Body Parts

Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Mouth

The eyes frequently will mat together and this is usually normal. Gently massaging the corner of the eye three times a day with a warm wash cloth will aid in cleaning away the secretions and assist in opening up the clogged tear duct. If there are heavy secretions and they persist for several days or the whites of the eyes become very red, call the office to have the baby examined.

All infants sneeze. Dry mucus may be removed with a moistened cotton swab, but do not poke into the nostril. Excessive bulb suctioning simply traumatizes the nares. Many babies may sound “snorty” or congested during breathing, but if they are feeding vigorously and are without fever or respiratory distress, then usually there is no cause for concern.

Do not clean the ear canal with cotton swabs, Q-tips. This pushes wax deeper into the ear canal and may cause ear problems. Use cotton swabs only to clean the outer ear.

If you find white plaques in your baby’s mouth or on the tongue which resemble milk curds and cannot be easily wiped off, consult the office about the possibility of oral thrush, a mouth yeast infection.

Hiccups are normal. All babies will hiccup. Simply burp the infant if he/she has just been fed and offer sips of water if it occurs between feedings. No more than 1 ounce of water per month of life for young infants (example 1 ounce of water per day for a 1 month old infant).

Breasts

Swelling in the first three weeks may occur in either sex. Do not handle or apply any medication. Breast fed infants may continue to have breast buds unilaterally or bilaterally for several months. A swollen, warm, and slightly red breast should be examined by a doctor.

Genitals

It is not uncommon for there to be orange crystals in the urine the first week of life. This is normal and not reason for alarm if there are no other alarming symptoms present.

Male: The circumcision needs very little care. Apply the cream given at the hospital 3 times a day until the raw appearance is gone (about 10 days). There may be a small amount of white/yellow scabbing around the site during healing. This is called granulation tissue and is part of the normal healing process. If there is excessive drainage or excessive bleeding, please call the office for a visit. An uncircumcised penis requires little care other than routine cleaning.

Female: A white or bloody mucoid discharge is common in the first 2 to 3 weeks from the vagina. Always cleanse carefully from the front to the rear to avoid contamination of the vagina with stool. Separate the vulva daily and wash gently in the bath.