Musings from the Newborn Nursery: Newborn Secrets

As a pediatrician I find that many parents have similar concerns and questions about their newborn.  Here are responses to some of the most frequent questions I get from parent about their healthy baby: 1) Why is my newborn sneezing?  Does the baby have a cold? A: It is normal for newborns to sneeze.  It is unlikely a few day old baby has a cold because it takes a few days for symptoms to develop after exposure to a cold virus. 2) I don’t want to spoil my baby by holding her all the time. A: Newborns need to be held to feel safe and secure.  It is common in many cultures to believe that holding an infant will spoil them into wanting to be held all the time.  It is too late.  The baby has been “held” for nine months in the womb and at this age you can’t train them otherwise.  So go cuddle your baby. 3) Why do I have to breastfeed every two or three hours? A: Breast milk production is like building muscle. Just as your muscles develop with exercise, frequent regular breast feeding is one of the best ways to increase milk production.  Our bodies always seek to conserve energy so without regular demand to make milk your body will put less energy into making milk and your supply will decline. 4) Why does my newborn hiccup? A: Hiccups are related to feeding too fast and are generally not a concern. 5) I am worried that my baby is cold.  How many layers do they need? A: Dress the baby with one more layer than what you are wearing.  Over dressing could cause the tem...
Source: Conversations with Dr Greene - Category: Pediatricians Authors: Tags: Perspectives Newborn Newborn & Baby Sleep Source Type: blogs