Congratulations on the birth of your new baby!  Taking care of a baby is hard work - they don't come with an instruction book!  But you’ll find our New Baby Handbook helpful as you care for your newborn.  What might now seem scary will soon become more relaxed and enjoyable. Trust your instincts.  Your baby is special from the start. 

Watch a video to learn about newborn care and development from the Sparks Parent Video series. 

·        You're off to a great start taking care of your baby by reacting to their needs.  If you watch and listen carefully, you'll be able to figure out how to help your baby with just what they need.  Our New Baby Handbook  can answer many of your questions, or you can contact our office.

·        Continue feedings every 2-3 hours and keep track of wet and dirty diapers.

·        More information about your baby is at healthychildren.org, the website of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

·        Contact our office (or After Hours exchange 314-453-0044 if office is closed) if:

o   Your baby has 2 poor feedings in a row

o   Your baby has less than 3 wet diapers per day

o   Your baby has less than 1 dirty diaper per day

o   Your baby is crying non-stop or is difficult to waken

·        Your baby is 2 weeks old!  Way to go!  Keep up the good work. 

·        Though at times it can be tough, it is important to quickly respond every time your baby gets fussy.  This shows your baby that someone is there to help when they need help - they can't do it themselves!  It is not OK to let the baby "cry it out" at this age and you will not "spoil" your baby by reacting whenever they are crying.  All babies tend to cry more in the next few weeks and some babies will develop colic during this time.  We can help you if your baby is colicky.

·        Our New Baby Handbook can answer many of your questions, or you can contact our office.

·        More information about your baby is at healthychildren.org, the website of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

·        Call our office (or After Hours exchange 314-453-0044 if office is closed) if:

o   Your baby is not feeding well for 2 feeds in a row

o   Your baby gets a fever equal to 100.4 F or higher

o   Your baby does not have more than 3 wet diapers per day

o   Your baby is having a hard time breathing

o   Your baby won't stop crying

·        Feeding - Check out our Nutrition page.

·        Elimination - In the next few weeks your infant's poop pattern may change in color, consistency and frequency.  Concerning colors for baby poop are white, black, or red.  Breastfed babies may have multiple stools daily or as few as one per week. Formula-fed babies usually have fewer dirty diapers than breastfed babies.

·        Sleep - Never place your baby to sleep on his/her stomach. Remember the ABCs of safe sleep: Alone, (on baby's) Back and (in baby's) Crib.  If your baby is back up to their birth weight, you can let them sleep and do not need to wake them for feeding.

·        Healthy Habits - For your baby to be healthy, parents need to be healthy.  Please take care of yourselves!  Even the best parents can become frustrated when caring for a baby. When this occurs, place your baby in their crib, and take a short break.

·        Safety/Prevention – Great safety information on healthychildren.org.

·        Illness - Before two months of age, if your baby is very fussy, not eating well or feels very hot, check the temperature in the armpit or bottom with a digital thermometer. If the temperature is 100.4°F or higher, please call the office or exchange. Ear, forehead and pacifier thermometers are not accurate at this age.  Do not give your baby Tylenol unless instructed by your physician.  Infant noses are often stuffy or congested. This does not mean that your baby is sick if he/she is eating normally, has no fever and is breathing normally.

·        Behavior/Development – Watch a Sparks Parent Video to see how your baby is developing.

·        Your baby had a 2-month check-up today!   Can you believe it?  Taking care of your baby shows your love.

·        Many babies cry the most in their lives at this age – it’s the only way they have to communicate! Crying, and your response to it, is tightening the bond between you and your baby.  By now, you are better at figuring out what your baby needs and helping them to calm down.  If you are having trouble with this, or your baby seems extra fussy and hard to comfort, talk to your pediatrician about this.  It is still not OK to let the baby "cry it out" at this age and you will not "spoil" your baby by reacting whenever they are crying.  The amount of crying each day will start to go down in the next few weeks. 

·        More information about your baby is at healthychildren.org, the website of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

·        Call our office (or After Hours exchange 314-453-0044 if office is closed) if:

o   Your baby is not feeding well for 2 feeds in a row

o   Your baby is hard to wake up

o   Your baby does not have more than 3 wet diapers per day

o   Your baby is having a hard time breathing

o   Your baby won't stop crying

o   Your baby has a fever and a rash

·        Feeding - Check out our Nutrition page.

·        Elimination – Poop patterns may continue to change.  Breastfed babies may have multiple stools daily or as few as one per week. Formula-fed babies usually have fewer dirty diapers than breastfed babies.   Babies have at least 3 wet diapers a day (but usually a lot more).

·        Sleep - Remember the ABCs of safe sleep: Alone, (on baby's) Back and (in baby's) Crib.  Nothing else (blankets, toys, pillows, etc.) should be in the crib with the baby.  

