Leaving the hospital with a newborn can feel daunting. Adjusting to a new sleep schedule, figuring out feeding times and providing general care for an infant is a challenging experience. Learn ways to ensure you and your baby thrive in the first year.

• Bonding with Your Newborn
• Colic
• Crib Safety
• Infant Crying
• NICU: Communicating With the Staff
• Umbilical Cord Care
• Ways to Comfort a Crying Baby

Learn more about health issues that appear at birth.

• Cleft Lip
• Cleft Palate
• Club Foot
• Drug Withdrawal in Newborns (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome)
• Jaundice in Newborns (Hyperbilirubinemia)
• Newborn Rashes and Skin Conditions
• Positional Plagiocephaly (Flattened Head)
• Screening for Hearing Problems
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• Tongue-Tie
• Group B Streptococcal Infections in Newborns

If your baby is born more than 3 weeks early, he or she is considered premature. Premature babies may need to stay in the hospital until they can eat, breathe and stay warm on their own.

It can be scary and stressful to have a preemie baby. At first, it may be hard to know how healthy your baby will be. Some premature babies will need surgery or special treatment. Others may have health problems that require you to make tough decisions. Taking care of yourself and your partner can help you get through the stress and uncertainty that can come with having a premature baby.

• Immunizations for Premature Infants
• Premature (Preterm) Infant
• Premature Infant: Safe Travel with Your Baby
• What to Expect when You Have an Extremely Premature Infant

Providing a loving and comforting environment for your newborn can help their development. It also builds a strong foundation for a positive relationship in the future. Make sure that you hold your baby skin-to-skin, talk to them and provide stimulation. Holding your baby skin-to-skin has many benefits. It can ease crying, strengthen your baby’s immune system and encourage a bond.

• Cognitive Growth in Newborns
• Helping Your Newborn Learn
• Language Development in Newborns
• Physical Growth in Newborns
• Sensory and Motor Growth in Newborns

Most birthmarks are harmless and don’t need treatment. If you see one, have your health care provider check it to make sure no treatment is needed. Learn more about types of birthmarks.

• Birthmarks
• Common Types of Birthmarks

Circumcision is a surgery to remove the foreskin that protects the tip of the penis. Knowing whether to circumcise depends on a variety of considerations. Personal and cultural preferences, as well as religion and family tradition all play a part in making the decision.

• Circumcision
• Circumcision: Should I Keep My Son's Penis Natural?
• Cleaning Your Young Child's Natural (Uncircumcised) Penis