MyLO Clinic, Kandivli · Arushka Clinic, Malad
New Parent & Newborn Care
Dr. Varshil Shah
Consultant Paediatrician
Consultant Paediatrician
Your baby’s first year, answered honestly.
Straight, medically grounded answers to the questions new parents ask most in the first twelve months — organised by stage, so you can find what matters right now.
Before anything else — know the red flags
Any fever in a baby under 3 months old, trouble breathing, bluish lips, a baby who is unusually limp or hard to wake, or a seizure — these need emergency care immediately, not a wait-and-watch approach. See the full list in “Vaccines & Visits” below.
0–4 wks
The newborn stage
The first four weeks are the most intense adjustment period for any new family. As a result, questions about feeding rhythms, cord care, weight loss, and jaundice come up almost daily. Here is what is normal, what to watch, and when to call.
Feeding & nutrition
How often should my newborn feed?
Most newborns feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, roughly every 2 to 3 hours, including overnight. Frequent feeding in the early weeks is not only normal but also essential — it helps establish and maintain milk supply in breastfeeding mothers. Rather than watching the clock, therefore, follow your baby’s hunger cues: rooting, hand-to-mouth movements, and fussiness are all reliable signals that your baby is ready to feed.
Is it normal for a newborn to lose weight after birth?
Yes, and this surprises many parents. Losing up to 7–10% of birth weight in the first 3–5 days is completely normal and expected. As feeding becomes more established, however, babies steadily regain what they lost — most are back to their birth weight by 10–14 days. Your paediatrician tracks this closely at early follow-up visits to make sure the trend is going in the right direction.
What’s normal to see & worry about
Why does my newborn’s poop keep changing color?
This is entirely expected, and it reflects how feeding is progressing. Stool starts as dark green-black (meconium) in the first days, then transitions to greenish-brown by day 3–4, and finally becomes yellow and seedy by around day 5 once feeding is well established. That said, chalky white or bright red stool is not normal at any stage and needs same-day review.
My newborn looks yellow — when is jaundice a concern?
Mild jaundice in the first week is common and usually harmless. It becomes concerning, however, if it appears within the first 24 hours of life, spreads from the face down to the arms and legs, deepens noticeably in colour, or comes with poor feeding, excess sleepiness, or fewer wet diapers. Any of these signs, therefore, warrant same-day paediatric assessment — bilirubin levels can rise quickly in young infants.
How do I care for the umbilical cord stump?
Keep it clean and dry, fold the diaper below it, and allow it to fall off naturally — this usually happens within 1–3 weeks. In addition, avoid submerging it in bath water during this period. If you notice spreading redness on the surrounding skin, pus, a foul smell, or persistent bleeding, call your paediatrician promptly, as these may indicate an infection.
Sleep & settling
How much should a newborn sleep, and is swaddling safe?
Newborns typically sleep 14–17 hours a day, though in short, irregular stretches rather than long blocks. Swaddling can be a helpful way to settle a fussy baby; however, it must stop once your baby starts attempting to roll — usually around 2–3 months — to prevent the risk of rolling onto their front while swaddled. The WHO recommends always placing babies on their back on a firm, flat surface with nothing loose in the crib.
1–3 mo
Settling in
Between 1 and 3 months, life gradually becomes more predictable. Feeding patterns settle, the first social smiles appear, and routines begin to form. At the same time, this is when the most common questions about growth, crying, and vaccinations tend to arise.
Vaccines & growth
When are the first vaccinations due?
Birth-dose vaccines — BCG, Hepatitis B, and OPV — are given at or within the first few days of birth. After that, the next major visit is at 6 weeks, when the primary vaccine series begins. Your paediatrician will personalise the schedule in line with the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) immunisation guidelines, taking your baby’s specific history into account.
How do I know if my baby is gaining enough weight?
A steady upward trend on the growth chart matters far more than any single number on the scale. As a general guide, most infants gain roughly 150–200g per week in the first 3 months. Regular well-baby visits are therefore important — they allow your paediatrician to plot growth on a standardised chart over time and catch any slowing early, before it becomes a concern.
