Your newborn's characteristics: What to expect

You'll probably figure out that those newborns on television and in the movies are often played by 3-month-old babies.

Typical newborns arrive covered with cheesy, white vernix with a flattened little nose and a head that looks a bit misshapen. This is all temporary.

Other newborn characteristics that will soon pass:

• puffiness around the eyes and facial bruising
• fine, fuzzy hair on the back, shoulders, ear and cheeks (lanugo)
• breast enlargement in both boys and girls, and some times swelling of the genitals
• pink-tinged vaginal discharge in baby girls (this is due to hormones you pass on to your baby and will disappear without treatment)

Your baby may:

• sneeze, which helps clear the nose
• hiccup, which often occurs after eating or too much stimulation
• breathe noisely, which is not a concern unless her skin begins to turn blue
• cross her eyes until about 4 months of age
• jerk her arms and legs, which is due to newfound freedom
• gag, burp and pass gas

Your baby's activities

Learning to recognize your baby's sleeping habits and crying patterns is an important way to understand your baby. Babies go through various stages of sleep and wakefulness: deep sleep, light sleep, drowsiness, alert periods, and fussy times.

As you watch your baby and as your baby gets used to life outside of the uterus, you'll begin to notice the patterns your baby likes, and you'll become more confident about how to handle your baby.

Awake	Drowsy	Sleeping	Fussy

© All illustations copyright Allina Health System.

Related Links

Your newborn, baby

Parenting eMagazine: Things that may worry you

Signs to call your baby's health care provider

Class: All About Babies

First published: 10/04/2002
Last updated: 06/19/2003

Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education experts