Every new baby is unique and beautiful. Don’t be surprised,
however, if your baby doesn’t look like the babies you see on
television commercials or in magazine advertisements. Your
baby may have lumps on his head, puffy or crossed eyes, a
flat nose, a small chin, dry skin, or a rash. And don’t be
alarmed if your baby jerks occasionally while sleeping, has
mild nasal congestion, breathes unevenly, sneezes, hiccups,
and spits up occasionally. Such characteristics are normal
and only temporary unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
This section discusses some of what you can expect to see
in a normal newborn’s appearance, and what should cause
you concern.
SKIN Many parents’ first anxious questions relate to the appearance of their baby’s skin. “Is my baby too red?” “What are those marks on his skin?” “Why does she have pimples?”
Here are some things you may discover about your baby’s skin:
■ Skin color: Skin color in newborns can vary greatly—from a pink and white or yellowish tone to the typical redness. Even from one moment to the next, skin color can vary depending on the activity level of the baby. Of course, family characteristics and racial factors will also influence the color of your baby’s skin. At birth, the skin of the normal newborn is reddish-purple in color and turns bright red when the baby cries. (During the first few days of life, the skin gradually loses this redness.) In addition, the newborn’s hands and feet may be cool and blue. By the third day, he may also appear slightly yellow. This condition is called jaundice. It is common in newborns, and only occasionally requires special treatment. (See page 22 for more information on jaundice.)
■ Rash: Your infant’s tender and sensitive skin commonly reacts to his new environment. Scattered, pinhead-sized, or somewhat larger papules (pimples) surrounded by a mild red zone may appear in various areas of the body when your baby is about 2 days old. These will disappear over time. The cause is unknown, and the rash requires no treatment. Skin color in newborns can vary greatly—from a pink and white or yellowish tone to the typical redness.
■ Acrocyanosis: A blue color of the hands and feet is called acrocyanosis. It is caused by a decrease in the circulation of blood to the skin of the hands and feet. This condition frequently occurs during the early hours of life. However, a baby should never be blue around the face and lips. If you notice that your baby’s face and lips have a blue color, or if she has dusky or blue skin, this may indicate a serious problem and requires immediate medical attention.
■ Mottling: A new baby’s skin can also look blotchy or mottled. This is especially noticeable if the baby is uncovered or cold. Mottling can also occur if your baby is ill. If your baby’s skin color becomes pale or mottled, take her temperature. If it is higher or lower than the normal range, call your baby’s doctor.
■ Cradle cap: Cradle cap is a scaly patch of skin that develops on the scalp. Brushing your baby’s hair daily and washing it frequently— every time you bathe him, or 2-3 times per week—may help prevent cradle cap. If cradle cap occurs, call your baby’s doctor.
■ Milia: The whitish, pinhead-size spots, mainly on and around the nose or the newborn’s chin are called milia. Although they appear as tiny pimples, it is important not to disturb or break them, or put acne medicine on them. Doing so could produce a rash or cause the skin to scar. Milia are a normal occurrence in newborns and usually disappear within a few weeks.
■ Stork bite marks: This is a fanciful term for the areas of pink or red often present in the newborn on the upper eyelids, forehead, and back of the neck. These marks are caused by blood vessels that are close to the surface of the skin. They usually fade by the end of the baby’s second year. These “birthmarks” occur in as many as half of all newborns, especially in those with fair complexions.
LEGS At birth, the newborn’s legs are relatively short in proportion to the total body length. In some newborns, there is a significant separation of the knees when the ankles are held together, giving the appearance of bowed legs. This usually corrects itself.
HEAD AND FACE Newborn babies rarely have nice round, perfectly shaped heads. Some babies have large heads, some have small. Some have round heads, and some have elongated heads as a result of squeezing through the birth canal. Here are a few of the variations you may notice with your newborn’s head:
■ Forceps marks: If your baby was delivered using forceps, marks left from the pressure of the forceps may be noticeable on your baby’s face, usually on the cheeks and jaws. Be assured that the marks will disappear quickly, usually within a day or two. After the marks fade, don’t be alarmed if you can feel hard little lumps along the cheekbones where the marks were located. These lumps will also disappear.
■ Molding: Molding of the skull bones as the baby moves down the birth canal is a common cause of temporary lopsidedness of the head. Usually the head will return to its normal shape by the end of the first week. Molding is not usually present after a cesarean or breech delivery.
■ Caput: A caput is a soft swelling of the skin on the baby’s scalp. It occurs as a result of the top of the baby’s head being pressed against the mom’s cervix throughout labor and delivery. The swelling usually disappears within the first few days of life.
■ Cephalohematoma: Cephalohematoma is a collection of blood in the baby’s scalp tissue. You will notice this as a bruise on top of your baby’s head. As with caput, cephalohematoma most commonly occurs when the baby’s head is forced through the birth canal. It differs from caput in that it tends to be more distinct and long-lasting. Cephalohematoma is not usually present until several hours after birth. It may take 2 weeks to 2 months for the baby’s body to reabsorb the excess blood and for the bruise to go away. Because the excess blood is absorbed from the center first, there may be a dent on the scalp for a while. Also, a baby with cephalohematoma may be more likely to develop jaundice.
