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Things that may worry you
Pictures of the ideal, normal baby do not tell the whole story. Almost every newborn has at least one feature that is not included in the ideal picture. And it's usually a minor or temporary concern such as...
- Odd features -- At first, a baby's head, eyes, ears, nose, breasts or genitals may not appear quite right. But such abnormalities usually don't last.
- Rashes and birthmarks -- Baby skin can be prone to acne, milia, blue-gray spots, stork bites and other imperfections. More about birthmarks...
- Vernix -- Many babies born before about 41 weeks will be covered with vernix, a cream-colored, cheesy material. Vernix protects your baby's skin from amniotic fluid, which otherwise can cause the skin to become wrinkled (like your hands when you wash dishes).
- Soft spots -- Every baby has two soft spots at birth: one on top of the head (anterior fontanel) and another toward the back of the head (posterior fontanel). They vary in size from very small to several centimeters across. They should close in the first few months.
- Jaundice -- When a baby's skin and whites of his/her eyes look yellow, it's usually because of increased amounts of bilirubin, a yellow pigment caused by the normal breakdown of red blood cells. Different, treatable problems can cause jaundice. More about jaundice in newborns...
- Sneezing -- Newborn babies have no way to clear their noses other than by sneezing. Some babies may even have a series of sneezes. Sneezing does not mean that your baby has an allergy, nor does it mean he or she has a cold.
- Thrush -- Infants with this fungal infection often have white, irregular spots in their mouth or on their tongue. A white coating that cannot be washed away may stick to the mouth. With some help, thrush can go away. More about thrush...
- Umbilical cord bleeding -- A little blood where a baby's umbilical cord separates from his or her body is common and stoppable.
- Umbilical hernia -- When some babies cry, their naval or belly button bulges. When you feel this area, you'll find a small, round opening in the surrounding muscles. This condition is usually painless and goes away as the child grows. More about umbilical hernia in children...
- Oozing from the umbilical cord -- A mild infection from surface bacteria usually causes pus to form around a newborn's remaining umbilical cord. That's why regular cleansing of the umbilical cord is important. More about umbilical cord care...
Growth and development, Newborn Return to Vol. 1: The first few days Pregnancy Condition Center: Your newborn Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota: Parenting resources
Source: Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
First published: 05/01/2001
Last updated: 06/06/2006
Reviewed by: Kent Wegmann, MD, Children's of Minnesota
Pediatric Clinic - St. Paul
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