Newborn Care Tips: Your Baby’s First Weeks
Medically reviewed by Priya Chib, MD, FAAP at Desert Valley Pediatrics
Bringing your newborn home from the hospital is one of the most exciting and overwhelming moments of your life. Suddenly, you’re responsible for this tiny human around the clock, and every sound, hiccup, and diaper change can feel like a high-stakes event.
You’re not alone in feeling that way. At Desert Valley Pediatrics, our board-certified pediatricians walk hundreds of Las Vegas families through these exact first weeks every year. This guide covers the newborn care essentials we discuss at every early well visit, from feeding and sleep to warning signs that need a phone call.
Whether you’re a first-time parent in Summerlin or Centennial Hills, this page is your go-to reference during those early days at home.
Your Newborn’s Well-Visit Schedule: What to Expect in the First 2 Months
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a specific series of well-child visits during your baby’s first year. These visits are how your pediatrician tracks growth, catches potential issues early, and ensures your baby is hitting key developmental milestones on schedule.
According to the AAP’s well-child visit recommendations, healthy newborns should be seen at least four times in the first two months alone. Here’s what that schedule looks like and what we’re checking at each visit:
| Visit | Age | What to Expect | Key Milestones |
| 1st | 3–5 days old | Weight check, jaundice screening, feeding assessment | Regaining birth weight |
| 2nd | 2 weeks | Growth measurement, umbilical cord healing check | Steady weight gain (5–7 oz/week) |
| 3rd | 1 month | Head circumference, reflex evaluation, first Hep B dose (if not given at birth) | Briefly lifting the head during tummy time |
| 4th | 2 months | First round of vaccines (DTaP, IPV, Hib, PCV, RV), developmental screening | Social smiling, tracking objects with eyes |
Source: Schedule adapted from HealthyChildren.org (AAP) and DVP clinical protocols.
These visits aren’t just routine; they’re your opportunity to ask questions, address feeding concerns, and get reassurance from a pediatrician who knows your baby’s specific health picture. Many new parents tell us that these early check-ins are among the most valuable appointments they’ll have.
Feeding Your Newborn: Breast, Formula, or Both
Feeding questions are the number one topic at newborn visits. How much should my baby eat? How do I know they’re getting enough? Is it OK to combine breastfeeding with formula?
The short answer: there is no single “right” way to feed your baby. What matters most is that your newborn is gaining weight steadily, typically 5 to 7 ounces per week after the first few days, and producing at least six wet diapers per day by day five of life.
Here’s how the major feeding approaches compare across the first month:
| Factor | Breastfeeding | Formula Feeding | Combination |
| Frequency (newborn) | 8–12 times/day (on demand) | 6–10 times/day | Varies by ratio |
| Amount per feed (week 1) | Colostrum → 1–2 oz | 1–2 oz | Depends on breast vs. bottle ratio |
| Amount per feed (1 month) | 2–4 oz | 3–4 oz | 2–4 oz per feed |
| How to gauge adequacy | 6+ wet diapers/day by day 5 | 6+ wet diapers/day by day 5 | 6+ wet diapers/day by day 5 |
| Vitamin D supplement needed? | Yes 400 IU/day (AAP recommendation) | Usually no (formula is fortified) | Ask your pediatrician |
Source: Feeding volumes and Vitamin D guidance per AAP infant nutrition recommendations.
Signs Your Baby Is Getting Enough
Rather than watching the clock or counting ounces obsessively, look for these reassuring signs: steady weight gain at pediatric check-ups, six or more wet diapers daily by day five, three or more stools per day in the first month (breastfed babies may stool with every feed), and your baby appearing satisfied and relaxed after feedings.
When to Reach Out About Feeding
Call your pediatrician if your baby hasn’t regained their birth weight by two weeks of age, if they’re producing fewer than six wet diapers per day after day five, if feedings consistently last longer than 45 minutes with visible signs of frustration, or if you notice any blood in the stool. These are solvable problems, but they benefit from professional guidance sooner rather than later.
| Schedule Your Newborn’s First Visit
Desert Valley Pediatrics sees newborns within the first week of life at both our Summerlin and Centennial Hills locations. If you’re expecting or just brought your baby home, we’re here to help. |
Safe Sleep for Newborns: What Every Parent Needs to Know
Sleep-related deaths remain a leading cause of infant mortality in the United States. The AAP updated its safe sleep guidelines in 2022, and the recommendations are clear and evidence-based. Following them significantly reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related causes of death.
