A New Beginning

Baby’s Appearance

COLOR OF HANDS AND FEET

EYES

MILIA

For the first few days, your baby’s hands and feet appear to be bluish/ purple (acrocyanosis). This is a normal part of the transitioning process that occurs after birth. It is not treated and will resolve on its own.

Many babies have small, white, pimplelike bumps on their nose, face, chest, and/or back called milia. These occur when dead cells get trapped under the skin and form cysts. Do not pick or squeeze them. They resolve on their own within several weeks but may last up to a few months.

Most newborns have gray-blue eyes. It can take up to a year for their true eye color to emerge. Babies don’t have tears for the first 3 months. They may have small red dots in the white of their eyes. These are broken blood vessels from childbirth and will disappear in a few weeks. They do not affect your baby’s vision.

SMALLER POSTERIOR FONTANELLE

LARGER ANTERIOR FONTANELLE

FONTANELLES (SOFT SPOTS)

MOLDING

Because of the gaps between the skull bones, you can feel 2 soft spots (fontanelles). It is safe to gently touch them and wash your baby’s head because a membrane covers them. The larger fontanelle is a diamond shape about 1-3 inches wide on the top of your baby’s head. This anterior fontanelle closes in about 12-18 months. The smaller fontanelle at the back of your baby’s head is triangular and about the size of your fingertip. This posterior fontanelle closes in about 6 months. Both fontanelles are soft and flat against your baby’s skull, but when your baby cries or strains, they may bulge and even move up and down with baby’s heartbeat.

The plates of your baby’s skull bones are not fused together at birth. This allows the baby’s head to change shape as it moves through the birth canal and the baby’s brain to grow after birth. Your baby’s head may look egg-shaped, pointed or flattened at birth. Newborn head molding is a common occurrence that usually disappears after a few days.

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A New Beginning