Is This Normal? Newborn Signs & Symptoms

Soft swelling on the scalp that crosses the suture lines between skull bones — caused by pressure during birth. Common after a long labour or ventouse delivery. Feels soft and squishy. Resolves within a few days without any treatment.

A firmer swelling on one side of the scalp that does not cross the suture lines — blood pooled between the skull bone and its covering membrane. May get slightly larger over the first day before slowly resolving over weeks to months. Slightly increases the risk of jaundice as the blood breaks down. Mention at the newborn check; no treatment needed in most cases.

The skull bones overlap during birth to allow the baby through — resulting in an elongated, cone-like head shape. Entirely normal. Resolves within a few days as the skull bones separate.

The anterior fontanelle (soft spot) should feel flat or very slightly sunken when the baby is calm and upright, and may gently pulse. Entirely normal.

A tense, bulging fontanelle when the baby is calm and upright — not crying — indicates raised pressure inside the skull. Call 999 or go to A&E immediately.

A noticeably sunken fontanelle can indicate dehydration. Contact your midwife or GP the same day.

Usually caused by a blocked tear duct — very common. Wipe gently with a damp cotton wool ball from the inner corner outward. Most resolve by 12 months.

Frank conjunctivitis — red, inflamed eye with significant discharge — needs same-day GP assessment.

A subconjunctival haemorrhage — a tiny blood vessel that burst during birth. Looks alarming but is harmless and resolves within one to two weeks.

If the pupil appears white rather than dark in photos or when light shines in (leukocoria), seek urgent medical review. Can indicate serious eye conditions including retinoblastoma.

Epstein's pearls — small white cysts on the gum line or palate. Very common, harmless, resolve within a few weeks.

Natal teeth are rare (~1 in 2,000 births). Mention to your midwife — they may need assessment and possibly removal if loose or affecting feeding.

Tongue tie — where the membrane under the tongue restricts movement. May or may not affect feeding. See the WiseMama tongue tie guide for a full assessment guide.

The white, creamy substance covering the skin at birth. No need to scrub it off — it absorbs naturally within a day or two and is beneficial for skin health.

Fine hair on the shoulders, back, or face — more noticeable in premature babies. Sheds within a few weeks.

Blocked sebaceous glands causing tiny white spots. Very common. Do not squeeze — resolve on their own within a few weeks.

Erythema toxicum — a common newborn rash appearing in the first two to five days. Moves around the body, looks alarming, is completely harmless and not contagious. Resolves within two weeks.

Neonatal acne — caused by maternal hormones. Resolves without treatment. Do not apply cream or squeeze.

Congenital dermal melanocytosis (Mongolian blue spot) — common in babies with darker skin tones. Harmless; can be mistaken for bruising but has diffuse, smooth edges. Usually fades by school age. Worth noting in medical records.

Stork marks or salmon patches — capillary haemangiomas. Very common. Face patches usually fade; neck patches (stork bites) often persist but remain flat and harmless.

A port wine stain — permanent, unlike stork marks. Refer to a dermatologist. Port wine stains near the eye warrant extra assessment for Sturge-Weber syndrome.

Strawberry haemangioma — grows in first months then slowly shrinks. Most resolve completely by age seven. Generally no treatment needed, but if near the eye, airway, or genitals, or if it ulcerates, ask your GP to review.

Normal in the first one to two weeks as the outer skin layer sheds. Apply an unperfumed moisturiser if skin seems very dry.

Jaundice — common and usually normal from day two or three. Any jaundice in the first 24 hours needs urgent assessment. See the newborn jaundice guide.

Petechiae on the face from birth pressure — normal if confined to the face and resolving within a few days.

Widespread petechiae or purpura (purple bruise-like marks) that are spreading or not confined to the face — call 999 or go to A&E immediately.

Heat rash from overheating. Remove a layer of clothing and move to a cooler environment — resolves quickly.

Persistent skin inflammation beyond normal peeling may indicate eczema. Discuss with your health visitor or GP.