·        Healthy Habits – For baby to be healthy, parents need to take care of themselves too.  Work as a team to get rest, exercise and good nutrition.  You can also get help from family or friends who can rock your baby (while you take a nap!) or can help with other chores.  Postpartum depression can affect moms or dads.  Contact your physician or our office if you are feeling postpartum depression symptoms such as:

o   Severe sadness

o   Frequent crying

o   Trouble sleeping

o   Loss of appetite

o   Irritability or anger

o   Intense concern and anxiety about the baby

o   Thoughts of suicide or harming your baby

·        Safety/Prevention

o   Your baby probably got shots today.  See information from the CDC or the AAP on how to care for your baby after the shots.

o   Learn more about keeping your baby safe from Healthy Children.

·        Illness - A fever is a temperature of 100.4°F degrees or higher. Fever in and of itself is not a problem. It is the body's natural response to fight off infection. The symptoms that occur with fever are also important to be concerned about (see the list above). When your baby has a fever, the most important thing is to watch them closely and call the office if worrisome symptoms develop. A child at this age should be seen if a fever lasts longer than 48 hours even without other symptoms.

·        Behavior/Development - Give your baby some tummy time each day while awake. He/she will soon roll over, reach for and grab toys, squeal and "talk to you". Babies are very social at this age. Talk to your baby as you go about your day. Limit time on your cell phone to be present with your baby.  Watch this from Sparks Parent Video series.

·        Four-month-olds are ready for the world!  They are very social and smile at everyone.  They explore the world by grabbing things and putting everything in their mouth.  They can handle tummy time longer and will begin to roll soon.  They still need lots of support and love from their parents, but you’ll be amazed at how much they can already do for themselves.  You will also find that your 4-month-old’s daily rhythms and schedules will begin to change and can be molded by you.  Respond to your baby with attention and love when they try to connect with you – this strengthens the parent-child bond.

·        More information about your baby is at healthychildren.org, the website of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

·        Call our office (or After Hours exchange 314-453-0044 if office is closed) if:

o   Your baby is not feeding well for 2 feeds in a row

o   Your baby is hard to wake up

o   Your baby does not have more than 3 wet diapers per day

o   Your baby is having a hard time breathing

o   Your baby won't stop crying

o   Your baby has a fever and a rash

·        Feeding – All 4-month-olds still need either breast milk or formula (or both) for most of their nutrition.  If your doctor suggested your baby is ready for baby food, check out “Feeding Your Baby” from our Nutrition page.

·        Elimination – Poop patterns will change when you begin feeding other foods.  The color, frequency, and consistency are going to change.  Contact us if you think there is blood in your baby’s diaper.  Babies have at least 3 wet diapers a day (but usually a lot more).

·        Sleep - Remember the ABCs of safe sleep: Alone, (on baby's) Back and (in baby's) Crib.  Nothing else (blankets, toys, pillows, etc.) should be in the crib with the baby.  Babies fed cereal at bedtime DO NOT sleep longer.  A consistent nightly bedtime routine can help babies organize their sleep.

·        Healthy Habits – Parents need care too.  Work as a team to get rest, exercise, and good nutrition.  You can also get help from family or friends with child (or parent) care.  Postpartum depression can still develop for moms or dads at this age.  Contact your physician or our office if you are feeling postpartum depression symptoms.

·        Safety/Prevention

o   Your baby probably got shots today.  A copy of your baby’s shot record was sent to the Patient Portal.  See information from the CDC or the AAP on how to care for your baby after the shots.

o   Learn more about keeping your baby safe from Healthy Children, including information about car seats, safe toys, keeping your home safe, and more.

·        Illness - A fever is a temperature of 100.4°F degrees or higher. Fever in and of itself is not a problem. It is the body's natural response to fight off infection. The symptoms that occur with fever are also important to be concerned about (see the list above). When your baby has a fever, the most important thing is to watch them closely and call the office if worrisome symptoms develop. A child at this age should be seen if a fever lasts longer than 48 hours even without other symptoms. 

·        Behavior/Development - Play, sing, talk and read with your child every day. Cuddle them often to let your child know how special they are!  Babies are very social at this age. Talk to your baby as you go about your day.  Limit time on your cell phone/tablet to be present with your baby.  Watch this from Sparks Parent Video series.

• Examine Your Child from Head to Toe
• Answer Parent Questions about Health
• Track Your Child's Growth
• Address Development and Behavior
• Check Mom for Postpartum Depression
• Manage Ongoing Diseases
• Discuss Nutrition, Healthy Habits, Safety and more
• Provide Guidance for Upcoming Health and Development Milestones
• Give Scheduled Immunizations
• Complete Forms for Daycare (if needed)
• Links/Forms: ASQ, Edinburgh, Tylenol/Advil/Motrin Dosing

• Examine Your Child from Head to Toe
• Answer Parent Questions about Health
• Track Your Child's Growth
• Address Development and Behavior
• Manage Ongoing Diseases
• Discuss Nutrition, Healthy Habits, Safety and more
• Provide Guidance for Upcoming Health and Development Milestones
• Give Scheduled Immunizations
• Complete Forms for Daycare (if needed)
• Links/Forms: ASQ, Tylenol/Advil/Motrin Dosing

