Your Newborn's First Month: What's Normal and What's Not
A pediatrician's guide to your baby's first 30 days. Covers feeding, sleeping, jaundice, umbilical cord care, and when to call the doctor.
The first month with your newborn is beautiful, exhausting, and full of questions. Our pediatricians have compiled the most common concerns to help you navigate this special time with confidence.
Feeding: Breast or Bottle
Newborns eat frequently — every 2–3 hours for breastfed babies, every 3–4 hours for formula-fed babies. Your baby should have at least 6 wet diapers and 3–4 stools per day by day 4. Weight loss of up to 7–10% in the first few days is normal; most babies regain birth weight by 10–14 days.
Sleep Patterns
Newborns sleep 14–17 hours per day in short bursts. They don't know day from night yet. Always place your baby on their back to sleep, on a firm flat surface, in their own sleep space. No blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals in the crib.
Jaundice
Mild yellowing of the skin and eyes is common in the first week and usually resolves on its own. However, if jaundice appears within the first 24 hours, spreads to the arms and legs, or your baby seems unusually sleepy or difficult to feed, contact us right away.
Umbilical Cord Care
Keep the cord stump clean and dry. Fold diapers below it. It typically falls off within 1–3 weeks. If you notice redness, swelling, discharge, or a foul odor around the base, call your pediatrician.
When to Call Your Pediatrician Immediately
In the first month, contact us right away if your baby has a temperature of 100.4°F or higher, refuses to eat for two or more feedings in a row, has difficulty breathing, shows signs of dehydration (no wet diapers for 6+ hours), has persistent vomiting, or seems unusually lethargic or irritable.
At American Pediatrics, we schedule the first newborn visit within 2–3 days of hospital discharge. This early check-in allows us to monitor weight gain, check for jaundice, and answer all your questions during this critical adjustment period.
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