Knowing your baby is well

Close up of smiling mother holding her baby close to her face

If you are concerned about your baby’s health at any time, please contact NHS 111 service for advice, call 999 or take your newborn to your local A&E or urgent care centre as soon as possible. Abnormal symptoms can be:

your baby is pale, floppy or unresponsive
your baby is grunting and/or breathing fast and the breathing appears laboured, with the chest sucked in or nostrils flaring
bulging soft spot (fontanelle)
stiff neck
seizures (convulsions)
projectile vomiting
non-blanching rash (a rash which does not disappear with pressure)
jaundice (yellow colour of skin or whites of eyes) in the first 24 hours after birth. See:

Newborn jaundice

your baby’s jaundice appears to be worsening in combination with any of the following: severe lethargy, reluctance to feed, minimal wet/dry nappies or pale/white stools. See:

Nappy content

your baby is not feeding as well as before
your baby has a continued high pitched or weak cry which cannot be settled with normal measures such as feeding, cuddling, nappy change etc.
your baby feels hot or cold (if you have a thermometer your baby’s temperature should be between 36.5°C and 37.5°C).
your baby has a rash or blisters on the skin.
green-coloured vomit

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

RSV is one of the common viruses that cause coughs and colds in winter. Babies born prematurely and young children may be at greater risk of becoming unwell. RSV infection causes symptoms similar to a cold, including runny nose, sneezing or nasal congestion, cough, and fever. Ear infections and croup (a barking cough caused by inflammation of the upper airways) can also occur in children. RSV is the leading cause of bronchiolitis, an infection of the small airways in the lung, which makes breathing harder and causes difficulty feeding. You should seek medical help whenever you are concerned about your baby’s wellbeing. Download The Lullaby Trust Baby check app to support you in identifying if your baby is unwell.

Contact my maternity unit

The Lullaby Trust Baby check app Is your baby or toddler seriously ill? Illness in newborn babies British Red Cross: First aid skills and techniques

20th August 201823rd March 2023

Bathing your baby and your baby’s skin

Mother supports baby with one arm while scooping water over the baby's head with the opposite hand

A newborn’s skin is delicate and sensitive, and the use of any creams, lotions or cleansers should be avoided for at least the first month. Babies may have dry skin after birth, and this is nothing to worry about. When bathing, it is best to use plain water and only a very mild and non-perfumed soap if required.

How should I bath my baby?

Washing your baby

20th August 201827th April 2023

Caring for the umbilical cord

Close up of baby's tummy button with a plastic clip on the remaining stub of the umbilical cord

After your baby is born, their umbilical cord will be secured with a plastic clip. The cord will then take between three to ten days to dry out and drop off. It is normal for the cord to be slightly sticky and smelly as it dries out. The area can be cleaned with plain water if necessary and dried carefully with a clean soft cloth or muslin. If you notice any bleeding from the cord or redness on your baby’s abdomen, tell your midwife, health visitor or GP.

20th August 20189th January 2023

Dressing your baby

Close up of mother's hands dressing baby

The following tips will help you plan how to keep your baby’s temperature within the normal range:

Room temperature

Try to keep the room temperature between 16-20°C.

Deciding the right amount of clothing and bedding

Indoors:

Daytime – your baby should wear the same amount of clothes as you wear plus an extra layer. Night time – your baby should wear a vest and babygro in bed plus be covered with the same number of bedding layers as parents. If your baby seems restless and fussy and the skin appears flushed and feels hot, remove a piece of clothing or blanket. It is normal for babies to have cool hands and feet. They should feel warm on their chest (same as you) but if their hands or feet feel cold and look blue and blotchy, add mittens, socks/booties, a hat and a cardigan or blanket. Babies do not need to wear hats indoor. It can lead to them overheating.

Outdoors:

Babies should wear hats outdoors in summer and winter to protect against all weather conditions. Babies under six months’ old must be kept out of direct sunlight, especially around midday. During daytime, cover exposed parts of the baby’s skin with sun creams, using the baby specific sun creams. Don’t forget to reapply it regularly throughout the day. In a heated car or on public transport, babies who are overdressed can easily become too hot. Remember to remove a layer/s of clothing or any covering blanket.

When at home

Don’t forget to take off baby’s outdoor clothes and hat when you get inside. Don’t keep the cot, buggy or car seat next to a radiator, heater or fire, in direct sunshine or near an open window.

20th August 20181st September 2021

Soothing a crying baby

Mother holds crying baby in her arms and kisses to the top of its head

All babies cry, and some cry a lot. Crying is your baby’s way of telling you they need comfort and care. Sometimes it’s easy to work out what they want, and sometimes it isn’t, so be kind to yourself. Do remember that when you become anxious, crying babies tend to sense this and may become more distressed. So, in the initial weeks work your way systematically through the different reasons why a baby may cry.

