"Being a parent doesn’t come with an instruction manual or FAQ booklet, which would be really, really helpful, especially when you’re new to the gig. Having a million and one questions ranging from, ‘Am I doing this right?’ to ‘Is my baby OK? to ‘Is this normal?’ is par for the course.
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As a mom of two littles, I’ve spent my fair share of time late-night Googling a myriad of questions to try to figure out all of the answers. Spoiler alert: I still haven’t figured it all out.
Turns out I’m not the only one doing a lot of Googling—thanks to their annual ‘Year in Search,’ Google knows exactly what’s been on new parents’ minds this year. They shared the most frequently searched questions from new parents with The Everymom, and I tapped experts Dr. Krupa Playforth, AKA The Pediatrician Mom, and Dr. Mona Amin, AKA pedsdoctalk, to give us the answers. Read on to see the most burning queries new parents have on their minds.
Editor’s Note: Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding the health of your child. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.
Dr. Mona Amin, Board-Certified Pediatrician
Dr. Amin is a practicing pediatrician, toddler mom, and host of The PedsDocTalk Podcast. Her mission is to share balanced, well-researched parenting advice to lessen those big worries and help moms find more joy in motherhood.
Dr. Krupa Playforth, Board-Certified Pediatrician
Dr. Krupa Playforth is a board-certified pediatrician and mother of three whose mission is to create a safe space with practical, educational content for parents at The Pediatrician Mom.
Why does my baby sweat so much from the head while sleeping?
Sweating is a way for your body to regulate your body temperature, and it takes time for babies to learn how to do this. You may notice more sweating from their head when they’re sleeping because there are more sweat glands in the region, says Dr. Amin, and because when babies sleep, their body temperature naturally rises.
Because of this, “it’s always a good idea to be mindful of your baby’s sleep environment,” she cautions. “Dressing your baby in light, breathable layers and keeping the room temperature comfortable can help prevent overheating.”
Experts recommend keeping your baby’s room between 68-72 degrees to help prevent overheating. You can also feel your baby’s neck while they’re sleeping to see if they feel hot, but even in ideal conditions, your baby still might sweat a lot from their head when they’re sleeping.
Why does my baby get hiccups after eating? Why does my baby always have hiccups?
Hiccups are extremely common in babies, which may explain why they showed up in not one but *two* of this year’s most common searches.
You can usually blame hiccups on an underdeveloped diaphragm, says Dr. Amin. The diaphragm is a muscle that helps with breathing, and hiccups happen when it contracts involuntarily. Feedings are an especially prevalent time for hiccups to occur.
“Hiccups after eating are common because babies often swallow air while feeding,” she expands. “They’re typically caused by the extra air in the stomach, which can irritate the diaphragm, leading to hiccups.” Dr. Amin also notes that hiccups are just as common in breastfed babies as in bottle-fed babies.
While it might seem like your baby is hiccuping a lot, she notes they’re not something that’s typically uncomfortable for your baby, and they’ll go away on their own. To combat hiccups, she says you can try taking more breaks to burp during feeds or try feeding in a more upright position.
Why does my baby pull their hair when going to sleep?
While you might pull your hair out of exasperation, babies pull their hair as a way to self-soothe.
“Just like some babies suck their thumbs or rub a blanket, pulling hair can provide a sense of comfort when babies are looking to calm or comfort themselves, especially before bedtime,” explains Dr. Amin.
Most babies will outgrow twirling or pulling on their hair as they find other ways to self-soothe.
Why does my baby spit up after every feeding?
A baby’s digestive system is still developing in their first few months, which can translate into frequent spit-up episodes.
“The muscle at the top of the stomach, called the lower esophageal sphincter, isn’t fully mature yet,” Dr. Amin says, “making it easier for milk to flow back up.”
While spitting up is common, Dr. Amin says if your baby is not gaining weight, forcefully vomiting after feeds, or seems uncomfortable after feeds, you should talk to your pediatrician, as it could be a sign of reflux.
