Newborn Care
Pediatrics in Roseville, CA
Newborn care gives your child the very best start in life. At Professional Pediatrics, pediatrician Benjamin Valdez, MD, has a 30-plus year history of providing supportive, educational, and empathetic newborn care for Roseville, California, area babies and parents. To schedule your baby’s first newborn appointment, call the office to speak with the staff scheduler now.
Newborn care is pediatric care during your baby’s first year of life. This type of pediatric care is specially tailored to the needs of babies at one of the most important and impactful times of their entire life.
Newborn care includes physical exams, immunizations, and advice encompassing all aspects of your baby’s life. Some important topics include:
Meconium, the first stool your baby passes, is black. As your baby starts eating more, the stool color changes to dark green or yellow. After your baby’s first month of life, they’ll typically have fewer bowel movements. Red or white stools could indicate a serious issue.
An infant’s umbilical cord usually withers and falls off by the time they’re 8 weeks old. Keep the stub clean and dry. Use sponge baths instead of full submersion, and fold diapers under the stump. As the stump readies to dislodge, you’ll likely notice small drops of blood.
Your baby’s sole source of nutrition should be breastmilk or formula for the first six months of their life. Breastfed babies usually eat every two or three hours, while formula-fed newborns usually eat every three or four hours during their first few weeks.
Infants don’t need daily baths. In fact, too-frequent bathing can dry out their skin. Generally, sponge bathing is adequate, cleaning as needed during early life.
Newborns typically sleep about 16-17 hours a day, usually a couple of hours at a time. Babies start to have normalized sleep schedules at around 6 months old. They should sleep on their back until they’re able to roll over independently.
Newborn appointments aren’t just for your baby, they’re also a time for you to discuss your concerns and questions as a parent, so don’t hesitate to speak up.
Schedule your baby’s first newborn appointment within a few days of leaving the hospital. Subsequent newborn appointments occur at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months. After that, appointments occur at 15, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months (3 years). Then, most children have once-yearly wellness visits.
Call Professional Pediatrics for newborn care today.