Health & Safety
Practical, sourced guides on health & safety for the first year.
Medically-informed · Sources: CDC, NIH, WHO, AAP
Health & Safety3 minDiaper decoder: week oneIn week one the diaper is the most honest dashboard you have: it reports intake and hydration without a single lab test…Health & Safety3 minThe cord stump, calmlyThe umbilical stump is drying leftover tissue — it darkens, shrivels and typically falls off within one to three weeks.…Health & Safety3 minJaundice, minus the panicA yellow tint to the skin and eyes shows up in most newborns — it's usually the single most googled thing in week two.…Health & Safety3 minSponge baths without the wrestlingWhile the stump is attached, sponge baths keep it dry: warm room, warm water, baby on a towel, one zone at a time while…Health & Safety3 minNewborn skin: a field guideMilia (tiny white dots), baby acne, flaky peeling, erythema toxicum (blotchy red spots with pale centers that migrate)…Health & Safety3 minSneezes, hiccups and noisy breathingSneezing without a cold, hiccuping daily, snorty breathing, occasional irregular rhythms with brief pauses — the newbor…Health & Safety3 minFlat spots and head shapeBack-sleeping is non-negotiable for safety — and it means the back of the head logs serious surface hours. Mild flatten…Health & Safety3 minSmall maintenance: nails and cradle capNewborn nails grow fast, are soft and scratch-capable. File during sleep with a soft baby file, or clip when hands are…Health & Safety3 minVaccine day, without the dreadMeasurements, a development check against the two-month milestones, your questions — and the first big round of routine…Health & Safety3 minAfter the shots: a reading guideCommonly seen in the 24–48 hours after two-month vaccines: extra sleepiness, mild fussiness, reduced appetite, tenderne…Health & Safety3 minCar seat basics for brief travelersRear-facing infant seat, back seat, harness snug at or below shoulder level, chest clip at armpit height, no bulky jack…Health & Safety3 minThe rolling era: a safety sweepSomewhere between now and the next few weeks, your baby lands the first roll — usually to their own astonishment, often… 
FirstWeeks