Newborn development
Newborn babies don’t always look like the cover babies you see on parenting magazines. They often have blotchy faces, milia spots, a touch of jaundice and crossed eyes… and you’ll love yours even more for all of that!
In any case, all of those should clear up after a few weeks and any blotchiness is just her skin getting used to her new environment.
Your newborn’s limbs may be curled up for a few days, even weeks. This is because she’s used to being curled up in your womb – she’ll learn to stretch out in time. She may also develop cradle cap over her first few weeks – this is basically scaly patches that form on her scalp. It’s completely harmless but often looks unsightly and may have a slight odor. Try gently rubbing a little olive oil on to your baby's scalp at bedtime to loosen the scales so you can brush them out the next morning with a soft baby hairbrush. Alternately, use a cradle cap shampoo. Avoid picking the scales off, as she could develop an infection. See cradle cap for more details.
Anatomy of a newborn
- The soft spots on your baby’s head are known as fontanelles and sometimes you can see them pulsating up and down. Be gentle on these areas when washing your baby’s hair and never press down on them.
- Your baby’s eyes may look puffy and closed, but they will open in time. Nearly all babies are born with blue or blue-grey eyes; her permanent eye color will develop over the first few months.
- Her fingers will be curled up in fists and her limbs are curled up, as they were in your uterus, but she relaxes over the first few weeks.
- Her umbilical cord stump falls off after a few days.
- Babies’ genitals are usually swollen and enlarged after delivery and for a few days afterwards because they have some of mom’s hormones still present in their bodies.
- Her hands and feet may become dry and peel as her skin adjusts to life outside the uterus.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 13/05/2007
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