The skin of a newborn baby is prone to all sorts of rashes. However, most of these are completely harmless, are not bothersome, and will disappear on their own without needing any treatment. It can however, be quite upsetting for many new parents to see any kind of rash developing on their beautiful newborn baby’s skin.

From the description that you’ve given it sounds like your son may have ‘neonatal (baby) acne’, a condition that is caused by a mother’s hormones which cross the placenta at the very end of pregnancy. It is very common among newborn babies and normally develops when they are around three or four weeks’ old. It tends to disappear again within a few weeks, but in some cases you may find that it comes and goes until he is between four and six months’ old. Pink or red spots, with or without whiteheads, tend to typically appear on your baby’s cheeks, but may also be seen on their chin and forehead, and occasionally on their back too. These spots become more noticeable when he becomes hot or is crying and his cheeks are more flushed. The rash can also become more pronounced when it comes into contact with his saliva or regurgitated (‘posited’) milk after a feed.

There are a number of things that you can do to help it clear, however these tend to focus on the things to avoid. Neonatal acne isn’t caused by dirt and too much washing could actually irritate your son’s rash further. Therefore, it is best to avoid over-washing; instead freshen/cleanse his face once a day using plain, tepid water. Always ensure that you gently pat his skin dry, as rubbing could cause more irritation. Keeping his nails short will also avoid any accidental scratching of the spots. Do not be tempted to use creams, oils or over-the-counter acne treatments as these can make the rash worse. If the rash doesn’t appear to be improving, or if you are at all concerned, contact your doctor or health visitor for advice.

Answered by Vicky Carne, MSc; BA (Hons); ADM; RM; RN

The first few weeks after the birth can often be a rather anxious time as you get to know your new baby and his routines. The amount of ‘wee’ and ‘poo’ that a small baby passes in the first few weeks can also be quite a shock, and you may find yourself wondering how something so small can produce so much?! As with adults however, the number of times that a baby poos (has a ‘bowel motion’) each day will differ from one baby to the next. Some babies will have their bowels opened several times a day, while others may do so only once a week. The important thing to remember is that although these patterns are totally different, they are both perfectly normal. Your son is still quite young and it is very common for younger babies to pass bowel motions more frequently than older babies. This can mean dealing with a full nappy at every feed. Rest assured though; after the first few weeks most babies start to have bowels motions less frequently.Try not to be concerned, more important than how often your son has a poo is whether he is feeding well, appears settled and comfortable after feeding. If he is gaining weight and his bowel motions are their usual colour and consistency; there is no reason to be concerned. The bowel motions of babies who are formula fed tend to be more formed, pasty and range from creamy-yellow to dark green in colour. Your son’s motions will start to vary more when he starts being weaned on solid foods at around six months old and has a more varied diet. However, if you have any concerns at all about your baby; you should always contact your doctor or Health Visitor immediately for advice.

Answered by Vicky Carne, MSc; BA (Hons); ADM; RM; RN

You are doing the sensible thing getting your baby checked by your GP as soon as possible. If you have any concerns, particularly where this involves a newborn baby, it is very important to get these checked out by your doctor straightaway.
It could be that your new baby has ‘breast engorgement’. This is where the breast tissue is swollen and this can be present during the first week of life in both girls and boys. The swelling of the breast tissue is caused by female hormones that are passed across the afterbirth (placenta) during pregnancy from the mother to her baby. On rare occasions, babies may even leak milk from their nipple; which may seem strange but is actually normal. The baby’s breasts can stay swollen for 2-4 weeks, but if your newborn baby is a little girl, they may remain swollen for longer than this, especially if the baby is also being breastfed. Sometimes one breast will lose its swelling before the other, which may be what you noticed while bathing your newborn. Be sure to get your baby checked by your GP and, in the meantime, don’t press or squeeze the breast which could cause infection. Keep a check on the affected breast and if you notice any increased swelling, redness, or if it appears sore and tender; contact your doctor straightaway.

Answered by Vicky Carne, MSc; BA (Hons); ADM; RM; RN

A baby’s development is astonishingly rapid with many milestones being reached over the course of their first year. However, because every baby is different; they will achieve these developmental milestones at very different rates. Cutting their first tooth is one such milestone and while some babies will sail through the experience without difficulty, others can find it an altogether more uncomfortable and painful experience.

The development of your son’s teeth actually started when he was inside your womb. During your pregnancy, your son will have developed tooth buds which then develop further to become his first set of teeth, commonly called the ‘milk teeth’. It is very rare for a baby to be born with a tooth, with this only occurring in around one in 2000 babies. It is far more usual for them to start cutting their first tooth any time between four and seven months of age, with the average age being around six months.

Nine weeks’ does seem a little early for your son to be cutting a tooth and it could be that he is merely becoming more aware of, and using, his hands. It might be worth running a clean finger along the inside of your son’s gum and if you notice a slightly raised or bumpy area, this could mean that a tooth is getting ready to make an appearance. From the signs he is showing at the moment; it might be that he is becoming aware of some movement of a tooth currently buried under the gum, which is getting ready to appear in the weeks to come.

While your son seems to be getting some relief from the use of the Bonjela, he is still quite young to be having this and the Calpol so I think it is important that you first check with your Health Visitor or GP to see if the problem is to do with teething or might be something different. Even though you might be worried about contacting your health visitor or your GP about something that does not seem very important, they will be happy to advise you and put your mind at rest.

If he is an early developer and his teeth are beginning to appear, then they can also give you advice on the best way to reduce the discomfort for him (and you!) Finally, whenever that first tooth does appear, celebrate it for the milestone that it is and don’t forget to take a picture!

Answered by Vicky Carne, MSc; BA (Hons); ADM; RM; RN

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