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Newborn care in the hospital helps your baby transition to life outside your uterus. Most babies are born without any major issues and need little or no support. But some babies require some sort of medical intervention immediately after delivery. Newborn care also includes tests, screenings and preventive care.
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Right after delivery, newborn infant care includes a few steps to welcome your baby into the world. A healthcare provider will:
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
A pediatric healthcare provider will then quickly check your baby’s health. If they meet the following conditions, they likely won’t require urgent medical attention:
If your newborn is otherwise healthy, you’ll get to experience skin-to-skin contact as soon as possible. This is sometimes known as “kangaroo care.” A provider will teach you how to safely position your baby. Skin-to-skin contact can:
Regardless of the type of delivery you have, you can request skin-to-skin contact as soon as possible or make it a known priority for you.
A healthcare provider will perform a routine test called the Apgar score. During the test, a provider will measure your baby’s:
The provider will test these five signs one minute after birth. Then, they’ll check them again five minutes after birth. Each test is given a score between 0 and 2. They add the five scores together to make up the Apgar score. These scores give insight to your baby’s doctors about how much immediate attention they may need right after delivery.
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New babies need several preventive treatments, including eye drops, a vitamin K shot and newborn vaccines.
Your baby will get antibiotic eye ointment or eye drops. This is to prevent bacterial infections they may have picked up through birth. These can result in vision loss or chronic eye disease.
Babies typically have low levels of vitamin K when they’re born. They need vitamin K for blood clotting. So, your baby should get a vitamin K shot immediately after birth. This is to prevent severe bleeding (hemorrhage) that could result in critical organ damage, like permanent brain injury.
Your baby should start getting vaccines when they’re a newborn. Your baby’s healthcare provider will offer the hepatitis B vaccine immediately after birth. This is to protect your baby against the hepatitis B virus, which can result in chronic liver disease. Regardless of your or your partner’s hepatitis B status, your baby may get the virus through other unexpected events. This is why providers recommend the vaccine at birth regardless.
The hepatitis B vaccine is a series of three shots. Your baby will usually receive the first shot shortly after birth. Then, they’ll get the next two shots by 1 year of age.
Your healthcare provider may also recommend that your baby get a monoclonal antibody called nirsevimab (Beyfortus®). This can help prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Your baby may only need it if:
Healthcare providers screen all newborns in the United States for certain conditions that you can’t see at birth. If providers find these conditions early, they can prevent or treat them. Your baby’s provider will prick their heel to get a sample of their blood. They’ll test for many different conditions, including:
Other tests that may be part of routine newborn screening include:
If your baby is large or small for their age, overly jittery or you have a history of diabetes, they may also get a hypoglycemia screening to check for low blood sugar.
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Besides looking cute in the sleeper you packed in your hospital bag, your baby may also:
New babies need to be fed early and often to prevent dehydration. A provider will want to keep track of each time your baby feeds. If you’re breastfeeding, they’ll track how often you feed and how long each session is. If you’re formula-feeding, they’ll also track how much you give your baby. Lactation services are available. You should use them even if you’re an experienced parent.
Before you go home, your provider will want to make sure your baby can feed well. They’ll ensure your baby is wetting at least three or four diapers over a 24-hour period. They’ll also monitor your newborn’s weight.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends waiting 24 hours before giving your baby their first bath. Healthcare providers used to bathe newborns shortly after delivery. But delaying your baby’s first bath:
Some providers recommend waiting a week to bathe your newborn. This is because their umbilical cord stump usually falls off within a week or two. But you can bathe your baby with a sponge to keep their umbilical cord dry.
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A provider will make sure your newborn passes meconium within 24 to 48 hours after birth. Meconium is a black, sticky substance that your baby poops for the first one to three days.
Within one to two days of birth, you may decide to have your baby circumcised. Circumcision is a surgical procedure that removes the foreskin from your baby’s penis. The procedure takes place before you leave the hospital. This may only be done if your baby received the vitamin K shot.
Most healthy newborns can leave the hospital after two or three days, depending on how they were delivered. If you or your baby experiences any complications or has any medical issues, you may need to stay in the hospital longer.
Most people feel unprepared when it comes to taking care of babies. Newborns have many needs. And caring for an infant can be nerve-wracking. Your baby’s needs are simple but crucial. It’s important to provide loving care during the first month of your baby’s life.
You can take steps to help yourself get ready for the transition home. You may want to consider taking a newborn care class during your pregnancy. A class can’t always prepare you for the real thing. But it can help you learn about topics like:
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Leaving the hospital with a newborn can be one of the most exciting yet scary times in your life. You may feel overwhelmed with all there is to know. If so, lean on your healthcare providers. Providers who give newborn care in the hospital have seen it all.
You may be in a rush to get home and start your new life with your newborn. But healthcare providers want to make sure your baby’s first day or two go smoothly before sending you home. They want what’s best for you and your baby.
As your child grows, you need healthcare providers by your side to guide you through each step. Cleveland Clinic Children’s is there with care you can trust.
Last reviewed on 08/18/2025.
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