a cup isn't always easy, as babies can become attached to their bottles. These tips can help parents make the switch.

• How Can I Overcome Breastfeeding Difficulties?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• Choking

  Choking is an emergency - so it's important to recognize the signs of choking and know what to do if happens.

• Your Child’s Checkup: 3 to 5 Days

  Find out what this doctor's checkup will involve a few days after your baby is born.

• Your Child’s Checkup: Newborn

  Find out what this doctor's checkup will involve after your baby arrives.

• Constipation

  Constipation is a very common problem among kids, and it usually occurs because a child's diet doesn't include enough fluids and fiber. In most cases, simple changes can help kids go.

• Oral Thrush

  Oral thrush, a very common infection in infants that causes irritation in and around the baby's mouth, often goes away on its own without medical treatment.

• Diaper Rash

  Diaper rash is a very common infection that can cause a baby's skin to become sore, red, scaly, and tender. In most cases, it clears up with simple changes in diapering.

• Formula Feeding FAQs: Some Common Concerns

  Read about how to manage common formula-feeding concerns, from spitting up and fussiness to gas and milk allergies.

• Formula Feeding FAQs: Starting Solids and Milk

  Find answers to common inquiries about introducing solids and whole milk to formula-fed babies.

• Formula Feeding FAQs: How Much and How Often

  Get answers to some common formula-feeding inquiries, from how much newborns eat to what their diapers might look like.

• Formula Feeding FAQs: Preparation and Storage

  Check out these formula-feeding bottle basics, from how to mix bottles to how to store them safely.

• Formula Feeding FAQs: Getting Started

  Shopping for formula-feeding supplies can be daunting. Here are answers to some common questions about formula feeding.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Some Common Concerns

  Here are answers to some questions about common breastfeeding concerns - from biting to spitting up.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Solids and Supplementing

  Here are answers to some common supplemental feeding questions - from when to introduce solids to offering breastfed babies formula.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Supply and Demand

  Here are answers to some common questions about your milk supply - from having too much to having too little.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Safely Storing Breast Milk

  Here are answers to some common questions about how to keep breast milk and how to clean and sterilize supplies, from bottles to nipples to breast pump parts.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Pumping

  Here are answers to some common questions about pumping your breast milk - from buying a pump to making the process a little easier.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Out and About

  Here are answers to some common questions about going out in public as a breastfeeding mom - from how to do it discreetly to taming sneaky leaks.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Pain and Discomfort

  Here are answers to some common questions about preventing and reducing breastfeeding discomfort, such as nipple and breast pain.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Your Eating and Drinking Habits

  Here are answers to some common questions about what breastfeeding mothers should and shouldn't eat and drink.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Sleep – Yours and Your Baby’s

  Here are answers to some common questions about breastfed babies and sleep - from where they should snooze to when they'll finally start sleeping through the night.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: How Much and How Often

  Here are answers to some common questions about beginning to breastfeed - everything from how often to nurse your baby each day to how to tell if your little one is eating enough.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Getting Started

  Here are answers to some common questions about beginning to breastfeed - everything from latch-on to let-down.

• Can I Feed My Baby Honey?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• Laundering Your Baby’s Clothes

  Once a baby arrives, it can seem as if the laundry doubles! Many parents think they need to use baby detergent to clean their baby's clothes, but in most cases, this isn't necessary.

• Trimming Your Baby’s Nails

  Although cutting your little one's nails can be a bit unnerving, keeping nails short is important to your baby's safety.

• Diapering Your Baby

  Babies may use up to 10 diapers a day! Get the basics on how to diaper like a pro.

• Burping Your Baby

  Feeding a baby for the first time is an exciting experience for any new parent. Here's a quick guide to one important aspect of feeding - burping.

• Nursing Positions

  If you're a first-time parent, breastfeeding your newborn may seem complicated. Check out this article for information on common nursing positions, proper latching-on techniques, and how to know if your baby is getting enough to eat.

• Weaning Your Child

  Weaning is when children make the transition from breast milk to other sources of nourishment. Here's how to make this change easier on you and your child.

• Immunization Schedule

  Which vaccines does your child need to receive and when? Use this immunization schedule as a handy reference.

• Taking Your Preemie Home

  If you're about to begin caring for your preemie at home, try to relax. With some preparation and planning, you'll be ready.

• Medical Care and Your 4- to 7-Month-Old

  Because your baby begins to show his or her personality during these months, your questions may move from simple sleeping and eating concerns to those about physical and social development.

• A Guide for First-Time Parents

  If you're a first-time parent, put your fears aside and get the basics in this guide about burping, bathing, bonding, and other baby-care concerns.

