1. Soap, fabric softener and chlorine bleach will make fire retardant chemicals inactive within 3 washings.  So make sure you wash you infant's clothing in detergent ,not soap, to maintain the clothing's fire resistance.  Use a detergent free of perfumes and dyes such as Cheer, All or Tide's Free and Clear.

2. Baby lotion will keep your baby’s skin soft and moisturized if it is dry. Do not use baby oil, baby powder, or cornstarch.

3. Diaper rashes are very common. The most important treatment is frequent diaper changes, cleaning the diaper area with soap and water, and drying well before rediapering. A & D Ointment, Desitin, Balmex, etc. can be used to protect the skin from urine. Desitin and other thick ointments may be difficult to wash off. They can be easily removed with a small amount of baby oil. If the rash gets worse with treatment or is not improving after 2-3 days, please call the office.

4. Fold diapers below the cord area to prevent rubbing and to prevent urine from soiling the cord area.  If you are using disposable diapers, fold the diaper so that the plastic is away from your baby's skin.  Report any excessive redness, or large amounts of thick, yellow, foul smelling discharge to the office.

5. Your baby’s breast may be swollen during the first week and may secrete colostrum (witch’s milk). They need no treatment unless the breasts are red and tender. Do not squeeze the breasts, but gently clean them as needed.

6.  If you need to trim your baby's nails, use the fine side of an emory board to file them.  Do Not use nail clippers or scissors as you may injure your baby's finger.

Newborn Rashes

1. A common newborn rash is erythema toxicum. It appears on the second or third day of life. The rash is composed of ½-inch to 1-inch red blotches with a small white bump in the center. They look like insect bites, but are not. They can be numerous, keep occurring, be present anywhere on the body surface (except the palms and soles), and look terrible. Their cause is unknown, they are harmless, and they resolve by 2 weeks of age (rarely, 4 weeks). This rash does not require treatment.

2. Many newborns develop acne of the face - mainly small red bumps. This neonatal acne begins at 3 to 4 weeks of age and can last until 4 to 6 months of age. The cause appears to be the transfer of maternal hormones just prior to birth. Since it is temporarily, no treatment is necessary. Baby oil or ointments make it worse.