Do I really have to wait until the cord falls off before giving my new baby a tub bath?

One of the persistent myths is that the still-attached cord should not be immersed in water. Cord care need not preclude tub baths but here are some important points to remember: (1) Use alcohol to clean the cord after the bath. Lift the cord gently and clean around the base with an alcohol-soaked swab (Q-tip). Don’t be afraid of pulling it off. If you’re reasonably gentle, the cord won’t detach prematurely. (2) Make sure the alcohol dries before clothing the infant. Keeping the cord dry helps it to heal and fall off. (3) The bath should be tepid and the room temperature warm. (4) If the cord develops a strong odor or there is redness or hardness of the skin (both indicating possible infection) around the cord, contact the pediatrician immediately. (5) NEVER, EVER leave the baby in water unattended even for a moment.

If my breast milk doesn’t come in for 3-4 days, what formula should I use?

I’m not going to tell you which formula to use (I do have a slight preference for one formula, but I’m not writing here to give plugs to a formula). I use this question to dispel another myth – that the baby needs to start formula in the first few days if the milk doesn’t come in. When a mother starts breastfeeding, if the baby is sucking effectively, colostrum is delivered to the infant every time it nurses. The mother will note some of the colostrum coming out with gentle expression of the breast or dripping out of the baby’s mouth. This colostrum usually is sufficient to tide the baby over until the hindmilk starts flowing. Again two caveats: (1) Stay in touch with your pediatrician and lactation consultant. They can help you decide when and if supplementation might be necessary and what to do in the meantime. (2) Premature infants and infants of mothers with diabetes are born with less reserve than other infants and might need supplementation earlier.

It’s better to do circumcision in the newborn because babies don’t feel pain as much then, right?

Anyone who has performed or witnesses a circumcision knows that the procedure indeed does hurt and I wouldn’t dare to venture a guess that it hurts less in a newborn than anyone else. Traditionally, this procedure has been done without benefit of anesthesia, but many are questioning this policy. Many obstetricians are now using anesthesia before doing this procedure. Of course, pain is the primary reason why many of us advocate against doing routine circumcision. If this issue concerns you, please talk to your obstetrician and pediatrician before the baby is born to discuss the alternatives. If you decide not to circumcise your newborn, your pediatrician can guide you in the proper care of an uncircumcised boy.