Newborns may lose up to 10% of their birth weight in the first few days. Regularly track their weight, length and head measurements in the “My personal health record” or “blue book” with your local child and family health nurse or doctor.  Let them know if you have any concerns or if you notice your baby has:

• lost more than 10% of their birth weight
• not returned to their birth weight by 14 days after birth
• not had any noticeable weight gain after a few weeks.

Feeding patterns can be confusing for parents, carers, and babies, whether you are breastfeeding, using infant formula, or a combination of both.

• feeding on demand: feeding your baby whenever they show signs of hunger rather than on a strict schedule
• cluster feeding: normal periods where your baby wants to feed more frequently in a short time. Often in the evening, especially during rapid growth periods

Manage this by:

• feeding your baby based on their hunger cues
• following advice from your doctor or nurse
• checking for 5-6 wet nappies daily and regular poos.
   

Crying in newborns is a normal way to communicate needs like: 

• hunger
• discomfort and pain
• attention. 

Most babies cry more frequently from two weeks to three months of age, often in the evening, and may resist soothing.

Let your child and family health nurse or doctor know if you notice:

• your baby has excessive or unusual crying
• your baby does not respond to soothing
• the crying is related to fever or feeding issues
• you are struggling to cope with crying or lack of sleep.

Babies often bring up breastmilk or formula from their stomach in different ways:

• posseting is normal and is when small amounts of breastmilk or formula are brought up from the stomach
• vomiting is when breastmilk or formula is brought up forcefully from the stomach
• reflux is a condition where weak muscles cause fluids from the stomach to come back up into the throat. 

To manage these, you can try:

• burping your baby frequently during and after feeds
• different positions or techniques for burping
• keeping your baby upright for a few minutes after feeding
• using a slow-flow teat if bottle-feeding

Let your child and family health nurse or doctor know if you have any concerns or notice:

• excessive or projectile vomiting
• vomiting containing blood
• vomiting alongside fever or weight loss.

A green colour in your baby’s vomit can be a sign of a life-threatening bowel issue. If you notice this, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance or go to your nearest emergency department. 

Baby poo will change depending on how old they are and how they are fed:

• meconium – the first dark, sticky poo, clearing within the first few days
• breastfed baby poo - yellow, seedy, loose, and watery
• formula-fed baby poo - paste-like, brown or yellow.

It is generally normal for baby poo to vary in:

• texture
• colour
• amount
• frequency.

Let your child and family health nurse or doctor know if you notice:

• large amounts of mucus in poo
• blood in poo
• straining to poo
• no poo within the first 24-48 hours after birth.

Newborns will mainly breathe through their noses until about three months of age. They can get congested or stuffy easily. A nasal aspirator is a tool that uses gentle suction to clear the nose. These are safe to use at home.

Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance, or go to your nearest emergency department if your baby has:

• difficulty breathing 
• grunting noises while breathing
• blue-coloured lips or skin. 

Common skin concerns for newborns can include:

• milia are tiny white bumps on a baby’s face caused by blocked sweat glands
• neonatal acne are small red bumps, sometimes with white heads, caused by hormones during pregnancy
• erythema toxicum is a common, harmless rash with red spots and yellowish pimples
• nappy rash is a type of irritation around the bottom and genitals that can develop from trapped moisture and friction
• cradle cap, or seborrhoeic dermatitis, is when there are flaky, yellowish patches on the scalp
• eczema is when the skin gets dry, red and irritated
• heat rash is a red rash that happens when your baby gets too warm and can be itchy and uncomfortable.

Manage these by:

• speaking to your doctor or nurse about recommended skin products
• keeping your baby’s skin clean
• watching for any reactions to products like wipes or moisturisers

Let your child and family health nurse or doctor know if you notice:

• worsening or spreading rash
• ongoing or severe nappy rash
• skin issues are not improving with home treatment.

See your local doctor as soon as possible if your baby develops a rash and a fever.

Blocked tear ducts cause yellow discharge and crust around the eyes. 

Manage this with sterile wipes and saline solution from your local pharmacy.

Let your child and family health nurse or doctor know if you notice your baby has any of the following around their eyes:

• pain
• Redness or warmth
• ongoing discharge.

Hormones from the placenta can cause temporary changes after birth, like: 

• swelling of breast tissue, scrotum, and vulva
• small amounts of milk from nipples
• blood streaks in the nappy. 

These symptoms are generally harmless and should get better within a few days.

Let your child and family health nurse or doctor know if you notice your baby has:

• persistent swelling 
• redness and warmth around breast tissue, vulva, or scrotum
• pus around their nipples
• ongoing bleeding from their vagina
• signs of dehydration, like fewer wet nappies
• fever.

Pressure from the birth canal or equipment like forceps or vacuum during birth can temporarily change a baby’s head shape. This is generally normal and should settle after a few weeks. 

Positional plagiocephaly can develop from too much time on their back or tight neck muscles. Give your baby lots of time on their tummy while awake, and speak to your nurse or doctor if you have any concerns.

A new baby can bring a mix of hormonal changes, emotions and challenges for both parents, regardless of gender or whether they gave birth. 

While it’s normal to experience mood changes during this time, ongoing or intense symptoms can sometimes mean there is a more severe health issue.

• Baby blues is temporary and can include mood swings, sadness, and irritability
• Postnatal anxiety can involve persistent worry, panic, fear, and intrusive thoughts postnatal depression can involve persistent sadness, hopelessness, loss of interest in activities and exhaustion
• Postpartum psychosis is rare but severe and can involve hallucinations, delusions and extreme changes in mood or behaviour. 

It’s important to talk about your feelings and seek support from friends, family, or trusted health professionals. 

Let your child and family health nurse or doctor know if you: 

• have any concerns about yourself or your partner
• are struggling to cope day to day
• have feelings of anxiety or depression that are lasting longer than usual.