Parenting Advice From Your Physicians at Kaiser Permanente

It’s amazing how much love we can feel for our babies—and remarkable how vulnerable that love can make us feel. Author Elizabeth Stone captured this feeling perfectly:

“Making the decision to have a child—it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”

It can be difficult to feel confident that this little part of you is protected and safe all the time. Parents often wonder whether what they see in their child is normal. The answer, in many cases, is that “normal” depends on the situation and the individual child. Of course, if you have concerns about your child’s health, the first step is to contact your pediatrician.

Let’s take a look at some of the common worries I hear from parents. And first, let me reassure you: it is completely normal for parents to worry about their children!

Is it normal for my newborn to have hiccups?

Yes. Just as many babies had hiccups before birth, newborns commonly have hiccups after they’re born. This happens because their nervous systems are still maturing, and the nerves that control the diaphragm can be easily stimulated.

Sometimes hiccups are triggered by swallowing air during feeds and may improve with burping. Fortunately, hiccups are harmless and usually resolve on their own over time.

Is it normal for my baby to sneeze?

Yes! Newborns sneeze frequently. Their nasal passages are very small, and sneezing helps clear dust, mucus, milk droplets, and other irritants from the nose.

Because young babies breathe primarily through their noses, sneezing is an important protective reflex. Unless your baby also has symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, difficulty breathing, poor feeding, or decreased energy, frequent sneezing is usually nothing to worry about.

Is it normal for my baby to spit up?

All babies have some degree of reflux. When they swallow milk, it travels from the mouth down the esophagus and into the stomach. A ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter helps keep stomach contents where they belong. In young babies, this muscle is still developing and may not close tightly enough to prevent milk from coming back up.

This is called gastroesophageal reflux (GER). In most babies, it’s normal, harmless, and doesn’t require treatment. As long as your baby is feeding well, growing appropriately, and generally content, occasional spit-up is usually nothing to worry about.

Is it normal for my baby to snore?

It depends.

Gentle, intermittent snoring or snorting sounds are very common in young babies. Because their nasal passages are so small, even mild congestion can make them sound noisy when they breathe.

You can try saline nose drops, gentle nasal suctioning, or a cool-mist humidifier to help relieve congestion.

However, if the snoring is new, occurs every night, becomes progressively louder, or is associated with signs of illness or breathing difficulty, contact your pediatrician. Warning signs include breathing faster than usual, pulling in between the ribs, excessive belly movement with breathing, or pauses in breathing.

Is it normal for my newborn to sleep a lot?

Yes! Newborns spend much of their time sleeping. Most sleep about 16 to 17 hours per day, often in short stretches of only one to three hours at a time.

Newborns typically need a nap after being awake for only one to two hours. Their sleep patterns are rarely predictable, which means parents often need to be flexible during these early months.

As babies grow, their naps generally become longer and more regular. If your pediatrician is happy with your baby’s growth and weight gain, it’s usually fine to let them sleep when they need to. And when your baby sleeps, try to get some rest yourself whenever possible.

Is it normal for my baby to only nap for 30 minutes?

Every baby is different, and nap lengths can vary widely. Some babies naturally take shorter naps and wake refreshed and content.

To help maximize nap time:

• Put your baby down in a dark, quiet room.
  • Try to time naps for when your baby is fed and drowsy.
  • Watch for sleepy cues such as yawning, rubbing their eyes, or becoming fussy.
  • Beginning around 3 to 4 months of age, try to establish a consistent nap routine.

Remember that sleep needs vary from child to child. A 30-minute nap may be all your baby needs at that moment.

Is it normal for my baby to look bowlegged?

Yes. Babies spend months curled up in a very tight space before they are born. Once they arrive and begin stretching, moving, and eventually standing, their legs gradually change shape.

It’s normal for young children to appear bowlegged during infancy and later become somewhat knock-kneed before eventually developing the more neutral alignment seen in older children and adults. This process takes several years.

Is it normal for my baby to prefer one side of their head?

Sometimes, but it’s worth discussing with your pediatrician.

If your baby consistently prefers to turn their head to one side, they may have a condition called torticollis, which causes tightness in the neck muscles.

Early treatment with stretching exercises and physical therapy is often very effective, so it’s best to bring this to your pediatrician’s attention as soon as you notice it.

Is it normal for a newborn’s skin to peel?

Yes. Peeling skin is expected during the first few weeks of life. Your baby is shedding the outer layer of skin that developed while they were surrounded by amniotic fluid.

You can apply a dye-free, fragrance-free moisturizer to the dry areas. However, treatment is usually unnecessary, and the peeling will improve on its own.

Is it normal for my baby’s umbilical cord to bleed?

A small amount of bleeding from the umbilical stump, particularly after the cord falls off, can be completely normal.

However, if the bleeding is more than a few drops or small dried crust of blood, persists for several days, or is accompanied by redness, swelling, or drainage, contact your pediatrician.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you do not give your baby a full bath until the cord falls off – usually by 3 weeks of age. Until then just give careful sponge baths that avoid getting any water on the umbilical stump. off by 3 weeks of age. Also be sure to keep the diaper folded under the cord to avoid a wet diaper sitting against it.

Is it normal for my baby to make big motions with their arms?

During the first few weeks of life, babies often make sudden or dramatic movements. They may fling their arms outward, grasp tightly onto your finger, or startle unexpectedly.

Many of these movements are reflexes rather than intentional actions. Reflexes are automatic responses controlled by the nervous system and are an important part of normal development.

Your pediatrician checks these reflexes during well-child visits because they provide valuable information about how a baby’s nervous system is developing.

Call your doctor if your baby is making any repetitive jerking or shaking motions or has sudden tensing or jerking—such as a body crunch, head nod, or legs pulling up.

Is it normal for babies to grunt when pooping?

Absolutely. Straining and grunting while passing stool are very common in young infants and don’t necessarily mean they’re constipated.

Babies are still learning how to coordinate increasing pressure in their abdomen while simultaneously relaxing the muscles around the anus. That takes practice.

As long as the stool is soft, grunting alone is usually not a cause for concern. After all, many adults would probably grunt too if they had to poop while lying flat on their backs!

Is it normal for a newborn’s breasts to be enlarged?

Yes. Both baby girls and baby boys can develop temporary breast enlargement during the newborn period. This occurs because of exposure to maternal hormones before birth.

The swelling is harmless and gradually disappears on its own over the first few weeks or months of life.

Is it normal for a baby to have green stools?

It certainly can be. Stool color changes based on what a baby eats. Even a breastfed baby can have very green poop. This can occur when their mother has an oversupply of milk or if the baby is fighting off a virus. Viral infections – even if they don’t cause a lot of other symptoms, can make poop green. Taking probiotics can do the same. And for older babies one of the common causes of a dark greenish color to stool is eating a lot of blueberries!

Whatever the cause, we’re not very concerned about green stool. The colors of stool that are more alarming  are red for blood and white for a rare liver condition. If you see those call your pediatrician.

In summary

Young babies have many behaviors and physical traits that can seem surprising or even alarming, to new parents. Fortunately, many of the things you notice at home are completely normal parts of newborn development.

That said, no article can replace your instincts. If something concerns you, or if your baby seems unwell, trust your judgment and reach out to your pediatrician. We’re always happy to support you and your new baby.