The AAP’s 2022 safe sleep policy emphasizes the “ABC” rule: babies should sleep alone, on their Backs, and in a Crib (or bassinet). Here’s the complete checklist:
| Safe Sleep Practice | Status |
| Place the baby on their back for every sleep | ✓ Required |
| Use a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet | ✓ Required |
| Keep the crib free of blankets, pillows, bumpers, and stuffed animals | ✓ Required |
| Room-share (but not bed-share) for at least the first 6 months | ✓ Recommended |
| Offer a pacifier at nap and bedtime (after breastfeeding is established) | ✓ Recommended |
| Keep room temperature between 68–72°F | ✓ Recommended |
| Dress the baby in no more than one extra layer than you would wear | ✓ Recommended |
Newborn Sleep Patterns: What’s Normal
Newborns sleep a lot, typically 14 to 17 hours in a 24-hour period, according to the National Sleep Foundation. But they sleep in short bursts of 2 to 4 hours, because their stomachs are tiny and they need to eat frequently.
By 6 to 8 weeks, many babies begin consolidating their nighttime sleep into slightly longer stretches. This is gradual, and it’s completely normal for your newborn to still wake every 2 to 3 hours at night for the first month. If anyone tells you their newborn slept through the night at two weeks, take it with a grain of salt.
Practical Tips from Our Team
Swaddling can help newborns feel secure and reduce the startle reflex that wakes them, but stop swaddling the moment your baby shows any signs of rolling. White noise machines set at a moderate volume (under 50 decibels) can help muffle household sounds. And establishing a brief, consistent bedtime routine even at just a few weeks old begins teaching your baby the difference between day and night.
Umbilical Cord Care and First Baths
The umbilical cord stump typically falls off on its own within 7 to 21 days. During that time, keep it clean and dry. The current AAP guidance is to let the stump air-dry naturally, no alcohol swabs, no ointments, and no submerging in water.
Until the stump falls off, give your baby sponge baths only. Once it’s fully healed, you can transition to gentle tub baths two to three times per week. There’s no need to bathe a newborn daily; in fact, over-bathing can strip their skin of natural oils and worsen dryness, which is already common in the Las Vegas desert climate.
When the Cord Stump Needs Attention
Call your pediatrician if you notice redness spreading around the base of the stump, pus or a foul-smelling discharge, active bleeding that doesn’t stop with gentle pressure, or if the stump hasn’t fallen off after four weeks. A small amount of dried blood or clear drainage is normal, think of it like a healing scab.
Warning Signs: When to Call Your Pediatrician
Most newborn concerns turn out to be completely normal. But certain symptoms warrant a prompt call to your pediatrician or, in some cases, an immediate trip to the emergency room.
Call Your Pediatrician If Your Newborn:
- Has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher; this is a medical emergency in babies under 3 months
- Is feeding significantly less than usual or refusing to eat for two or more consecutive feedings
- Has fewer than six wet diapers in a 24-hour period after day five of life
- Appears unusually lethargic, limp, or difficult to wake for feedings
- Develops yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) that worsens or appears after the first week
- Has persistent vomiting (not just spit-up), especially if it’s forceful or bile-colored
- Shows signs of breathing difficulty: flaring nostrils, chest retractions, or grunting
Our guide on when to call your pediatrician for a fever goes into more detail about temperature thresholds by age and what to do before your appointment. It’s worth bookmarking as a companion to this page.
Trust your instincts. If something feels off, even if you can’t pinpoint exactly what it is, call us. Pediatricians would always rather hear from a concerned parent than have a family wait too long. That’s what we’re here for.
Understanding Newborn Jaundice
Jaundice, a yellowish tint to the skin and whites of the eyes, affects roughly 60% of full-term newborns and up to 80% of preterm babies in their first week. It’s caused by elevated bilirubin, a byproduct of the normal breakdown of red blood cells that a newborn’s immature liver hasn’t yet learned to process efficiently.
Most jaundice is physiologic (normal) and resolves on its own within one to two weeks as your baby’s liver matures. However, bilirubin levels that climb too high can cause serious complications, which is why your pediatrician checks for jaundice at every early visit.
What You Can Do at Home
Feed your baby frequently, at least 8 to 12 times per day. Adequate feeding helps your baby pass bilirubin through stool. If you’re breastfeeding and jaundice persists, your pediatrician may recommend temporarily adding supplemental formula to increase caloric intake and stool output. Natural sunlight exposure through a window can help mildly, but it’s not a substitute for medical evaluation when levels are elevated.