To try to reduce the amount of spit-up, try to make sure your baby isn’t swallowing a lot of air during feeds. Feeding in an upright position and burping often can also help (likewise for hiccups!). For you, always keep a spare burp cloth on hand and an extra shirt in your diaper bag for when you’re out and about.
Why does my baby wake up screaming from naps?
The TL;DR here is that there can be a lot of reasons your baby wakes up screaming from naps. Remember, crying is their only way to communicate, so screaming is really the only way to get your attention when they need something.
Your baby could be hungry, especially if they’ve given you a longer stretch of sleep and just need to eat. It could be that they’re suffering from gas pains. You can always try things like gas drops or my personal fav, the Fridababy Windi, to help relieve gas, and doctors recommend things like feeding in an upright position, frequent burping during feedings, and doing more tummy time to help as well.
When babies are teething, this can also cause them to wake up screaming. If your baby is showing signs that they might be cutting a new tooth, things like a cool, clean washcloth to gnaw on or offering them a silicone toy to chew on could help relieve their pain.
Babies might also wake up screaming if they’re uncomfortable in a soiled diaper or feeling sick—unfortunately, there’s not a single answer for why this happens!
Why does my baby touch my face?
Does your baby constantly want to put their fingers in your mouth or rub their hands all over your face? That’s normal, and, yes, Dr. Playforth says there are a few reasons that your baby might seem obsessed with touching your face. For one, touch and social connection are a big part of how humans interact with each other, so it’s natural for babies to do this, too.
In addition she says, “Touch also provides comfort, and our babies naturally seek that out from the adults who provide most of their care.”
There’s also a theory called cross-identification for why a baby touches your face. TikToker Paige Carabeo’s video explaining that this developmental milestone is your babe’s way of thanking you for taking care of them has over 10 million views. Cue the waterworks!
Why does my baby move so much in their sleep?
Sleep for everyone, including babies, is split between Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep. REM sleep is light, while non-REM sleep is where you’ll be getting deep z’s, but as the name might suggest, when you’re in REM sleep, there’s a lot of movement.
But why do babies specifically move a lot when they’re sleeping? Dr. Playforth explains that babies spend about half of their time sleeping in REM sleep during their first 3 to 4 months, which is way more than how much time adults spend in REM sleep.
On top of that, “babies still have immature reflexes, such as the Moro, or startle reflex, which is a whole body involuntary reflex that can be triggered by sudden sounds or movements,” she explains. These reflexes cause jerky movements that can wake your baby up.
As babies get older, they naturally start to grow out of those startle reflexes, so you’ll notice less movement during sleep over time.
Why does my baby cry for no reason?
Think about it—when you’re upset or need something, you can talk and express what’s going on, but babies can’t do that. “Crying is about the only consistent way babies can communicate their needs,” says Dr. Playforth, but she says that unfortunately there are some times that your baby might be crying for no reason at all.
If your baby is crying for no clear reason for at least three hours a day, for three or more days a week for at least three weeks (sorry in advance, mama!), then it’s most likely that you have a colicky baby, Dr. Playforth says.
“Colic is not well understood,” she notes. “It can be extremely frustrating when you’re a parent, but the good news is that it tends to get better by about 3 months.” If you’re dealing with a baby who is crying for no clear reason, Dr. Playforth has a free fussy infant guide that gives helpful guidance on strategies to try.
Why does my baby gasp for air?
It’s scary to see your baby gasping for air. It’s always a good idea to get your baby checked by your healthcare provider anytime you see something abnormal, like extra sounds or irregular breathing.
Some babies appear to be gasping when they’re taking a deep breath, which can happen with periodic breathing, a phenomenon that happens when a baby has a pause in their breathing for up to 10 seconds. When they resume breathing, it’s often with short, shallow breaths that can sound like gasping. Most babies will outgrow periodic breathing.
