Newborn & Pediatric Medicine Guide

Newborn Care & Clinical Pediatrics Reference

Evidence-based guide for newborn physical assessment, Canadian Paediatric Society safe sleep recommendations, lactation mechanics, and critical emergency red flags.

Clinical Perspective: Newborns arrive with striking benign physical findings that frequently cause severe panic in first-time parents.

Head & Scalp

Caput Succedaneum vs. Cephalohematoma

Caput: Subcutaneous edema crossing suture lines; present at birth, resolves in 48-72 hours. Cephalohematoma: Subperiosteal hemorrhage that does NOT cross suture lines; can increase hyperbilirubinemia risk as RBCs break down.

Skin Variants

Erythema Toxicum & Milia

Milia: Tiny 1mm white epidermal inclusion cysts on nose and chin (benign, do not pop!). Erythema Toxicum Neonatorum: Benign “flea-bite” erythematous macules with central eosinophilic papules appearing at 24–48 hours; spontaneous resolution.

Hepatic / Metabolism

Jaundice: Physiologic vs. Pathologic

Jaundice in the first 24 hours of life is ALWAYS pathologic (hemolysis, ABO incompatibility). Physiologic jaundice peaks at days 3–5 due to immature hepatic UDP-glucuronosyltransferase. Universal bilirubin screening performed before hospital discharge.