Cord changes from yellow-green to brown to black as it dries — all normal stages of separation.

A mild musty odour is normal as the cord dries. Keep clean and dry, fold nappy below the stump, and allow air contact.

A small spot of blood when the cord separates is normal. If bleeding persists or is more than a spot, contact your midwife.

Usually separates in 7–14 days but can take up to three weeks. Do not try to pull it off.

Omphalitis — spreading redness of the skin around the cord base indicates infection. Contact your GP or maternity unit the same day. This needs prompt treatment.

Purulent discharge from the cord area suggests infection — contact your GP the same day.

An umbilical granuloma — a common small fleshy remnant after cord separation. Mention to your GP; easily treated with silver nitrate.

An umbilical hernia — very common, especially in Black babies. Most resolve by age two to five without treatment. Mention at the 6–8 week check.

Periodic breathing — normal in newborns as the respiratory centre matures. The baby should not turn blue or appear distressed during the pause.

A normal breathing rate for newborns. May be faster in the first one to two hours after birth; typically settles.

Some grunting is normal in the first hours as lung fluid clears. If it persists beyond a few hours or is accompanied by other respiratory signs, it needs assessment.

Signs of respiratory distress — these require urgent medical assessment. Call 999 or go to A&E.

Acrocyanosis — normal circulatory adaptation in the first day or two. The lips and tongue should remain pink.

Central cyanosis — a sign of inadequate oxygenation. Call 999 immediately.

Caused by maternal oestrogen — normal in both sexes. May include a small amount of milky discharge. Resolves within a few weeks. Do not squeeze.

From maternal oestrogen — entirely normal. Resolves in the first weeks.

Pseudo-menstruation — maternal oestrogen withdrawal. A small amount of blood-tinged spotting in the first week. Normal and harmless.

From maternal hormones — resolves within a few weeks.

Usually a hydrocele — fluid around the testes. Very common; most resolve by 12–18 months. Check that both testes are palpable in the scrotum.

Undescended testes — common, especially in premature babies. Usually descend within three months. Checked at newborn examination and 6–8 week check. Surgical correction if not descended by 12 months.

Hypospadias requires specialist assessment. Do not proceed with circumcision before specialist review.

The first stool — normal, expected within 24–48 hours of birth.

Normal stool for a breastfed baby. Frequency varies widely — from several times a day to once every few days.

Normal stool appearance for formula-fed babies.

Usually normal variation. Persistent green stools alongside other symptoms worth mentioning to your health visitor.

Combined with jaundice, pale stools can indicate a bile duct problem including biliary atresia — contact your GP the same day. See the newborn jaundice guide.

Needs same-day GP assessment. Often caused by a small anal fissure but other causes need to be excluded.

Urate crystals from concentrated urine — very common in the first 2–3 days. If persisting after day 3–4, ensure adequate feeding and contact your midwife.

Expected within 24 hours — contact your midwife if no wet nappy.

The Moro (startle) reflex — a normal primitive reflex present from birth to around 3–4 months.

Normal jitteriness from an immature nervous system. Settles in the first weeks.

Jitteriness at rest without crying or startle can occasionally indicate low blood sugar. Mention to your midwife or GP.

Can indicate a seizure — urgent medical assessment. The key distinguishing feature from normal jitteriness is that a seizure movement continues when you gently flex and hold the limb; jitteriness stops.

Normal for newborns. Waking every 2–3 hours for feeds is expected and necessary.

Normal and does not indicate insufficient milk supply. The baby is boosting supply and responding to normal hunger patterns.

Normal — up to 10% of birth weight is typically lost in the first 3–5 days. Birth weight should be regained by two weeks.

Needs same-day feeding assessment — contact your midwife or GP.

Entirely normal in newborns. No treatment needed.

Newborns sneeze to clear nasal passages — not necessarily a cold.

Newborns are obligate nasal breathers and make noisy sounds — normal. Saline nasal drops can help if congestion affects feeding.