Is my newborn okay? When to get help

With a brand-new baby and not much sleep, it’s completely normal to second-guess yourself constantly: is this normal, or should I be worried? The reassuring truth is that most of what newborns do is normal — but it helps to know the signs that genuinely warrant a call or a check.

Plenty of newborn quirks are nothing to worry about: hiccups, sneezes, snuffly breathing, brief pauses in their breathing during sleep, spots and blotchy skin, crossed eyes, startles, and “going to the toilet” with great drama. Many babies develop mild jaundice (a yellow tinge) in the first week, which is common and usually settles — though it should always be checked by your midwife or nurse.

Trust the basics as your reassurance: a baby who is feeding, having regular wet and dirty nappies, gaining weight, and has periods of calm alertness is very likely doing well. Your midwife visits and child health nurse checks in the early weeks exist precisely to keep an eye on this.

Some signs mean you should seek advice promptly — call your GP, child health nurse, or the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby line (1800 882 436): a fever or a temperature that’s too low, feeding much less than usual or refusing feeds, far fewer wet nappies than normal, being unusually floppy, drowsy or hard to wake, or a high-pitched or very different cry.

And some signs are an emergency — call 000 straight away: difficulty breathing, turning blue or very pale, a fit (seizure), or a baby who is unresponsive. Trust your gut here above any checklist; if your baby seems seriously unwell, act immediately. You will never be wasting anyone’s time.

It helps to be practical about a couple of these. A fever in a newborn means a temperature of 38°C or above — worth having a digital thermometer at home for — and in a baby under three months it always warrants prompt medical advice. Watch for signs of dehydration: far fewer wet nappies, a dry mouth, no tears, or a sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on top of the head. And while mild jaundice is common, jaundice that appears in the first 24 hours, deepens, or comes with a sleepy baby who’s feeding poorly should be checked. Outside your GP’s hours you don’t have to sit on a worry: healthdirect’s free helpline (1800 022 222) is staffed by registered nurses around the clock in most parts of Australia, and any emergency department will see a sick baby.

Newborns are new to everyone, and asking “is this normal?” is part of the job, not a sign you’re failing at it. Lean on your child health nurse — that service exists exactly so you don’t have to figure it all out alone.