The general consensus is that the newborn stage lasts from birth until approximately two months of age. In the early parts of the newborn stage, your baby will likely not be very active or alert, as they spend most of their time sleeping and feeding. As your baby progresses closer to the infant stage, they may start to smile, raise their head when they are on their tummy, track objects with their eyes, open and shut their hands, grip objects with their hands, swipe at or reach for dangling objects, and bring their hands to their mouth.
For parents, things to pay attention to or ask your pediatrician about during the newborn stage include the following:
- Birthmarks
- Breastfeeding or formula
- Bumps or bruises on your baby’s head, usually due to their passage out of the birth canal
- Fontanelles, which are soft spots on your baby’s head
- Jaundice, which can make your baby’s skin and the whites of their eyes appear yellow
- Newborn spots and rashes
- Thrush in your baby’s mouth
- Umbilical cord care
- Your baby’s skin and eyes
It is also completely normal for your baby to cry during this time, as this is their only way of telling you they need something, such as a diaper change or if they are hungry.
For more information about newborn medical care or to schedule a newborn care appointment with us at Kidswood Pediatrics, we would love to hear from you! Please feel free to give us a call or simply schedule an appointment through our website. We serve patients from Winter Park FL, Goldenrod FL, Lockhart FL, Maitland FL, Bertha FL, and Slavia FL.