• Medical Care and Your 1- to 3-Month-Old

  You probably have lots of questions about your baby's health. When should you call the doctor, and what medical care should you expect for your baby at this age?

• Bed-Sharing

  Bed-sharing is controversial in the United States. Supporters believe that a parent's bed is just where an infant belongs. But is it safe?

• Circumcision

  You have an important decision to make before you take your newborn son home: whether to circumcise him. Before deciding, talk to your doctor and consider the issues.

• Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding

  Making a decision to breastfeed or formula feed your baby is a personal one. There are some points to consider to help you decide which option is best for you and your baby.

• Your Child’s Immunizations

  Immunizations protect your child from potentially fatal diseases. Find out what vaccines your child needs to grow up healthy.

• Looking at Your Newborn: What’s Normal

  When you first get to see, touch, and inspect your newborn, you may be surprised by what you see. Here's what to expect.

• Communication and Your Newborn

  From birth, your newborn has been communicating with you. Crying may seem like a foreign language, but soon you'll know what your baby needs - a diaper change, a feeding, or your touch.

• Hernias

  Hernias are fairly common in kids and hernia repair is the one of the most common surgeries performed on children.

• Pyloric Stenosis

  Pyloric stenosis is a condition that can cause your baby to vomit forcefully and often and may cause other problems such as dehydration and salt and fluid imbalances.

• Teething Tots

  Teething can be a tough time for babies and parents. Here are the facts on teething, including tips for baby teeth hygiene and relieving pain.

• Learning, Play, and Your Newborn

  Play is the primary way that infants learn how to move, communicate, socialize, and understand their surroundings. And during the first month of life, your baby will learn by interacting with you.

• Medical Issues in Adoption

  If you're considering adoption, here are some things to know about the health and medical care of an adopted child, before, during, and after the adoption.

• Newborn Screening Tests

  Newborn screening tests look for harmful or potentially fatal disorders that aren't apparent at birth. Find out which tests are done and which disorders they're designed to detect.

• The First Day of Life

  Your baby's first day of life is one of the most eventful days in your own life. Here's what to expect on that special day.

• A Primer on Preemies

  Premature infants, known as preemies, come into the world earlier than full-term infants and have many special needs that make their care different from that of other babies.

• Feeding Your Newborn

  How you feed your newborn is the first nutrition decision you will make for your child. Take a closer look at these guidelines for breastfeeding and bottle-feeding so you can make an informed choice.

• Undescended Testicles

  Shortly before birth, a boy's testicles usually descend through the inguinal canal into the scrotum. When a testicle doesn't make the move, this is called cryptorchidism.

• Finding a Doctor for Your New Baby

  Along with considering baby names and buying a crib, choosing the right health care provider should be on your to-do list when you're expecting.

• Jaundice in Healthy Newborns

  A common condition in newborns, jaundice refers to the yellow color of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by excess bilirubin in the blood.

• Sleep and Newborns

  Newborn babies may wake up often at night. Their internal time clocks are not yet set, and their small stomachs are often hungry for milk.

• Your Newborn’s Hearing, Vision, and Other Senses

  Your newborn is taking in first sights, sounds, and smells while learning to explore the world through the senses. What are your baby's responses to light, noise, and touch?

• Movement, Coordination, and Your Newborn

  It may seem like all babies do is sleep, eat, and cry, but their little bodies are making many movements, some of which are reflexes.

• Medical Care and Your Newborn

  By the time you hold your new baby for the first time, you've probably chosen your little one's doctor. Learn about your newborn's medical care.

• Your Newborn’s Growth

  A newborn's growth and development is measured from the moment of birth. Find out if your baby's size is normal, and what to expect as your baby grows.

• Feeding Your 1- to 3-Month-Old

  Whether you've chosen to breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby, your infant will let you know when it's time to eat.

• Your Colicky Baby

  Colic is common in babies - but that doesn't make it easier for parents to handle. Learn what colic is, what causes it, and what you can do about it.

• Talking to Your Child’s Doctor

  Building a relationship with your child's doctor requires communication and reasonable expectations.

• Milk Allergy in Infants

  Almost all infants are fussy at times. But some are excessively fussy because they have an allergy to the protein in cow's milk, which is the basis for most commercial baby formulas.

• Bringing Your Baby Home

  Whether your baby comes home from the hospital right away, arrives later, or comes through an adoption agency, homecoming is a major event.

• Bonding With Your Baby

  Bonding, the intense attachment that develops between you and your baby, is completely natural. And it's probably one of the most pleasurable aspects of infant care.