A newborn brings happiness, joy and love to a family, but also questions, worries and concerns. Dr. Marla answers some of the common questions that new parents ask.

1. When can I take my new baby out in public? What about winter cold?

There are lots of opinions and myths about when to take a baby outside. The answer here is a combination of common sense and personal comfort.
A lot of winter moms want to wait until the weather is warmer. A newborn in a crowded mall in the winter months worries many parents about exposure to infectious diseases and that is reasonable. But from a medical point of view- there is no absolute medical reason not to take a healthy baby out of the house. It is the exposure to virus and bacteria that are the issue- so limit the time you would spend in close contact with crowds where the exposure is unknown. The same is true however for being indoors where we encourage hand washing before handling newborns and limit any exposure to a household contact who is ill.  Remember to dress your baby for the weather.

2. Where should my baby sleep for the first few weeks/months?

Ah! The 10 million dollar question. When a baby can sleep through the night is not the same as when a baby does sleep through the night! Some babies will give you an 8 hour stretch at 3 months. My first child did that at 7 weeks. My last child took months to do the same! According to the National Sleep Foundation 70 per cent sleep through the night by 9 months. If you are looking for any correlation between sleep and diet, experts say it is more a function of age than diet. Remember that your attitude will influence how a baby sleeps and self soothe. By 4 months of age put a baby to sleep when they are sleepy but still awake.  Many parents will have a baby sleep in a bassinet in their room for the first few months. I encourage transfer to a crib when the baby is outgrowing the bassinet!

3. How long is it OK for a baby to cry? What about at night - let then cry it out?

Essentially this question is about sleep training. Remember that in the first few months your baby will demand feed and need a lot of care. While we encourage sleep training at some point, the first few months are all about getting to know your baby and routine. While some experts will use the Ferber method of sleep training which incorporates letting the baby cry for set periods of time, others feel that this is inappropriate. Sleep routine and routine in general is important to teach your baby how to sleep.  

4. At what point should I take my baby to the doctor?

I often look at this by age group. Under 3 months any fever requires immediate attention. At 3 to 6 months fever with lethargy and irritability requires a doctor visit. Generally fevers above 38.9 should be seen. After 6 months your baby is a good communicator. Fevers lasting longer than a day without an obvious source should be examined. Diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration so keep an eye out for wet diapers. If what appears to be a cold shows signs of any trouble breathing see your doctor. Rash and fever should be examined as well. I tell my mom's to trust their gut, and if they are anxious- better a visit in to see the doctor.  

5. What do I need to have in my medicine cabinet?

Generally it is a good idea to have a thermometer and a non-aspirin pain/fever reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Diaper cream, an antibacterial ointment and gauze can be helpful. If a baby is post circumcision, a water soluble petroleum jelly such as Vaseline is useful. Baby scissors to cut nails is helpful and I prefer that over baby clippers which can be difficult to use- but that is personal preference. Baby shampoo and baby lotion are good for bath time as well as baby washcloths. A soft baby brush is good to have as well!

6. How do I clean my baby? How often?

I remember the first bath of my first born. There is no real reason to have a tub bath every day and that actually can dry skin. Daily you will be cleaning your baby's face and neck as well as the diaper area. Until the umbilical cord falls off, you will only be doing sponge baths. Make sure you are using a safe environment and have all your supplies beside you including a hooded towel. When the baby is ready to have a bath, use a plastic tub. Typically these are stand alone tubs and you can put a towel at the bottom. What is most important is safety and never leaving your baby alone. That is why having your washcloth, baby soap and shampoo and a cup of warm fresh water to rinse the baby at hand is important. Get organized before you start!

7. Is it safe to use baby powder for my baby?

Good question! We no longer support the use of talc based powder because they are dangerous if they are inhaled. Talcum powder has small easy to inhale particles. On the other hand cornstarch has larger particles and some moms use that. I do suggest keeping it away from the face. Apply it to your hand first and then the baby.

8. What's better for baby - Vaseline or cream?

The reason parents use either product is to have a thin layer of a protective ointment and prevent a diaper rash. I personally don't have a preference. I do advise parents that if there is a rash, have it checked before self-medicating with either.

9. What homeopathic options are okay? Gripe water for gas? Camilla for teething?

Gripe water is one of the oldest homeopathic remedies and was originally made from dill, bicarbonate and alcohol! Alcohol is a definite no no and commercially available gripe water is alcohol free and some include ginger and other herbs. While there have been some small studies that show it can be effective for crying babies, these homeopathic products are not regulated. Other homeopathic preparations have not been widely studied in babies. For those reasons I do not encourage its use in babies.  

10. Any strategies for dealing with sleep deprivation?

We say it takes a village to raise a baby and there is some truth in that. Mom- don't do it alone. Try and sleep when the baby sleeps and remember that this time can be emotionally and physically draining. It is so helpful for your partner to be actively involved in the feeding. That might mean having you nurse and then taking the baby to settle. Or it might mean having your partner feed the baby expressed milk while you sleep. Don't be afraid to ask for help and support. Like they say on an airplane-when the oxygen mask comes down remember to put it over your face first before assisting anyone else. It just highlights that you need to take care of yourself as well!

11. Breast versus bottle - does it matter?

Yes. It matters!! We recommend exclusive breast feeding to about 6 months. Breastfeeding allows transfer of mom's immunity and breastfed babies have a lower risk of SIDS. As well the breast fed baby will digest solid foods better when introduced because breast milk has enzymes that help to digest fats, protein and carbohydrate. Remember that breast fed babies need a vitamin D supplement.

12. Should I avoid peanut butter if I don't want my baby to be allergic?

We have seen the pendulum swing back and forth on this one and I can tell you the advice I am now giving is completely different than the advice I used to give.

Whereas we used to wait, the advice now is that introducing allergenic foods like peanut butter and eggs to babies as young as 4 to 6 months old, is what we should be doing.

The American Academy of Pediatrics' original recommendation that children not have milk until age 1, eggs at age 2 and peanuts at the age of 3 has all changed.

The newest data comes from Israel, where peanut allergy incidence is low. There, babies get foods that contain peanuts before they are 6 months old.

Israeli babies have allergies to the tune of 10 fold less than U.K. babies.

As a result allergists are now suggesting that we offer the so called highly allergenic-type foods early. My own grandson got peanut butter and whole eggs introduced between 4 and 6 months. As always discuss infant feeding with your own health care provider particularly if you have a strong family history of allergies.