10 Things You Should Know About Your Newborn

Unfortunately, babies don't come with a manual. But don't let all the hassle and frazzle rob you of the joys of motherhood!

For starters, here are 10 weird but normal things you should know about your baby, from thebump.com:

1. Cradle cap

What's the deal? There's no way around it -- cradle caps are pretty gross. But they're also pretty common. How come? Honestly, nobody knows for sure. The good news is any dryness or flakiness will usually disappear within baby's first few months (though for some, random flare ups could go on for longer). In the meantime, try rubbing baby oil on the patches two or three times a week. Dr. Alanna Levine, parenting expert and pediatrician at Orangetown Pediatric Associates in New York, suggests making it a routine before baby's bath and scraping the caps off with a fine-toothed comb.

When to worry: Luckily, there's not too much worrying you need to do about this one -- it's basically nothing more than a common rash. But if it spreads beyond baby's scalp or seems to be growing more severe, ask your doc about getting a prescription ointment.

2. Explosive poop

What's the deal? Okay, maybe our use of the word "explosive" was a bit much. But the truth is, you haven't been officially initiated into parenthood until you've had to deal with a diaper explosion or two. In other words, you're not the first mom to clean baby poop off those newly painted nursery walls. For a little schooling on the physics of it all, Dr. Levine breaks it down: "Newborn poop is mostly liquid with some mustard-seed texture mixed in," she says. "As a result, it doesn't take much power to propel it across a room." Grossed out yet? Just wait until you’ve got an "up-the-backer" on your hands.

When to worry: As long as it has color (ranging from brown to green to yellow) and some seedy particles in it, baby's poop should be good to go. But if you spot any signs of blood, Dr. Levine says it's time to get on the phone with your doc.
3. Baby boobage

What's the deal? Remember those wacky hormones that plagued your entire pregnancy? (How could you forget?) Well, they did a number on baby too. And, unfortunately, one of the side effects of hanging out in your belly for 9 months can be...well, large boobs. Baby's exposure to your hormones can often cause breast tissue to develop, since it takes a while for the hormones to wear off. But don't stress, they're generally nothing to be concerned about and should go away in time.

When to worry: Notice any redness around baby's breast? If so, Dr. Levine also suggests taking baby's temp, to see if the redness is accompanied by a fever. These symptoms may be a sign of something more serious, and reason to get baby checked out.

For the rest of the helpful tips, click here!

The adorable baby girl in the photo is wearing a No Slippy Hair Clippy Mimi Double Dot Baby Bow! Just because she barely has hair doesn't mean she can't accessorize! With the clip's non-slip grip that doesn't tug or pull at her hair, you are assured it'll stay put.

PONDER, PONDER, PONDER...
What things happened to your baby that you thought were weird, but turned out normal? How did you deal with it? If you could choose just one important lesson you learned from motherhood, what would it be?

Cheerios!
Rach