Congratulations! Your beautiful new bundle of joy is here. Loved ones and relatives visit the hospital to see your precious little one. Balloons, flowers and adorable tiny outfits appear, as well as unsolicited advice on feeding, sleeping, diapering and more.
Information overload – and you haven't even left the hospital yet! It doesn't matter how much advice you get from your dear aunt or how many baby books you've read before your baby arrived, there will be questions that need to be answered in a personal way to give you peace and assurance as a new parent.
One of the most important – and objective – sources for new parents is a good pediatrician who expects frequent calls to his or her office. "It is important for parents to feel entirely comfortable with their pediatrician,” says Dr. Steven Kairys, chairperson of the department of pediatrics at Jersey Shore Medical Center.
To learn more about the top 10 concerns new parents have regarding their newborns, three pediatricians share their views – and answers – to common questions. Remember, when in doubt, call your own physician.
1. Is my baby getting enough breast milk? This is an often-asked question for Kelly Black, a mother of three from Virginia Beach, Va. "I worry a lot about proper weight gain while breastfeeding," Black says.
Usually, however, breast-fed babies get enough milk with rare exception. "All babies lose weight initially and should regain their birth weight within two weeks," says Dr. Daniel Bronfin, who heads the pediatric department of the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans, La.
Dr. Bronfin counsels mothers to relax and take their time during the critical first few weeks of breastfeeding. Ignore pressure from friends or relatives to give crying babies formula. "This is usually not necessary or helpful and is a psychological setback in nursing," warns Dr. Bronfin.
2. He seems to be cross-eyed. Why are my baby's legs crooked? Dr. Bronfin says he assures new parents that it is common for newborn eyes to become crossed from time to time – a condition that will typically cease by 4 months of age. As for those tiny, bowed legs, remember that until now, your baby's legs have been in the fetal position, so it's perfectly natural to have "crooked" legs. For most children, crooked legs will straighten by the time they are 2.
3. Can we spoil our baby? Absolutely not, says Dr. Kairys. Infants younger than 6 months aren't capable of manipulating parents for attention. "Focus on how to listen and understand your baby and how he responds to the world and you. What upsets him? What calms him? What is his internal rhythm? What are his needs?” These are questions you should ask to connect with and nurture your baby,” he says.
4. Help! When will my baby sleep through the night? Dr. Paula Elbirt, medical director of the Children's Aid Society in New York, sheds some light on this age-old question. According to Dr. Elbirt, babies can sleep up to 18 hours a day – unfortunately, it is usually in short bursts.
"Every three to four hours they alternate between cycles of sleeping lightly, deeply, lightly, deeply. On some of these occasions, they will become aware of the sensation of hunger, wake up fully and cry to be fed," says Dr. Elbirt, author of !
