How Pediatricians Support New Parents in the Early Days With Newborn Care

Newborn care is critical to your baby’s ability to thrive, grow, and develop. Your pediatrician plays a vital role in supporting your newborn and you during the early days of your newborn’s life. Dr. Arturo Quintanilla at Rancho Mirage Pediatrics, in Rancho Mirage, CA, provides comprehensive medical services for children of all ages, including newborn care.

What You Need To Know About Newborn Care

Your newborn’s first visit with the pediatrician will happen early, usually within 2 to 5 days of your child's birth, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. This first visit provides the foundation for future visits as your newborn grows. During this first visit, your pediatrician will:

• Administer first doses of some vaccinations to prevent contagious diseases
• Measure and record vital statistics, including weight, height, and other factors
• Order any laboratory testing or imaging studies necessary for the diagnosis of medical conditions
• Answer any questions or concerns you have about newborn care

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, future newborn and well-child visits should occur at 2 weeks, 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 15, 18, and 24 months.

As your child grows and develops, your pediatrician will complete additional testing to identify social, behavioral, and cognitive issues, including ADHD or ADD, autism, or learning and developmental delays.

Your pediatrician can also support you and your family in caring for your newborn. These are some general guidelines about newborn care:

• When feeding your newborn, your baby will want to feed every 2 to 3 hours if you are breastfeeding, or every 3 to 4 hours if you are feeding your baby formula
• When your newborn sleeps, your baby will want to sleep at least 16 hours every day for the first few weeks
• Always place your baby on his or her back for sleeping, to make breathing easier.
• When you are changing your newborn, first bowel movements will be black and tarry, changing to dark green and then to yellow
• When bathing your newborn, avoid bathing your baby too often, to keep your baby's skin from becoming too dry
• Use only mild soap and lukewarm water when bathing your baby

Want To Know More About Newborn Care?

To learn more about how your pediatrician can support you with newborn care, call Dr. Arturo Quintanilla at Rancho Mirage Pediatrics in Rancho Mirage, CA. You can reach him in the office by calling (760) 770-0000, so call today.