• Examine Your Child from Head to Toe
• Answer Parent Questions about Health
• Track Your Child's Growth
• Address Development and Behavior
• Perform Periodic Vision Screening
• Check for Anemia and/or Lead Poisoning
• Manage Ongoing Diseases
• Discuss Nutrition, Healthy Habits, Safety and more
• Provide Guidance for Upcoming Health and Development Milestones
• Give Scheduled Immunizations
• Complete Forms for Daycare (if needed)
• Links/Forms: ASQ, Annual History form, Tylenol/Advil/Motrin Dosing

• Examine Your Child from Head to Toe
• Answer Parent Questions about Health
• Track Your Child's Growth
• Address Development and Behavior
• Answer Parent Questions about Health
• Track Your Child's Growth
• Address Development and Behavior
• Manage Ongoing Diseases
• Discuss Nutrition, Healthy Habits, Safety and more
• Provide Guidance for Upcoming Health and Development Milestones
• Give Scheduled Immunizations
• Complete Forms for Daycare (if needed)
• Links/Forms: ASQ, Edinburgh, Tylenol/Advil/Motrin Dosing

• Examine Your Child from Head to Toe
• Answer Parent Questions about Health
• Track Your Child's Growth
• Address Development and Behavior
• Check for Autism
• Manage Ongoing Diseases
• Discuss Nutrition, Healthy Habits, Safety and more
• Provide Guidance for Upcoming Health and Development Milestones
• Give Scheduled Immunizations
• Complete Forms for Daycare (if needed)
• Links/Forms: ASQ, Edinburgh, Tylenol/Advil/Motrin Dosing

• Examine Your Child from Head to Toe
• Answer Parent Questions about Health
• Track Your Child's Growth
• Address Development and Behavior
• Check for Autism
• Perform Periodic Vision Screening
• Screen for Lead poisoning
• Manage Ongoing Diseases
• Discuss Nutrition, Healthy Habits, Safety and more
• Provide Guidance for Upcoming Health and Development Milestones
• Give Scheduled Immunizations
• Complete Forms for Daycare or Preschool
• Links/Forms: ASQ, Edinburgh, Tylenol/Advil/Motrin Dosing

• Examine Your Child from Head to Toe
• Answer Parent Questions about Health
• Track Your Child's Growth
• Address Development and Behavior
• Manage Ongoing Diseases
• Discuss Nutrition, Healthy Habits, Safety and more
• Provide Guidance for Upcoming Health and Development Milestones
• Give Scheduled Immunizations
• Complete Forms for Daycare or Preschool
• Links/Forms: ASQ, Edinburgh, Tylenol/Advil/Motrin Dosing

• Examine Your Child from Head to Toe
• Answer Parent Questions about Health
• Track Your Child's Growth
• Address Development and Behavior
• Perform Periodic Vision and Hearing Screening
• Screen for Lead poisoning
• Manage Ongoing Diseases
• Discuss Nutrition, Healthy Habits, Safety and more
• Provide Guidance for Upcoming Health and Development Milestones
• Give Catch-up Immunizations (if needed)
• Complete Forms for Daycare or Preschool
• Links/Forms: ASQ, Edinburgh, Tylenol/Advil/Motrin Dosing

• Examine Your Child from Head to Toe
• Answer Parent Questions about Health
• Track Your Child's Growth
• Address Development and Behavior
• Perform Periodic Vision and Hearing Screening
• Screen for Lead poisoning (yearly until age 5 yrs)
• Manage Ongoing Diseases
• Discuss Nutrition, Healthy Habits (sleep, exercise), Safety and more
• Provide Guidance for Upcoming Health and Development Milestones
• Give Scheduled Immunizations
• Complete Forms for School, Camp
• Links/Forms: ASQ (until 5 yrs), Lead screen (until 5 yrs), Annual History Form, Edinburgh, Tylenol/Advil/Motrin Dosing

• Examine Your Child from Head to Toe
• Answer Parent Questions about Health
• Track Your Child's Growth
• Address Development and Behavior
• Perform Periodic Vision and Hearing Screening
• Manage Ongoing Diseases
• Discuss Nutrition, Healthy Habits (sleep, exercise), Safety and more
• Provide Guidance for Upcoming Health and Development Milestones
• Give Scheduled Immunizations
• Complete Forms for School, Camp, Sports, Scouts
• Links/Forms: Annual History Form, Edinburgh, Tylenol/Advil/Motrin Dosing

• Examine Your Child from Head to Toe
• Answer Parent Questions about Health
• Track Your Child's Growth
• Address Development and Behavior
• Screen for Anxiety and Depression
• Perform Periodic Vision and Hearing Screening
• Manage Ongoing Diseases
• Discuss Nutrition, Healthy Habits (sleep, exercise), Safety and more
• Provide Guidance for Upcoming Health and Development Milestones
• Give Scheduled Immunizations
• Complete Forms for School, Camp, Sports, Scouts
• Links/Forms: Annual History Form, Edinburgh, Tylenol/Advil/Motrin Dosing