A pediatrician, family practice healthcare provider, physician's assistant, family nurse practitioner, or pediatric nurse practitioner can be your baby's primary care provider. The medical specialty dealing with children is called pediatrics.

As part of your preparation for your new baby, you probably got an infant safety seat for the car. But do you know how to make sure it’s installed correctly? And when do you switch to a child safety seat? Learn the ins and outs of safe car travel for your little one.

Newborns need just some basic items at first. These include a warm and safe place to sleep, food, clothing, and diapers. Here's a helpful guide to the essentials.

Most families soon find ways to adjust to the changes that take place after a baby is born. But it's helpful to prepare family members for what's ahead.

Because babies born by cesarean may have difficulty clearing some of the lung fluid and mucus, extra suctioning of the nose, mouth, and throat are often needed.

Healthy babies born in a vaginal delivery are usually able to stay with the mother. In many cases, immediate newborn evaluations are performed right in the mother's room.

A newborn baby is wet from the amniotic fluid and can easily become cold. Drying the baby and using warm blankets and heat lamps can help prevent heat loss. Often a knitted hat is placed on the baby's head.

Definitions of terms related to the anatomy of a fetus in utero.

Read on for helpful suggestions for activities and toys for your baby, according to their age.

Newborns have many variations in normal appearance, from their skin color to the shape of their head. Here's a look at some of the normal variations you can expect.

Crying is the way babies communicate. They cry because of hunger, discomfort, frustration, tiredness, and even loneliness.

Ever wonder why your baby flings his arms out sideways when startled? This reaction--called the Moro reflex--is one of many natural reflexes your newborn should exhibit. Read on to learn about common newborn reflexes and what they mean.

Babies are born with all five senses--sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Some of the senses are not fully developed.

New parents are often unsure how long and how often a newborn should sleep. Read on to learn about general newborn sleep patterns, the quiet alert phases, and how to help your baby fall asleep.

A helpful look at what to expect with your newborn—from your baby's growth and reflexes to crying and emotional development.

Detailed information on bottle-feeding, including information on the different types of baby formulas.

It's important to feed your baby a variety of healthy foods at the correct time. Learn more with this helpful guide.

Choosing how to feed your baby is an important decision that has life-long effects for your baby and for you.

Putting babies to sleep on their backs has dramatically reduced the incidence of SIDS. One unexpected side effect: Many infants now have a flattened head.

Bath time is a great time to bond with your newborn while keeping his or her skin healthy and cuddly soft. Get the fact - îand proper supplies - to make these moments safe and enjoyable for both you and baby.

Because many multiples are small and born early, they may be initially cared for in a special care nursery called the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Circumcision is a surgery to remove the skin covering the end of the penis. This is called the foreskin. This surgery is most often done 1 or 2 days after a baby's birth. Read on to learn more about this procedure.

Cradle cap (infant seborrheic dermatitis) is scaly patches on a baby's scalp. Cradle cap isn’t serious, but it can cause thick crusting and white or yellow scales. Some babies can also have seborrheic dermatitis in the diaper area, and on the face, neck, and trunk. Cradle cap usually clears up within the first year.

A core part of every baby's care is diapering. Read on for helpful information on changing diapers, preventing and treating diaper rash, and the pros and cons of cloth and disposable diapers.

While being a new mom brings lots of joy, it also brings stress--something a crying baby can make worse. Having a better understanding of why your baby cries can help you deal with this stress in a healthy way and help you avoid the most common form of child abuse: Shaken baby syndrome.

Most healthcare providers advise taking a baby's temperature rectally, by placing a thermometer in the baby's anus. This method is accurate and gives a quick reading of the baby's internal temperature.

In a few weeks, your baby will have the cutest little belly button. But right now the healing remains of his umbilical cord need special care. Here's how to make sure the cord remainder stays infection-free.

Infants and children under age 4 are particularly at risk for choking on food or small objects because their upper airways are smaller, and they tend to explore things with their mouths.

Your little one will need several immunization shots to help protect them from several childhood diseases, some of which can be deadly. Read on for helpful advice on which shots they need and when--and what to do if they have a minor reaction.

As part of your preparation for your new baby, you probably got an infant safety seat for the car. But do you know how to make sure it’s installed correctly? And when do you switch to a child safety seat? Learn the ins and outs of safe car travel for your little one.

While being a new mom brings lots of joy, it also brings stress--something a crying baby can make worse. Having a better understanding of why your baby cries can help you deal with this stress in a healthy way and help you avoid the most common form of child abuse: Shaken baby syndrome.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexplained death of a baby younger than 1 year old. SIDS is sometimes called crib death because the death may happen when a baby is sleeping in a crib. It’s one of the leading causes of death in babies from ages 1 month to 1 year. Read on to learn more.

Slings are a popular, natural way to carry your baby, but recent government warnings showed these slings can also be dangerous. Learn how to carry your baby safely.

Your baby's activity level, appetite, and cries normally vary from day to day, and even hour to hour. But a distinct change in any of these areas may signal illness.

If you listen closely, you'll notice that your baby's breathing isn't like yours. Babies breathe much more frequently and with different patterns than adults. Here's how to recognize normal breathing in your infant - and how to spot signs of respiratory distress.

Colic is when a healthy baby cries for a very long time for no obvious reason. It is a common problem that affects some babies during the first 6 weeks of life.

The system that controls body temperature is not well developed in a newborn. Here's what you need to know about fever and your baby.

If your baby seems fussy and you've fed and changed him, he may have an upset stomach or colic. But don't worry, there are lots of things you can do to make your little one more comfortable and keep both of you calm.

Hyperbilirubinemia happens when there is too much bilirubin in your baby’s blood. Bilirubin is made by the breakdown of red blood cells. It’s hard for babies to get rid of bilirubin. It can build up in their blood, tissues, and fluids.

Natal teeth are teeth that are present when a baby is born. The teeth are often not fully developed and may have a weak root.

The color of a baby's skin can often help identify possible problems in another area of the body. Here are some skin color changes to be aware of.

Each newborn baby is carefully checked at birth for signs of problems or complications.

Your little one will need several immunization shots to help protect them from several childhood diseases, some of which can be deadly. Read on for helpful advice on which shots they need and when--and what to do if they have a minor reaction.

Circumcision is a surgery to remove the skin covering the end of the penis. This is called the foreskin. This surgery is most often done 1 or 2 days after a baby's birth. Read on to learn more about this procedure.

Newborn babies routinely receive eye medicine and a vitamin K injection soon after birth. Both prevent serious conditions.

It's not always easy to tell a newborn's age by their size. Premature babies are usually small, but full-term and past-term babies can be small, too. That's when healthcare providers will do a gestational assessment to determine if a newborn needs special treatment.

Today nearly all newborns are screened for hearing loss. Here's a look at why, and the types of screening tests that are done.

Your newborn will be weighed in the hospital and at all check-ups. In most cases, metric units are used to record babies' weight. This chart will help you convert the metric unit grams (g) to pounds (lb) and ounces (oz).

Because some potential problems aren't readily seen at birth, all newborns are tested for certain conditions, including metabolic disorders.

A national program exists to screen all newborns for certain disorders in the first few days of life.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare metabolic disorder. Children with PKU can't process an amino acid called phenylalanine. Phenylalanine is in many common foods.

A complete physical exam is an important part of newborn care. Each body system is carefully checked for signs of health and normal function.