Newborn Basics: A Complete Guide for First-Time Parents

If you are a first-time parent, caring for a newborn can be overwhelming. Your pediatrician is an expert at newborn care and can help. The pediatricians at Timberlake Pediatrics in Sacramento, CA, offer comprehensive pediatric medical services, including newborn care.

What You Need To Know About Newborn Care

There are a few basics that are helpful to know when caring for your newborn. Consider:

When feeding your newborn–if you are breastfeeding, your baby will want to feed every 2 to 3 hours. If you are feeding your baby formula, your baby will feed every 3 to 4 hours.

When your newborn sleeps–newborns sleep at least 16 hours each day for the first few weeks. Always place your baby on his or her back for sleeping, to make breathing easier. You should also sleep when your baby sleeps, so you are well-rested to care for your newborn.

When you are changing your newborn–your baby’s first bowel movements will be black and tarry, changing to dark green and then to yellow. This is normal. Talk with your pediatrician if your baby’s stool is red because this could indicate blood in the stool.

When bathing your newborn–don’t bathe your baby too often because this can dry out your baby’s skin. Use only mild soap and lukewarm water to cleanse your baby’s skin. Remember to clean the folds of the skin, where bacteria can thrive.

Your pediatrician will do an initial well-baby exam early, typically within 2 to 5 days of birth. First doses of some vaccines will also be administered. This first visit should be followed by visits at 2 weeks, 1,2,4,6,9,15, 18, and 24 months old, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Want To Know More About Newborn Care?

To find out more about newborn care and how your pediatrician can help, call the pediatricians at Timberlake Pediatrics in Sacramento, CA. You can reach them in the office by calling (916) 688-5040, so call today.