Infant and Newborn Care (Print Version)

Also called: Also called: Baby care

Going home with a new baby is exciting, but it can be scary, too. Newborns have many needs, like frequent feedings and diaper changes. Babies can have health issues that are different from older children and adults, like diaper rash and cradle cap.

Your baby will go through many changes during the first year of life. You may feel uneasy at first. Ask your health care provider for help if you need it.

Start Here

Guide for First-Time Parents(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/guide_parents.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/embarazo/guide_parents_esp.html
JAMA Patient Page: Caring for a Newborn Baby(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/282/12/1200.pdf

Latest News

First-Time Moms Want Education on Life with Baby(09/17/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69369.html
Pregnant Mom's Flu Shot Protects Baby(09/17/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69398.html
Infants Strangled to Death in Simplicity Bassinets(08/27/2008, Consumer Product Safety Commission) - http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08378.html
Jaundice - What Every Parent Needs to Know(07/28/2008, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Jaundice/
Child Care May Lead to Unwanted Weight Gain in Infants(07/07/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_66666.html

Prevention/Screening

Task Force Recommends Screening for Hearing Loss in All Newborns(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) - http://www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2008/newbhrpr.htm

Nutrition

Feeding Your Newborn(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/feeding/feednewborn.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/embarazo/feednewborn_esp.html

Coping

Coping When Your Baby Has Reflux or GERD(Children's Digestive Health and Nutrition Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://www.cdhnf.org/pdf/Coping_Reflux_GERD_Guide.pdf
Crying Baby? How to Keep Your Cool(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/crying-baby/FL00106/METHOD=print
New Parents: How to Get the Sleep You Need(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/healthy-baby/PR00068/METHOD=print
Newborn Care: Common-Sense Strategies for Stressed-Out Parents(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/newborn/FL00107/METHOD=print

Specific Conditions

Baby's Head Shape: What's Normal?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/healthy-baby/PR00043/METHOD=print
Care of the Uncircumcised Penis(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/publiced/br_uncircumcised.htm
Colic: Learning How to Deal with Your Baby's Crying(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/infants/036.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/children/parents/infants/036.printerview.html
Cradle Cap(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZ0IP6DEEC&sub_cat=549
Diaper Dermatitis (Candidiasis)(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/infant/diaperDermatitisCandidiasis.htm
Diaper Rash(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/diaper-rash/DS00069/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
Diaper Rash(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/infant/diaperIrritantDermatitis.htm
Heat Rash or Prickly Heat (Miliaria Rubra)(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/infant/miliariaRubra.htm
Milia(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/infant/milia.htm
Pediatric Seborrheic Dermatitis(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/infant/seborrheicDermatitisPediatric.htm
Positional Plagiocephaly(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/positional_plagiocephaly.cfm
Spitting Up in Babies(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/infants/218.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/children/parents/infants/218.printerview.html
Umbilical Cord Care: Relax, It's Simple!(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/umbilical-cord/PR00046/METHOD=print
What Is the Best Treatment for Infants with Colic?(Family Physicians Inquiries Network) - Links to PDF - http://resources.fpin.org/EBP/PatientHandouts/infants%20with%20colic12%2006-2.pdf

Related Issues

Bonding with Your Baby(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/communicating/bonding.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/embarazo/bonding_esp.html
Bringing Your Baby Home(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/home/bringing_baby_home.html
Burping Your Baby(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/basics/burping.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/embarazo/burping_esp.html
Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families 2008(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm
Choosing Safe Baby Products(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/products.html
Cosleeping and Your Baby(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/cosleeping.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/general/cosleeping_esp.html
Diapering Your Baby(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/basics/diapering.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/embarazo/diapering_esp.html
Finding a Doctor for Your Child(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/doctor/find_ped.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/general/find_ped_esp.html
First Day of Life(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/first_day.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/embarazo/first_day_esp.html
How to Care for Your Baby's Teeth(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/kidshealthy/healthy-choice/834.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/children/parents/kidshealthy/healthy-choice/834.printerview.html
Kangaroo Care(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/infant_care/hic_kangaroo_care.aspx
Laundering Your Baby's Clothes(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/basics/laundry.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/padres/laundry_esp.html
Newborns: Bowel Movements and Urination(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZK3PAK4EC&sub_cat=549
Pacifiers: Are They Good for Your Baby?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/pacifiers/PR00067/METHOD=print
Senses and Your Newborn(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/senses/sensenewborn.html
Sick Baby? When to Call the Doctor(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/healthy-baby/PR00022/METHOD=print
Sleep and Your Newborn(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/sleep/sleepnewborn.html
Teething Tots(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/common/teething.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/general/teething_esp.html
Thumb Sucking and Pacifiers(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZQ4JXWQ7C&sub_cat=21
Visiting the Pediatrician(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/publiced/BK0_PedVisit.htm

Tutorials

Understanding Your Newborn: An Interactive Program for New Parents(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/28699_19650.asp

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Diaper Rash(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Diaper+Rash%22

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: An update on pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition: a review of... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18647667&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Clinical inquiries. What is the best treatment for oral thrush... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18625176&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Hypothermia: a cool intervention for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18619105&tool=MedlinePlus
Infant and Newborn Care -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(infant+food[majr]+OR+infant+equipment[majr]+OR+infant+care[majr])+AND+infant[mh]+NOT+colic[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
Colic -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=colic[majr]+AND+infant[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Directories

AAP Pediatrician Referral Service(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/referral/

Organizations

American Academy of Pediatrics - http://www.aap.org/
KidsHealth(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/index_noflash.html
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

Breast Feeding - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breastfeeding.html
Infant and Toddler Development - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infantandtoddlerdevelopment.html
Infant and Toddler Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infantandtoddlerhealth.html
Infant and Toddler Nutrition - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infantandtoddlernutrition.html
Children and Teenagers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childrenandteenagers.html

The primary NIH organization for research on Infant and Newborn Care is the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/

Infant and Newborn Care - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/infantandnewborncare.html