Well Check-Up / Newborn
FEEDING
Most breastfed babies will nurse every 1.5-3 hours round-the-clock at first. If babies are having 6-8 wet diapers per day and back to birth weight at 2 weeks, they are probably getting enough milk. Newborns who are exclusively breastfeeding should be given over-the-counter Vitamin D drops once daily. Babies who are bottlefed may take 2-3 oz. formula every 2-4 hours during first week of life. By 1 month, babies may take up to 4 oz. every 4 hours. New babies do not need anything else to eat or drink (including water) until they are at least 4-6 months old.
BOWEL MOVEMENTS
Newborn babies have a very wide variance in the number of daily bowel movements. Breastfed babies may have up to 10 loose yellow or green stools each day. Bottle fed babies may have several stools a day or may have a stool only every 2-3 days. What is important is that a baby’s bowel movements are soft. If a baby has a soft stool every 2 days, it’s ok and that baby is not constipated. If your babies stools are not soft, please call us before you give the baby anything besides breastmilk or formula.
SLEEPING
New babies do not know the difference between day and night and may have a very erratic sleep schedule. You can help your baby by stimulating her during the day by talking, playing music, and keeping it very light. At night, keep the noise and light levels low, and your baby may gradually sleep a bit more during this time. By 3 months, most babies sleep 6-8 hours at night.
FEVER/ILLNESS
In babies less than 2 months old, any fever more than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit may be an emergency. Please call the office right away if your baby has a fever higher than 100.4. Until your baby is 2 months old, try to keep her away from large groups of people, and make sure that everyone around your baby washes their hands before holding or touching her.
DEVELOPMENT
Babies can see and hear from birth. They usually begin smiling by 6 weeks of age. The best things you can do for your baby’s development at this age is to talk to them, sing to them, and read to them. Show them different and colorful things to look at, and give them tummy time for a few minutes every day.
SAFETY
Babies should always be put to bed on their backs. Evidence has shown that babies have an increased risk of Sleep Related Infant Death (previously known as SIDS) when they sleep on their tummies. Babies can be on their tummies when awake but flip them over if they fall asleep. The safest sleep location for babies is in the same room with their mothers but in their own beds on a firm surface without blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals. Babies should never sleep in an adult bed or on and adult mattress or couch. If your water heater has a thermostat, set the high temperature at 120 degrees to prevent accidental scalding. Make sure your home has smoke detectors, and make sure batteries are changed if needed and units are checked regularly. All babies need to travel in rear-facing car seats in the back seat.
CRYING
All babies cry, and some babies cry more than others. When your baby cries, try different comfort measures—music, singing, rocking, swaddling, or swinging are examples—or allow friends or family to help. If you are feeling frustrated or stressed with a crying baby, put him down in his bed and allow him to cry while you take a break. Babies’ brains are very fragile, and shaking a baby can cause serious injury, so it is very important never to shake a baby!