The ins and outs of infant care

There are a lot of things you need to know about infant care. The list can include everything from well-visit and immunization schedules to screenings and insurance coverage.

Tips to help you get a good start1,2

Get into a routine.

The work of parenting and keeping your baby as healthy as possible is different for everyone. That said, all parents can count on having these things in their daily routine:

  • Changing diapers. You will go through A LOT of diapers. Newborns can have as many as eight bowel movements and wet diapers a day. That means your new baby will wet or soil their diaper every two to three hours. You should change their diaper as soon as possible. Wash their bottom with warm water, dry the skin, and apply diaper rash cream or petroleum jelly. Contact your child’s pediatrician if they develop a diaper rash that seems painful or they have tiny red dots around the outside of the rash.
  • Feeding your baby. New babies have tiny stomachs that hold only a few ounces. This means that they eat often. They get hungry every two to three hours. Most babies will wake up when they are hungry. They might not wake up if they are very sleepy. You should wake them to feed—even overnight. You can keep a journal to help you track when they are eating.
  • Napping. Your baby will sleep a lot but in short spurts. Newborns sleep at least 16 hours a day. It is often for three to four hours at a time. They will sleep longer stretches through the night when they are about 3 months old or weigh 12 to 13 pounds. They can also confuse their days and nights. They may wake often during the night or sleep a lot during the day. You can keep them in a light and noisy room during the day to encourage them to sleep more at night. They should sleep in an empty crib, bassinet, or portable play yard. You and your baby can sleep in the same room, but it is not safe for an infant to sleep in your bed. Ensuring your baby gets regular, good daytime feeds can help with nighttime sleep. All of this can leave you feeling tired, so it is a good idea to nap whenever you can. A lot of new parents try to nap when the baby naps.
  • Monitoring changes. You baby can’t tell you when something is wrong, so they count on you to notice. You need to look for warning signs of your baby having a health issue. These may include a fever or difficulty waking them to feed. Make sure you have an after-hours emergency contact number for your child’s health care provider. Virtual care options like UPMC Children’s AnywhereCare can also be a good option for nonemergency issues.

 

Partner with a pediatrician.

Having a pediatrician from the start is essential to helping your baby be as healthy as possible. Your baby should have their first post-hospital visit when they are about five days old. They should also see their pediatrician at 1 and 2 months old.

 

Your baby will receive different children’s health services at each visit. They can include screenings and routine immunizations to help prevent serious childhood illnesses. Visits are also a chance for you to ask questions about your baby’s health.

It is important to have a pediatrician who makes you feel comfortable. You can research pediatricians to find the one that’s right for you and your baby.

 

Add your newborn to your UPMC coverage.

It is important to make sure your baby has health insurance coverage. Your baby is automatically covered under your plan for the first 30 days of their life. Follow these simple steps to ensure your baby’s coverage continues without interruption:

  • If you have UPMC for You coverage Contact your local County Assistance Office (CAO) within 30 days of your baby’s birth to ensure your child has continued coverage. The CAO will create an account for your baby and send that information to UPMC for You. Be prepared to provide your CAO with coverage and eligibility information3
  • If your coverage is through your employer, you can add him or her as a dependent and/or makes changes to your current plan as their birth is a life qualifying event. These changes must be made within 30 days of your baby’s birth & can be initiated by contacting your employer. 
  • If you purchased your coverage through Pennie, you to add your baby as a dependent and/or make changes to your currently elected plan. These changes must be made within 60 days of your baby’s birth and can be initiated by contacting Pennie®, the Pennsylvania health insurance marketplace, at 1-844-844-8040 (TTY: 711). Help is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • If you purchased your coverage directly through UPMC Health Plan, you to add your baby as a dependent and/or make changes to your currently elected plan. These changes must be made within 60 days of your baby’s birth and can be initiated by contacting Member Services at 1-855-489-3494 (TTY: 711). Help is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. You can also contact Account Management at 1-855-208-8762 (TTY: 711).
  • If you purchased your coverage through Pennie, you to add your baby as a dependent and/or make changes to your currently elected plan. These changes must be made within 60 days of your baby’s birth and can be initiated by contacting Pennie®, the Pennsylvania health insurance marketplace, at 1-844-844-8040 (TTY: 711). Help is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • If you purchased your coverage directly through UPMC Health Plan, you to add your baby as a dependent and/or make changes to your currently elected plan. These changes must be made within 60 days of your baby’s birth and can be initiated by contacting Member Services at 1-855-489-3494 (TTY: 711). Help is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. You can also contact Account Management at 1-855-208-8762 (TTY: 711).

 

Sources

1 Going home with your new baby. UPMC. Reviewed Sept. 5, 2024. Accessed Jan. 16, 2025. upmc.com/services/womens-health/services/obgyn/obstetrics/labor-delivery/birth-experience/returning-home
2 How to care for your newborn. UPMC. Reviewed Sept. 4, 2024. Accessed Jan. 16, 2025. www.upmc.com/services/womens-health/services/obgyn/obstetrics/postpartum-newborn-care/newborn/caring

3Your baby is automatically covered under your plan for the first 30 days of life.