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Head to Toe

Getting to Know Your Newborn Quiz

By Donna Smith

age. The front closes much slower, somewhere between 9 and 18 months.

3. True. Cradle cap, or flaking of the scalp, is a common occurrence that can show up in the first few months. There is no need to treat cradle cap – it will go away on its own.

4. False. Don't be alarmed if you wake up one morning to find tiny white bumps on your newborn's face. These blemishes, known as milia, are commonly found across the bridge of the nose, cheeks and chin. As with cradle cap, no treatment is necessary. Milia tends to disappear by 3 months of age.

5. True. Newborns' eyes will go through a change, too. Eye color is determined by the amount of pigment in the iris. The pigments increase as Baby grows, which develops the permanent eye color. Many will develop their eye color in the first few months, while it may take longer for other babies.

6. False. Baby's nails grow rather quickly and will require trimming once or twice a week. A baby can also be born with jagged nails, which should be carefully trimmed to avoid her scratching her face. If you're not ready to cut her nails, socks or baby mittens can be placed on her hands.

7. False. Most parents are told to clean the cord stump with alcohol after every diaper change. But recent research has found that doing this does not make the cord fall off that much faster, and some hospitals are now treating the stump with triple dye, an antiseptic that protects from infection and only requires one application. Until the stump falls off, be sure not to submerge Baby in water. Signs that the cord stump is infected include redness, discharge, odor, tenderness, bleeding and fever. Consult your healthcare provider immediately if any of these symptoms occur.

8. True. And don't be embarrassed to count each and every one of those cute little toes! But also be sure to keep them warm with socks or by dressing Baby in one-piece outfits. Newborns can easily become chilled, which can make the skin become blue in color. Toenails should be trimmed carefully – and be sure to clean between those little toes during bath time!

Want to see more?

• Family Energy Magazine
• BabyFace Album
• Newborn Surprises: Skin Transformations, Bizarre Behavior and Other Perfectly Normal Oddities that Worry First-time Parents
• Talk about it!