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Get to Know Your Newborn
A Head-to-toe Look at Your Baby
By Donna Smith
For new dads, babies can be mysterious creatures that sometimes seem as fragile as fine porcelain and other times tough as steel. Todd Franco from Erie, Pa., seasoned father of AJ, 6, Luc, 3, and Gina, 1, and Dr. David Fay, assistant professor of family medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, share their advice to help you unravel the mysteries, so you can learn more about your newborn from head to toe!
From the Top...
During Baby's first weeks, you're sure to hear, "Watch her head!" more times than you can count. Your baby is not used to having to support her head, so she will need help with this for a while. Baby's neck muscles develop rapidly, so expect greater control within the first two months.
Another feature of a newborn's head are two soft spots, or fontanels. One is located on the top of her head, and another one is near the back. These spots are open areas between plates of bone and should be handled with care, though not feared. The spots are covered with a fibrous membrane, so don't be afraid to wash or touch Baby's head. The back fontanel usually closes first, around 1 month of age. The front closes much slower, somewhere between 9 and 18 months.
Cradle cap, or flaking of the scalp, is a common occurrence that can show up in the first few months. There is no need to treat cradle cap, as it will go away on its own.
Can't get enough of that beautiful mug? Don't be alarmed, however, if you wake one morning to find tiny white bumps on that adorable face. These blemishes, known as milia, are commonly found across the bridge of the nose, cheeks and chin. As with cradle cap, no treatment is necessary. Milia tends to disappear by 3 months of age.
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