The Importance of Newborn Care

Welcoming a new baby into the family is such an exciting time, but caring for a newborn can also come with many questions. We are here to help answer questions about how to best care for your little one. Dr. Michael Taymor and Dr. Lama Rimawi, the board-certified pediatricians at our office in Palo Alto, CA, offer newborn care guidance and other services to help babies thrive. 

Aspects of Newborn Care

Proper newborn care plays a key role in infant development and helps babies reach various milestones on schedule. For infants who do not receive certain aspects of care when needed, there could be a delay in meeting certain milestones. 

There are many things to keep in mind when caring for your baby. The experienced providers at our pediatric office in Palo Alto, CA, understand all aspects of newborn care and guide parents. Some aspects of newborn care include:

Wellness Checkups: Regular visits with your baby’s pediatrician make it possible for the doctor to monitor growth and development to ensure your little one is on track in different areas. Checkups also provide an opportunity to make sure immunizations are up to date. Babies should have a wellness checkup several times during the first year. 

Handling: There are many things to keep in mind when handling newborns to keep them safe. Safe ways to handle newborns include washing your hands before picking up your little one, supporting the head and neck, being careful not to shake the baby, and securely fastening the baby into strollers, car seats, high chairs, and other baby seats. 

Feeding: Newborns have very tiny stomachs and can only consume small amounts of breastmilk or formula at a time, which means they need to feed every 2-3 hours during the first few weeks following birth. Most infants need to be fed between 8-12 times during 24 hours. Babies also need to be burped during and after eating. Burping helps reduce gassiness and discomfort and can prevent spitting up.

Bathing: Babies can be bathed 2-3 times per week in warm, shallow water. Make sure the water is not too hot, use a gentle cleanser that won’t irritate or dry out the skin, and never leave the baby unattended during bathing.

Soothing: Infants can benefit from soothing techniques when they are tired, fussy, or upset. Some ways to soothe your baby include cuddling, swaddling, playing soothing sounds, reading or singing softly, and gentle massage. 

When to See a Doctor 

There might be times when your little one is not feeling well or is experiencing certain symptoms and needs to see the doctor. Contact our office if your baby displays any of the following symptoms:

• Fever of 100.4 degrees F or higher for infants under 2 months
• Inconsolable and crying persistently
• Unresponsive or extremely sleepy
• A red rash develops all over the body 
• Stomach is swollen or distended 
• Refusal to eat
• Watery stools 

Proper newborn care helps babies grow and develop. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Taymor or Dr. Rimawi to learn more about proper newborn care by calling our pediatric office in Palo Alto, CA, at (650) 321-7722.