Concerns
Not everything will be rosy in the first few weeks and there will be some things that concern you.
Some babies develop cradle cap; white flakes on your baby’s head that will remind you of adult dandruff. This is quite normal in many babies, and there are things you can do to try to clear up the flakes.
Shampooing your baby on a daily basis could make the condition worse. For minor cases of cradle cap, try massaging baby oil on her head. Leave it in for a few hours and loosen the flakes by gently combing the hair, then shampoo as normal.
Keep your baby’s head cool and dry as sweat can make the flakes increase in consistency. Cradle cap is not a dangerous condition, but when in doubt speak to your doctor.
If you are breastfeeding your baby, but want her to be able to take a bottle from your partner, older siblings, grandparents, friends, or childcare provider, now is the time to begin introducing the bottle. You can start with a small amount of expressed breast milk or formula.
Your baby might be more willing to take the bottle from someone other than you in the beginning, so give your partner the bottle and let him have some bonding time. Use “bottle time” as an opportunity to take a bath or do something just for you, uninterrupted.
If you are breastfeeding and choose never to introduce the bottle, that is alright too!