Diapering, Skin Care, and the Las Vegas Climate
Newborn skin is remarkably sensitive, and Las Vegas’s dry desert air makes it even more so. Expect some peeling in the first week or two — this is completely normal and doesn’t require treatment. After that, a fragrance-free moisturizer applied after baths can help maintain the skin barrier.
Diaper Rash Prevention
Change diapers at least every 2 to 3 hours, and immediately after bowel movements. Apply a thick layer of zinc oxide or petroleum-based barrier cream at every change. Let your baby’s skin air-dry completely before putting on a fresh diaper. If a rash persists for more than 3 days despite consistent use of barrier cream, or if you see raised red bumps or open sores, call your pediatrician. It may be a yeast infection that requires a different treatment.
Hydration in the Desert
Many parents ask us about giving water to newborns, especially during Las Vegas summers when temperatures regularly exceed 110°F. The answer is clear: do not give plain water to babies under 6 months old. Breast milk and formula provide all the hydration a newborn needs. Giving water can dilute electrolyte levels and, in extreme cases, cause a dangerous condition called water intoxication.
Tummy Time and Early Development
Tummy time is supervised, awake time spent on your baby’s stomach. The AAP recommends starting tummy time from day one, yes, from the day you come home from the hospital. It strengthens the neck, shoulder, and core muscles your baby will need for every major motor milestone ahead: holding their head up, rolling, sitting, and eventually crawling.
How to Start
Begin with 3 to 5 minutes at a time, two to three sessions per day. Place your baby on a firm, flat surface (a play mat on the floor works well) and get down on their level so they can see your face. Many newborns protest tummy time at first; that’s normal. Try placing them on your chest while you recline; it still counts, and the skin-to-skin contact is soothing.
By one month, aim for a total of 15 to 30 minutes of tummy time spread throughout the day. By two months, your baby should be briefly lifting their head during sessions, a sign that those muscles are developing on track.
A Note for Parents: Your Wellbeing Matters Too
We’d be doing new parents a disservice if we only talked about the baby. The postpartum period is physically and emotionally demanding, and up to 1 in 5 new mothers and 1 in 10 new fathers experience postpartum mood disorders, according to data from the CDC and Postpartum Support International.
Sleep deprivation, hormonal shifts, and the sheer adjustment of caring for a newborn can amplify anxiety, sadness, or feelings of being overwhelmed. These are not signs of weakness; they’re a recognized medical reality.
If you or your partner are experiencing persistent sadness, excessive worry, difficulty bonding with your baby, or thoughts of self-harm, please reach out to your OB-GYN, your pediatrician, or the Postpartum Support International helpline at 1-800-944-4773 (call or text). Your pediatrician cares about the whole family’s health, not just the baby’s.
Frequently Asked Questions About Newborn Care
How often should a newborn eat?
Most newborns eat 8 to 12 times per day (roughly every 2 to 3 hours), though breastfed babies may feed more frequently. Follow your baby’s hunger cues rather than a rigid clock schedule, and track wet diapers as your best indicator of adequate intake.
When should I give my newborn their first real bath?
Wait until the umbilical cord stump has fallen off and fully healed, usually within 7 to 21 days. Until then, sponge baths are the way to go. After that, two to three tub baths per week are plenty for a newborn.
Is it normal for a newborn to lose weight after birth?
Yes. Healthy newborns commonly lose 5% to 7% of their birth weight in the first few days (up to 10% for breastfed babies). Most regain their birth weight by 10 to 14 days. Your pediatrician monitors this closely at the first and second well visits.
How do I know if my baby has colic?
Colic is typically defined by the “rule of threes”: crying for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, for more than three weeks. It usually peaks around 6 weeks and then improves over the next 3 to 4 months. If your baby’s crying seems excessive, bring it up at your next visit. Your pediatrician can rule out other causes and discuss soothing strategies.
When can I take my newborn out in public?
There’s no strict rule that says you must stay home, but pediatricians generally recommend avoiding crowded indoor spaces for the first 6 to 8 weeks, when your baby’s immune system is most vulnerable and before their first round of vaccines. Outdoor walks in uncrowded settings are fine and good for both parent and baby.
| Desert Valley Pediatrics: Here From Day One
Our board-certified pediatricians have guided thousands of Las Vegas families through the newborn stage. Whether you’re still expecting or already home with your baby, we’re ready to partner with you. Book your newborn’s first visit → Summerlin | Centennial Hills |