Health

A Newborn Baby

Ages and Stages Photo Gallery

A happy and healthy newborn baby will spend most of its time sleeping or eating.

A Newborn Baby

Photo (c) Brent Deuel

At first your baby will get all of his or her nutrition from breast milk or an iron-fortified infant formula. If you plan on breastfeeding, ask the hospital staff if they will allow you to nurse your baby right after delivery and before the baby is taken to the nursery.

Remember that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breast milk "for all infants in whom breastfeeding is not specifically contraindicated" and that "breastfeeding is optimal for infants."

What You Need To Know About Your New Baby

Breastfeeding newborns should nurse about 8 to 12 times each day.
If you need help breastfeeding, talk to your pediatrician or find a lactation consultant for extra help and support.
Formula-fed babies usually drink about 1 to 3 ounces every 2 to 4 hours.
Put your baby to sleep on his back to reduce his risk of SIDS and never put him down alone on a waterbed, bean bag, or soft blanket that can cover his face and cause choking.
The first visit to the doctor is usually when your baby is 3 to 5 days old, which is especially important to make sure she isn't losing too much weight and isn't getting jaundice.
Remember that according to the latest car seat guidelines, infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car seat (infant-only rear facing car seat or rear-facing convertible car seat) until they are two years old or until they have reached the weight and height limits of their car seat.
Until your baby is older and her immune system is stronger, it is probably a good idea to keep her from large groups of people or other sick children to minimize her exposure to infections.
Find out if you need a carbon monoxide detector in your home to keep your family safe from carbon monoxide poisoning.