Your baby might also gasp for air during feedings, which should also prompt a call to your pediatrician’s office. Sometimes, this can be due to laryngomalacia, which happens when your baby’s larynx falls into their airway when they breathe. This may cause loud, noisy breathing, also called stridor, and is one of the reasons behind choking or gasping for air during feedings. Most babies will outgrow laryngomalacia, but you should get your baby checked, as some might require treatment, especially if they have reflux. That can make breathing during feeding harder, too.
Always call your doctor if you notice any abnormalities with your baby’s breathing. It’s better to err on the side of caution if you notice any irregularities.
Why do kids suck their thumb?
Did you know that thumb-sucking can start in the womb? Outside of the womb, thumb-sucking is a natural way for babies and kids to self-soothe.
“Thumb-sucking provides comfort, especially when children feel tired or overwhelmed,” Dr. Amin says. “For toddlers, it can develop into a habit they rely on to cope with their emotions like stress or boredom.”
Most children naturally stop sucking their thumbs by around age 4, and despite what your dentist might tell you, it’s not really a concern until permanent teeth come in. If your child gets comfort from sucking their thumb, it’s OK to let them continue, but you can always try things like setting time limits for when thumb-sucking is allowed or offering an alternative comfort item like a blanket to try to curb the behavior.
Why do kids walk on tiptoes?
For most kids, walking on tiptoes, or “toe walking,” is benign and just something that happens when kids learn to walk, says Dr. Amin. She says as kids get better at walking and have better coordination and strength, most will stop walking on their tiptoes, but that if your kid is still toe walking when they’re 2, to bring it up to your pediatrician.
Toe walking can occur if your child has autism, cerebral palsy, or other neurological disorders, which is why it’s good to bring it up if your child persists walking on tiptoes. To try to prevent toe walking, experts recommend limiting the amount of time your baby spends using a walker or push-toy and letting your baby go barefoot.
Why do kids wear helmets?
We’re assuming that parents aren’t asking if their kids should be wearing helmets while riding their scooters or bikes (the answer is always a resounding yes) but are referring to when kids need to wear helmets due to plagiocephaly, otherwise known as flat head syndrome.
“The general idea is that because young infants have mobile skull plates, using a helmet can help mold the skull into a more rounded shape,” explains Dr. Playforth. Flat head syndrome can be caused by how much time babies spend on their backs (remember, back is best to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS) or when a baby has a condition called torticollis, which is caused by tight neck muscles causing the head to rest in an abnormal position.
If your baby ends up wearing a helmet, they’ll need to wear it for 23 hours a day. How long they’ll wear the helmet is typically around three months, but it can vary baby to baby.
Dr. Playforth does caution that there are mixed opinions about the effectiveness of wearing helmets. Economist and parenting book author Emily Oster weighed in on the debate, saying that based on the research, parents should try physical therapy before having their baby wear a helmet. You should always consult with your doctor to discuss what might be best for your baby.
Why do kids bite other kids?
“There are many reasons young children may bite other young children, but it’s important to know that it does not mean your child is bad!” stresses Dr. Playforth.
It’s common developmentally for kids to bite, especially between the ages of 1-3 when they’re learning to express themselves. Feelings of frustration or not being able to effectively communicate feelings can lead to biting, says Dr. Playforth, noting that when kids are overstimulated or overexcited, it can lead to biting. But biting can also be a way to get relief from cutting new teeth and can happen as babies start to put more things in their mouths.
If you have a kid who is a biter, you can do things like offer up an alternative for your child to chew on and redirect them to play with something else.
Being a new parent is tough, and while we don’t have all the answers, we can assure you you’re doing a great job. You’re not alone in this, so keep Googling, and we’ll keep answering.
Elliott Harrell, Contributing Writer
Elliott is a mom of two little girls and is based in Raleigh, NC. She spends her days running a sales team and doing laundry and her nights writing about the things that she loves. She’s passionate about all things motherhood and women’s health. When she’s not working, writing or parenting you can find her trying a new restaurant in town or working on her latest needlepoint project.