There's a Baby in the House!
This tiny newborn will change the way you and your partner see yourselves and each other. If this is your first baby, you'll have to adjust to being a parent. If you have other children, expect this one to be different.
Diaper Duty
In general, expect to change your baby shortly after every feeding. But don't worry. With so much practice, you'll be a quick-change artist before you know it.
Sponge Baths
Newborns only need to be bathed every two or three days, but umbilical cords and circumcisions need daily care.
Sleeping Like a Baby
Your newborn may sleep for 16 to 18 hours a day, but he or she probably will not sleep for long stretches. Most wake every few hours.
When Baby Cries
At first, all of your baby's cries may sound alike. Soon, though, you'll be able to tell a hunger cry from a fuss over a wet diaper.
How to Use a Pacifier
Pacifiers help parents and infants get through periods of crying when the infant is either not hungry or too full to eat but still needs the comfort that sucking provides.
Infants and Fever
A fever is a special cause for concern in infants younger than 3 months of age. Parents and caregivers should be most concerned with changes in eating or sleeping habits, coughing, pain or other marked changes.
Jaundice in Newborns
Your baby has been checked for jaundice each day while in the hospital. If you think your baby is yellow after you are home, you can check for jaundice yourself. Press the skin on the chest to see if it looks yellow when released. Darker skin babies can be checked by looking at the gums or whites of the eyes.
Car Safety for Newborns
Buckle up your baby each time you go for a drive. It's the law and it's the smart thing to do. Car seats protect your baby in the event of a sudden stop or crash.