Crying, colic & development
My baby cries a lot in the evenings — is this colic?
Evening crying is one of the most common worries parents bring to the clinic. Colic is generally defined as crying for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, in an otherwise healthy, well-fed baby. It typically peaks around 6 weeks and, reassuringly, eases on its own by 3–4 months. Nevertheless, it is still worth a check-up to rule out other causes such as gastro-oesophageal reflux, a feeding intolerance, or an underlying infection.
When can I start tummy time?
Tummy time can begin from the very first days of life, and the earlier you start, the easier it becomes for your baby. Begin with short, supervised sessions of just a few minutes, a few times a day, while your baby is awake and alert. As your baby’s neck and shoulder muscles strengthen over the following weeks, gradually increase the duration. Most importantly, never leave a baby unattended on their tummy.
3–12 mo
Growing and exploring
The second half of the first year is the most visually exciting — babies go from lying still to sitting, crawling, and pulling to stand. Alongside these milestones, questions about starting solids, teething, and what to expect developmentally become central to every clinic visit.
Starting solids
When should I start solid foods?
Most babies are developmentally ready for solids at around 6 months of age, alongside continued breast milk or formula — not instead of it. The key readiness signs to look for are good head control, the ability to sit with support, and a visible interest in food. Starting well before 4 months is not recommended, and waiting significantly beyond 6–7 months without guidance can also affect nutritional intake. If you are unsure, a quick well-baby visit can help you decide the right time for your child.
Milestones & teething
What milestones should I watch for in the first year?
Milestones give a useful framework, though it is important to remember that every baby develops at their own pace. Generally speaking, most babies achieve social smiling and steady head control by around 3 months. By 6 months, sitting with support and babbling usually emerge. By 9 months, many babies sit unsupported and begin to crawl. Finally, by 12 months, most pull to stand and say a first meaningful word or two. Well-baby visits are the right time to raise any concerns — early review is always better than waiting.
When do teeth start coming in?
The first teeth typically appear between 4 and 7 months, most often the lower front teeth first — though timing varies widely and is largely genetic. Teething commonly causes drooling and gum irritation, and consequently some fussiness. However, it is not a proven cause of high fever, loose stools, or rashes. If your baby has a real fever during teething, it should always be evaluated on its own merits rather than attributed to the teeth alone.
Always
Vaccines, visits & when to worry
Across all stages of the first year, two things remain constant: keeping up with well-baby visits and vaccination schedules, and knowing when a symptom needs emergency attention rather than a routine appointment.
Fever red flags
When is a fever in a newborn a medical emergency?
Any temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby under 3 months of age is a medical emergency — even if the baby otherwise looks well. This is because young infants can look deceptively comfortable while harbouring a serious infection. As a result, do not wait to see if the fever settles on its own. Go to an emergency room or call your paediatrician immediately.
When should I go to the emergency room instead of waiting for a clinic appointment?
Seek emergency care immediately for any of the following: fever in a baby under 3 months, difficulty breathing or fast breathing, bluish or pale lips and face, a baby who is unusually limp or very hard to wake, repeated vomiting with a swollen belly, signs of dehydration such as no wet diaper in 8 hours, or a seizure of any duration. In all such cases, getting seen quickly is far more important than waiting for a routine slot. When in doubt, always err on the side of going in.
About the clinic
Do you see complex or unusual paediatric cases, or only routine check-ups?
Both. Alongside routine newborn and well-baby care at MyLO Clinic, Kandivli and Arushka Clinic, Malad, Dr. Shah has a special interest in paediatric haematology and oncology and is an Honorary Consultant Paediatrician at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre. As a result, persistent, recurrent, or clinically unclear symptoms that need deeper investigation are very much within scope — not just standard fevers and colds.
Dr. Varshil Shah
Consultant Paediatrician · Paediatric Haematology & Oncology
Dr. Shah practises at MyLO Clinic, Kandivli, and Arushka Clinic, Malad, and is an Honorary Consultant Paediatrician at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai. Learn more about Dr. Shah →