■ Facial asymmetry: Your baby’s face may appear lopsided if crowding in the uterus caused the head to be held for some time in a sharply flexed position (with the shoulder pressed firmly against the jawbone). This unevenness disappears by itself in a few weeks or months.
SKIN Many parents’ first anxious questions relate to the appearance of their baby’s skin. “Is my baby too red?” “What are those marks on his skin?” “Why does she have pimples?”
Here are some things you may discover about your baby’s skin:
■ Skin color: Skin color in newborns can vary greatly—from a pink and white or yellowish tone to the typical redness. Even from one moment to the next, skin color can vary depending on the activity level of the baby. Of course, family characteristics and racial factors will also influence the color of your baby’s skin. At birth, the skin of the normal newborn is reddish-purple in color and turns bright red when the baby cries. (During the first few days of life, the skin gradually loses this redness.) In addition, the newborn’s hands and feet may be cool and blue. By the third day, he may also appear slightly yellow. This condition is called jaundice. It is common in newborns, and only occasionally requires special treatment. (See page 22 for more information on jaundice.)
■ Rash: Your infant’s tender and sensitive skin commonly reacts to his new environment. Scattered, pinhead-sized, or somewhat larger papules (pimples) surrounded by a mild red zone may appear in various areas of the body when your baby is about 2 days old. These will disappear over time. The cause is unknown, and the rash requires no treatment. Skin color in newborns can vary greatly—from a pink and white or yellowish tone to the typical redness.
■ Acrocyanosis: A blue color of the hands and feet is called acrocyanosis. It is caused by a decrease in the circulation of blood to the skin of the hands and feet. This condition frequently occurs during the early hours of life. However, a baby should never be blue around the face and lips. If you notice that your baby’s face and lips have a blue color, or if she has dusky or blue skin, this may indicate a serious problem and requires immediate medical attention.
■ Mottling: A new baby’s skin can also look blotchy or mottled. This is especially noticeable if the baby is uncovered or cold. Mottling can also occur if your baby is ill. If your baby’s skin color becomes pale or mottled, take her temperature. If it is higher or lower than the normal range, call your baby’s doctor.
■ Cradle cap: Cradle cap is a scaly patch of skin that develops on the scalp. Brushing your baby’s hair daily and washing it frequently— every time you bathe him, or 2-3 times per week—may help prevent cradle cap. If cradle cap occurs, call your baby’s doctor.
■ Milia: The whitish, pinhead-size spots, mainly on and around the nose or the newborn’s chin are called milia. Although they appear as tiny pimples, it is important not to disturb or break them, or put acne medicine on them. Doing so could produce a rash or cause the skin to scar. Milia are a normal occurrence in newborns and usually disappear within a few weeks.
■ Stork bite marks: This is a fanciful term for the areas of pink or red often present in the newborn on the upper eyelids, forehead, and back of the neck. These marks are caused by blood vessels that are close to the surface of the skin. They usually fade by the end of the baby’s second year. These “birthmarks” occur in as many as half of all newborns, especially in those with fair complexions.
LEGS At birth, the newborn’s legs are relatively short in proportion to the total body length. In some newborns, there is a significant separation of the knees when the ankles are held together, giving the appearance of bowed legs. This usually corrects itself.
HEAD AND FACE Newborn babies rarely have nice round, perfectly shaped heads. Some babies have large heads, some have small. Some have round heads, and some have elongated heads as a result of squeezing through the birth canal. Here are a few of the variations you may notice with your newborn’s head:
■ Forceps marks: If your baby was delivered using forceps, marks left from the pressure of the forceps may be noticeable on your baby’s face, usually on the cheeks and jaws. Be assured that the marks will disappear quickly, usually within a day or two. After the marks fade, don’t be alarmed if you can feel hard little lumps along the cheekbones where the marks were located. These lumps will also disappear.
■ Molding: Molding of the skull bones as the baby moves down the birth canal is a common cause of temporary lopsidedness of the head. Usually the head will return to its normal shape by the end of the first week. Molding is not usually present after a cesarean or breech delivery.
■ Caput: A caput is a soft swelling of the skin on the baby’s scalp. It occurs as a result of the top of the baby’s head being pressed against the mom’s cervix throughout labor and delivery. The swelling usually disappears within the first few days of life.
■ Cephalohematoma: Cephalohematoma is a collection of blood in the baby’s scalp tissue. You will notice this as a bruise on top of your baby’s head. As with caput, cephalohematoma most commonly occurs when the baby’s head is forced through the birth canal. It differs from caput in that it tends to be more distinct and long-lasting. Cephalohematoma is not usually present until several hours after birth. It may take 2 weeks to 2 months for the baby’s body to reabsorb the excess blood and for the bruise to go away. Because the excess blood is absorbed from the center first, there may be a dent on the scalp for a while. Also, a baby with cephalohematoma may be more likely to develop jaundice.
■ Facial asymmetry: Your baby’s face may appear lopsided if crowding in the uterus caused the head to be held for some time in a sharply flexed position (with the shoulder pressed firmly against the jawbone). This unevenness disappears by itself in a few weeks or months.
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