Tips to comfort a crying baby

Try some of these ways to comfort your crying baby:

place your baby skin-to-skin
check if your baby is hungry. If so, feed your baby
check your baby’s nappy. If dirty, change the nappy
hold your baby close to you. Move about gently, sway and dance, talk to your baby or sing
try stroking your baby’s back firmly and rhythmically, holding her/him against you
find something for your baby to listen to or look at – like music on the radio, a CD, a rattle or a mobile above the cot
rock your baby gently backwards and forwards in the pram
try a warm bath. When testing for bath temperature, a warm bath will feel comfortable against your elbow skin. Warm baths calm some babies instantly, but make others cry even more.

Babies should never be shaken in an effort to get them to stop crying. Shaking a baby can cause very serious brain injury and is considered to be a form of child abuse. Babies are vulnerable to head trauma because they have poor neck strength and have large heads compared to the size of their bodies. When the head moves around vigorously, the baby’s brain moves back and forth inside the skull which can tear tiny blood vessels and nerves causing bleeding and nerve damage. Shaking a baby can leave a baby blind, deaf and with long term learning difficulties. Read the related links for more help.

Soothing a crying baby Skin-to-skin contact Coping with a crying baby

20th August 20181st September 2021

Safe sleeping and reducing the risk of cot death

Diagram showing three sleeping babies. One sleeping baby is in the correct position lying on their back and the other two sleeping babies are shown in the incorrect positions of lying on their side and on their front

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby where no cause is found. This is rare but it can still happen and there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of this occurring:

always place your baby on his/her back to sleep
babies should not be swaddled when sleeping
place your baby so his/her feet are right at the end of the cot/moses basket, rather than in the middle, to prevent them from sliding underneath covers
do not use cot bumpers or quilts, only use sheets and lightweight blankets
ensure room temperature is between 16-20°C, as overheating your baby can be dangerous
the safest place for your baby to sleep is in a cot or moses basket in the same room as you, for the first six months.

Safer sleep for babies

Reducing the risk of SIDS Lullaby Trust: How to reduce the risk of SIDS

20th August 201817th October 2022

Sharing a bed with your baby

Mother takes a nap on a bed lying on her side with her baby sleeping in the curve of her body

There are many things to consider when creating your baby’s sleep space to ensure it is safe. The following links provide detailed information to support your decisions about which is the right choice for your family. It is useful to think which sleep environment you intend for your baby to sleep: a flatbed pushchair, a Moses basket, a cot, or in your bed. There are safety considerations for all of the above environments such as where to lay in the cot/bed and what bedding to use. There are times when it is not recommended that the baby be in your bed.

Key points to remember

Regardless of sleep space the following should be followed:

Your baby sleeps in the same room as you for all sleeps for at least the first 6 months.
Always place your baby on their back to sleep, not their front or side.
The bedding is not able to cover baby’s face and head.
The sleep space should in a clear, no toys or bumpers.
The mattress should be flat and firm with no raised or cushioned areas.
Soft beds, bean bags, pillows, pods, nests, sleep positioners; sagging mattresses are not suitable sleep environments.
Avoid the baby becoming too hot, the room environment should be between 16-20°C and head should not be covered with a hat. If the weather is hot, the amount of clothing and bedding will need to be adjusted to avoid overheating.
Keep baby’s environment smoke-free before and after birth.
Breastfeeding is protective, the more you feed the greater the protection.
Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair.
If your baby is sleeping flatbed pushchair, Moses basket or cot, place your baby’s feet to the foot end.

If you decide to, or think you may share the bed with your baby, it is important to consider the following points:

Keep your baby away from the pillows.
Make sure your baby cannot fall out of bed or become trapped between mattress and wall.
Make sure the bed clothes cannot cover your baby face or head.
Remain with your baby, even very healthy babies can wriggle into a dangerous position if left alone.

When it isn’t safe to share a bed with your baby:

It is not safe to bed-share in the early months if your baby was born very small or preterm.
Do not sleep with your baby when you have been drinking any alcohol or taking drugs that may cause drowsiness (legal or illegal).
Do not sleep with your baby if you or anyone else who shares the room is a smoker.

You can get further information from your midwife or health visitor and read the links below.

Basis: Baby sleep info source UNICEF UK Baby Friend Initiative, Caring for your baby at night Lullaby Trust: Co-sleeping with your baby

20th August 201817th January 2023

What is normal sleep?

Baby in sleep suit sleeps with legs relaxed and head to one side

Your baby will have his/her own pattern of waking and sleeping, and it’s unlikely to be the same as other babies you know. Please note that newborn babies do not need a routine. However, over a course of several months you will have a routine established. Normal sleeping patterns from nought to three months: