Ten Common Questions Parents Ask About Newborns When will my baby sleep through the night? Since a newborn’s stomach can empty in as few as two hours, you can expect several nighttime feedings for a while. Each baby is different, but generally they all begin to develop sleep patterns by 3 months of age. At that time, you may get four hours or so of uninterrupted sleep. By 6 months your baby will sleep six or seven hours, maybe more, before waking to be fed. It is unfortunate that babies need the most nighttime attention during the weeks when parents need the most sleep. Try to snatch sleep during the day when the baby is napping.. This may leave you more refreshed and better able to enjoy those middle of the night encounters, which can be peaceful, quiet times to get to know your baby better. How can I tell if my newborn is getting enough to eat? If the baby seems to be gaining weight and appears healthy, you can be fairly sure he is getting enough nourishment. Another indicator is frequency of urination. A well-fed baby will usually need a dry diaper every two or three hours. If you are breast—feeding, remember that when the baby is nursing eagerly, most of the milk will be consumed in the first 10-15 minutes. Even if the feeding seems short, he has probably gotten all he wants. Bottle-fed babies typically drink four to six ounces of formula every three to four hours. How can I stop the hiccups? Hiccups are caused by the newborn’s immature muscles and occur quite often in some babies. There is nothing you can do when your baby gets the hiccups except to let them run their course and understand that they are normal and no cause for alarm. If hiccups last for a long period of time and interfere with feedings, however, check with your doctor. Is it normal for the baby to make noises while sleeping? Yes, and these sounds can be very disconcerting to the new parent. sometimes they sound almost like animal noises. In a short period of time you will get to know your baby and will become comfortable with all of the peculiar little noises unique to his special style of sleep. We came from the hospital two days ago and my baby keeps sneezing, could he have a cold? Probably not. Newborns’ respiratory passages are easily irritated, and frequent sneezing is quite common. Your baby is probably responding in a healthy way to something in his nose, such as mucus, fuzz, or dust. On the subject of colds, it is uncommon for newborns to catch colds or other contagious illnesses during the first three months of life because of the protective, immunizing properties present in the placenta and in breast milk. However, if your baby feels hot, shows a sudden loss of appetite, or switches abruptly from active to listless behavior, you should consult your pediatrician. My baby has pimples and red blotches all over his face, whats wrong? It is very common for newborns to have milky-white pimples on their faces. This is caused by the pores becoming clogged with natural oils and is not a reflection on the parents’ care. Keep the baby’s skin clean, and time will take care of the problem. Red blotches, often called "stork bites", sometimes appear on a baby’s forehead, nose, and neck. The cause of these blotches is not known. Most of them disappear in time, but your pediatrician can tell you if any of the blotches seem to be permanent. My baby cries all the time, can I do anything to quiet him? First, look for physical causes for the crying, such as hunger, the need to suck, over stimulation, fatigue, discomfort, or the desire to be held. Then try to satisfy the physical need by feeding, burping, walking, or rocking--whatever seems appropriate. If the baby is tired or over stimulated, you can try placing her in a quiet, darkened room or bundling her in a blanket to give her feelings of closeness and security. If none of these techniques works and the baby’s crying periods seem excessive, you should consult your pediatrician to rule out any other physical problems that may be causing the distress. The area around the umbilical cord looks red, could it be infected? It is normal for the area around the cord to be pinkish or reddish. The presence of a lot or redness or some pus, however, could indicate a slight infection. Swabbing the area with alcohol on cotton will help combat the infection and hasten the drying process. If the infection persists, consult your doctor. How can I tell if my baby is having normal bowl movements? Because stool patterns vary with each baby, it is impossible to define what is normal. The best way to answer this question is to describe what is not normal. Watery stool or stool containing mucus or blood may indicate an intestinal disorder, such as diarrhea, and should be reported to your doctor. Watery stool may resemble chicken or beef broth. Also, if’ the baby experiences great difficulty passing stool, and if the result is hard and dry, he may, be constipated. In general, anything else is normal. When can I take the baby out? A baby who is dressed appropriately can be taken out almost anytime, unless a doctor has advised otherwise. Fresh air is good for babies. Remember, though, that babies tend to lose body heat more rapidly than adults. They should be dressed in a hat and warm clothes if the weather is cool. Avoid taking the baby out for extended periods if the temperature or weather conditions are uncomfortable for you, as an adult. But even in these situations, a short car ride to visit friends or relatives is okay. However, you should avoid taking your baby to crowded places where he could be exposed to people who might be sick. Reprinted with permission from New Parent Advisor, 13—30 Corporation.