Three Signs Your Newborn Is Healthy
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Having a newborn can be overwhelming and, at times, even scary. New parents are often nervous about whether their baby is growing and developing normally, which is completely understandable. At Health Services of North Texas, our caring team of pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioners is here to guide you and your family through this exciting stage of life with comprehensive newborn care available in Denton, Plano, and Wylie, TX. Here, you’ll find three reassuring signs that may indicate your newborn is healthy, as well as information on what signs and symptoms may mean your baby needs additional evaluation and care.
How do I know if my newborn is healthy?
One of the best ways to ensure the healthy growth and development of your baby is to establish a relationship with a pediatric care provider and keep up with childhood immunizations, routine well checks, and other pediatric wellness visits. In the meantime, three reassuring signs that your newborn baby may be healthy are:
1. They are eating well
Healthy newborn babies typically feed (either by bottle or breast) every 2 – 4 hours. If your baby is regularly refusing to eat, is uninterested in eating, or is having difficulty latching or taking the bottle, it is important to seek an evaluation as soon as possible.
2. They are having plenty of wet and dirty diapers
Healthy newborns, after about one week of life, should have close to 5 – 6 wet diapers and 2 – 4 dirty (stool) diapers per day. If your baby is routinely dry and/or not passing stools, they may be dehydrated or malnourished, which can be a sign that they are not eating enough or there is another underlying problem. If your baby is not having enough wet or dirty diapers, they need to be seen by a pediatric provider as soon as possible.
3. They are gaining weight
One of the most important signs of a healthy baby is that they are gaining weight as expected. During each newborn care visit, we will weigh your baby and take measurements of their length, head circumference, and other features to ensure they are growing appropriately. In the first few weeks and months of life, it is essential that babies are gaining weight at the expected rate.
Even when a baby looks healthy, there may be underlying conditions or problems that can only be detected by a knowledgeable provider on a formal evaluation. With this in mind, it is essential that you closely follow your baby’s newborn care schedule with your pediatric provider. If you notice any of the following signs or symptoms of newborn illness or abnormality, you should call your provider and/or seek emergent care as soon as possible:
- Infant is not eating
- Baby is crying excessively
- Newborn never sleeps
- Baby is losing weight
- Baby’s skin looks blue, purple, yellow, or white
- Newborn’s diapers are frequently dry
- Infant is not passing stool
- Baby is having trouble breathing
Get the peace of mind you deserve with newborn care in North Texas
At Health Services of North Texas, we understand how much you have to worry about as a new parent, and we want you to know that you’re not alone in this stage of life. We are here to help in Denton, Plano, and Wylie, TX. To schedule an appointment with Health Services of North Texas, click here.