The big six
Feeding
How often is normal (a lot), how to tell baby is getting enough, and where to find breastfeeding and formula support.
Caring for Kids on feeding →Jaundice
More than half of newborns look a little yellow in week one. What bilirubin is, what's normal, and the warning signs.
Our plain-language explainer → bilirubin.infoSafe sleep
On their back, on their own firm flat surface, no loose bedding — the routine that genuinely lowers risk.
Public Health Agency of Canada →Newborn screening
The heel-prick blood spot and the hearing check are routine parts of the first days — screening, not a diagnosis.
What screening covers (Perinatal Services BC) →Immunizations
First routine vaccines start at 2 months in every province. Schedules vary slightly across Canada — check yours.
Canadian schedules (PHAC) →Weight & growth
Losing a little weight in the first days is expected; most babies are back to birth weight by two weeks.
Growth in the first year (Caring for Kids) →When to get help right away
- Fever (38.0 °C / 100.4 °F or higher, rectal) in a baby under 3 months — urgent, every time
- Trouble breathing, grunting, or blue colour around the lips
- Hard to wake, unusually floppy, or inconsolable
- Not feeding, or far fewer wet diapers than usual
- Jaundice in the first 24 hours, or deepening yellow — see bilirubin.info
Call 9-1-1 for emergencies. In BC, call 8-1-1 to speak with a nurse any time; most provinces have a similar line.
Trusted sources
Canada
Start here — written for Canadian care.
- Caring for Kids — the Canadian Paediatric Society's parent site
- HealthLink BC — health info + 8-1-1 nurse line (BC)
- Public Health Agency of Canada — safe sleep, vaccines, recalls
US & international
Excellent references — details may differ from Canadian practice.
- HealthyChildren.org — American Academy of Pediatrics
- NHS — Your baby (UK)
- World Health Organization — newborn health
Keeping track of it all
We're the team behind Coldstream Apps — health software built in Vernon, BC. Tools for the newborn days, including feeding and jaundice tracking, are on the way at Coldstream Care.
About Coldstream →