5 Strange but Normal Things in Newborns That Scare Parents

Dr. Sandip Gupta

This video covers five strange things that are normal in newborns but which frighten parents. 1. Crying before passing urine. Just as we feel the urge and a slight discomfort while passing urine, babies also feel this slight discomfort. However, if the baby cries while passing urine, there are chances of an infection — in that situation you should show the child to a doctor. 2. Hiccups. Hiccups are normal in babies. Whenever the baby gets hiccups, take them on your shoulder, stroke and pat them gently, and burp them — the hiccups stop. 3. Passing potty while feeding or soon after. Parents get scared by this, thinking the milk the baby just drank has come straight out. That is not what happens — the potty that comes out is from the milk the baby drank a while earlier, which was digested and formed into stool. This is called the gastrocolic reflex. 4. Hair all over the body. A "hairy baby" is also normal. This hair is called lanugo, or baby hair. 5. Slightly crossed eyes. Eyes looking a little crossed is also normal. This is called cross eye, and this crossed-eye pattern gradually corrects itself by around six months of age. Relevant for: new parents worried about their newborn's crying before urination; parents asking whether hiccups in babies are normal and how to stop them; parents who think their baby is passing out milk immediately after a feed; parents asking about the gastrocolic reflex; parents worried about body hair on a newborn; and parents whose baby's eyes look crossed and who want to know when it corrects. Disclaimer: This video is for general information and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child is different — please consult your pediatrician if your baby cries while passing urine, has fever, poor feeding, or if the crossed eyes persist beyond six months.