From head to toe

A tour of your newborn

What we check at the newborn examination, and what parents most often ask about, region by region.

(I love you from my head tomatoes. Say it out loud, slowly: to‑ma‑toes.)

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Start here

Meet your newborn

This tour follows the newborn examination from head to toe. Scroll down; the picture moves with you.

Illustrative only: every baby looks a little different.

Chapter 01

Head

Newborn heads are made for travel — the soft skull plates can overlap, slide, and reshape during birth. Most odd shapes settle on their own.

Soft spots (fontanelles) and skull lines (sutures): normal, and safe to touch
Caput and cephalhaematoma, the swellings of birth: settle over days to weeks
A flat spot developing in the first weeks: positional, improves with repositioning and tummy time
Cradle cap on the scalp: harmless, gentle oil and brushing
Hair colour, amount, and head sweating: all vary widely, all normal

Chapter 02

Eyes

Newborn eye colour usually settles by 3-6 months. Tears, redness in the white of the eye after birth, and brief crossed-eye moments are nearly always normal.

Puffy eyelids in the first few days: normal after birth
Red patches on the eyelids ("angel kiss"): fade with time
Red spot in the white of the eye after birth: clears in 1-2 weeks
Sticky discharge with a white eye: usually a blocked tear duct, cleaning and massage fix most
Eyes that briefly cross when looking close: normal in the early months

Chapter 03

Ears

Every newborn is offered a hearing screen in the first weeks. Ear shape varies widely at birth, and most variations either settle or never matter.

The newborn hearing screen: offered to every baby, usually before discharge
Ear-shape variations (folded, cupped, prominent, an extra fold): common, most settle or don’t matter
Ear moulding: a non-surgical option for persistent shape concerns, most effective in the first 1-2 weeks while the cartilage is soft, so raise it early
Skin tags or small pits in front of the ear: mention them at the newborn exam
Wax and discharge: normal, never clean inside the canal
Pulling on the ears: usually not an ear infection in newborns

Chapter 04

Nose & mouth

Babies are obligate nose-breathers — small noisy sounds are routine. The mouth tells you a lot about feeding and tongue movement.

Sneezing, snuffles and intermittent nasal congestion: routine while it comes and goes and feeds are unaffected
Tongue-tie: only matters if feeding is affected
White milk-curd patches on the tongue that don’t wipe off (oral thrush): treatable, ask for a review
Sucking blisters on the lips: harmless, from enthusiastic feeding
Small spots on the gums or palate (Epstein pearls): harmless, resolve alone

Chapter 05

Neck

Newborn necks are short and creased. Most lumps and rashes here are benign — a few need a careful check.

Rashes in the neck folds (heat, milk dribble): keep clean and dry
Head consistently turning to one side (torticollis): worth an early review, simple stretches work best started young
Lump on the side of the neck: usually benign, but book a review
Clicking shoulders or a limp arm: mention at the newborn check

Chapter 06

Chest & breathing

Newborn breathing is faster than adult breathing — typically 30-60 breaths a minute, often irregular for short stretches.

Fast or irregular breathing in the first hours: a normal transition, monitored in hospital
A noisy or squeaky breath sound: often laryngomalacia, see the guide
Cough or rattly chest in the first months: think bronchiolitis, watch the work of breathing
A small groove or lump at the bottom of the breastbone: usually the normal xiphisternum
Slightly enlarged breast tissue: maternal hormones, settles by itself

Chapter 07

Tummy & cord

The cord stump dries, browns, and falls off on its own over 5-15 days. The tummy looks big, and that is normal newborn anatomy.

Cutting the cord at birth: what to expect, in the guide below
Daily cord care: keep it clean and dry, nappy folded down, no creams
Umbilical granuloma after the cord falls off: small and treatable, ask at a review
A soft bulge at the belly button when crying (umbilical hernia): most close by age 4-5, no taping
A bulge between belly button and ribs (epigastric hernia): mention at a review

Chapter 08

Skin & jaundice

Newborn skin shifts a lot in the first weeks: peeling, mottling, mild yellow tinge, blotches that come and go. Most are normal stages of adjustment.

Yellow tinge of the skin (jaundice): common, but measured, not guessed, so ask for a check
Transient rashes (erythema toxicum, milia, baby acne): come and go, harmless
Birthmarks (slate-grey patches, salmon patches, café-au-lait): most are innocent, worth documenting at a review
Dry, peeling skin in the first week: normal, no treatment needed
Dry red patches that keep coming back: possibly early eczema, moisturise and review

Chapter 09

Arms & hands

Arms move in startle bursts (Moro reflex), often with shaking that settles by itself. Hands are usually closed for the first weeks.

Shaking or jittery movements that settle when held: normal (movements that continue when you gently hold the limb need review)
Startle (Moro) reflex, open arms then a quick clutch: normal, fades by 3-4 months
A limp arm held by the side: needs review (possible Erb’s palsy)
A single palm crease: usually an isolated, normal finding
Sucking blisters on the wrist or hand: harmless

Chapter 10

Hips & legs

Newborn hips are checked at every newborn examination. Bowed legs, asymmetrical thigh creases, and curved feet are very common and usually normal.

Hip examination at birth and at 6-8 weeks: routine for every baby
Bowed legs: normal in the first months
Asymmetrical thigh creases: usually nothing, but checked at every exam
Curved or twisted feet (positional talipes): gentle stretches fix most
Clicks at the hip on movement: mention at the next check

Chapter 11

Nappy area

The nappy area changes a lot in the first weeks — meconium, transitional stools, then milk stools. A small dimple at the top of the buttock crease is usually nothing.

Meconium, then transitional, then milk stools: the changing colours are expected. The first meconium should come within 24 hours, tell your midwife if it hasn’t
Straining and crying before a soft stool: common, usually not constipation
Not stooling every day: once feeding is established this can be normal, especially in breastfed babies, provided baby is well (feeding, gaining, soft tummy) and the stool is soft when it comes
Nappy rash: frequent changes, barrier cream and air time; think thrush if it won’t settle
A sacral dimple at the top of the bottom crease: usually innocent, checked at the newborn exam
Swollen genitals or a little vaginal discharge: maternal hormones, settles alone
An undescended testicle: tracked at the 6-8 week check

Chapter 12

Feet & toes

Newborn feet are often curved inward, sometimes overlapping at the toes. Most uncomplicated foot positions correct themselves with movement, and "to my toes" is the bottom of the head-to-toe tour.

Curved-in feet that straighten with a gentle stretch: positional, resolve with time
Overlapping toes: common, rarely need anything
Toenails that look ingrown: almost never actually are
Blue hands and feet in the first days (acrocyanosis): normal circulation adjustment
Dry, peeling skin on the soles: normal

Lights out

Goodnight, head tomatoes

That’s the whole tour. Every region here is checked at the newborn examination; if a concern isn’t covered, your GP, MCH nurse, or a clinic appointment is the right next step.

Browse the parent guides When to seek help

(You just travelled from their head, to‑ma‑toes.)