Is it normal to do this? 10 things that in newborns are normal

Here is a set of 10 newborn quirks that are actually completely normal. Let’s see them together.

You have prepared, you have read several books on pregnancy and motherhood , you have researched online, you have taken courses, to feel as “ready” as possible about labor, the inevitable sleepless nights and, of course, 24/7 feedings.

However, there are some, let’s call them quirks, in the newborn, which may surprise you. Before running to the phone to call the pediatrician, we have prepared here a rundown of all the strange things that could happen and that you will soon discover are completely normal in newborns.

The cradle cap

The scabs that appear on the scalp are not beautiful to see but are quite common at the same time. They are generally classified as cradle cap . The good news is that any dryness or flaking usually goes away in baby’s first few months (although for some, random flare-ups may linger longer).

Here we have some tips to deal with scabs: how to cure cradle cap?

When to worry: Thankfully, there’s nothing to worry about—it’s nothing more than a common rash. But if it spreads beyond your child’s scalp or seems to get more severe, ask your pediatrician for advice.

Explosive poop

Perhaps explosive is an exaggerated term, but you will happen to find the baby literally submerged in liquid poop up to his neck and you won’t know which way to take it.

The truth is, you haven’t been officially initiated into parenthood until you’ve dealt with a “booster diaper” or two.

The feces of breastfed infants are quite liquid and when the discharges are abundant there is no diaper that holds.

When to worry:  as long as the color is brownish to yellow (sometimes even tending to dark green) it’s fine, in the presence of anomalous colors such as bright green or gray, it is advisable to call the pediatrician.

Swollen breast glands

Remember those crazy hormones  that characterized the entire pregnancy? Let’s imagine so, well those same hormones also have an effect on the baby since they take a while to be disposed of even after birth. These hormones cross the placenta and cause the newborns to enlarge the breasts. It’s generally nothing to worry about and these swellings should go away in a short time.

When to worry:  Do you notice any redness around your baby’s breasts? If so, take the child’s temperature to see if the flushing is accompanied by a fever . These symptoms may be a sign of something more serious and a reason to have your child checked by the pediatrician.

But what noise does it make?

If you thought that babies “only” cried, think again. Newborns have a wide range of sound manifestations, ranging from grunts, moans, snorts and all sorts of other more or less funny sounds. Many of those strange noises are caused by the fact that the baby’s nasal passages are quite narrow in the first months of life, and the mucus that gets trapped in there creates some “sound effects”. So, if you’re hearing a symphony of sounds, it’s probably because your baby has a nose to clean.

When to worry: if the child has difficulty breathing, call the pediatrician immediately.

Endless sneezes

Do not forget that the newborn is new to this world and everything around him is foreign to him. Consequently he is extremely sensitive to many things to which we are already immune. So if your baby is sneezing all the time but isn’t really cold, he’s probably trying to clear out any small foreign particles that have made their way into his nasal passages. Looking at the light will also be an ongoing adjustment , so if you take your baby outside on a bright sunny day, and he or she starts sneezing, it could be the sun, not allergies .. Other common causes of sneezing could be due to trying to get rid of excess mucus or even, in the first days of life, amniotic fluid from the respiratory tract.

When to worry : If your baby’s sneezing is accompanied by wheezing, have him checked out by his pediatrician to see if it could be allergies or something else that needs treatment.

Snap movements

You will see that the newborn has movements that may surprise you at first glance: it moves its legs, its little head, makes jerky movements and has particular reflexes, also called archaic reflexes, which are nothing more than automatic responses to particular stimuli. The most common are: the grasp reflex, the sucking reflex and the Moro reflex. As the months go by and with the progressive maturation of the nervous system, these reflexes are lost and the newborn’s movements become increasingly controlled as he grows.

When to worry : You should really only worry if your baby doesn’t show these reflexes. In fact, their absence could mean that something is not right. So, if your child doesn’t show any of these signs, talk to your pediatrician.

Oddly shaped head

Childbirth is tough not only for the mother but also for the newborn. The baby works overtime to go down the birth canal. And after that trip, it’s no wonder he comes out all purple.

When a baby is born, the skull is made up of cartilaginous bones joined by a flexible tissue, so that during labor  the   baby’s head can somewhat “deform” in order to pass through the birth canal.

For this reason, the newborn may show a non-symmetrical skull shape at birth, especially if a suction cup is used during delivery.

Typically, within a few days after delivery, the bones of the skull reset and the head returns to its normal shape. However, small gaps remain between the bones which are called fontanelles .

The little head may flatten behind due to the time it spends lying on its stomach (see also plagiocephaly ).

When to worry: If you’ve tried everything and your baby’s head still feels flat in places, talk to your pediatrician.

Swollen genitals

If you’ve just given birth to a boy, you may notice that his genitals, especially his testicles, are significantly larger than you probably expected. How come? Newborns, as we have said, suffer the consequences of hormonal exposure during their stay in the uterus. Or, there may be further accumulation of fluid in the scrotum. But don’t worry, excess fluids will be peeed out within a few days. The same goes for baby girls, who may have swollen lips for a few days after giving birth. Either way, the swelling should subside after some time.

When to worry: If the swelling doesn’t go away within a few days after delivery, talk to your pediatrician.

Blood in the diaper

Finding even the slightest trace of blood in a baby’s diaper is enough to scare any new parent. Fortunately, that’s not always a cause for alarm. There are many reasons this can happen, all of which are temporary. If it is a girl, she may experience some side effects from exposure to maternal hormones in utero. Don’t worry, it’s a “mini-menstruation” that’s quite common among girls who experience a sharp drop in estrogen in the days after giving birth. The hormones are disposed of quickly. Other potential causes: A small scratch or nick in the anus from solid discharge.

When to worry: even if it is probably completely normal, for peace of mind it is always preferable to consult the pediatrician whenever you notice blood in the diaper.

Eyes that cross

In the beginning, a slight squint in newborns is to be expected. Our little ones are still trying to get on top of all their new skills, including vision , and it’s going to take some time to gain some muscle control and hone focusing techniques.

But believe it or not, sometimes even when baby’s eyes may look crossed, they may not be.

In pseudo-esotropia, the eyes appear to be deviated inward but are actually normal. This sort of “optical effect” is common in the little ones due to their facial conformation. Due to a large bridge of the nose, the extra folds of skin can mask some of the white parts of the baby’s eyes. This can create a sort of optical illusion called pseudo esotropia (pseudo squint).

When to worry:   if the child still shows signs of strabismus after 6 months, it is better to see a doctor.