Experts: Amanda Lea, RN; Rachel Moon, MD; Jennifer Sonney, PhD, ARNP, PPCNP, BC, FAANP, FAAN As timeless as a lullaby and nearly as soothing as being rocked in a parent’s arms, swaddling baby’s body has been recommended across generations—and cultures—as a trusted way to settle fussy babes. But although swaddling may be time-tested, it isn’t without risk.  “Swaddling is definitely something you can do to help calm a fussy baby,” says Amanda Lea, RN, a pediatric nurse with the Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. “I completely und ..read more

Experts: Aubri Lutz, RN, IBCLC; Edward Moody, DDS TABLE OF CONTENTS When to Introduce a Pacifier to a Newborn? Is a Pacifier Recommended for a Breastfed Baby? Do Pacifiers Affect Oral Development? What Pacifiers Are Best for Infants? Our Picks for Best Pacifiers for Newborns Among the many choices a new parent must make, whether or not to give your newborn a pacifier is one of the great debates. Introducing a pacifier (and which one and when) should be carefully considered and aligned with parents’ goals for feeding, soothing, and development. If you’ve found yourself on th ..read more

Experts: John P. Licata, MD; Sophie Shaikh, MD, MPH, MSc TABLE OF CONTENTS The Importance of Vaccinating Your Baby Standard Baby Immunization Schedule Alternate Vaccination Schedules Vaccine Misinformation For as long as humans have existed, so have viruses and diseases. Some of the more well-known incidents include the bubonic plague in the 1300s, the third cholera pandemic in the 1850s (if you ever played the Oregon Trail computer game, then you’re probably quite familiar with this one), and the flu pandemic in 1918—then again in 1968. While not categorized as pandemic even ..read more

Medical Experts: Maria Mendlovsky, CPNP; Danielle Rush, BSN, RNC-EFM TABLE OF CONTENTS What Is Jaundice? Types of Jaundice Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia Breastfeeding and Jaundice What Happens if Your Newborn Has Jaundice? Signs and symptoms of jaundice Testing Treatments What to look for after hospital discharge  Possible complications You’re over the hard part. You made it through 40 (or so) long weeks of pregnancy, then labor and delivery. Your sweet newborn is finally here! But now, after routine screenings, your neon ..read more

Expert Sources: Tammy Johnson; James J. McKenna, PhD; Dale Rosin, DO TABLE OF CONTENTS A Means of Survival Emotional Expression The Different Cries When to Worry Colic Responding to Baby’s Cries If a baby fails to offer a strong cry immediately following birth, we worry. If that same baby cries a whole lot once they leave the hospital, we worry! Though everyone knows that infants cry, new parents may have a difficult time deciphering whether they have a fussy baby or should worry. They may also question the meaning of baby’s cries or struggle to know how much crying is no ..read more

Medical Experts: Amanda Lea, RN; Rachel Moon, MD; Jennifer Sonney, PhD TABLE OF CONTENTS Why Swaddle? The Basics of Bundling Reduce Rollover Risk As timeless as a lullaby and nearly as soothing as being rocked in Mama’s arms, swaddling baby’s body has been recommended across generations and cultures as a trusted way to settle fussy babes. But although swaddling may be time-tested, it isn’t without risk. Wrap too tightly, and your baby can overheat. Wrap too loosely, and that cozy blanket can become a strangulation hazard. Wrap too long, and your older infant might roll ov ..read more

Swaddling Safety Tips When using a swaddle, always do so carefully. Should a blanket come unwrapped, it becomes a suffocation hazard and puts baby at a greater risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) by having loose cloth in his sleep space. To avoid danger during naps and at nighttime, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises putting baby down to sleep on his back. It’s also a good idea to stop swaddling before he learns to roll over (around the 4-month mark), so he doesn’t turn onto his tummy and get stuck face-down without his arms out to help him roll back over. Transitional swaddles ..read more

During those first weeks it might not seem like your little one is interested in a rousing round of peekaboo, but playtime is a great way to support baby’s development and encourage her to learn about her environment. Here are simple ways you both can engage—and enjoy! Make faces. Even at this young age, infants love to look at faces, particularly mom’s. Get up close (so she can see you), make eye contact and grin, grimace or stick out your tongue. (You can try doing this routinely while breastfeeding or at the end of diaper changes to ensure you’re getting in enough face time.) High-contrast ..read more

Experts: Aubri Lutz, RN, IBCLC; Edward Moody, DDS TABLE OF CONTENTS When to Introduce a Pacifier to a Newborn? Is a Pacifier Recommended for a Breastfed Baby? Do Pacifiers Affect Oral Development? What Pacifiers Are Best for Infants? Our Picks for Best Pacifiers for Newborns Among the many choices a new parent must make, whether or not to give your newborn a pacifier is one of the great debates. Introducing a pacifier (and which one and when) should be carefully considered and aligned with parents’ goals for feeding, soothing, and development. If you’ve found yourself on th ..read more

Experts: John P. Licata, MD; Sophie Shaikh, MD, MPH, MSc Table of Contents The Importance of Vaccinating Your Baby Standard Baby Immunization Schedule Alternate Vaccination Schedules Vaccine Misinformation For as long as humans have existed, so have viruses and diseases. Some of the more well-known incidents include the bubonic plague in the 1300s, the third cholera pandemic in the 1850s (if you ever played the Oregon Trail computer game, then you’re probably quite familiar with this one), and the flu pandemic in 1918—then again in 1968. While not categorized as pandemic events, polio ..read more