Newborn Health Conditions

Articles In This Section

• The NICU: Parents Talk (Video)

  Hear from parents whose babies were in the NICU, and learn how they managed their lives during this stressful time.

• Cradle Cap (Infantile Seborrheic Dermatitis)

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

• Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)

  IUGR is when a baby in the womb doesn't grow at the expected rate during the pregnancy. Women with IUGR should eat a healthy diet; get enough sleep; and avoid alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.

• Infant Torticollis

  Babies with this condition have trouble turning their heads, due to muscle tightness. Simple stretching exercises can help make the problem go away.

• Retinopathy of Prematurity

  Retinopathy of prematurity, which mostly occurs in premature babies, is a disease that causes abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina. Sometimes surgery is needed to prevent vision loss or blindness.

• Port-Wine Stains

  For most kids, these birthmarks are no big deal — they're just part of who they are. Read about port-wine stains, how to care for them, and, if necessary, what treatments are available.

• Hemangiomas: Suzanne’s Story

  When Anna was born, she developed red spots that her parents learned were hemangiomas, benign birthmarks that she eventually outgrew. Her mother tells her story.

• Febrile Seizures

  Febrile seizures are full-body convulsions caused by high fevers that affect young kids. Although they can be frightening, they usually stop on their own and don't cause any other health problems.

• Lead Poisoning

  Long-term exposure to lead can cause serious health problems, particularly in young kids, so it's important to find out whether your child might be at risk for lead exposure.

• 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.

• Tay-Sachs Disease

  A baby with Tay-Sachs disease is born without an important enzyme, so fatty proteins build up in the brain, hurting the baby's sight, hearing, movement, and mental development.

• Birthmarks

  Birthmarks that babies are born with, or develop soon after birth, are mostly harmless and many even go away on their own, but sometimes they're associated with certain health problems.

• Egg Allergy

  Helping your child manage an egg allergy means reading food labels carefully, being aware of what he or she eats, and carrying the right medicines in case of an allergic reaction.

• Nut and Peanut Allergy

  If your child is allergic to nuts or peanuts, it's essential to learn what foods might contain them and how to avoid them.

• Hunger and Malnutrition

  Even people who have plenty to eat may be malnourished if they don't eat food that provides the right nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

• 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.

• Failure to Thrive

  Most kids follow growth patterns that are normal, but others have ”failure to thrive” – they fail to gain weight as expected and have poor height growth.

• Cleft Lip and Palate

  With this birth defect, tissues of the mouth or lip don't form properly when a baby is developing in the womb. The good news is that cleft lip and palate are treatable.

• 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?

• When Your Baby Is Born With a Health Problem

  If you're expecting a baby, it's important to understand that certain health problems and complications can't be prevented, no matter how smoothly the pregnancy goes.

• Erythema Toxicum

  Erythema toxicum is a common harmless rash that appears in at least half of all full-term infants. No treatment is needed and it goes away on its own.

• Flat Head Syndrome (Positional Plagiocephaly)

  Babies can develop a flat spot on the back of their heads, usually from sleeping in the same position too long. Alternating your baby's sleep position and providing lots of "tummy time" can help.

• 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.

• Spina Bifida

  Spina bifida is a birth defect that involves the incomplete development of the spinal cord or its coverings. It's usually detected before a baby is born and treated right away.

• When Your Baby’s in the NICU

  The neonatal intensive care unit may seem like a foreign place, but understanding what goes on there can help reduce your fears. Here's how to familiarize yourself with the NICU.

• When Your Baby Has a Birth Defect

  If your child has a birth defect, you don't have to go it alone - lots of people and resources are available to help you.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Abusive Head Trauma (Shaken Baby Syndrome)

  Abusive head trauma (AHT) is the leading cause of death in child abuse cases in the United States. AHT results from injuries caused by someone vigorously shaking an infant.

• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

  SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants 1 month to 1 year old. Though SIDS remains unpredictable, you can help reduce your infant's risk.

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

  When a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy, she risks giving birth to a child who will be born with full-blown fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).

• 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.

• If Your Child Has a Heart Defect

  Congenital heart defects are relatively common, affecting almost 1 in every 100 newborns in the United States.

• 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.

• Intussusception

  This bowel problem is the most common cause of bowel blockages in very young children. With timely treatment, kids recover quickly.

• Necrotizing Enterocolitis

  This gastrointestinal disease is the most common and serious intestinal disease among preemies. With medications and therapy, many babies can be cured.

• 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.

• Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN)

  For some newborns, the first few breaths of life may be more rapid and labored than normal because of a lung condition called transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN).

• Meconium Aspiration

  Meconium aspiration can happen before, during, or after labor and delivery when a newborn inhales a mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid. Although it can be serious, most cases are not.

• Apnea of Prematurity

  Apnea of prematurity (AOP) is a condition in which premature infants stop breathing for 15 to 20 seconds during sleep. It's frightening while it's happening, but AOP usually goes away on its own as a baby matures.

• Intestinal Malrotation

  Malrotation is a type of obstruction caused by abnormal development of the intestines while a fetus is in the womb. Find out more about this condition and the complications it can cause.

• Neonatal Infections

  The vast majority of newborns enter the world healthy. But sometimes, infants develop conditions that require medical tests and treatment.

• Sepsis

  Sepsis is a serious infection usually caused when bacteria make toxins that cause the immune system to attack the body's own organs and tissues.

• Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)

  Babies who are born prematurely or who experience respiratory problems shortly after birth are at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), sometimes called chronic lung disease.

• Birth Defects

  Birth defects are relatively common. Some are minor and cause no problems; others cause major disabilities. Learn about the different types of birth defects, and how to help prevent them.

• Common Diagnoses in the NICU

  Learn about common NICU conditions, what causes them, how they're diagnosed, how they're treated, and how long babies might stay in the unit.